Quarantined Part 1 (Strong Language)
When a new species was discovered-the akrid-a harmful inhabitant of nature, people had plans for them, and that plan turned out to be "AK," a massively popular sport in Texas and Nevada, which involves killing them for fun. It goes in the completely wrong direction when thousands of people become infected by an artificial disease, turning the residents of the two states into mindless cannibals.
I haven't written in quite a while so this story is a bit rusty but oh well.
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Alex back up into a wall, the plated metal of his body armor scraping against concrete. Sweat coursed across his palms as he gripped his sword tighter. The creature approaching him was a blur as it crashed into multiple objects in a blinding fury, racing towards him in a terrifying yet controlled pace. He shifted uncomfortably, stepping slowly toward it. It neared him, kicking up dust and smashed tiles, the elongated claws frantically rending the already shredded marble floor. It was only several feet away when he decided to make a move.
He rolled behind a potted plant; the creature saw this coming and switched its course, pouncing on the foliage and tearing it apart with an irrational rage that swept through its system like an electric current. He tried to fend it off with his sword, its razor-sharp canines clamping onto the flat of the blade, infected blood staining the medieval sword. He clasped his weapon with both hands, using all of his strength to pull his sword out of its mouth. He set a plated boot against the side of its mouth as he slowly felt the creature relinquishing its grip on the cold steel. The swipe that followed after slit its throat, causing black infected blood to spill out of it like a fountain. He looked up as he heard a deep, male voice boom throughout the arena.
"Red team scores 7, blue team following just behind at 5." That was his second kill this match; maybe they would win this time. Ever since scientists had discovered that new species, the akrid, civilization had been wondering what to do with them. They were carnivorous creatures that emit a toxin out of spores in their body that kill the chloroplasts in plants; to keep things short, they're nature killers. A certain group of people thought up an idea that would get rid of them and have fun at the same time; they called it AK, a sport banned in forty eight states. Nevada and Texas were the only states that allowed the sport.
The red team and the blue team compete against each other; the rules are simple as well: The team with the most kills by the end of thirty minutes wins the match-but there was a catch-the akrid were injected with a bacterium that caused them to lose control over their minds, making them far more hostile then their natural selves. The creatures infected with this disease have multiple brain functions destroyed while several others are awakened. The disease is contagious through blood, saliva, and tears, hence the need for armored suits. Weapons are scattered throughout the arena for contestants to use, ranging from guns to swords to construction tools.
Alex turned left, spotting an akrid on the second floor. It sniffed around unhurriedly, sensing someone nearby. He made it slowly up the broken escalator, his sword drawn. He stepped around it until he was behind the akrid and was about to strike when something swiped downward, the creature's head rolling down the escalator in a bloody mess. He looked up just in time to see David, the captain of the blue team, sheath his katana.
"Blue scores, advancing to 6, one point behind red team."
The luster of his blue armor had faded over time, scars and dents proving his experience. Even through the tinted surface of the reinforced visor, he could see a large scar running down his face, the damage causing his left eye to go blind. Without warning, he rushed forward, drawing his sword as he did so. Alex barely had enough time to block the attack, staggering backwards as sparks landed on his face plate. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked. "You know that's against the rules."
David merely grunted, placing his katana back into its sheath. They both turned to see Brandon, the captain of the red team, jogging over with an uzi in his hand.. "What going on? I thought I heard something."
Alex dismissed him with the wave of a hand. "It's nothing," Alex said, "Don't worry about it."
Brandon shot David a hostile glance and left, Alex following slowly after, his eye still trained on David's figure. He simply stood there, watching them leave as an eagle eyes its prey. It was easy to tell that even he grew tiresome. As they left, Brandon tapped Alex's shoulder. "Let's get going; we don't want Gabriel to steal all our kills, do we?" Alex shook his head, picking up his pace.
Gabriel lowered his machine gun, smoke leaving the recently emptied barrel. He looked about, stepping casually forward.
"Red team scores one more; it is now eight to six. If we're lucky, we'll have a close game!"
Something crashed into him from the side, knocking him down. He looked up from his fallen position to see an akrid clawing at his face. He struggled to push it away, firing his machine gun blindly. A hand smashed his face plate, leaving him vulnerable to further attacks. A claw sunk into skin right above his right eye as he finally managed to shove his gun into its mouth. It made a deep grunting sound right before its head blew apart as Gabriel squeezed the trigger. His eyes widened and turned a deep shade of scarlet simultaneously as he realized the disease was already taking effect; he was infected.
"Gabriel of the red team has been infected; it is highly recommended that you evacuate immediately. Head to the nearest exit as soon as possible. Initiating lockdown in five minutes."
Brandon punched Alex's shoulder. "What the fuck are you doing? We gotta get the hell out of here!" Alex shook his head, moving in the opposite direction.
"I need to find Gabriel."
"Are you fucking insane?"
"There isn't much time left; you go on. I'll catch up." Alex finally turned away and started to head for the first floor. Brandon sighed and shook his head, making his way to the exit. Alex looked around frantically, his eyes hopping around the vast arena. "Gabriel! Where the fuck are you? We need to go man! Get out here!" His shout received no response. He waited a couple more moments before he decided to advance. After a minute of searching, he found Gabriel backed into a corner, crouching with his head down. Alex approached slowly. "Hey. C'mon. Gabriel let's go." Gabriel didn't move; he appeared as if he hadn't heard him.
Alex chewed on his lower lip and moved in closer. "We have to go now." Gabriel finally raised his head, a deep gash decorating his forehead. Alex backed away a little. "My God..." he stepped towards him. "I'll help you up-" Gabriel raised his gun. Alex backed up immediately, dropping his weapons and raising his hands. "Gabriel. It's me. Don't shoot." Ignoring him, he pulled the trigger. Alex squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to be killed. When he found that he was still alive, he looked behind him to see a fallen akrid. He sighed with relief and turned back to Gabriel.
"We're leaving," he said, pulling Gabriel up. He fell down almost immediately, a metal clang echoing throughout the room. "Alright," he said, trying to toss Gabriel over his shoulder. He was heavy but after a moment of effort, he got him in a tight grip. He was about to step forward when a bullet slammed into the ground where he had been a heartbeat before. He looked up to see a figure dressed completely in black on the second floor wielding a handgun and a knife. "Shit," he breathed. He hurried forward, using his free hand to grasp Gabriel's machine gun. He fired at him with poor accuracy from trying to carry his friend. "What the fuck do you want?" he shouted. "Get the fuck away from us!"
The figure continued to fire at him as he headed for the exit. A bullet ricocheted off the railing on the second floor, nearly crashing into his helmet. He barely managed to duck as a bullet flew overhead. He kicked the exit door open, the blinding light searing his eyes. He used his left arm to block out the sunlight, staggering about like a drunkard. The streets were packed, people staring at Alex, Gabriel, and the others that had made it out of the arena. Alex turned back to set Gabriel next to the outer wall of the arena. "Um...you just...you stay here. I'll find a cure for this." Alex looked around again and back to Gabriel. "I promise." He was already unconscious. He looked sharply to the right as he heard something crash through the wall beside him.
Dozens of akrid screeched as daylight hit their skin, bloody foam spilling from their mouths. Frantic screaming erupted immediately, creating instant chaos among the watchers. Alex backed away, the broad sword kicking up sparks as he dragged it across the ground. "Motherfuckers..." he breathed.
2 Days Later
Alex hid behind a metal crate with Brandon, sweat running down his face like a river. Ever since the akrid broke out of the arena, the disease spread throughout the cities like the black plague. The military had quarantined Texas and Nevada entirely, preventing anyone from going in or out. The infection turned humans into living nightmares; mindless corpses whose only aim is to feed upon others. Those who weren't infected were driven to the brink of insanity, killing anyone that would dare approach them. Luckily, Alex wasn't one of those people.
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Alex back up into a wall, the plated metal of his body armor scraping against concrete. Sweat coursed across his palms as he gripped his sword tighter. The creature approaching him was a blur as it crashed into multiple objects in a blinding fury, racing towards him in a terrifying yet controlled pace. He shifted uncomfortably, stepping slowly toward it. It neared him, kicking up dust and smashed tiles, the elongated claws frantically rending the already shredded marble floor. It was only several feet away when he decided to make a move.
He rolled behind a potted plant; the creature saw this coming and switched its course, pouncing on the foliage and tearing it apart with an irrational rage that swept through its system like an electric current. He tried to fend it off with his sword, its razor-sharp canines clamping onto the flat of the blade, infected blood staining the medieval sword. He clasped his weapon with both hands, using all of his strength to pull his sword out of its mouth. He set a plated boot against the side of its mouth as he slowly felt the creature relinquishing its grip on the cold steel. The swipe that followed after slit its throat, causing black infected blood to spill out of it like a fountain. He looked up as he heard a deep, male voice boom throughout the arena.
"Red team scores 7, blue team following just behind at 5." That was his second kill this match; maybe they would win this time. Ever since scientists had discovered that new species, the akrid, civilization had been wondering what to do with them. They were carnivorous creatures that emit a toxin out of spores in their body that kill the chloroplasts in plants; to keep things short, they're nature killers. A certain group of people thought up an idea that would get rid of them and have fun at the same time; they called it AK, a sport banned in forty eight states. Nevada and Texas were the only states that allowed the sport.
The red team and the blue team compete against each other; the rules are simple as well: The team with the most kills by the end of thirty minutes wins the match-but there was a catch-the akrid were injected with a bacterium that caused them to lose control over their minds, making them far more hostile then their natural selves. The creatures infected with this disease have multiple brain functions destroyed while several others are awakened. The disease is contagious through blood, saliva, and tears, hence the need for armored suits. Weapons are scattered throughout the arena for contestants to use, ranging from guns to swords to construction tools.
Alex turned left, spotting an akrid on the second floor. It sniffed around unhurriedly, sensing someone nearby. He made it slowly up the broken escalator, his sword drawn. He stepped around it until he was behind the akrid and was about to strike when something swiped downward, the creature's head rolling down the escalator in a bloody mess. He looked up just in time to see David, the captain of the blue team, sheath his katana.
"Blue scores, advancing to 6, one point behind red team."
The luster of his blue armor had faded over time, scars and dents proving his experience. Even through the tinted surface of the reinforced visor, he could see a large scar running down his face, the damage causing his left eye to go blind. Without warning, he rushed forward, drawing his sword as he did so. Alex barely had enough time to block the attack, staggering backwards as sparks landed on his face plate. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked. "You know that's against the rules."
David merely grunted, placing his katana back into its sheath. They both turned to see Brandon, the captain of the red team, jogging over with an uzi in his hand.. "What going on? I thought I heard something."
Alex dismissed him with the wave of a hand. "It's nothing," Alex said, "Don't worry about it."
Brandon shot David a hostile glance and left, Alex following slowly after, his eye still trained on David's figure. He simply stood there, watching them leave as an eagle eyes its prey. It was easy to tell that even he grew tiresome. As they left, Brandon tapped Alex's shoulder. "Let's get going; we don't want Gabriel to steal all our kills, do we?" Alex shook his head, picking up his pace.
Gabriel lowered his machine gun, smoke leaving the recently emptied barrel. He looked about, stepping casually forward.
"Red team scores one more; it is now eight to six. If we're lucky, we'll have a close game!"
Something crashed into him from the side, knocking him down. He looked up from his fallen position to see an akrid clawing at his face. He struggled to push it away, firing his machine gun blindly. A hand smashed his face plate, leaving him vulnerable to further attacks. A claw sunk into skin right above his right eye as he finally managed to shove his gun into its mouth. It made a deep grunting sound right before its head blew apart as Gabriel squeezed the trigger. His eyes widened and turned a deep shade of scarlet simultaneously as he realized the disease was already taking effect; he was infected.
"Gabriel of the red team has been infected; it is highly recommended that you evacuate immediately. Head to the nearest exit as soon as possible. Initiating lockdown in five minutes."
Brandon punched Alex's shoulder. "What the fuck are you doing? We gotta get the hell out of here!" Alex shook his head, moving in the opposite direction.
"I need to find Gabriel."
"Are you fucking insane?"
"There isn't much time left; you go on. I'll catch up." Alex finally turned away and started to head for the first floor. Brandon sighed and shook his head, making his way to the exit. Alex looked around frantically, his eyes hopping around the vast arena. "Gabriel! Where the fuck are you? We need to go man! Get out here!" His shout received no response. He waited a couple more moments before he decided to advance. After a minute of searching, he found Gabriel backed into a corner, crouching with his head down. Alex approached slowly. "Hey. C'mon. Gabriel let's go." Gabriel didn't move; he appeared as if he hadn't heard him.
Alex chewed on his lower lip and moved in closer. "We have to go now." Gabriel finally raised his head, a deep gash decorating his forehead. Alex backed away a little. "My God..." he stepped towards him. "I'll help you up-" Gabriel raised his gun. Alex backed up immediately, dropping his weapons and raising his hands. "Gabriel. It's me. Don't shoot." Ignoring him, he pulled the trigger. Alex squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to be killed. When he found that he was still alive, he looked behind him to see a fallen akrid. He sighed with relief and turned back to Gabriel.
"We're leaving," he said, pulling Gabriel up. He fell down almost immediately, a metal clang echoing throughout the room. "Alright," he said, trying to toss Gabriel over his shoulder. He was heavy but after a moment of effort, he got him in a tight grip. He was about to step forward when a bullet slammed into the ground where he had been a heartbeat before. He looked up to see a figure dressed completely in black on the second floor wielding a handgun and a knife. "Shit," he breathed. He hurried forward, using his free hand to grasp Gabriel's machine gun. He fired at him with poor accuracy from trying to carry his friend. "What the fuck do you want?" he shouted. "Get the fuck away from us!"
The figure continued to fire at him as he headed for the exit. A bullet ricocheted off the railing on the second floor, nearly crashing into his helmet. He barely managed to duck as a bullet flew overhead. He kicked the exit door open, the blinding light searing his eyes. He used his left arm to block out the sunlight, staggering about like a drunkard. The streets were packed, people staring at Alex, Gabriel, and the others that had made it out of the arena. Alex turned back to set Gabriel next to the outer wall of the arena. "Um...you just...you stay here. I'll find a cure for this." Alex looked around again and back to Gabriel. "I promise." He was already unconscious. He looked sharply to the right as he heard something crash through the wall beside him.
Dozens of akrid screeched as daylight hit their skin, bloody foam spilling from their mouths. Frantic screaming erupted immediately, creating instant chaos among the watchers. Alex backed away, the broad sword kicking up sparks as he dragged it across the ground. "Motherfuckers..." he breathed.
2 Days Later
Alex hid behind a metal crate with Brandon, sweat running down his face like a river. Ever since the akrid broke out of the arena, the disease spread throughout the cities like the black plague. The military had quarantined Texas and Nevada entirely, preventing anyone from going in or out. The infection turned humans into living nightmares; mindless corpses whose only aim is to feed upon others. Those who weren't infected were driven to the brink of insanity, killing anyone that would dare approach them. Luckily, Alex wasn't one of those people.
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