How can anyone truly prepare for the loss of a loved one? As this thought consumed Noah, he felt himself slipping away; the human mind is a peculiar realm, like an uncontrollable version of oneself. A deep sense of dread began to settle in his heart.
"How can I accept this? Kali, my daughter, is waiting for her mother to wake up! Can't you help her? There has to be something you can do!"
Before Kali could respond, a loud rumble echoed from the clinic entrance, followed by screams. They both sprinted down the corridor to see what was happening.
A fire truck smashed through the clinic doors, and a group of firefighters stormed in wielding axes. Something was off about them; their eyes glinted with murderous intent, and bone-chilling smiles stretched across their faces.
They screamed, "Praise Chaos! Praise the Void!" as their frenzied chants gave way to violence. Without hesitation, they lunged at the panicking crowd, severing limbs as blood splattered across the scene like grotesque brush strokes on a surreal canvas. Every cut, every cry of agony seemed to fuel their twisted euphoria, their smiles growing wider, their laughter echoing through the chaos. They moved like deranged artists, reveling in the suffering they inflicted, while the masses, paralyzed by confusion and terror, scrambled in all directions, desperate to escape the nightmare unfolding before them.
Shock registered on Noah and Kali's faces as they realized they couldn't help those in the reception area. They sprinted back to the ER, Noah reaching for Judy and gripping her tightly by the hand.
Once inside Lucy's room, they quickly barricaded the door, gasping for breath. They both understood that this was merely a temporary solution to the chaos unfolding outside.
Noah gazed at his wife's face; she lay sleeping soundly, black patches beginning to mar her once-smooth skin. The screams outside continued to echo, punctuated by the chilling refrain of "Praise Chaos! Praise the void!"
He wrapped his arm around Judy, trying to shield her ears from the horrifying sounds. Meanwhile, Kali cautiously peered through the window, straining to see if the firefighters were approaching their room.
He spotted a group of five hulking men, each gripping firefighting tools, their exposed skin marred by the unmistakable black patches of the virus. His heart pounded as they moved toward the ER room. Fear gripped him, threatening to freeze him in place, but he turned and hurried toward Noah.
"They're close," he whispered, breathless, his eyes locked on the door. "They've got the virus—black marks." He paused, still staring, dread creeping over him as he thought through their options. If they wanted to escape, they'd have to navigate the corridor—either risk the back exit or the front door. But either way, they'd be seen by the infected firefighters.
Noah gently kissed his daughter's head and whispered for her to hide beneath her mother's bed, his actions heavy with unspoken farewell. Footsteps thudded just outside the door, growing louder.
Kali met Noah's eyes with a sharp, determined gaze. "I have an idea! Stay here. Trust me," he said before Noah could object. Without hesitation, Kali slipped out into the corridor, positioning himself to block the room from view as he closed the door behind him.
Now standing face to face with the five men, Kali couldn't help but feel dwarfed. They towered over him, each one looking as though he could wrestle a bear, their eyes burning with something far beyond reason. Even though Kali was tall, in that moment, he felt like a child lost in a storm.
The men paused, scrutinizing him, sizing him up. With no other choice, Kali raised his hands and, with a voice steady against the fear in his chest, shouted, "Praise Chaos! Praise the Void!"
The men exchanged dark glances before their lips curled into unsettling smiles, the kind that sent a shiver down Kali's spine. The leader of the group stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity. "Do you accept the truth?" he asked, his voice low and sinister.
Kali fought the primal urge to flee but forced himself to stand firm. "I do," he replied, the words heavy in his mouth. He knew he was walking a razor's edge, bluffing his way through a deadly game. But for Noah's family, and for the hope of understanding the virus to stop its spread, he had no choice. The risk had to be taken.
The large man clapped a hand on Kali's shoulder with surprising force. "Good, good. The truth will set you free, my friend," he said, his grin widening unnervingly. "The savior will come for you too. But first, you must pay tribute to be one with the truth."
Kali's heart stuttered. His instincts screamed that this was the moment he'd crossed the line. Had he made a fatal mistake by stepping into the corridor?
The leader unsheathed a knife from his wrist holster, and with a swift motion, slashed a thin cut across his own hand. Blood welled from the wound, dark and viscous. He held his palm out to Kali, the crimson droplets dripping onto the floor. "Drink, my friend."
Kali froze, his mind racing. To drink would mean infection, becoming another mindless follower of the virus. His pulse quickened as he hesitated, the choice weighing heavily in the air. One wrong move, and he might doom not just himself, but everyone still hiding behind that door.
While chaos brewed in the corridor, Noah strained to listen to every word, his heart pounding in his chest. His mind was racing, cursing Kali silently. This stupid friend... How could you put yourself in this position? The panic in his chest was growing as he thought of how to help, but he glanced back at his daughter, curled beneath the bed. He had to protect her. He had to protect them both.
Noah scanned the room, his eyes darting over the medical equipment, searching for anything that could create a distraction. His pulse quickened as an idea formed—if he could make enough noise, maybe they could slip past the men in the corridor. But that meant leaving Lucy behind. The thought hit him like a punch to the gut.
He looked over at his wife, still unconscious, lying motionless on the ER bed. Her pale face was a stark reminder of her fragile state. Noah stood frozen, his mind torn between two impossible choices. How can I leave her? he thought, his throat tightening. How can I abandon my soulmate?
But his daughter, trembling under the bed, needed him. The weight of the decision pressed down on him, heavier than anything he had ever felt before. Do I stay, hoping for a miracle, or do I take Kali and my daughter and run? His mind screamed for an answer, but all he felt was the crushing weight of guilt.
Leaving Lucy felt like betraying her, like turning his back on the woman he loved. Yet staying could mean dooming them all.