…
Ian and I placed our arms under his and helped him over to the rest of the team. After we sat him down, I offered him a ration bar and water. He didn’t even glance at it. I know it wasn’t one of the most delectable of culinary items, but the least he could have done was taken it. I placed the water and ration at his side in case he might want some later. I felt culpable since he was one of our own.
“Where is the rest of your squad soldier?” asked Derek. No answer but his eyes did move in Derek’s direction. “Are you hurt in any way?” I asked as I checked his legs. He seemed to have a small fracture in his left leg; I would need to use a splint after I checked the rest of him. As I began to move toward his back I noticed what looked like an extremely large vein protruding. “I’m no connoisseur of medical issues, but I think something’s wrong with this guy.” I said. I ripped off the back of his shirt and stared in horror at what I saw. His entire back was construed in thick, organic looking tendrils and close the center was what seemed to be small eyes and antennae. The sight made me gag as I slowly backed away. “Please.” The marine spoke for the first time. “Please kill me.”
Those first words seemed to be his last as he fell to the floor. Then his body arched upward and he began screaming. The tendrils were spreading across his body at an impossibly fast rate. His bones were cracking and being repositioned to form something new. Before our eyes we witnessed something that no person should have seen. Then he stopped moving and fell to the floor once again.
None of us could conjecture what had just transpired before us, but before we could think of some sort of explanation, the man rose to his feet. Though I doubt he could be considered a man with contorted body and odd shaped limbs, some of his humanity remained. The main portion was his head, but it had turned to a greenish brown color. Then he lunged toward Ian at lightening speed. It tackled him to the ground, trying to beat him to death. Edwin kicked the creature off of Ian and shot it in the chest, but it didn’t fall.
Instead it charged at its attacker, swinging its fists wildly through the air. Edwin shot it in the leg and it buckled, tumbling towards him. I pulled out an incendiary grenade and threw it on the thing. It didn’t move after that. In the back of our minds I know, we all gave our condolences to this fallen brother as the smell of his burning flesh filled the air.
We all seemed to be trying to connive a way to understand what had happened. I shoved my thoughts in the back of my head; we needed to consummate on the mission. It might have been too late any way. “Come on we need to get moving.” I said. Only three of us started moving. Then with one last glance at the simmering body, Edwin followed behind. Eerie sounds of metal bending and things screaming began to follow behind us. We picked up our pace to a slight run. Then Ian, who had lead, stopped. “Ian what’s wrong?” Derek asked. He didn’t answer. Then in one the flash of an eye his body was torn in half. Blood flowed in every direction.
That’s when we saw what surrounded us. Bodies, hundreds of them, all piled in groups, and where Ian had once stood, a monster was now waiting. A giant creature, it looked similar to what the Marine had looked like after his transformation, but it was about the size of a Hunter. The creature bellowed and slowly trudged towards us. “Open fire! Open fire!” I yelled over the radio. Immediately we all began firing. As the chorus of our weapons echoed around us, I noticed that the creature had stopped moving.
I lowered my rifle to see if it was dead, though Edwin and Derek kept theirs trained on it. Its body shivered as it repositioned its front arms, which had been protecting it. Then Edwin threw a frag right under it. The explosion shook the ground beneath our feet. It was dead, but it was also when I noticed something that I hadn’t noticed before. The bodies that were around us were moving. It was as if something was in them. It looked like the same kind of creature that had taken over the Marine.
As bodies began to rise, we prepared ourselves for the oncoming fight. Derek picked up the Covenant Plasma cannon and started to fire at the slowly forming monstrosities. He shot until the weapon was dry. I threw out some incendiary grenades as the others mowed down whatever made it through. It was so intense; that I could barely see anything. Something sharp pierced my side, but I kept firing ignoring the agonizing pain.
Then it stopped. Nothing was moving. The pain in my side quickly returned and seemed to be spreading. I looked over at Derek and Edwin. They were staring at something behind me. I quickly turned raising my rifle. There was nothing there. The pain kept growing and spreading. I finally looked down and I instantly knew what they had been aiming at. On my side a small creature covered in blood, like that of which was attached to the Marine, was now on me. It wasn’t just pain it was sending through my body but itself as well.
I looked back up at my brothers for one last moment, and then all went black. As I struggled to open my eyes again; I heard a voice. “Edwin is that you? Hello?” I called out. Still blind, I called again. “Guys are you out there? I can’t see.” Silence. Finally my eyes opened. I was lying on the ground, but I couldn’t move. I looked around frantically to find my comrades. I saw them only a few feet away. They seemed to be talking about something. I tried to speak but only a strange gurgling sound came out. “He’s been infected Derek. Who knows how long it will be till he turns into whatever those things are.” Edwin said. “I know but he’s one of us, we should try to help him.” It was Derek talking now.
Why can’t I move?, I thought. This is no longer your domain. A monstrous voice boomed in my head. Wha…? Who are you? I? I am the monument to all your sins. Then my body or its body began to move. Both Derek and Edwin were still ranting about what to do with me. My body slowly crept forward towards them. My left arm, now a mass of sharp tendrils, raised to attack them. Noooo!!! I screamed, but it was to late. The tendrils pierced Edwin’s back. Blood splattered across Derek’s faceplate. As Edwin fell to the floor Derek turned drawing his rifle, but wasn’t fast enough. The monster knocked him to the ground and jump on top of him. It hit him again and again. Then there was a shattering sound as his helmet finally broke. All I could see was one blood shot eye through his visor. “Why?” It was his last word; he was dead. Come, there is more to do. My body rose and began to walk off into the shadows.
Sorry for the triple post, it wouldn’t fit into two let alone one… -_-
