To Be A Hero

Chapter 10: Brain Damage

She huffs. "I just need to make one thing very clear to you, Sam. I would love for you to be involved in the baby's life. I think you will be a great father, but there is no such thing as magic, and you are not allowed to teach the baby that there is. Hypnosis isn't magic. It's just a state of hyper focus and attention in which certain thoughts can be accessed."

"Okay... so I can't break the spell by talking?"

"No. What were you going to say?"

"Just uh, you're running really well, Five. And uh, I know you're like, all hypnotized and stuff, but be careful not to like, run into any trees or anything."

I smile. Or at least, I think I'm smiling. It's hard to know what I am and am not doing. I want to talk. I'm just don't think I can.

I hear the coms door swing open, and I jump at the sudden sound. My eyes glide over to Moonchild's figure, to see if the sudden movement distorted the hypnosis. She's still there, grinning at me.

"You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?"

"You promised, Maxi!"

Maxine gasps. "Paula!"

"You promised me you weren't going to do this!" She shouts.

"Honey, we've tried everything. We lost our best leads," She says calmly, soothingly. "Veronica's work is progressing, but it's slow. Ellie's been scouring the library for sources about the Viking zombie outbreak, but we've found nothing. If we are going to have any chance of finding this cure, we need to check out every lead. Sweetheart, it's just a run."

"I can't have more people die trying to save me! Not after Yang. I'm not worth it, Maxi." She sounds close to tears. "No more runners taking risks, no more Veronica in the fields. I told you. I told you!" She lowers her voice to a mere whisper. "You promised me you wouldn't send anyone else. It's too dangerous."

"Please," Veronica interrupts. "Please, Dr. Cohen. Paula... Remember, this isn't just for you. If Runner Five can remember what Moonchild said about her research, and if it helps us to find the cure, we'll be changing the world, making it better!"

"If. If!"

"It'll be fine," Sam assures. "It's going to be fine. It's just a run."

I remember him saying that in my head... I never thought it would be about this.

"That's what he thinks, eh? Head towards that bridge, Five."

I obey, although I'm unsure if I have much choice.

"He's right, you know. It is magic. And she's right, too. It is dangerous. And when is any area ever free from zombies, after all?"

As I pass the bridge, I hear a low growl, and from under the bridge is a zombie, eyes gleaming at the sight of prey. He claws his way up the hill, growling and snarling as he races up towards me.

"Ah, this guy. Loves waiting under bridges, just like a big old troll from a fairytale. Look at him. Six foot six if he's an inch. I bet you can outrun him though, can't you? I just love to see you sweat."

I push my legs to go faster, gritting my teeth as her laugh sears itself into my brain. I can hear the zom staggering behind me, moaning loudly. It's not fast, but it can take longer and larger steps than I can, since it's over a foot taller than me.

Tendrils of panic weave their way into my body, and for a second, even in the panic, I feel a spark of relief over the fact that I am panicked. I'm afraid and panicked and not happy.