The air was colder in the evening. Cole thought she was going to turn into an icicle when the doctor suddenly scoops her up. A gasp leaves her lips when he reclines across the length of the bed. Snuggling Cole's smaller form as he spreads an additional blanket over them. A blush heats in Cole's face as she grew conscious of their position. However, Vincent didn't seem to care and relaxed against the softness of the bed. "Get some sleep…" He exhales out, sensing her stare. "Once the damage is repaired, the power will be back on. So just… put up with me until then…" Cole breathed in to calm her beating heart. Eventually, she relaxes and rests her head on his solid chest. She inhaled a mixed scent of Spring and a swirl of cypress. This scent, as well as the heat from his body, surrounds her as she draws nearer to sleep. Steady beats of his pulse are all she hears. Cole smiled, listening to it as if it were the most beautiful music. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient. Both are determined to help her survive when threats rise. (GoodNovel Exclusive Version Only) This version is ongoing and will only be available to GN readers.
View More(6 hours after departure) "Colette Peters..." a sinister voice echoes. The sound of it sent chills through her body. Cole groans and slowly lifts her head. Groaning again as soreness was felt in her neck. Caused by her slumped position against the strap of a seatbelt. "My suit..." Cole breathes heavily, realizing her suit was gone and her shoes. Her gaze lifts, for a moment there's a blur of light and shapes. She touches her throbbing head, hissing from the pain of contact. "You sleep like a rock". A voice echoes again, and Cole remembered. Dread swallowed her whole. She was stuck in a moving vehicle with a mad driver and his clinically insane girlfriend."Malum eats it's victims from the inside…" The stranger speaks, leaning back as she picks off parts of Cole's suit. Until it's completely stripped of anything useful. "And you're still alive…" She marvels, casting the rest aside as she leans forward. Cole flinches, hearing parts hit the floor. The madman's girlfriend appears to b
(April 10, 2054) Year of OutbreakCurled up in front of a tv, little Cole eats her breakfast. A cartoon about a tiger cub plays. Until Cole's father interrupts and turns it off. "Come on, Coco, I have to take you to school." He says, grabbing his keys and coat when a shout comes from upstairs. Followed by the loud footfalls of someone coming downstairs."Dad!" Rosalie shouts, she's wearing her school uniform with her dark hair tied up. Holding her smartphone as she rushes to turn on the tv. "Did you see the news?""No." He answers while helping little Cole with her shoes. "Rose we can see it later. We have to go.""N-No, Dad look." She urges, switching the channel.The news report shows Rosalie's gym teacher passed away from Malum 2. "Sixteen students have recently been hospitalized. The High School will be closed. It's recommended that students and their households quarantine until further notice." The news report concludes."I guess we're staying home…" Dad sighs, taking off Cole's
(14 hours earlier)Rising from her bedside, Natalie abandons her lover in the middle of the night.It's quiet. Not a soul awake during the night. With soft steps, she slowly makes her way to the kitchen. Pouring a glass of water for herself, she starts drinking it. Then, someone steps out of the shadows with demonic-looking red eyes that pierce the darkness.She chokes on the water. Coughing out the rest as she eventually gets her breath back. "Who- Who's there?" Natalie questions, watching the steel beast as it approaches her in the dark.Natalie cautiously reaches to turn on the light switch. Once the lights are on, she can see him better. He towers at seven feet tall. In the form a man with skin of black steel and red sentient eyes that observe. It's footsteps are barely heard as it approaches despite its large frame. Armor plated, and with a steel face, its sentient eyes stare unblinking at the Lieutenant.Natalie stares in silence, waiting for it to do something.After a length
Two days pass on the road to West Virginia. Vincent follows the guiding Humvee in front him as he grips the steering wheel. With Tuck sound asleep in the passenger seat. He fell asleep to the loud hum of the truck's engine. A collection of steel cases are strapped in the truck bed. The sky above is darkened by clouds that seem to roll endlessly. They flicker with lightning and echo with soft rumbles. Eventually, the rain starts to pour. Gentle drops sprinkle all over, becoming larger and larger. Until a heavy pour soaks the road. Beating loudly on the windows and body of the truck. The collection of raindrops sound like microwaved popcorn. Windshield wipers swipe left and right. Allowing glimpses of the road. Vincent squints his eyes as he looks ahead."More rain?" Tuck sits up straight with a yawn. The rumble of thunder was enough to stir him from sleep."Ugh, I have to pee." Tuck groans as he ties his hair into a ponytail."We have a few miles before the next stop. With any luck, th
Cole rose from her bed. The sun had not yet risen. The bedroom is pitch black and silent. Apart from the soft tweets of birds that echo as the dawn approaches. Cole sits up anxiously and stares at nothing while twirling the end of her braid with her finger. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear when the bedroom door was opened.Only when the lights flick on, Cole snaps her gaze toward the entrance.There stood a figure suited in black, holding a bag in his left hand. “Hey Cole.” Tuck hesitates but nears her bed anyway.Cole watches as he set the bag down and unpacked its contents. He spreads each item on the white bed sheet. She stares at the strange outfits and mask. One outfit was black thermal with a hood to it. While the second was some kind of astronaut suit?“You’re going to have to change into this… Doctor’s orders.” Tuck explains. “This thermal one might be a little loose. I modified it to unzip in the back and the pant legs too. I have plenty of socks for you and gloves.
"Cole. I need you to listen." Vincent tries to speak, but Cole was already on the verge of tears. "You can't know that. I'm not going. Vin, I'm not going." Cole dodges his reach when he gets too close. "Cole, I need you to put this on." Vincent sighs, growing impatient as he holds onto a suit meant for the patient. "No. I don't need that cause I'm not going." "Cole, if we stay here you won't survive." Vincent finally says. "The people that attacked us took supplies. Some of them are damaged… We can't care for you properly if we don't have what we need." Cole fell silent while she processed it all. "I can’t go" She shakes her head, stepping back again when he stepped forward. “I won’t go”. Cole shivers out, emotions swirling in her dark gray eyes. “I won’t go” she repeats in a firmer tone. "Cole." Vincent gave a warning tone. A tense look on his face as he stares at his patient. He steps forward, while Cole takes a step backward. Losing her balance when the back of her leg bumps
"J-Just another patient…" Vincent sighs, getting up from his chair. "I've gotta go but keep me updated with the trials.”"Don’t unalive my patient." Isla says quickly before ending the call.Outside, Vincent found his delirious patient rolling around on the grass. He wiggled like a beetle stuck on its back. Eyes full of panic, he shouts at Vincent when he approaches. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO! I DON'T WANT TO GO! NOOOOOOOOO! NOOOO! NOOOO!”Vincent speechlessly watches as the armless patient rolls onto his belly. Crawling on the lawn like a caterpillar on a leaf. "They're gonna take over the world… Not while I'm breathing". He mumbles as he moves faster. Determined to get away from the doctor. "Not while I'm breathing".ARF!A little black dog comes running out of the house. Vincent watches as Audi growls and starts chewing on the patient's pant leg.“Uh hell…” Vincent groans, briefly looking up at the sky as he retrieved something from his pocket. “When this is over, everyone is getting th
After years of isolation, Cole got used to sleeping alone. Now there was someone snuggling her like a mama cat.It felt good.Safe…Vincent continued this every night, until the power was restored.The next few days felt like a month. Salvaging parts, fixing the power, doors repaired, broken windows boarded, and damaged walls patched. Cole was resting, Tuck was ordered to go scouting with a separate team. All while Vincent and Eris were summoned to the training room. They faced a restless 'Natalie' who was determined to train them harder. Both Eris and Vincent were back in training with Lieutenant Natalie Yuki. She went over close combat, weapon assembly, all types of potential escape routes and vulnerable points within the house. Plus, how to store explosives to keep from blowing the whole house up."I think I remember why I chose to go to med-school…" Eris sighs, laying on the training room floor. Right next to Vincent, who got tossed out of the ring as well by Natalie's best soldie
"I…" Cole blinked nervously, looking down at her hands in shame. Even though Vincent showed no sign of anger. "I think I overslept."Vincent was quiet and had an air of calm surrounding him. His seated form shadowed hers. Vincent was wearing a pair of dark blue trousers and the protective mask covering his face. Seeing he was shirtless and with wild hair of his own. Cole guessed he rolled out of bed and slipped on a mask. It wasn't proper protection, but Vincent did not seem to care."Vin, if you get sick, I'll never forgive myself". Cole spoke, peeking up at him. "You should go put s-something else on".Vincent took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he extended his other arm. Reaching, he cups her chin in his hand and brings her gaze to his again. "There are worse things to die from…" He says, chewing on his lip as a thought crossed his mind. Cole read the look in his green eyes as they traveled to the bruises on the side of her face. Pain surfaced in them, darkening the light
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