Exterminators Infected (The Exterminators Book 1) (31 page)

“You really talk too much. Did anyone ever tell you that?” Carl let his guard down. He watched as his student, the boy he took under his wing, rose from the ground. It wasn't the Fred he knew though. Wasn't the once chubby scared boy he took care of. It was now something different. An Unknown. Yet he had no clue how it was even possible.

Riven dug his claws into the concrete wall aside of him. “You think you're so perfect. You've done more harm than good and you know it,” he spat.

“I'm not really sure what you're referring too but I'm sick and tired of hearing you speak. Your little mind games won't work on me. So...” Carl dashed forward. He laid his palm out again, a mere foot away from Riven. Before Riven could even try to swipe his claws he was thrown back again. He went flying up then back down in a hard crash, slamming his back hard enough to create a cracking sound. Carl began his walk towards the creature.

Jin began to crawl back up. “Carl,” he began, trying to regain his posture.

“Stay here. I have to finish this.” Carl walked forward, holding his metal hand tightly together. He was ready to finish the job. He had no choice. Fred... Riven, had done too much damage. Trying to kill two Exterminators was a serious crime. It was easier to end his life now then put him through a trial. In which case they would find him guilty.

“Carl, don't kill him.”

“Jin, stay out of this.”

“Carl! He's still Fred. He hasn't completely changed,” Jin pleaded. Carl felt the words hit him. He wanted nothing more than to see Fred again yet, as a Bora, as an Exterminator, he couldn't let him live. He knew better than that.

Riven was back on his feet shaking his head violently. He was getting annoyed. “If only I was at my full form you wouldn't be able to do this,” he roared. “I will kill you.”

Carl went quickly up to Riven. Riven tried to swipe forward in a stabbing fashion. Carl grabbed his hand with his elemental glove pulling him forward with a fierce tug. Then he landed a perfect face shot with his metallic hand. There was a terrible-sounding crush as Riven was lifted off the ground and fell backwards. He laid there motionless.

“Carl! Do not kill him!” Jin was limping towards Carl. He could still feel the pain in his gut from Riven's attack. He couldn't watch Carl kill his own student.

“Jin. I won't tell you again. Stand down. This is not your decision. It is my student. He broke the laws.” Carl stood there glaring at his broken student. He didn't know what to do. He knew what his job entailed but he couldn't just kill his student.

“You can't just kill him, we can help him! If anything he can be put on trial.”

“I can't take that chance!”

“He isn't David! Stop focusing on the past!”

Carl turned around, his face red. “You don't know anything about that. You shouldn't talk about things you have no freaking clue about!” Carl was losing his composure. Jin did the opposite of what he set out to do. Instead of calming him down, he ignited him further into anger.

Back in the black room, Fred felt at peace. As if he didn't have to worry about the problems he currently had. All the lonely issues, all the hatred he'd been building up, was now gone. He lived peacefully. Something he had wanted so badly.

He couldn't stay here, though. Something felt off about it. He would love to let it all drift away into the darkness. Let himself finally rest, but he had things to do. Friends who counted on him. He couldn't just lie around.

“Other self?” He began to push himself up. He felt no pain. No anger. Just the feeling of needing to fight. To get out of the room.

“Rest now young one.”

“I have to go.” He was back on his feet.

“Rest. No need to fight anymore.” The voice was very soothing.

“Yeah, can't do that. I have to get back to my friends.”

“They betrayed you. They led you to more pain. You were hunted. Now, let me handle it while you rest.”

“Sorry other self but that's just not how it works.” He laughed. “I need to get back and help.”

“Last time you helped, it led to, what? Do not fight. Do not push. Just rest.”

“No more resting. I need to get up and do something. There's no walls to break, I need to wake up now.” He could hear voices now. A voice he was somewhat familiar with.

“If you don't rest you'll bring more pain. You cannot live how you want to live. Peacefully. Is that not what you want?” The voice was losing its power. Fred could hear the other voice louder now. It sounded like Jin.

“I'm glad you're looking out for me other self but I got obligations. My friends need me on the team. I can't just lay around and wait for them to do all the work. Now let me out!” He was yelling now. The voice tried to respond but lost itself. He could hear Jin and now Carl speaking. They were arguing about something but he couldn't make it out.

“Let me out other self. Right the hell now!” he roared. Moments later the blackness disappeared as he was thrown back into the real world.

Pain shot through his entire face. So much pain suddenly on his entire body. He cried out in anguish like never before. “What the hell!” he roared as he grabbed his bloody face. He could feel a terrible pain in his chest and stomach as if a two pound cement block slammed into him. All the attacks he was hit with when he was Riven came rushing back. He never experienced so much misery before. It was almost unbearable for him.

“Fred?” Jin asked cautiously.

“Why do I feel like a truck just slammed into me?” Fred asked still moaning. The pain was terrible.

“See! He's still him. That Unknown hasn't taken over!” Jin yelled. Carl watched Fred carefully.

“Unknown? What are you talking about?” Fred sat up. He let go of his face. He could still feel hurt but he was able to put it aside and let it subside.

“He doesn't remember...” Carl sounded upset.

“That's good!” Jin told him loudly. “Means it wasn't his fault.”

“Doesn't change what he did.” Carl looked back at Maria. She was leaning against the wall, holding her face, while looking away from the entire situation. She lost an eye and was badly mutilated. She didn't want anyone to see. A once simple, yet pretty face was now completely destroyed.

“What did I do?” Fred asked, trembling.

“You...” Jin began but wasn't sure how to finish. How do you tell someone they turned into a monster and almost killed someone?

“We have to get him to the Station,” Carl stated.

“A trial!?” Jin said shocked and scared.

“Do we have a choice?” Carl asked.

“No, you do not.” It was a tall framed, muscular, ill-tempered looking man. He walked forward, two other people followed behind him.

“Aric?” Carl asked, surprised.

“Maria called. Told me what happened.” He stopped a few feet away from them.

“When did she call?” Jin asked surprised. He'd been so busy arguing with Carl he hadn't been listening to Maria.

“Doesn't matter, she filled me in. This boy must come with us.”

“I will be taking him in,” Carl replied firmly.

“I think not. This boy is heading straight to trial. He is already considered a dangerous killer.” Aric's voice was monotone. Not even a slight sense of emotion as he spoke. This scared Fred more than anything. He got up and began backing towards Jin and Carl.

“Listen I don't know what I did. I'm sorry for whatever it was. I just don't want to go with this guy.” Fred began sweating more than usual. He could feel the pain coming back.

“I will take him in. He will be put on trial. There's no need to scare him more.” Carl said with a stern voice. He wasn't about to back down and let someone take his student away. It was his responsibility.

“We will follow then.”

“Fair enough. Help Maria up. We will walk ahead and meet you at the house.” Carl grabbed Fred's arm and nudged him forward. Fred excused himself and moved forward. The three Protectors went to help Maria. Fred walked forward, with Jin and Carl trailing behind.

“What happened?”

“Terrible things,” Carl answered grimly, glancing behind him. He saw Maria back on her feet, crying.

“I don't remember it. I don't remember what I did.” Fred wanted to cry. He did something and he didn't remember a thing about it. How could that be? The question rang in his head.

“We'll figure this out. Don't worry,” Jin tried to reassure him. Yet Fred felt a terrible outcome was coming.

“If I fail this...trial...will they put me to death?” Fred didn't hear a word. That was the only answer he needed.

Nick returned his spear to its Rod form. “I say we get out of here. Had enough training today.” His shirt was soaked. The amount of training was double of what he expected. Whenever he worried, he had to get the anxiety out some way. Training was the best outlet he could think of.

“I thought we were waiting for Carl? Ask him if he heard anything about Fred.” Marshall stopped running laps and caught his breath. “I mean, we can't leave. We have no clue where Fred is.”

Peter felt a knot in his stomach. Was this guilt? It must have been. He didn't want to tell the boys what he told the others. He was afraid they wouldn't trust him. “I'm sure he's fine. Probably just home sick again.”

“I think Pete might be right. Why don't we stop by his house and check?” Nick asked while grabbing his backpack.

“All right, sounds good to me.” Marshall snatched his book bag up too.

Peter walked behind them. He wasn't sure how to approach them. To tell them what he saw in Fred. That he was too worried about his own problems at home so he diverted the attention of the Exterminators on his teammate. On his friend. He didn't know how to say a word. He was scared of losing the one thing he had gained. Trust.

They pushed through the gym doors. Marshall shoved Nick in playful manner. They laughed as they compared muscles. That's when they caught sight of Fred walking towards them. He was beaten badly in the face. They could see Jin and Carl walking behind him. Then four others were following behind them.

Marshall ran up to his friend. “Fred!” Jin went in front of Fred and stopped Marshall. “Hey, move out of the way. I want to see my friend.”

“You can't right now.” Jin held Marshall back. Nick moved closer, confused at the situation.

“What's going on?” he asked calmly.

“Don't worry about it guys. It'll be fine,” Fred said smiling. They could hear the fakeness in his voice.

“What did they do to you!?” Marshall was shouting now.

“Marshall calm down,” Carl said quietly.

“No! Why is his face so messed up? Who are those guys!?”

Aric moved up to the front of the group. He nodded to Jin, who let go of Marshall. “This business is none of your concern. You can step aside right now.” Again the monotone voice. It was as if he was reading words off a piece of paper.

“That's my best friend! You’re damn right it's my business.” Marshall stepped closer. Aric began to get tense.

“Marshall! Stand down. I will explain it all to you soon.” Carl was now the one getting upset. He didn't need another student to go on trial. “I promise, Fred will be fine.”

Marshall stood face to face with Fred for a moment. He could see the pain in his eyes. The pain of giving up. He wasn't afraid anymore. He accepted whatever judgment they gave him. Marshall didn't like that.

“I want to know what's happening. Not later. Now!” Marshall demanded.

“You are to remove yourself right now,” Aric said, his voice loud like thunder.

“Move out of my way,” Marshall said trying to push Aric out of the way. Aric grabbed his hand and spun him around. He slammed him against the wall.

Nick already had his spear formed in a second and placed it right at Aric's head. The other Protectors moved with the same swiftness. “Peter!” Peter already had his glove formed and had a flame in his hand ready to throw. “You two move any closer and he's dead!” Nick roared. Aric watched the tip of the spear at his throat. Marshall grunting as he was pushed against the wall.

“Nick, stand down,” Carl said very calmly. The situation escalated far past what he had expected. It was spinning out of control.

“Stand this, son of a bitch!” Marshall cried from the wall. He was pushed up against it so hard his words came out jumbled.

“I will kill you. Back off of Marshall right now.” It was as if Nick only focused on his friend. He saw one friend being taking away from him. Another being hurt. “I am their leader. They will not be harmed.” All three boys could feel it. They felt they were the strongest team out there. Peter kept his guard, flame ball in hand. Both Protectors were ready to strike but staying perfectly still.

Aric loosen his grip and threw Marshall to the side. Marshall held his arm, hurt from being held so tightly from behind. Nick dropped his spear and backed up a few feet. Carl felt the situation getting a little better. Even so he knew the kids would not back down.

“I did terrible things,” Fred said. Everyone looked at him. “I need to be held accountable for them.”

“What are you talking about?” Marshall asked. He was getting annoyed.

“I've done terrible things. Maria is badly hurt. I almost killed Jin. I attacked Carl. I need to be answer for those crimes.” He held his head down. He didn't want to see the confused and hurt eyes of his teammates. “I need you guys to stand down. I will handle this.”