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Red lights flashed simultaneously with the blaring screech of the siren. Both my ears and eyes attempted to adjust to the change.

“What’s that?” I asked, but the men ignored me. Deth backed against the wall, hiding behind his female assistant, while Enzo and Gabriel lifted their guns.

The two exchanged long looks before Gabriel inched forward, using one hand to open the door.

He had just swung it open when the Ragers submerged on him like maggots on a decomposing body. He screamed, falling backwards, as the monsters ate away at his flesh. His mouth opened in a silent scream as slowly, almost agonizingly so, his stomach was torn to shreds by the Ragers.

“Fuck!” Enzo shouted, firing at the creatures. More and more were filing in, their faces grotesque, heads canted to the side, garnet-colored, sunken eyeballs emanating such rage and hunger.

I was like that.

I had been one of them.

The realization momentarily cemented my feet to the ground before I came to my fucking senses and lunged towards Addie, pulling her to my chest. I held her like a baby - and I supposed with her mental state, she was just as fragile as one.

It didn’t take long for the Ragers to pull Enzo down as well, gnawing his leg off his body. I felt no sympathy for him or Gabriel. The monsters got what they fucking deserved.

There was a feminine scream, and the assistant fell as well, disappearing beneath the mound of Ragers. Her clipboard clattered by Deth’s feet, the doctor cowering in the corner of the room.

Deciding quickly, I lunged for the weapon around Enzo’s shoulder. He screamed, eyes begging me to put him out of his misery as the Rager pulled out what appeared to be a rib.

Only seconds later, the light faded from his eyes as he succumbed to his injuries.

I didn’t pay him any heed, attempting to balance Addie and the gun.

But I couldn’t just leave…

Not yet…

I fired at an incoming Rager, and he collapsed.

“Help me!” Deth begged desperately. “Help me!”

I moved towards him, and I saw his body physically sag in relief. That relief lasted only a moment when I ignored him, grabbing the clipboard off the ground and placing it on Addie’s chest, before moving towards the exit.

I fired once, twice, three times, until there was a path big enough for us to fit through. I twisted my body protectively around Addie’s, the memory of the last time I had done that haunting me.

Still, it was worth it. I would die one hundred deaths before I allowed one fucking hair on her head to be hurt.

“Help me!” Deth cried. “I can help! You need me if you want a fucking cure!” His screams were hoarse, becoming more indecipherable the longer he yelled.

I laughed maniacally, glancing in both directions down the hall. It was a bloodbath, Ragers and soldiers fighting. Gunfire rang amongst the screams and growls.

I didn’t need him. Not really. I had Addie and the fucking clipboard with all their notes. I wasn’t positive, but I hoped this information could help someone find a cure. Maybe.

In all honesty? I didn’t give a fucking shit.

“You need me!” Deth screamed again, but his voice broke off, turning blood-curdling. I didn’t have to look to know the Ragers had descended on him.

Holding Addie tighter against my chest with one hand and holding the gun up with the other, I moved down the hall.

* * *

Declan

The room was an explosion of purple.

Not a bright purple, but a darker, more subdued color.