Arc 2 - Chapter 16: A Building Dented With Dust

(Quintiles 29, 59 / 7:24PM)

“Keep pushing through. Don’t fall behind.”

“I could try harder if the air wasn’t this thick with smoke.”

The industrial side of the city wasn’t the most eye candy sight in the city. Many of the buildings were littered with rust, despite the windows and doors being well maintained. Followed by the black smoke emitted from the industrial waste, it makes this part of Lagefor too extreme to breathe.

Jerry and Loraine already felt the air clog their airways, leaving their breathing to wheeze harshly. Feeling their foreheads taint with sweat, along with other shards of chemicals, Jerry swayed his head back and forth.

“No wonder Boris always had an inhaler with him. You think he would’ve chosen a building more farther away from here, maybe near the military complex? The smoke from the industrial side can be smelled from out my window…”

“It’s not as simple as it looks.”

As they continued to run, David had his head turned toward Jerry, who struggled to breathe with somewhat dead air. Feeling their lungs turn bits of black, David wheezed once or twice, before pushing his body to breathe again.

“Did Boris ever tell you his background?”

“No. He only told me that he grew up in Lagefor.”

“Well, despite Boris being formal and clean, he wasn’t raised on a silver spoon.”

As he talked, Loraine began slowing down. Her legs dragging across the floor, and her arms wailing like a malfunctioning robot, it made David extend his hands backward to pick her up.

Pushing her right leg, she lunged forth to David’s back, and extended her arms outward. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her entire small body onto his back, leaving her to press her cheek on his jacket. Slowly, she began to fall asleep, leaving David to resume the conversation at hand.

“He was raised by only his mom, a child born out of a one-night stand. With no place to go, his mother found only one suitable housing for her and Boris’s needs…”

Looking around the many buildings, David glanced at the many camps tucked away between the concrete layout. Both Jenny and Jerry tried to find them as well, but to them, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Failing, both turned their attention back to David.

“So he grew up here in this filth? How long did he live here?”

“Until he went to college, even when his mom died when he was 13 or 14.”

Jerry and Jenny’s eyes widened, and averted them to the sidewalk or random buildings. Squeezing his palms, he had his fingers trenched deep into them, which made a slight squishy noise.

“What? How was he able to afford college?”

“He worked in those factories for many years, even when he was a teen. Being paid like one, working the same hours as an adult, and going to school full time…”

“Jesus…”

The air around them thickened, making David gag as he felt smoke plunge deep into his lungs. Along with both Jenny and Jerry, they coughed roughinly, leading their vocals to patch by their rugged breaths.

Clearing his throat, David blinked twice, with the water on top of his eyelids stinging his scleras.

“All that smoke he inhaled could’ve killed him, but that was what the doctor’s told him many times. And that’s why we’re bringing him back, before he stays here too long.”

________________________________________________________________________

(Quintiles 29, 59 / 7:48PM)

“Where’s our backup!?”

“They’re too busy defending the military complex!”

“I guess it’s just us … Marines!”

Outside of an industrial building, was a group of marines. Their assault rifles on standby, their ears perked up, as they all huddled outside a large metallic door. The man in the center, who raised his voice, managed to make his soldiers lock eyes on him amidst the smoke filled air.

“Get ready to buckle cause we’re going in!”

Their faces drooped down, along with the handles of their rifles tightened on their grips. Their legs slightly wobbling, they all noticed their leader slowly walking toward the door, with his rifle on guard.

Placing his back firmly on a large heap of metal, which left rust on his dark gray uniform, the rest of his soldiers followed suit, but…

“Sergeant. Permission to speak sir?”

“Go ahead Mclovin.”

“How far will we go, to save those hostages … sir?”

The sergeant’s eyes softened, which left his thumb to rub against the cartridge of his rifle. Seeing his soldier steam off bits of sweat, he cleared his throat, and placed his left hand on the door.

While holding his rifle with his right.

“Nobody’s dying unless I order you to. Your top priority is the hostages, so keep yourselves safe men, but remember…”

Taking his hand off the door, along with his back, he then had his right foot hover in the center. His hard boot tightening, and his calves protruding a surge of strength, he had both of his hands firm on his rifle.

“A soldier’s job is to protect the weak.”

He pushed his right foot, leaving the door to sway open.

All the soldiers looked in awe at their sergeant’s display of strength, giving them a small morale of hope amidst the chaos in the background. But it was overlapped by the sight of the hostages, all tied up and bound. Raising his left hand, he balled his fist, and pointed the barrel of his assault rifle straight forward.

“Now give em hell—”

“What seems to be the problem, son?”

Hearing a deep voice from behind, the sergeant turned around, and quickly pointed his weapon at the cowboy in question. The rest of his soldiers followed his example, widening their eyes as they pointed their barrels at him as well.

Luckily for David, he and his group didn’t flinch or make any sudden movements. Their fingers calm, they took in the sight of the soldiers having their fingers on the side of their rifles.

“This is a rescue operation! Get out before—”

“Here’s my ID.”

Already having his ID in hand, David extended it outward, but slowly and carefully. Showcasing the badge and picture, the sergeant snatched it from his hand.

He traced the platinum metal linings of the badge, and noticed a logo on the back. It was in the shape of a foreign helmet, or rather a motorcycle helmet with a visor in the center. Seeing the symbol, the sergeant took many steps back with his jaw wide open.

“You’re a… You’re…”

“I get that a lot. Now, is there anything that I can do to help?”

Giving David back his badge, the sergeant gestured to his men to lower their rifles. Having the barrels pointed to the floor, his soldiers silently stared at David’s subordinates, specifically at Loraine. Given the circumstances, she was a teen; in a man’s war.

“We were about to rush in, and we also uncovered two unidentified cases of zompires acting human.”

“Have you heard of blessings?”

“Yes sir.”

“Those zompires have them, so killing them with normal weaponry isn’t going to do you any good.”

The leader looked down, as his breathing went haggard from the bad intel. Raising his right hand up to his military uniform, he grabbed his collar, and loosened it gently as his knuckles trembled.

And his eyes darkened, his voice trailing out from his old meek throat.

“So what do you propose?”

“Me and my group will take them head-on, while you and your men take the chance to rescue the hostages. Any questions?”

“None.”

“Alright. You three, follow me.”

David in front, he extended his right hand up, and flung his fingers twice. Jerry, Jenny, and Loraine, who saw his gesture, began pushing forward with their weapons on standby.

Entering inside the building, the air was pungent with humidity and tar, their noses molested by the smell of rotting flesh. Wrinkling his face, David pulled out his handgun.

‘Oh…’

David clenched his stomach, and placed his right hand onto his abdomen.

But as soon as he was about to open his mouth, he jerked his head upward, forcing his throat to withdraw his contents. His body coated in a soupy sweat, Loraine took a large sniff from a couple of feet in back of him.

‘Is he nervous?’

“Loraine, you’re with me. Jerry and Jenny, take the other lich on the left.”

Splitting up, Jenny and Jerry walked toward a lich from the far end of the room. They saw a girl, her body frail and frail as she wore nothing but a summer white dress.

‘Who is this freak? She looks a lot like someone I know…’

And David and Loraine reached the other lich, who had his hands holding onto a hostage. Wearing a fancy suit, and a fedora, the hostage also had a bowl-cut hairstyle…

“I guess you’re a bigshot huh? Let’s put that to the test, shall we?”