"What? But they're…" Click.
They don't know I'm not a volunteer.
What's going to happen to me?
What will they do to me?
What did they volunteer for?
"You will let me out, or you'll be in a world of pain. Let Markus go as well, and I won't seek to imprison you." Sam's voice tried to be stern, but it shivered, breaking.
Ava shook her head. "As soon as you mentioned Markus I knew you were suspicious. It's not like he will be alive too much longer anyways." She said looking into the room with Markus in it. He seemed barely conscious, occasionally mumbling or shifting. "You'll be taking his place in a bit. Depending how soon you take his place he might actually survive."
"What's going on? I'm not-I didn't do anything!" In a flustered frenzy, Sam couldn't keep her composure, and her hands covered her face, red from crying.
A few seconds of silence passed before Sam spoke again, her voice small. "Am I going to die? At least tell me that."
"More than likely, yes. All but one of the volunteers have died from these creatures." Ava said, her head hanging low as she spoke. "We need to learn more!" She said, her head shooting up and her voice growing louder. "These creatures have the potential to enable us to do extraordinary things! Things that we have never down before. Think of it!" Her head turned to Sam with excitement in her eyes.
Ava let out a long sigh when she saw Sam wasn't excited by the prospect. "If you take his place right now, he may survive." She offered.
"I-" Sam tightened her fists. "You better not be lying." Sam hiccuped a sob. "What…what do I do?"
(Sorry about the short reply!)
(It's fine!)
Ava smiled. "Come here." She said as she walked to the room with Markus in it, unlocking the door with a code. She opened the door wide enough so that Sam could go in first. "According to his vitals he has a few more hours to live. If we get the Shade to get your system now than he can possibly make a full recovery." She explained as she grabbed a machine and began to type away onto it.
I'm going to die anyways.
What's the point anymore?
They deserve life more than you.
Sam flinched as those long-forgotten thoughts rippled through her mind. Either way, she was going to have this 'Shade' 'put into her system', and she was likely to die.
Sam walked through the door, dragging her feet. "Was it painful for them? Their death?" She was giving up, but she didn't want to. She wanted hope, but she had nowhere to turn. Only chance–and it was against her.
"We don't know. We actually don't even know why they died. Their brain just shut down." Ava said as she typed away on the pad. She put the pad down and poked Markus to wake him up.
Markus groaned and his eyes fluttered open. One of his eyes had changed. One iris was a vibrant purple, with the rest of the eye being black. "Sam?" He rasped out as he laid eyes on her.
(Aw, now you're forcing my hand… Why did I decide Sam was selfless? Also, Markus x Sam? Idk, My brain has been suffering from sleep deprivation.)
Sam jumped when Markus spoke, and almost cried when she saw him–weak, but alive. "Oh, my god. Markus, are you okay? Everything's going to be okay, alright? Remember how I used to say, 'I care more about others than I do myself'? Yeah, that might be happening now. It doesn't matter, though. She–Ava–said I was going to die anyways. I'm so sorry, Markus. I would've never wished this upon you…" Sam was starting to be hysterical, but that was drowned out by her sadness and the unsettling feeling in her gut that she would die.
(You alright there, hon?)
Markus blinked a few times, his vision hazy. "What's wrong?" He mumbled as he looked around the room a bit.
Ava went to the side of the bed as started to undo the straps that held him down.
(Also sorry for such a short reply!)
(Yeah, I'm good–just tired. You're fine! Any response is better than no response!)
Sam lowered herself onto her knees, resting her head on the edge of the table. "I'm sorry, Markus, I was too nosey. At least you have a chance." Sam turned her head to the scientist. "One request. If he's to survive, he gets a job–and not here–and a home, and enough money to start off with." Sam was, to put it simply, in despair. How could they have done this, and to so many people? Why Markus? Why anyone when they knew the risks?
"I'm not sure if I can do that. I'm sure he could help us here before he can find another. If this works then he will be the second one to survive these creatures." Ava explained as she undid the rest of the straps and helped Markus sit up. "How are you feeling now?" She asked Markus.
"Better. I think they have calmed down now." Markus mumbled as he sat up, grabbing onto both Sam and Ava to regain his balence.
"They? Markus, what's wrong? How can I help?" Sam wraps her arms around him, feeling just as weak as he was, not physically, but emotionally. "What did you do to him!?" It was an anguished cry, and am was over the grief. If she was going to die, she was going to give Ava a piece of her mind.
"Calm down, Sam. He has a parasite inside him. It seems to control him from time to time. I haven't done anything to him except for introduce the parasite to him." Ava said sternly.
Markus looked at Sam. "She's pretty." He mummbled, his voice not sounding entirely himself.
Sam flinched at the comment, surprised, before shaking it off. "Tell me what I need to do. If anything, that's a good enough of a reason to get the parasite out of him."
"Give me a moment." Ava said as she let Markus go to grab her pad and start tapping on it again.
Markus leaned his full weight on Sam as Ava let go. "So I'm going to get you instead of him. Sounds like a fair trade." The voice that wasn't entirely Markus said as he lifted his hand to touch Sams face.
Sam didn't brush it away, but it was clear through her frown that she was troubled. "It was predetermined once I mentioned Markus–and I won't let him die to you." Sam's unsettlement was directed at the parasite, but mostly towards Ava. "Why are you killing my friend?"
"I don't think killing is the right word in this situation. Using would be a better one. Killing isn't my intention." The voice explained as it pulled Markus's hand back.
"Alright now I'm going to emit a very high pitched sound. You won't be able to hear it but the parasite will." Ava explained. "It may look like Markus is in pain but it will just be the parasite, not him."
Sam almost gasped. Could she handle that? Seeing Markus–or the parasite, whatever it was–in pain?
"I can't promise I won't do anything. By now you would know that." Sam said, smoothly, glaring at Ava.
"He will be fine." Ava said once more, letting out a huff of annoyance before activating the speakers.
It didn't sounds like anything but Markus jerked and let a startled cry of pain. He leaned into Sam, gritting his teeth.
(Sorry for the short reply.)
(You're fine!)
"Markus! Oh my god! It'll be okay, you'll be fine…" Sam clutched Markus to her, mumbling reassurances. She didn't know if she was reassuring Markus or herself. It took an effort for Sam to bite her tongue and not yell at Ava–this was beyond twisted, beyond any kind of torture, beyond evil.
Markus began to cough violently. He grabbed Sams shirt, desprit to have some stability. His coughing got to the point where he could barely breath between coughs.
(Sorry for the all-caps [and the short response.] If you'd like me to change that, just say the word.)
"MAKE IT STOP! TURN IT OFF! YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" Sam shrieks at Ava, not wanting to let go of Markus. "YOU'RE SICK! TURN IT OFF NOW!"