Chapter 12: Day At The Museum

Gregory Cross

Monday 16, February 2015

09:26 Hours

Paris, France

"Alright, but be careful."

"I will."

Gregory Cross snuck into a highly-secure data using nothing but a lock-pick and quick reflexes, both of which he owes them to Joshua. Finally, he reached the backdoor and in he went. The Museum was dark and silent, in stark contrast of the bustling city outside. He pulled out a small handgun from it's holster at his side, and slowly made his way down the maze of halls. Blood splatters decorated the exhibitions as a tribute to some pagan god, and from time to time Greg could swear he saw a limb or two tucked away behind some statue. His pathway led him through to the exhibition where it all started, the supposed terrorist attack, and his breath caught. The whole area's floor was covered by bodies. Little girls and boys; men; and women, all bloody and many maimed. The terror of seeing this kind of scene again sent him stumbling back, crashing against. He struggled to get a grip, knowing he had to go on, so he pulled back his jacket's shirt and bit hard on his hand, right under the thumb. The pain worked, and he stood, blood dripping from his newly made bite.

"Man, I've got to think of easier ways to calm down."

Taking a deep breath, he finally walked into the big exhibition. He gingerly stepped around the bodies, from time to time poking them with his foot to make sure they were really dead. A loud noise, that of a metal door slamming shut, preceded hushed voices, and Greg instantly ducked into cover. He cocked the handgun and listened, hoping to get some information out of the voices.

"It'll be fine, don't worry." The voice of a young male stated to an unknown companion. "We don't have to go further than the offices."

"But, this is uncomfortable... People died here..." A girl voice replied. "Lets go home... Please..."

"Hey, babe. Relax. Everything's going to be fine." The guy answered. They seemed to get closer. "We'll just do what we came to do and get out."

"O-okay." She stuttered in fear. A clank was heard, and the girl detected it: "D-d-did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" The guy replied. They seemed to have stopped, but Greg wasn't waiting around to find out what they were going to do. He moved further down, keeping out of sight. "I think you're making this up to scare me."

"I'm not." She said. Greg was about to go out, when she added: "I think it's moaning."

"Don't be ridiculous! This place's been thoroughly scoured for body. There's no way-"

A grunt later and the girl was screaming at the top of her lungs. Greg cursed and dashed for them, when he saw what was happening. A baby boy was clinging to the guy's leg, chewing into it. What made it worse was how the lower torso of the baby was missing. The girl was clutching her head a tad further down the hall, and Greg quickly acted with remorse, shooting the infected baby. The gunshot was loud and clear, and the bullet's trajectory was dead-on, but something was wrong. Because the gunshot seemed to mingle into a too-close grunting sound.

"BEHIND YOU!!!"

The cry gave Greg enough seconds to turn around and catch the bloodied hands of an infected woman, but her momentum sent Greg stumbling back. His instinct kicked in, and as he fell he pulled hard on the infected woman's arms and brought his feet into her belly, sending her flying over his head in one fluent movement. The second he hit the floor, he spun onto his feet and picked up his handgun, which he instantly aimed and fired. Swiping his brow with his sleeve, Greg stood and went to the girl.

"We need to go." He extended his hand towards her. "This place isn't safe."

"But, my-"

"He's been bitten. From what I know, there's nothing anyone can do to help." Greg helped her stand, then added: "But, for now, we need to get out of here."

"Why?" She asked. "You killed those things."

"Doesn't mean there aren't others." Greg's ringtone then informed him he had a text message. "Either way, we're still somewhere we're not supposed to do, so lets get going."

He led her out of the area and finally delivered her home, where she informed him that she greatly appreciated his help. Once she was safe inside her house, Greg headed down the street and pulled out his phone. Opening it, he read the text, and grimaced. It indicated an address, but it was from someone who he didn't like at all. The text also informed Greg who the address belonged to and that they'd meet in the location. With a grimace, he walked to the place, which was quite close. Upon reaching the location, his heart skipped a beat. The house was an infernal blaze, with firemen trying to fight it all around the house. Greg spotted his sister and Beatrix among the crowd, and made his way towards them.

"What's going on?" He asked upon arriving.

"No idea." Jane stated, her eyes ever-fixed upon the blazing fire. "But I know for a fact that the people who lived here are dead."

"That's not good, right?"

"Right."

"Then, what do we do?" Greg asked. "What CAN we do?"

"We go back to Avatar City. We bide our time and keep our eyes and ears open." Jane answered, her voice stone cold. "We make sure to be ready. I might not know what's going on, but I know one thing: Something big is coming, and we're right in the middle of it."