About a week after the accident I decided I should properly apologize to Cathy and her Mom. I went the same time I'd usually visit them if they were absent from school or anything. It was about 7:14 , that way the mother would also be home not just the twins.
The afternoon was cold, not before-winter cold, just slightly cold. The crescent moon had already begun making its way to the center of the sky.
As I walked up to the driveway I saw that the light on the front porch was on which was strange because they never leave it on. Suddenly I was plagued with worry. Worry that something worse had happened to Cathy.
I quickly stepped up to the front door, wrung the bell and waited. I waited for what seemed like an eternity but after a while Kate came up to the screen door.
She looked tired and pale, more than her usual shade of pale like she hadn't slept in days and kinda sad, I can't blame her.
"If you came to apologize, then forget it, my mom isn't here and Cathy's still in the hospital and you don't need to apologize to me."
She stepped back as if to close the door, "Wait!" I tried, She stopped.
"I actually came to see you," I lied. Her eyes lit up for a second and then went back to studying me, I guess she didn't believe me.
"I figured I'd come and see if you were ok." She gave me a faint smile.
Then stepped out on to the porch with me, "The stars are really dazzling," she noted then "Shouldn't you be with some other unfortunate girl right about now?" She asked not shifting her gaze from the sky.
"Maybe, but wouldn't that be just because of guilt?" I responded with another question.
"I've always liked you more."
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" She asked finally looking at me. Her hair was short as if she had cut it.
I nodded.
"This kinda feels like a dream," she said softly "I've been secretly hoping for this, for a while now." She was smiling brighter now, "The timing's horrid though."
"Will you tell her?" She asked finally.
I thought about it for a minute then nodded, I owe at least that to her.
Am I making a mistake? Should I actually be using this as a way to get them to trust me again? Is this wrong?
My thoughts lingered on that sour note for a while before Kate brought something to my attention, something I was hoping I could avoid until I've worked out my standing with them, something that would change the way our friendship was.
She held my hand and stepped in, we kissed. It was different, I could feel how passionate she was and how long she'd waited for this. She wanted it to be perfect.
She wanted me to like it...
Our lips parted, she held onto me now and her breathing was hard and I could tell she was trying her best now to show it.
"That was my first kiss," she whispered and then "make me yours, tonight, here."
Her eyes displayed something I've never seen in her before. Sadness, happiness, excitement, but most of all she wanted this.
Comfort...
How could I refuse?
That night I did something, something I'm not sure I should have.
I comforted her...
Was I wrong?
\................................................\
I had reached the stairs and the halls remained silent save the now steady dripping sound that echoed in the stairwell, it sounded like water and I hoped to god that I was. I felt my heart beat pick up, was I just scaring myself ? I hope I was...
I started my decent and all the while the dripping sound seemed to accompany me.
Finally I reached the last level, on the wall was a sign that read b3.
I opened the door slowly but it creaked loudly as it fell off its hinges and hit the floor with a loud bang. I didn't move and inch, I simply waited for a sound that I had been discovered. None, nothing no growling or screeching of any sort. I sighed and continued.
It was like a huge store room, with high shelves. Rows upon rows of them. I sighed and began my search.
Before long I had found most of what eve had asked for, everything exept a vial containing a blue liquid labeled -QEV-
And somehow I doubt that I'd find it here.
I had put most of the equipment, needed for the formula and ingredients in a separate compartment of the bag she'd given me.
And now I was ready to find the centrifuge she needed.
Suddenly I heard raspy breathing, like someone who had a bad cough from behind me, tring to make as little sound as possible I turned.
Shit!
About seven or eight of them stood behind me about 20 feet away. I could tell that they used to work here, but I knew that they weren't here for the overtime.
Their clothes were bloodstained and torn in various places. Black ooze dripped from their mouths, well the ones that had mouths that weren't just jaws hanging on by just skin.
One of them moved to tilt it's open head back and made a low gurgling sound. They dragged themselves forward.
Towards me, I looked around. Without noticing I had walked into a blocked isle.
No way to escape!
\______________\\\\_________________\