Larah was still holding Hope. Exhaustion had pulled her head low, and she was barely keeping her eyes open. She lay down on the bed and looked at Hope with a gentle glow in her eyes as she began to speak.
'Funny, isn't it? She's not even my daughter, yet I treat her like my own.'
'There's nothing wrong with that, Larah. Really,' Dean replied. 'You were always fit to be a mother. I can remember how once you told me that you played at mother and father with puppets.'
'Hahahah, yes I did tell you that. … So, will you be the father? Hahah—just kidding.' Her gaze shifted from Hope to Dean. 'You heard that, Nicole. What will we do?'
'I don't know. If what she said is true, then… let's wait until this battle is over. I am sure we will have some answers by then!' The cries of people echoed through the corridors. A group suddenly stormed into the room, startling Dean.
'What's happening? Why is everyone here?'
A woman from the group replied,
'You saw the crowd in front of the hospital when you arrived, right? We need a place to hide. Some chose the forest behind the hospital, others came in here. Personally, I trust the hospital more—the military is protecting it. Who knows what's hiding in the woods?' The room was now packed—too many people to fit. Even the corridor outside was overrun.
'Dean,' Larah called. 'I need to pee.'
'Me too! Let's get out of here.'
Nicole entered the briefing room where soldiers stood ready. Commander Nootra approached her.
'Make sure the new two get the weapons they want.'
'Will they be strong enough?'
'They have no choice. And to the rest of you—we march.' He left, leaving Nicole with Sark and Jessie.
'I assume you two belong to Dean and Larah, right?' she asked.
'Yes,' Sark answered. 'Your voice... you don't sound too happy.'
'Sharp one—just like your friends. They're alive, hiding. But you two won't be hiding.' She strolled to the end of the room and pressed a red button. A wall split in two, revealing an armory filled with all kinds of weapons.
'Pick what you want. But remember—if you lose control,' she bared her fangs, 'I'll deal with you myself.' (Sark: So she's one of them too…) 'Don't worry,' she added with a cold grin. 'Only if you lose control. So make sure that it does not happen!'
Outside the hospital, the soldiers had cleared the entrance and set up barricades. Weapons were ready. Just in time, Commander Nootra and Krus arrived.
'Where's the special force?' Krus asked.
'I sent Beta—those with special weapons—to the hospital in case a ghoul breaks in. Alpha—the former immune humans—are in the forest, flanking. It's better for them to fight away from civilians. Why? You got doubts?'
'No. Just forgot…' Krus smirked. 'You're a Celestial—ranked just below queen or king. As long as the enemy doesn't have someone on your level, we'll be fine.'
'Let's hope I don't have to use my second transformation.' He squinted. 'There they are. Bastards.'
The ghouls were in sight. A mass of them. Among them were deformed ones—creatures fused together. Their bodies had grown larger, limbs twisted or multiplied grotesquely. One of them charged forward. The soldiers had prepared for ghouls—but this monstrous thing radiated terror. It was enough to make them hesitate.
Commander Nootra stepped forward and transformed. His claws grew, his body expanded, covered in thick black fur. A towering werewolf now stood in his place.
Without pause, he lunged at the mutant. The ghoul swung its three arms, but Nootra met it with just one. He extended his claws and slashed—severing all three limbs. Then he grabbed the monster's neck, bit its head off, and spat it onto the ground. The werewolf's howl rang out, shaking the fear from the soldiers' bones. They bellowed in return and opened fire on the rest of the horde—never once hitting their commander.
In the hospital basement, a couple had snuck off for some alone time. Now they were making out, clothes half-off, lost in each other. Then they heard banging. They paused, looking around—but saw nothing. The banging returned, louder this time. It was coming from beneath the floor. Suddenly, a hand burst through the concrete. As the figure fought to break free, the couple stood frozen.
'Should we... I don't know... do something?' the woman asked.
'Why? That's just a human hand.'
'Since when can humans punch through concrete?'
'Since the moon turned fucking red!' he snapped. They kept bickering, but the person had already broken through. It was John.
'See, babe? Told you it's a person.'
But John wasn't alone. Behind him, ghouls emerged one by one, clawing through the rubble. The couple barely had time to scream before John reached out and snapped both their necks.