Darkness Trilogy (Book 2): Death In Darkness

by Alexander, Lee

  “Ignore him. My name is Denny, and I'm the junior doctor here. You can pretty safely ignore him when we're not actively working on something. He's the resident mad scientist.”

  I nodded as Denny spoke, shaking each of their hands in turn. Doore burst out laughing as Denny finished speaking, clapping him on the back.

  “Dennis is quite the card himself.”

  “So, you're the one who sedated Geno last night, right?”

  Doctor Doore suddenly grew very somber. “Yes, yes I was. Such a shame to see such an advanced case. We will of course do our best to help him. Which brings me to why we are here, and thus why you are here. I will go first, I think. We here in One-Delta are tasked with identifying the compound that causes the condition you witnessed last night. We have called that 'battle rage', for lack of a better term. Ideally, we will find, isolate, and treat the root cause, saving your friend and any other infected.”

  “Yeah, I saw him do that. How was he able to shrug off six people like that?”

  “That is one of the questions we seek to answer. That, in addition to making a serum that can inoculate humans against the compound. As you can see, we have our work cut out for us. Which I assume is why you have been assigned to our little group. Are you familiar with molecular biology?”

  I couldn't help but feel invigorated by the Doctor's attitude. I shook my head, slightly dejected.

  “Sad to say I never went that route in my college. Nor in the military.”

  “Ah, a military man! Excellent, well we already know you can slack with the best of us!” He said with another belly laugh.

  “Excuse him, again,” said Doctor Vale. “We aren't very concerned about that, and in fact it's helpful. We'll have you on a crash course today and up to speed by tomorrow.”

  “That's⸺” I paused to think it over. “That's insane. There's no way I can get a college level education this afternoon.”

  Allan's eyes twinkled as he calmed down. “Don't you worry about that lad. However, it is just about time to do the early lunch for our subjects. As your first task, please go up to the mess hall and request two patient meals.”

  “Yes sir. Do I just get into line?”

  “No, no. Go to the end of the line, at the checkout. Request them there, they will be waiting.”

  I turned and hustled out of the lab. Their conversation picked up where it had left off when I walked in.

  “RNA bomb?”

  I was still clueless about everything they were talking about. I wound my way back through the maze-like corridors to the main lobby. It took far less time than before, helped by less rubber-necking at every window. As I entered the R&D lobby, the woman behind the desk caught my attention by loudly and rudely clearing her throat.

  “Mr. Wisem⸺”

  “DeWisr,” I cut her off as she mispronounced my name again.

  “Mr. DEWeasel, your swipe card has been updated. Next time you need to enter, just swipe your card. Should work.”

  I took a step closer to the side of the desk and got a better look at her. She had a darker, rich complexion, and a slightly larger frame. She turned to look at me and I finally saw her name plate.

  “Thank you, Ms. Ita. Are you Samoan, by any chance?”

  She looked taken aback, but nodded. “Yes, yes I am. My father came from Samoa nearly thirty years ago. I never learned the language. He rarely talked about the island or culture. I don't know why.”

  “Well, thank you again, miss. I appreciate your help.” I nodded as punctuation, and turned to leave. I was careful to hide the smirk until I was in the elevator cavern. I was certain her surname was given to her father when he left the country. I hummed to myself as the elevator rose the two floors, then walked straight to the mess hall.

  It was already in full swing with early eaters. I approached the checkout counter and waited until the woman at the register was done for a moment. I wasn't sure why there was a register at all, especially since it seemed everybody just used their swiped their cards. She turned to me and paused.

  “How can I help you sir?”

  “I need two patient meals?”

  “For which wing or lab sir?”

  “One-Delta.”

  “Yes sir, one moment.” She tapped a few options on the screen, then smiled at me.

  Less than thirty seconds later, someone else in a cafeteria uniform showed up with two plain plastic boxes. He handed them over and departed without a word. A small line had built while we waited. She looked at the two boxes, then nodded. She tapped a few more options on the screen, then addressed me again.

  “Please swipe your card.”

  “Uh, they're not for me.”

  “Yes sir, this is just to mark that you've received them.”

  I nodded and swiped my badge. It beeped and showed a green light. Without another word, she turned and helped the next customer. I gathered the two boxes and set out. They were a little heavier than I expected, but the opaque black plastic didn't let me see what was inside.

  On the elevator ride down, I reflected for a moment. Clearly one of the two meals was for Geno, but who could have been the second? Was Castillo infected? The General had said to isolate him. I continued to ponder as I returned to the R&D lobby. I was caught off guard by the young woman standing and addressing me.

  “Welcome back, Mr. DeWisr.”

  “Thank you Ms. Ita.”

  She looked at my full hands and muttered something to herself. Then she stepped out from behind the desk. She was surprisingly tall, maybe five-nine or ten. She preceded me to the door, then paused.

  “Let me get that for you, Mr. DeWisr.”

  She reached over and grabbed the badge on my side, sliding it through the reader. It chirped and the door locks clicked. She pulled the door open and held it for me.

  “Thank you again, Ms, Ita.” I flashed her a brilliant smile as I walked past. She smiled shyly, then let the door close.

  That's not good. Better talk to her before she gets any ideas.

  I made a mental note and returned to the lab in One-Delta. I opened the door with one hand while I balanced the meals with my other. Voices greeted me, still clearly having the same conversation.

  Doctor Doore broke from the conversation to direct me through the door to my right. It was the only other door in the room, but it was much larger. It looked like a vault door, with six inches of steel visible. I hadn't noticed it before in all the chaos of the lab. It stood more than eight feet tall, and was wide enough to allow two full grown men to walk shoulder to shoulder through it.

  I heard the word 'vector' mentioned, then something about infection rates. I ignored them and stepped through the portal to the hallway beyond. It was only about forty feet long. Three large windows of about ten feet each were spaced evenly along each wall. I looked through the glass to my left, only to discover Geno. He sat glumly in a chair off to the side of the cell.

  The glass was very thick, with a port on one side to slide items through. I opened the port on my side and slid the meal into the box inside. When the portal closed, something happened on his side, and he looked up. He saw me and instantly cheered up. A little speaker to the side crackled to life.

  “Dante! Man is it good to see you. What am I doing in here?”

  “Geno, you had another episode last night. You hurt a bunch of people.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “No dude, why else would you be locked away in a room like this?”

  “Fuck, so I am sick.” There was only defeat in his voice.

  “Yeah. I'm so sorry man. But, I'm part of the team that's going to cure you.”

  “Can I even be cured?”

  “The others seem to think so. I'm not sure. It's my first day, obviously.”

  He smiled wanly.

  “Thanks man. I guess I just have some shit to think through. This fucking sucks though.”

  I nodded. He stood and walked to the enclosure with his meal. He pulled it open and took the box in with h
im. Then the glass went opaque and I couldn't see any more. The speaker shut off as well. I sighed, saddened for Geno's condition.

  I turned back to the hallway, looking for the other 'patient'. I found him in the final cell on the right. Castillo also sat dejectedly, though he was on his cot. The walls were white metal, with a cot, a chair, and a toilet. There must have been a sink somewhere, but it wasn't obvious at the time.

  “Castillo, what's up man?”

  “Dante, is that you?” He looked through the glass at me. No speaker buzzed this time. The glass was much thinner, and had holes to facilitate talking. In fact, it looked like someone could fit nearly a full arm through without much trouble.

  “Yeah. I brought you lunch.”

  “Oh, thanks! I'm starving.”

  I slid open the smaller door in the wall, and put his box through. He grabbed it and set it down, then turned back to me.

  “Thanks again man,” he said as he stuck his arm through the wall. I hesitated for a moment, but he was clearly okay. No twitching or aggression, no memory lapses. I decided it was okay. I grabbed his hand and shook, and he cracked a grin. His hand was firm, no sweat. I would replay that handshake over and over in my head for a long time to come.

  His hand clamped down, squeezing my hand.

  “Woah, what are you doing man?!”

  “Sorry man. The voices you see? They keep telling me, keep screaming in my ear.” He braced against the wall and yanked, drawing my arm through the hole. “They keep saying you're the chosen one. I'm sorry for this.”

  I braced against my side, and tried to pull away. He just held firm, then bared his teeth. Something seemed wrong with the, like they were sharpened. There was no way that could be right. I blamed adrenaline for distorting what I was seeing.

  “HELP!”

  I started screaming down the hallway, hoping someone would hear. Denny appeared at the doorway, and his eyes bugged when he saw my predicament. He turned and said something over his shoulder, then hit something on his side of the doorway. Lights along the ceiling of the hallway blazed to life, sirens accompanying them. The massive vault door started to swing shut.

  I turned back, terror clear in the faint reflection of my face. My breath fogged the glass for a moment. I watched the vague shape of Castillo as he bent forward, bringing my arm up. My arm screamed in pain, being torqued in different directions and held in place by the glass. I slammed my hand against the glass, futilely trying to break myself free.

  A searing pain shot up my arm, some strange warmth as blood sprayed the inside of the glass. I screamed in pain. The vault door slammed with a resounding boom. The magnetic locks were nearly as loud as they clamped down. The pain was overwhelming, which didn't make sense to my fading mind. It felt as though electricity arced through my body, causing me to spasm. Blackness fell, and the only thing I could see as I blacked out was Denny's terrified face through the viewing port of the vault door.

  One last word filtered strangely well through the cacophony. Castillo's voice, gravelly and animalistic.

  “Chosen.”

  Chapter 7

  Darkness +15, 2033

  Greater Seattle Area, Washington, USA

  Location Undisclosed, Base 13, Project Osiris

  -61°F

  1940 Hours

  “Ugh, Spike! Did you shit in my mouth again?” I said to my cat through the haze of pain and hangover.

  I took a moment to catalogue after silence greeted me. My tongue felt about forty pounds and hairy enough to warrant a lawn mower. My body ached, but more like after a workout than after trauma. My mind reached back, finding the events leading to Castillo biting me.

  “Fuck, what actually happened?”

  “Good afternoon, Mr. DeWisr,” said a familiar voice.

  My eyes snapped open, finding the intruder. Doctor Allan Doore sat in a chair nearby, clearly observing me.

  “What the fuh⸺” I breathed out as I registered his presence.

  “Relax, Mr. DeWisr. You are in containment. Unfortunately on the third floor, in the hospital wing, but well guarded nonetheless.”

  I shook my head violently. I yanked against the handcuffs on either wrist. My right arm moved further than the left, and I panicked. I put my hand over the bent railing attached to the handcuff and tried to push it back. The noise was much more audible this time, metal deforming into a new shape.

  I sheepishly looked up and met Dr Doore's eyes. He looked back, apparently unmoved and unaware.

  “Mr DeWisr, I would recommend you contain your temper. You are simply under observation. We have drawn blood to ensure you are not infected. You have nothing to worry about, there was nothing on video, and no evidence that you were harmed.”

  “But... I mean you have cameras, right? And blood?”

  His eyes twinkled as he let a half smile show.

  “Strangely enough, something corrupted the video archives around that time. The blood as well was unusable, it interacted with the cleaning agent still present on the cell wall. As for as your irritability, I would suppose that it is due to the knockout gas used. It leaves a nasty headache. You should feel better within a few hours with plenty of water. Do you have any other questions?”

  “Yeah, uh... am I still in One-Delta? I kinda fucked up pretty hard there.”

  “My boy, you made a simple mistake. We are all human, and are prone to error. You will be welcome back as soon as you are cleared. That will take seventy-two hours of observation though. Treat this as a simple bed rest vacation, I have faith in you.

  With a wink, he left the room. I finally removed my hand from the right-hand railing, and looked at it. Some of the chrome paint had chipped away, showing two distinct wear marks. Otherwise, the railing was nearly perfectly straight. My wrist felt mildly chafed from the handcuff, though there was no marking on my wrist.

  I gaped for a moment longer, then the door re-opened.

  “Ah yes, I'm terribly sorry to be the one to inform you, but your friend Geno has passed.”

  “What?!”

  “Yes, uh, it seemed the constant adrenaline was too much. Though you last saw him just about three hours ago, his heart gave out. As soon as you started yelling, he started an episode. He refused to respond to the gas for a very long period, which is why you have had such a strong response. Honestly, we thought we had lost you for a moment due to the extended exposure to the gas.”

  “You thought I was dead?!”

  “No, no. Just no respiration or heart-rate.”

  “That's dead, doc! What the fuck?!”

  “It is of no concern now. Again, I am sorry about the passing of your friend.”

  He let the door close once more.

  “Fuck... fuck⸺ FUCK!”

  I accidentally yanked both railings toward me, with significant noise accompanying it. I looked around, noticing only a glassy black orb in one corner. I prayed internally that it wasn't operating while I pushed the railings back in place.

  I relaxed into the shitty bed and tried to get comfortable. Some time later, the door opened again. I opened my eyes and looked around for the newcomer.

  Linda was half hiding behind the open door. She saw my eyes open and smiled, then inhaled sharply.

  “Babe, what happened?”

  “What? What's wrong?”

  “Well, your eyes are blood red and your hands are cuffed, what happened?”

  “Holy shit, seriously? That explains why my eyes hurt like hell. Did not know about them... Doctor Doore said nothing.”

  “Who?”

  “My boss, he runs the department I'm assigned to.”

  “He was here?”

  “Yeah, maybe a half hour ago. Anyway, I'm handcuffed because they think I've been exposed to whatever affected Geno and Castillo.”

  “Then why are you up here?”

  “I don't know. The doctor did say that they're not sure I'm infected, so they're running blood tests. Seems like they could do that from One-Delta. Anyway, I'm just glad
I'm not some kind of prisoner.”

  “Babe, how did this happen on your first day?”

  “I was dumb. Got too close to Castillo in his cell, let him shake my hand. I should have just used common sense. But... well, Doctor Doore just told me. Geno died a little bit ago.” I said with a slight hitch. I was still processing it. I couldn't believe he was dead.

  “I just heard. I can't believe it but... you saw what happened in the vehicle cavern.”