Page 24 of Neon Pestilence
She glances back at me when she happens upon a particularly over-infected being. Their skin is sick, peeling away from their muscles. Their eyes are hollow and dead. Empty, soulless.
This one has been infected for a long time, it seems, I tell her. Watching as she stalks around them, fingers under her chin as ifshe’s assessing them piece by pestilent piece. Their empty eyes barely even track her movements.
“Can I do it?” she questions, looking at me, a fire burning deep in her eyes.
I nod slowly, taken aback by her unusual request. Reaching into my suit pocket, I pull out a single humor vile. It’s cold between my fingers, even with the leather separating us. The one reserved only for the most infected patients.
I flick the glass top off, placing the vile in her waiting hand. She moves quickly, dancing around the infected like a goddess made for entertainment.
She fakes it all so well, dancing with them like a lover, making them feel safe, normal. Her eyes meet mine, turning into devilish slits. She smiles, a wicked one, licks her lips, and leans into the person.
Her other hand moves so quickly, you could only see it if you were looking. I watch as the vile catches skin. She struggles slightly but continues pushing until it breaks through the patient’s neck muscles.
Blood arcs through the air, spattering across Indy’s face. It lasts only seconds before it begins sputtering out in long waves, traveling down the patient's body until a dark puddle forms beneath them.
She embraces them, almost like a hug, but I can tell her arms are struggling to support the weight. The struggles don’t last long as she leads them to the floor, dropping them in a pile below her.
The patient’s eyes have rolled back, and a foamy greenish substance has begun to trickle out of their mouth. My jaw falls slack in awe.
Such a beautiful angel, perfectly built for destruction. And when she turns to me, a satisfied grin spreads across her face, I know there’s no hope left for me.
My little raver runs through my veins like the pestilence, and only she can cure me.
Chapter 23
Indy
Ispend the rest of the night with The Doctor, watching as he rids the festival of infection. He moves through the crowds like a shadow, bodies dropping around him like flies.
I always knew this world was corrupted, but I never knew how deep the infection ran. It’s tangled in society, roots running deep, spreading its reach further and further.
Never stopping.
Never waiting.
We toss the last body in its final resting place. I grab the shovel and start packing the wet earth back into the hole. After a few minutes, my arms begin to give out. The adrenaline did a good job of hiding how much hard work burying bodies is.
A warm hand grips my shoulder, squeezing slightly. I look down and see the familiar worn leather glove of The Doctor. Dropping the shovel, I turn around until I’m facing him.
The familiar scent of myrrh and lavender penetrates my nostrils as I lay my head against his chest. He stands there for a second, arms wide like he doesn’t know how to react to the embrace.
I feel his arms wrap around me moments later, pulling my body into him. I breathe deeply, trying to ingrain the scent of him in my memory. We have only one more night left together, and I’m not ready to leave him.
The few days we’ve been together have been electric. And I know it’s crazy as fuck to think, but I’m pretty sure I’m falling for him. He’s shown me a side of the world I wasn’t prepared to see, but seeing it with him at my side makes it a lot less scary. Like nothing can hurt me as long as he’s here.
I’m not ready to go back to my mundane life, working at a job for people who don’t even care about me. Living in a world filled with so much hatred and violence. So much greed and inhumanity.
At least, with him, I feel like I’m changing something; making an impact. Doing something to fix this disaster of a world we call home.
At least here I’m needed.
I pull away from the hug, not ready for it to end, and sigh deeply. My heart breaks at the thought of a future without him, and I don’t know how to process it.
“You could st-stay… here. With me.”
His muffled voice stops my heart, wrapping around me like a secret meant only for me. I look at him as he stands there in the darkness, towering above me like a fortress. Strong and sturdy, waiting for something to hit.
Thoughts race around my head. Me, back at home. Me, here with him. My best friend, my job, my life. How would it feel to just quit it all? Would it be worth it? Can I even do it?
