Chapter 92 92: Broken [2]

The deformed creature that used to be Mildred stood across from Samantha's broken body, her left arm too damaged to regenerate, her right arm grasping a warped and damaged spear, her red eyes filled with sorrow and loss.

'I shouldn't have forced you to come with me.'

"Forgive me, Mildred, but I cannot allow Alex to see you like this!"

Her eyes narrowed, watching Mildred's body walking on all fours, without skin, as her muscles and flesh moved tightly packed, almost like the zombie dogs from earlier or that creepy monster with the long tongue from the zombie game.

Tightly her hand grasped the spear, its damaged shaft bending slightly with her powerful grip.

She was so close now; Samantha could feel it in her bones. She had to do something before she lost control again. The last thing she wanted was Alex to witness what happened when she went berserk. It would destroy him.

Alex's voice echoed through her mind: "You're not alone anymore."

Samantha shook off his words, shaking her head as if trying to clear it. No! He couldn't know about this. Not yet. If he knew...

A loud thud came from behind them, followed by a screech. A large shadow fell over Samantha a moment later, blocking the sun. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of the beast. Its massive jaws opened wide, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Samantha tried to move away, but the beast was faster than expected. It lunged forward, snarling. With one swipe of its claws, the beast cut Samantha's leg open, sending blood gushing down her thigh.

The beast was Mildred, who could use the ground, walls and ceiling as her plaything, latching into the stone and walla with her spined feet, with sticky and sharp barbs.

Samantha screamed, falling back onto the floor, clutching her wound. Blood poured freely, soaking her clothes.

Mildred growled, her mouth agape. She looked around momentarily, then turned toward Samantha, still holding the spear.

"Please..." Samantha pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't make me do this!"

A wisp of silvery wind began to flow around her body.

Tiny embers of flame as the tip of her spear glowed with a violent swirl of flames, Samthana's body tightening, intense pain shooting through her body as she lunged forward with the first dash from her [Squall Thrust]

The tip missing as Mildred tilted her head with inhuman reflexes, her long tongue shooting out like a powerful whip and slicing the flesh from Samantha's cheek, blood oozing down her neck before her body vanished, this time a weaker but broad sweep slamming into Mildred's side, a thud and splutter as the fleshy layer of Mildred's body almost exploded with a chunk missing.

"I won't hold back! Mildred, I'll bring you back from that darkness. IN HIS STEAD!"

With another roar, Samantha charged forward, her spear held high, thrusting downward, piercing deep into the soft flesh of Mildred's belly, causing the beast to scream in agony.

"NO!"

But Samantha didn't stop there, driving her spear deeper, feeling the blade sink into the thick muscle beneath.

Mildred roared, thrashing wildly, her body contorting as she struggled to free herself from Samantha's grasp.

"No more!"

Samantha pulled her spear out, throwing it aside, grabbed the hilt of her sword, swinging it hard against the side of Mildred's head, only to be slammed back, the brutal skull shattering the blade, as her body flung across the room, dirty blood spewing from her lips as she watched the approaching beast's body lunged towards her, short front limbs piercing down towards her chest.

"NOOO!"

Samantha felt her body being lifted, her legs dangling helplessly as the beast's jaws closed around her torso, ripping her apart and tearing her limb from limb.

"NO!"

Blood sprayed everywhere, covering Samantha's body, as the beast continued to chew, swallowing chunks of flesh and bone, before suddenly everything changed, a loud burst of noise, two massive pieces of wood that seemed to have been the two sets of doors suddenly rocketed past Samantha as her body dropped the ground, twitching as blood pooled below her.

BANG!

The sound of the wood splintering and shattering as it crashed against the wall, followed by the body of Mildred impacting the same wall as it left a deep crater, stunning the wounded monster.

"Samantha!" Alexander's deep and penetrating voice sounded.

'Ah... He called my name first.... mine.... not hers.....hehe.... strange... my lips.... won't make noise.... haha...'

Her world began to darken, unable to see colour or light, her left arm devoured, her lower right leg mangled with chunks bitten out, still mutating and squirming with strange tendrils from the bite. Samantha's senses began to fade, almost like she was floating, as a gentle voice and soothing words began sounding in her ears.

It was Alex.... her Alex.... she wanted to say so many things, tell him "I love you!" yet her eyes... lips... even ears began to fail her, as slowly she fell into a deep darkness like a tangle of filthy and muck unable to get out, as the gentle voice.

The husky and baritone vibrations in her ears stopped, or she couldn't feel them anymore; only the burning pain in her body remained.

In her most distant reaches, in that dark world, she heard his words:

"I'm sorry, my cute Samantha."

-

Alexander stared at Samantha's body for a few moments, his eyes widening as he saw the damage done to her.

He knelt beside her, gently touching her face, wiping away some of the blood with his sleeve. His fingers brushed against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. Each time the mutated Mildred came lunging towards him, a lance of blood burst from the nearby corpses and penetrated her limbs, sending her flying back against the wall.

"Do not worry... I will never let you leave me... My first real Vesta... Samantha...!"

His finger pressed against her bloody lips, before smothering her sticky red blood over his lips, like a macabre rouge, tasting the sweet taste of her lifeblood.

"My Samantha... I promise you, this is an oath."

Alex leaned forward, his lips kissing her face, not caring about the blood, damaged flesh or the rotting smell from her mutating limbs.

To a ghoul, it wasn't unpleasant, but the wounds caused by that mutated Mildred smelt rancid even to Alexander; maybe it was his deep, billowing anger or disgust towards her lack of any form of will falling into such a pathetic and laughable state.

His body left the side of Samantha, covering her with his jacket, now a black waistcoat and white shirt, with a red tie, his eyes glowing ferociously, one brilliant emerald, the other dark crimson, the wave of madder red began to overtake his eyes completely, tiny red veins bulging in his neck and face, as the tall male stepped forward, he tossed Eien to the ground, falling into Samantha's right arm as if a protective charm.

"Mildred." His voice was cold, lacking all warmth and respect as he looked at the disgusting monster.

Anger

Disappointment

Self-loathing

Lament

All these emotions began to swill around his body, growing into a raging storm; the steps up the stairs were heavy the moment he felt the changes, heard the sounds and feelings from his connection with Samantha, as her life and light were fading rapidly, the words she said.

'For me... Stupid girl!'

"MILDRED!" He bellowed, stepping forward with a slow, even gait, his arms rising into a martial arts stance, like a mixture of Muay Thai high guard and kickboxing.

The fact this monster ignored his call, and his orders made him feel more anger as the blood within his body started to surge, the new skill he learned from becoming a chieftain bubbling and activating by sheer instinct as he watched the mutant creature crawling towards him, two long sharp tails and a lethal tongue.

"Stop!"

As Mildred approached, Alex's hands shot out, grabbing the beast's tail and twisting it sharply; with a disgusting snap and squelch, he tore it off completely, causing the beast to yelp in pain; it screech like something from hell, a distorted and irritating roar that pissed Alex off further.

"Silence!"

Another twist, another snap.

"Annoying, do not speak! You vile mutant!"

Alex twisted again, severing the second tail cleanly, causing Mildred to rage.

"Shut up!"

This time, the beast did not react.

Alex took a step closer, his eyes glowing brighter, as he reached out with both hands, gripping the beast's head, lifting it until it was level with his own.

The disgusting tongue swayed in the air, and he could feel the bond between him and Mildred strengthening as he damaged the mutant form; her tongue slid across his cheek, slimy and wet with a disgusting stench as the fluids began to slowly melt Alex's skin, before it quickly regenerated, his right hand releasing her head.

Thud!

"Hmph!"

His elbow smashed into her face, crushing her cheek, before pieces of her meat exploded in the room, a cascade of deadly blood spraying around like a shower of rain, the chewed corpses and Samathan now bathed in filth.

"Mildred!" He shouted once more.

Bang!

Alex held her face sending a powerful and quick jab into the same spot, crushing and brutalising her face, his eyes almost blazing with flames as he leaned forward, pressing his face against hers.

"Mildred, when are you going to stop running away like a little coward!"

She had no response, just a low growl as he punched her again, hitting her jaw and cracking it.

"You're weak, you stupid bitch! Weak!"

Again, another punch.

"Weak!"

And again.

"WAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIINNNGGG!"

Alex punched her again, breaking her nose; as she howled in pain, he tossed her away as her limbs slowly began to crack, splutter and reform into human-like limbs, her feet now beautiful and pale but with sharp nails, like claws and the bottom of her feet were slightly rough, with tiny barbs to keep her rooted, the flesh on her legs more rigid and more durable than any human or ghoul, thicker and more durable than the best steel boots, or cover.

"STUPID BITCH!"

Alex kicked her, sending her flying across the room, smashing into the wall, and causing cracks to appear in the concrete before she landed on the floor, her body shaking violently.

"You are not worthy of her; how dare you hurt your fellow sister!"

Alex turned away, seeing the bond between him and Mildred almost restored, maybe more vital than ever before, as she trembled on the ground, her face buried in the concrete, her hands like her feet, with sharp claws for nails, but her two fingers more sturdy, as if made to be an archer by instinct alone.

"I...I'm sorry... please..... forgive me....."

Her quiet voice sounded, but Alex didn't listen or try to hear, his body kneeling beside Samantha, stroking her soft face, the missing hair and broken cheek irrelevant, her words the thoughts she felt, how could he not know them through the link. He respected her diligence and desired to tell him herself, yet that link was dead.