The Green: Last Chance

It seemed like a lifetime ago that I woke up in the lab and didn't know what I was. I knew what I was now and that scared me at times. But that was to be expected. I was a clone and so was I really me? That question had to be set aside as Plague and myself were making a report to our superiors.

We were in an elementary school classroom. That's what it used to be, at least. Now it had been assigned as a base for the army and those who fought against the people infested by Gralg.

I looked at Plague and calmed myself down. It wasn't that the people frightened me as much as what our report contained. The world had been ending and now there was only time to throw one final punch before everything crumbled. I didn't mind the odds when there was hope, but there didn't seem to be any of that now.

"We have a solution." Plague said and our superiors just looked at him with interest. "The scientists in Winchester, Kentucky are just about to finish their work. Once that is done we should have a shot at curing the infected and immunizing every one."

Our superiors started talking in hushed tones to each other before turning back to us.

"And what do you think, Clohn?" One of them asked.

I was proud at having my new name being used. It was an honor to have my past recognized. Not because my past was good, but because I know knew it. I knew where I came from.

"I believe that is our best option." I replied. "These scientists will be our last chance against stopping the end of the world. If you're worried about the risk, Plague and myself can go. That way you won't lose a lot of men."

"Though I am loathe to single out any one person as being important," A different superior said. "You and Plague are two of our best men. I would think it would be more prudent to consider the fact that both of you might die on this mission."

"With respect, sir," Plague replied and moved closer to the front of what used to be a classroom. Already the effects of the Gralg infestation could be seen here, though the actually Gralg had not yet been spotted on the premise. "We are hardly the most useful people you have at your command. There are other more experienced people that would be able to take our place."

Our superiors again talked to each other before saying anything to us. These moments were the most stressful as having to wait for an answer got very stressful quickly. If Plague and I weren't allowed on this mission then I'd have to twiddle my thumbs wanting to do something. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for Plague, but it would be torture for me.

"Matthias, don't worry." Plague looked back and whispered to me. I gave him a half-hearted smile and he turned to face our superiors again.

Finally our superiors turned to us.

"We will let you get the scientists out of Kentucky. If you know you are about to fail the mission, turn back. We won't risk you if you purposefully put yourself into harm's way." The one who had spoken first said.

We saluted our superiors and then left to go back to the small office that we were using as a bedroom. Upon entering I sat down in a chair.

"You're nervous?" Plague asked me.

"I'm excited." I said. "But, yes, I'm also nervous. What if they're right and we're risking our lives for nothing? Wouldn't it be better to just wait for the end of the world than dying trying to stop it?"

"We won't die. Besides, do you really want to sit around here and just do nothing?"

"Thought it worked out well last time."

"I think we're recalling events differently." Plague said with a hint of a smile.

"But, yes, doing something is much preferable to sitting around and doing nothing." I replied.

"I need you to stay sane until this is all over."

Looking at his face I knew that tonight might be our last peaceful night together if the mission didn't go correctly. If it turned out the scientists didn't really have a cure then the world would continue to be taken over by the infected until all human life was gone. If Plague died then I didn't know what I'd do. At least in the first scenario I knew I could fight in place of thinking too deeply. But what was the point of living in a peaceful world without Plague by my side?

"Yeah, until this is all over." I said while trying to keep the pain from my voice.

"I'll be fine." Plague replied and took my hands in his own. "This mission will be a success and then we can start a life together."

We kissed and then spent the entire night without letting go of each other.
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I packed up what I would need for the mission. Food, clothing, and weapons. My excitement to be doing something was kept in check by the worry that things wouldn't go as planned. It was unlikely that this mission would go smoothly.

I sat down in the passenger seat and watched as Plague sat down in the driver's seat.

"We'll be back to normal soon." Plague said and started the car.

"And have all the pancakes we want." I replied with a hopeful smile.
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 The atmosphere in the car was tense. We had been driving for awhile and getting gas had been a chore. A little taste of the battle yet to come. If there was going to be a battle and not a massacre. Plague and I had come close to dying when we had stopped to go to the restroom. We both didn't want to stop but the drive wasn't short enough that we could make it without relieving ourselves at least once.

I looked at Plague and saw him remaining calm. I checked my own expression in the side view mirror and didn't like what it revealed. My face looked like it was holding back a breakdown. I tried to control my face and finally managed to make it similar to Plague's.

He turned to me and smiled, but then his face returned to his former calm expression.

A few minutes later I saw the town come into view and felt fear like I hadn't before. This was it. This was the final move towards humanity's salvation. And my first look at the city showed that our task was going to be far from easy.

Plague stopped the car and we quickly got our weapons as the screaming in the distance continued. I steadied my hands as I gathered my weapons for this venture. I looked at the food and reminded myself that Plague and I would have a picnic once this mission was over. I cocked my gun and looked at Winchester.

It might've been a beautiful city in the past, but now Gralg was all over the buildings and ground. Inspecting my surroundings I saw movements of the infected. We had been noticed.

Turning to Plague I saw him looking at me.

"This is it." He said and we kissed briefly.

"For good luck?" I joked and a hint of a smile was shown on his lips.

We then put on our masks to protect us from any airborne Gralg that decided to come our way. I hated the new rule of wearing masks as they felt uncomfortable on my face. But I knew that every one had to stay safe.

Plague set a slow and steady pace as we came close to entering the city, but I just wanted to run. I hated waiting because danger felt more real that way. Waiting allowed my mind to wander to places that I wanted to keep hidden. And those places were meant to stay hidden or else I'd lose my sanity.

After an eternity the waiting was over. An infected came towards me and I shot it. I yelled in joy as the possibility of surviving became real to me. I was reminded that celebrating too early is dangerous as a bullet flew inches behind my head and killed an infected.

"Tha-" I said and turned my attention to the infected that were quickly coming after us.

I hid behind a trashcan after battling more infected and rested for a second. I had to calm myself down or else I'd be useless to every one. I had to save the world so I had to focus.

Once an infected came up behind me I was drawn out of my own thoughts. I kicked it and it fell down while grabbing my leg. I shot it in the head and got up quickly.

Where was Plague?

I started running around shooting down the infected in my way. Blood filled the places where I walked, but I couldn't find him. When I thought he was dead or worse I heard a gunshot. There he was and I battled my way to the small store.

We nodded to each other and a woman's scream made us turn our heads to watch. The infected were backing away from this one woman. They were excited. Had I passed other uninfected people? It was possible because my mind was only focusing on the infected. It was those people that were dangerous.

As her screams increased and she fell down with her legs spread, I knew what was going to happen. I didn't want to focus on the future. I didn't want to focus on the thing that was slowly coming out of her.

The blur's head came out and fear increased in me. While the infected were dangerous, the blur was smaller and faster. It would be hell to make sure it didn't kill me or Plague while also focusing on the infected.
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 The screams were too loud to bare. I couldn't tell if they came from me or the infected chasing me. Every chance I got I shot back at them. I couldn't stop moving and focus solely on them or else I'd never arrive at my destination. The blur made its final battle cry as I shot it down.

I wanted to shout in joy and celebrate killing the abomination that had been chasing me for what seemed like eternity. But was probably only a few minutes. Minutes that would make it hard for me to sleep tonight. If I lived long enough to fall asleep. Or if I could find a bed that would allow me to become calm enough to dream.

"Plague!" I shouted and shot an infected that appeared from nowhere. It probably had appeared from somewhere, they weren't supernatural after all, but my fear was blinding me. Not good.

"Plague!" I shouted again and had to dodge an infected. My movements appeared slower to me but I still had to fight. I couldn't lie down and die. I still had to find Plague and get to the lab. I wouldn't fail this mission.

I continued to call Plague's name and look for the lab through the hoard of infected. Soon after the blur had been born we had been separated. I couldn't recall the exact reasons we were separated but knew that the infected had begun to attack in an increased fervor shortly before.

The lab seemed to be in sight and then I tripped. Three of the infected took those precious few seconds to attack me. I punched one, hit another, and shot the third. I wasn't going to die without Plague. Not even God himself could go against that one demand.

Standing up I felt my purpose renewed. I was going to get to the lab that was now very close to me and then find Plague so we could get out of Winchester. In the movies my lover showed me, there had always been a downpour to signify a dramatic scene or moment. But the weather here had become bright as the sun came out.

I ran towards the lab and shot at the infected. Now there was no fear in me as my goal was in sight. Another blur came at me and I barely shot it in time. I touched the lab's outer wall and felt happiness. Our Superiors were wrong to doubt Plague and myself. Of course we could get this job done.

We hadn't been involved in the majority of the fighting, but I was far from untrained. I shouted random sounds and shot at the approaching infected. Waiting was all I had to do now. Surely Plague would've figured out where the lab was and would be arriving shortly. There would only be a little more time until he arrived and then we could get out of this place.

What if he had gone inside? No. I knew he wouldn't go in unless I was with him. He was afraid I would get myself killed without him.

The temptation to go in was getting great. If I just got the scientists and their cure I could wait for Plague. He would be very proud of me.

Then I saw Plague's form coming towards me. But something seemed very off. The way he walked was like an infected. Maybe he was blending in. Yes, that was the logical conclusion. Plague was clever and I was surprised that tactic had never occurred to me.

In a few seconds I found my rationalizations torn apart. I couldn't deny what I saw. If I denied it I would be dead. But what was the point of living anymore if it was true?

Plague's mask was hanging off and there was a bit of green on his lips. Those lips I had kissed earlier with a good luck kiss. His face was contorted in an angry expression like Thomas Savan had had on his.

"You cheated on me with that whore!" Plague shouted and came at me.

My gun quickly pointed at his head and my mouth was unable to speak. If I shot him then I would live. But was living without Plague worth saving my life?

Plague didn't slow down and my gun kept its aim for a headshot.

Seconds dragged by as I decided what to do. Plague had been my guide, protector, and lover since the beginning. Not the exact beginning, but very close to it. I had grown with him in ways that mere time could not measure.

Before today he had been a human that would always be by my side. Even when in my lust, and stupidity, I had slept with someone else. A lovely woman who had made me feel something that I could never feel with a man. Not even Plague.

He had forgiven me, but now the rage in his eyes showed that memory as the one that was fueling him on. As Plague was an infected, he had become driven mad by the memory. It was hard for me to think of the infected Plague as anything but the rational Plague that I was used to. I thought I could say the right words and he would abandon his madness.

But that wasn't true and I had to learn to accept that.

Plague continued to scream about Jillian and my slip of loyalty. The words he said rung true and my gun started to shake. I had to make my choice now.

Pulling the trigger only took a few seconds, but the damage would last much longer. Plague's corpse fell down and I tried to look for a sign that he was thankful to have been put out of his misery.

However, he was like the rest of the infected in that his humanity hadn't been returned to him.

As I thought about Plague's death and the fact that I killed him, my gun seemed to shoot at the other infected without me controlling it. I didn't care about dying now and wondered why I had decided to shoot him. He who had loved me and didn't have any control over his madness.

While I wasn't a soldier by choice, but by necessity, I hadn't fully learned how to control my emotions. I knew those that did the majority of the fighting could hold back any feelings until after they were safely inside a base. I hadn't yet learned that particular trick.

For now tears came down my cheeks and I didn't think of wiping them away. There would just be more after anyways.

After a few minutes I was able to recall the mission and why I found myself in Kentucky. If I didn't get the cure then Plague would have died in vain. I would complete this mission for him and after that...the future would happen tomorrow and so I'd just focus on the now.

The infected had backed away, at least for the moment, and I noticed something. Of course I had been distracted before and so hadn't noticed it.

Signs that the infected had entered the building were there. Maybe there was better protection inside and so these signs meant nothing. Whatever the case was, I raced inside to make sure.

I realized after I entered through the doorway that my hope was short lived. The infected had broken through the windows and so the door being closed wasn't odd. However, the building was trashed. Blood of infected and non-infected alike littered the floor and walls.

I kept running to make sure that the scientists hadn't been killed. Well, the fact was that I needed to make sure that the cure was intact. That sounded callous to myself, but Plague was dead and I didn't care who else died now.

I finally got to the lab and stared at the sight. A lone infected was feasting on one of the dead scientists and it looked at me. I stayed as still as I could and looked around for the cure. My eyes found a small vial. That must be it.

I raced and grabbed it a few seconds before the infected turned its eyes on me and attacked. Killing it was easy and I felt glad that the mission was over. Well, it would be over once I got to the car and left Winchester behind for good.

Then the sounds of more infected came as I turned towards the lab door. I started shooting at them and running out of the building so that I could get to the car.
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The Green Links