The Permutation

Apex (Part 2) Vergil

"We don't know that! They seem to be attracted to me, I'll lead them inside Hampton's and lock them in. If they've gone full animal, they may not be able to open doors! While I distract them, you guys see what's under the that truck and find us a ride out of here. I don't think we're going to make it to the Nueva Vista on foot."

"Feck that," Blujh said, but his weapon still wasn't fully charged.

"Listen to the boy, the Molt is only useful for single targets and not groups," Vyth said.

Blujh nodded, "Carry on."

Vergil placed Albert in Vyth's arms with a reverence that he never would've have shown if the dog was alert and made a break from the group. He could feel the weariness in his limbs that accompanied using too much of his power, but he had enough left in the tank to give them the runaround.

I'll worry about the ramifications later.

Vergil tried not to notice the cluster of citizens around the truck, seeing their faces wouldn't make anything easier, especially those black, beady eyes devoid of the people they used to be.

Movement registered out of the corners of their eyes. They abandoned their prey and started into motion. Their attention on Vergil, like other predators they preferred their prey fleeing.

With six of them following him, it reminded Vergil of a playground game. The game started with one or two people "infected." The goal of the game was for them to infect everybody until one person was left standing. Like clockwork, Vergil had always been one of the first to succumb to the "zombies."

Even without energy expenditure, years of cycling as his only mode of transportation had paid off, and his loping strides started to slough off the lactic acid accumulating in his muscles.

Vergil led the creatures through the alley that Vergil had followed the Invaders through just last evening, but it had felt like it happened a lifetime ago, to another Vergil. The narrow alley forced his pursuers to go through two by two, so they couldn't fan out and flank him.

The door to Hampton's was still open from when Vyth and Blujh had entered. Vergil dashed through the door, leaving it open so the creatures could follow him in. He dared not look behind him, looking behind him was sure to come off as a sign of weakness.

In the office, Vergil would've sworn he could feel hot breath on his heels, but he persisted. He didn't have a choice in the matter. This was the moment of truth, and he feared what the others would do without him. A corner of his mind knew that Lancet Falls would surely succumb to this threat if Vergil did not cut it off at its source. This Miasma would stop at nothing to achieve their goals even if it meant destroying the whole world, not just Lancet Falls.

This one time, I can't afford to fail. 

In the main showroom floor, Vergil knocked over another coat rack, hoping they'd be enough of a hindrance to give him the boost he needed. Lisa stood at the front entrance, she'd showed up to the open the door, but realized it was locked. Now she stood outside the glass soundlessly pointing at something behind me. Vergil noted Albert stirring in Vyth's arms.

Vergil juked to the left as something lunged past his right side. A heaviness settled over his chest as he got to the door. He pulled on the handle to no avail. Apparently, it was locked on this side too, and now he was trapped in a room full of people that wanted nothing more than cornered prey.

All of them had dropped to all fours. Snarls contorted their faces. Veronica Noonan's famous pearly whites seemed to glow in the darkness.

Huh, I guess those whitening strips really do work.

If he attacked one, it would leave an opportunity for the others to jump him, not to mention the fact he would have lost the vestiges of energy he had stored up. In retrospect, punching the pavement really hadn't been a good idea.

Vergil thought about blasting through the glass double doors, but they'd be back to square one with the nothing holding the monsters in.

One option remained to Vergil, and it was one of those all or nothing affairs. He needed to leap over their heads and cross the distance between the office and the outside before he collapsed in a heap of lethargy. He didn't know what he would do to fill up with energy, but he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

If on some miraculous off chance I get that far. 

Vergil pooled the last little bit of energy he possessed into his thighs. He didn't have enough for the rest of his legs. Brian Coach lunged at Vergil. Vergil jumped. His sneakers sailed over the grasping limbs of Lancet Falls' most prominent real estate agent. 

For a sinking moment, the archway of the door seemed to be moving towards Vergil far too fast for his liking. At the last moment, he dropped below the barrier and felt the top brush his hair. Upon landing, Vergil felt the slightest trickle of energy flow back into him, enough to do what he had to do.

This time, he chanced a glance behind him. The predators were already on the move. Vergil lurched towards the door, his legs slow to obey his commands. The distance to the door felt like miles, and the rate at which Vergil crossed it felt like that of a snail. 

The sound of bare skin slapping against the floor gave Vergil the kick he needed. He passed the threshold and slammed the door behind him. He let his body sink to the ground against the cool wood. 

The sound of a doorknob turning above Vergil's head made flinch in fear. They retain their memories or at least enough to make them smarter than the average bear. 

At that moment, Vyth appeared from the around the corner and grabbed Vergil by the arm. 

"Let's get out of here. I've procured a mode of transportation," said the scientist. 

"Why are you helping me?" Vergil asked. He didn't trust the Invader's sudden show of altruism.

"I've done a cost-benefit analysis, and you're far more useful to the group alive. In addition, I would not like to see the result of one of these parasites getting ahold of you. The interactions between your physiology with their predatory nature would be catastrophic," the scientist said panting. 

 Vergil doubted physical exertion was Vyth's forte. Even with the man's help, Vergil found walking painful and awkward, as if his limbs were made of stone, and the fiber of his being protested the disregard of its nature. His joints felt like they were filled with grains of sand that rubbed against each other with every movement. 

He heard the squeal of rusty hinges announce the predator's escape. Vergil pushed himself harder than he would have thought himself capable. He didn't do it for himself, but for Lisa, Albert, and all the people of Lancet Falls. 

I'm not done yet.

Vergil broke free of Vyth's grasp and dashed forward. A black truck was running at the end of an alleyway. Lisa held Albert, his legs kicked spasmodically as his the dog was having an unpleasant dream. Blujh was behind the wheel of the vehicle. He looked pissed off, but not at the situation. The enforcer's eyes tracked Vyth, and worry lines creased his forehead. Vergil didn't like such open displays of emotion; they humanized the Invaders in ways he didn't feel comfortable with. It made it that much harder to demonize them. 

 Vergil noted the suspension of the truck was sagging near the bed of the truck, and a rotund belly peaked over the edge. An open door was waiting for Vergil, and Lisa helped him jump into the backseat, and the two of them pulled in Vyth. 

Blujh put the pedal to the metal, the forward acceleration slamming the door shut. 

 Adrenaline seeped out of him like a sagging balloon. Vergil's eyelids felt so heavy. He didn't want to expend the effort to keep them open. 

 Vergil welcomed the darkness.