Infected Chronicles: prolouge

Loki

I gazed outward through reflective panels of glass, toward vast features of rolling hills. They connected with blissful swirls of pink and blue clouds, which kissed the luminous ground below.

I couldn't be happier.

My hands clutched the thick, clear vial in a tight fist. This object held all of my dreams. My ambitions. My greatest desires. My greatest task. "One day this will be mine," I whispered, eyes fixed beyond the window.

My eyes traced the beginnings of my soon to be kingdom. Toward the outer right, closet to the vast mountains stood level one. Where huts clustered together like a swarm of worker bees. Dark allies clustered all around hiding the nightmares, that the night brought out. Their broken down houses and abandon lots, being taken over by billowing grass climbing up the ancient walls. These were the greatest eye sore to my kingdom he thought bitterly.

Toward the left in the fields rested the a commendations of Level two. My working class citizen's home stood in formation. Each ranging from looming apartment buildings. Where brittle bricks cracked revealing its age.

All around the city rested the hulking walls, the City limits were a massive circular wall made from steel and wired currents of electricity. This gave the protection and security of curious minds I thought.

Level three rested where giants of steel and glass that shimmered like a crown jewel. The parks around held delicate benches and swaying magical trees that stood guard. Where shops brought out the wonders of everywhere for those of the wealthiest families lived. This he thought was my greatest joy.

A warm debonair smile formed as my mind wandered, replacing the reflection of me with that I most craved. Power. A crown rested upon my brow flawlessly. Its delicate arches of gold in twined with jewels that blazed on the tips of spikes. White cotton covered parts of my ruffled light brown hair as determined Grey eyes sparkled with joy.

My attention was brought back to reality, chasing away the fantasy along with it. The sound of muffled footsteps echoed around the room as the most precious part of my plan entered.

Experiment 0001. The prototype that would lead to many more like him to stand by my side. His built was lean, perfect for the assignment. His washed out brown eyes locked on mine.

My memory flashed back to the early days of the plan and the experiments that were conducted. Experiment 0001 was a street urchin, a boy no one would ever miss or think about. And in the brilliance of science was transformed in the perfect weapon. The perfect prototype.

I looked waiting until he stood at attention by me.

"Father?" He acknowledged nervously.

"You know your mission, correct?" I demanded. I had let myself turn toward the man; waiting like a school teacher would for a lacking student's response.

The man nodded. "I am to neutralize all workers. Then commence with the termination of myself," he responded obediently.

I nodded in return, pleased. " Good. You are dismissed," I stated, not even watching to make sure he leaves. I know he won't fail. It's impossible for him to do anything but follow commands.

He left quickly.

I watched before sighing, on to the next priority. My eyes flicked back toward the window, soon my kingdom will have citizens if my plan works I thought.

My legs increase the speed as I move toward the looming tower. My legs raced up the circulating stairwell heading closer toward the top. Soon i reached my destination the beacon. The beacon was the capsule that would make everything work. Inside was a small air cannon that would spread the disease into the atmosphere making sure no one was safe from it's touch. I place the vial inside the containment unit. Before imputing the numerous number code, cranking the rustic lever. I watched as the mesmerizing hum of the machine became active, waking from its slumber. A fine mist spread across the land, following the land. In a matter of days; the disease would continue its force and send all to the city, the paradise away from the deadly virus. 

My thoughts filtered outward into memories of this brilliant day.

" Can you see it my boy! All of this! Every last bit of land will soon be apart of the New order. And you and me will be there together" he said, his voice drew rough and ragged from old age. A bony webbed hand rested on my shoulder squeezing the warmth and joy we both felt. 

" Really Father? everything?" i asked aloud unable to fathom our creation. Father told me years before when he first rescued me from the rancid gutters, that he worked for years on the cities limits, the walls down to the building. He told me stories of war and how the world was in the early 2000's. Our creation was almost done. I smiled kneeling down, My face inches from my beloved father's face. His cold raspy breath tickled mt cheek as i listened to him tell stories again. 

His voice began to shake and coughs ran havoc shuddering his whole body. His shaky white hand released the grip of his chair covering his lips. A thin strain of thick red spit followed his hand away; Jerks sent him spiraling across. Rivets of crimson tears bled from his eye sockets, his mouth and nose. Boils appeared out of no where pulsing more blood out of the open wounds. Until noting left but a mangled corpse drenched in its own liquid life force.

My voice wouldn't work nothing worked but the howling rolls of anguish and misery escaping my frozen lips. My legs deserted me as I fell to the ground a huddle being, lesser than before. Today marked the end of me i thought. As i picked up his body, caressed in my arms. I set out for the old willow tree his favorite shaded spot as i began to dig. A promise exploded through my mind, Displaying the plan into my renta's. I would follow through with our plan. I will see the day where my father's dream and mine will become reality.

" For you father, Our dream has come true." i whispered snapping out of the memories that still cripped me with misery. Like an anchor slowly bringing me to my own demise.

*********************************

Graham

I hastened my speed as I entered the armory. It was a twenty by twenty room, with a large steel pinusal in the center. Steel shelves held the weapons the Leader desired.

Toward the right of the room, hanging off the walls were the blades, glistening my distorted figure. Toward the left held what I came for. The guns. I select a semi-automatic .45 caliber pistol, placing a single bullet in its chamber.

Without further delay, I increased my speed to a jog, heading toward the Labs. The Labs used to be a warehouse, but was converted to their needs as a workplace. As I entered, a cool air embraced my jittery body. The lab was split into three sections. Section A, where they were now, was for the computers to input data taken from the other sections. It was a relatively spacious room roughly around thirty by forty. Computers were stacked toward the right side of the walls running soundlessly. The rest were open in case of an incident in the other sections. Section A was the go to when things went bad I thought. Section B was where they trained people like me. I thought back to the needless trials on the treadmills. The test to strengthen my tactics and my strength. Then section C. A section I was never permitted to enter; but rumors said that was where the plans for the city and the workers themselves, their jobs, their lives, their everything. My gaze focused on the intercom. The loud chirp of the speakers coming alive seemed to introduce His crackling voice. "All workers please report to section A. All workers."

My eyes wandered toward the mass of bodies facing me.

" What is it, Graham?" a large man asked, a clipboard clutched in his possessive hands.

A smile broadened on my lips. I prayed that they couldn't see through the mask I put up to hide the truth.

Loki wanted me to show you my newest trick," I lied. "So if you don't mind getting closer together? I really don't want to hurt you." I explain. A smirk flashed across my face as I watched them murmur their agreements to follow orders. Like lemmings being led to their demise, I thought.

As if on auto pilot, I began to run. My legs blurred into a mass of speed. The images around me blurred into flashes of colors while everything around remained motionless. As I reached three hundred miles per hour, sweat beaded down my brow. Within the circle, an air tight vortex formed, sucking. Smothering the blood curdling screams of the workers inside, trying to find a way to survive. My ears focused on the wind, trying to take my mind off their screams. My heart felt as if it would implode at any moment, already beating rapidly against my rib cage.

After a moment longer, the screams died, revealing shuddering silence. My legs skidded to a halt, trembling as the muscles strained to hold my weight upright.

The image that I witnessed next destroyed me. All of the Institutes workers. The family I never had.

Dead.

Their pale blue toned skin glistened droplets of sweat. Their veins bulged outward seeking air that never came. Their lips curved into silent screams forever. All because of me.

And then something clicked inside of me.

My hands anxiously raked through my moist hair. I took deep breaths. I'm a murderer. Was this all I was? Just a drone designed to follow a merciless task? Did I even matter to him?

I thought-- I thought that Loki loved me. That I was his pride and joy. That I...I was his son he rescued after I passed the test.

I shook my head, ridding it of these lies. " No-- No he knows what he's doing. You have to follow through."

My thoughts turned to the What Ifs. "What do I have meeting me?" I looked to the ceiling. "Is there a god for people like me?" “Would they even save me?”

Like a puppet being lead by its strings, my hand moved to the gun's holster attached to my waist, taking out the pistol. My clouded mind shakily positioned the gun by my left temple. The cool kiss of metal greeted me.

" For you, Father," I gasped. My body flinched as the pistol clicked my death into place.

With a gruntal cry, I pulled the trigger.

~~~~~

The corpse stood there for a few moments as if it had not yet realized it was dead. Then, all at once, it came crumbling down in a pool of brainal fluids and crimson blood. Staining the tiled white floors red with the clotting blood.

Just another death taken in the midst of this massacre.

The deed was done.