Still Alive 2: Infectious Date

Sorry it took so long for this chapter to finish. Please comment on this, I really appreciate it. The next chapter--
--Still Alive3: Remembrance I will have out in a few days. Thanks and enjoy!

"Well, let’s not spoil this day we have together. There will be plenty of time other than today to worry about it," Andrea said, meeting Drayk’s eyes. "I just want us to have one enjoyable day alone…"
"Agreed," Drayk replied. He smiled at the determination written on her beautiful face. She wanted so badly to ignore the impending danger and have a pleasant day with him. Naturally, both their duties as a scientist and Chief of Defense took much of their time. They rarely got to spend more than a few minutes together each day. Today was special…they were going to have that long awaited date.
The two walked through the crowded streets of the underground city. The massive cavern that housed the city and its inhabitants stood hundreds of feet high and miles wide. The city was comprised of three levels; the top level was where the housing, stores, and other buildings stood including the barracks. The second level was the agricultural level; it was located in a manmade cavern underneath the main city. All manners of edible and medical plants grew on the fifty acres of volcanic enriched soil. The third floor housed the research center where Andrea and others tried desperately to come up with an antidote for the Destin Virus.
Drayk and Andrea arrived at their destination, after several minutes of maneuvering through the crowds. They looked up at the flashing neon sign saying, "Papa Neo’s Pizzeria and Movie Theater."
"So this is the special place you told me about," Andrea affirmed. She tossed him a fake look of disgust. "I guess I should have expected this!" He chuckled, reaching over to throw his arm around her shoulders. She punched his arm, leaning against him as he led her through the doors of the Pizzeria. Tables sat facing the back of the restaurant where a huge television screen sat. A bar sat on the left side of the long room with all manner of strong drinks adorning the shelves.

"A table for two, sir?" asked a young waitress. Drayk nodded. They were led to a small table at the side of the room. After being seated and ordering, Andrea broke the silence between them.
"What movie is going to play? I hope it isn’t one of those weird old investigation movies you watch." Andrea said.
"They’re not weird! They happen to be very educational and interesting movies. Just because they are old tech doesn’t make them weird. Plus the new 3-D movies make my head spin. To answer your question, no this is an action and romance movie."
"Oh! I see." She smiled at him and he tried to fake a scowl, but failed. The pizza arrived and they began eating while watching the movie. After the movie and pizza was finished they chatted while sipping their drinks.
At nine o’clock the restaurant closed and Drayk led them to a new ice cream shop that had just opened. They both ordered chocolate fudge and walked to an artificial park that lay near the shop. They sat beside the fountain and watched the holographic moon lazily drifting across the artificial sky. Drayk pulled Andrea close. She closed her eyes and let the joy of being with him wash over her.
Unknown to the inhabitants of the city below, a mutant silently crept on the ceiling of the cavern. Its muscular arms and legs clung to the ceiling as it sniffed the air. Its earlier meal had been fulfilling, but its hunger couldn’t be satisfied. A long black tongue slipped across its reptilian lips. Yellow eyes rested on the two objects of prey below. Crouching, it readied for attack.
"Don’t you think we should be going in soon Drayk?" Andrea asked.
"We will soon, I just want to spend more time with you." Drayk gave Andrea a little squeeze and kissed her forehead. "I wish this night would never end."
"I wish that too," she whispered, smiling softly.

The mutant tensed its muscles and prepared to dive towards the two. It licked its lips again, a single drop of blood from its last meal falling. The droplet hit the ground right at Drayk’s booted feet. Raising an eyebrow, he leaned over, seeing the red splotch staining the concrete. Fear gripped him. He instinctively grabbed Andrea and yanked her away from the bench just as a black haired mutant crushed it.
"What in the blazes?" Drayk pulled out two pistols. Andrea gasped, staring at the mutant that had almost taken her life. It stood on all fours and appeared to be a mutated human. It still had tattered clothes on that was stained with blood, its hair was clotted with blood, and its fingernails had grown sharp and deadly. It turned its face and stared at the two. Andrea and Drayk stepped back in shock. Half of its face was a human’s, but the other half had scales covering it. It had yellow snake eyes that glistened with hatred and hunger. The creature’s lips stretched as it opened its mouth, revealing four fangs protruding from its upper and lower jaw…the thing was hideous.
It sneered at them and jumped at Drayk, swinging its talons. Drayk rolled to the side and began pulling bullet after bullet into the creature. Black blood sprayed from the wounds that Drayk had inflicted, but they seemed to have little effect on the mutant. It turned and pounced towards Andrea; she dodged by inches and tripped while trying to get away.
"No!" Drayk screamed as the mutant jumped towards Andrea. It was a foot away from her when she acted. She rolled to her stomach and pushed her legs out towards mutant. A sickening crunch followed as her shoe punctured the mutant’s skull sending a spray of black gore all over the place. The carcass fell to the ground and lay still.

"Are you okay?!" Drayk asked as he helped her up.
"I’m fine, just a bit shaken." She replied; tremors shaking through her body. He hugged her tightly as she began to sob softly, clutching his shirt. She had seen mutants before, she had even seen people be devoured by them; but, she had never been this close to dying herself. The ruckus had attracted the defense militia and soon Andrea and Drayk were surrounded by soldiers.
One soldier ran up to the two, "Sir!" saluted the soldier recognizing Drayk. "Has anyone been infected?"
"No, we are both fine, the mutant attacked us and we took care of it. Tell the Board that we need to go to level 2 Dep now! There is an infected body somewhere within the city limits and it will mutate soon. There may be more mutants who got in too, so set the city to lockdown. Now move it!" Drayk ordered. The soldier ran to another and the two took off towards the city’s center.
"Come on Andrea, let’s get you to your apartment," Drayk whispered to her. He walked up to a trooper and asked to borrow a jeep. The soldier agreed and Drayk sat Andrea in the seat next to him. He quickly gunned the engine and took off towards the underground gates that led to the lower levels. Andrea reached out with one hand and Drayk took it without letting his eyes stray from the road. She closed her eyes and just listened to the crunch of small stones under the tires and the constant roar of the engine.
They drove in silence occasionally stopping at road blocks where they immediately let them through due to Drayk’s rank. After thirty minutes of driving and maneuvering throughout the levels, he stopped the jeep in front of her apartment on level three. It was a long dome shaped building which included living spaces, eating areas, and offices. The building was one similar to multiple others in the low man made cavern. Drayk hopped out of the vehicle and ran to Andrea’s side. He picked her up carefully and carried her inside and made his way to her apartment. He reached it and said, "Open," and the door opened recognizing his voice.

"Welcome Drayk and Andrea, how was your night together?" Asked Andrea’s personal A.I…
"We were attacked by a mutant, so you tell me if we had a good time Andy." Drayk snapped as he laid down Andrea in her bunk. She looked pale white and clung to his hand firmly.
The woman voiced A.I quickly changed to concern, "Andrea honey, are you okay?" Andrea nodded her head and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Andy, give me a sleep shot," Drayk said.
"Give you or Andrea the sleep shot, or both?" asked the A.I.
"Give it to me and I will use it on Andrea, you piece of talking circuits! Now hurry, I have to go up top!" The A.I snorted and a mechanical hand handed a shot to Drayk. He removed the safety casing and was about to give Andrea the shot, but she gently pushed his hand away.
"You need it Andrea, you have just traumatized yourself and you need to sleep. I’ll be back once I take care of any danger up top. Then I’ll be back by your side when you wake," He gave her a smile and she smiled weakly back at him. He inserted the needle and injected her with the green sleeping serum. She slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep rest.
"How could Andrea get so messed up over just seeing a mutant up close?" asked the A.I.
"She killed it that’s why, she always hated killing; even if she were killing mutants. Being that close to a mutant also reminds her of that one night she lost her parents." The A.I gasped at the remembrance of Andrea’s mournful account about the day the mutants infected her parents in front of her eyes. Drayk continued, "Plus if she is sleeping I can keep track of her and now that she is safe. Now I have to go…promise me you will keep her safe and asleep until I return."
"I promise, and Drayk be safe. Andrea would say the same thing."
"I will, and Andy… Do not open the door to anyone unless it’s me. Even if they are being followed by a mutant and will die, do not open that door." Drayk walked into the doorway and locked the door. He turned and looked at Andrea’s beautiful face relaxed in rest. He turned, walked out, and heard the click of the door locking. He ran to the jeep, jumped in and drove off towards the upper levels. Once he reached the second level he passed hundreds of civilians sitting on the side of the road and among the growing vegetation. ‘What are they doing here? What if part of the city level has been overrun?’ Drayk thought. He gunned the gas and made it to the gate which led to the city level. Soldiers had barricaded it and had closed the great iron gates that allowed access. All were facing the gate with their weapons loaded as if the mutants would burst through at any second.
"Drayk! Get over here!" yelled a familiar voice. Drayk stopped the jeep, hopped out, jogging to his friend Adas.
"What’s with the barricade?" Drayk asked his childhood friend. Adas faced him completely and Drayk saw his solemn face.
"The mutants have overrun the city level." Adas replied…his voice laced in sadness. Drayk’s jaw dropped as he stared at the great gate. ‘That means thousands must have been infected! How did they infect the upper level? If they did that means….’ a loud bang interrupted Drayk’s thoughts. Every eye looked towards the gates as another bang echoed through the cavern. Soon hundreds of bangs, scratches, and unearthly screams came from behind the gates.
"They know we’re in here!" screamed a soldier holding a rifle, sweat beading down his young face.
Drayk could feel his heart begin to slam against his chest. "And there’s no way out…" He whispered.