It has been weeks since River and Kaine had been taken by ambushers, but even if she kept on looking for them, it was no use the city was just too big for her to search alone. Walking through out of breath Nova sat on a nearby bench slouching forward, with both arms leaned against her thighs while her hands dangled finally resting from so much swinging.
"They can't possibly be here, it's too filled with demon walkers let alone dangerous. The bastards must've taken them out of the city, but even that is far too dangerous for one human to go alone" Nova said to herself not watching the surroundings behind her when a tin-can was kicked causing her to jump up and turn to face where it came from. She got the bat ready nearing no groans, but nothing was there it was as if she had made it all up. "Am I going insane?" she thought placing a hand on the side of her face recollecting her thoughts, therefore lowering her guard, but it quickly changed when in the direction the tin-can was kicked footsteps could be heard heading in her direction bringing Nova back on high alert. "Who's there? If you plan to fight I won't guarantee you'll be coming out of this without a concussion" she warned to whoever was approaching her, as a young man exit from the shadows having seductive hazel eyes, long wavy brown hair that was tied up in a pony, smooth olive skin with a big scar on his right shoulder as he wore ripped black jeans, white ripped tank top that revealed some of his abs, and a navy blue camo jacket he had tied around his waist.
"The names Colton by the way, and uninfected by these mindless fools. I couldn't help, but notice that you're alone. Can I ask why?" he asked being patient as he appeared to be human and luckily unbitten having no weapon to defend himself against the walkers. Nova was unsure if he could be trusted or not even if he came off to be rather kind and patient unlike some people.
"I'm trying to find my sister and her boyfriend, they've been taken from my hideout at a apartment complex far from here. I think they got ambushed, and you can call me Nova" she replied explaining her problem to the random stranger as he hummed thinking of what he could do to help, but nothing came to mind unless it was a group of walkers, then they're both screwed.
"I know it's hard, but you need to find a place to retreat to as it's unsafe for you to be walking around alone in the city. I suggest going to a base that is owned by a very strict leader, I think her name was Bailey. She's the only one capable of helping you find your lost companions" he suggested pointing right which was the direction she was heading to next, thinking if bumping into her would be better than it was the last time they met.
"T-thanks, but shouldn't you come with me too? And like you said it's far too dangerous to be walking around these parts alone" Nova asked as he lowered his hand and shook his head with a soft smile not caring about the danger, and headed off back into the darkness where he first emerged.
"I'll just be holding you back, so go ahead and be safe. Those parts are incredibly dangerous and filled with walkers" his last warning until lettin her go pointing the brave lass in the direction she needed to go if wanting to find the two before it's too late. Once she left Colton stopped in the dark alleyway and glanced over his shoulders after hearing Nova's footsteps disappear into the distance. "Everything is going soothingly. I wonder how Armaros is doing without his bullets?" talking to himself emitting suspicious vibes until walking off ready to do the next part of whatever plan he was working on.
The path to this so called base was through the forest that could be riddled with walkers, but Nova wasn't allowing that to stop her from getting the help she needed to find and reunite with her family again. It has been hours since she strutted out of the city as the sun began to set making it harder for her to spot anything around her, the danger Colton was warning about.
"Was he sure it was in this direction? This walk is killing my legs, and I can't a safe place to camp either" Nove questioned herself and if it was right to listen to the stranger, but it was too late for her to go back now. However, the search soon came to a halt when out of nowhere a walker snuck up from behind and bit her left shoulder forcing Nova to quickly get it off her before it could damage the muscle tissue. She was left staring at it seeing it begin to bleed as her heart began to race knowing that her time as a possible saviour was coming to an end. "no.. NO! This can't be it, I need to stay alive to protect River. You stupid fucking sack of useless off gone meat?!" She began to have a surge of mixed emotions flow through her body placing a hand over the bit the walker had made, hearing its hungry groans for more as it continued to limp towards her while saliva dripped from its mouth. Nova in a fit of rage bashed its head in with her bat refusing to let anything take her away from River, not even a deadly virus. Other demon walkers in the area heard the ruckus came over for a piece not knowing that a rampaging human was having a blood shedding murder spree.
Nearby on a metal wall border that surrounded an abandoned and demon walker free village with life slowly flourishing inside, one of the guards with loaded guns heard Nova's yells and cries of anger alerting the others of what could potentially be another survivor.
"Bravo calling in, we might have a possible survivor in the forest. Do you want me to detain them for inspection once they arrive?" they called through a walkie-talkie alerting the head in command of what was happening over the borders.
"Alfa here, you have permission, Alfa. Keep all eyes out for any possible walkers and kill them on sight until the survivor is contained for inspection in the walker's arena" another called through giving him direct commands as he remained with his sniper aimed at the forest waiting patiently for the survivor to come out along with some walkers.
"Let's just hope you haven't been bit 'cause living here isn't all dandy when you're a walker" Bravo said to himself as Nova came directly in sight of his scope taking out any demon walkers that emerged after her, not seeing the bite wound she had on her shoulder yet. Noticing his assistance she ran in the borders direction covering her bite mark she got in the forest thanks to Colton.
As she approached the board most of the walkers were killed when another guard dragged her inside spotting the bite and how fresh it seemed to be, glancing up to the upper platform directly at Bravo who was supposed to prevent something like this from happening.
"She's been bit you idiot! We could've used her help against those things" they yelled at the guard even though the bite was done before she was spotted. Nova appeared to be fine, but how long does she have until turning to a demon walker. "I'm sorry about this, but I have to chain you up in the walker arena until you change. Boss' orders I'm afraid" turning their attention to her as they pulled Nova's hands forward and tied them together before beginning to pull them in the direction of the area they call the walker arena.
"I hate everything about this, but I need you do me a quick favour once I'm bound" Nova asked just for a tiny favour while she remained in control of herself for the meantime, her presence was instantly noted by the others as they kept their distance incase she decides to turn mid walk to the arena.
"Sure, get it out while you're still human" he kindly replied willing to accept someone's last final wish even if she wasn't showing any signs of changing as of yet.
"I came to ask Bailey if she could help find my little sister River and her boyfriend Kaine. A stranger called Colton told me she would help me, until I got bit by a fucking walker" Nova was still angry about lowering her guard making the guy feel sorry for her, as it must hurt to know that someone you dearly care about is lost, but the boy's name she mentioned caught on real quickly.
"Kaine? Like the demon boy Kaine that goes out with an angel? I think saw the girl walking around here not too long ago, but I can't say anything about the boy though. I can ask, but you'll probably be a walker by the time they have answers for you" Giving the girl exactly what she wanted to hear, but not when she's going to become a walker, no family member wants to see anyone they care about change into a flash craving, mindless, cannibal, rotting demon corpse. Nova sighed knowing it's useless if she's bitten or life here for everything would be at risk if precious time is wasted on herself.
"I guess you're right, but are we there yet?" Nova asked as they came to a seriously spiked up chained fence that was held back with strong metal chains that prevented any walkers inside from pushing it over or climbing it if they had the brains. She was taken by how many dead walkers were inside and alive ones were tied up, but the center pole in the middle was clear as they entered into the arena.
"This will be your home until we can prove you're safe enough to be released, despite yourself being bitten, but there have been news of a rare few being immune from the virus. I just hope you're one of them, we could use an extra hand around here" he said tightly chaining her body to the pole making it impossible for her to escape even if she becomes a demon walker. Nova softly exhaled as he stood up after checking that all was securely in place, until Bailey walked on to arena grounds seeing the one person she hopes hasn't really been infected.
"Please tell me it isn't true, that you haven't been bitten?" Bailey asked allowing the other member to leave Nova alone with their trusted leader of the Red Dragons. She had no bow in hand proving that this place was tight in security, kneeling down until spotting the nasty bite on the left side of her shoulder that hasn't been cleaned or covered up. "Does no one know about hygiene in this place, get me a nurse here right now!" she yelled through the walkie-talkie deafening those who had one, as Nova flinched being deafened in the left ear.
A nurse rushed to the scene seeing the type of injury he'll be wrapping up, but under the careful watch of his fearless leader adding some additional stress on his shoulders. He gulped and got to work disinfecting the wound in order to cover it up ignoring Nova's hisses of pain.
"It's done, the wound had been disinfected and covered up" he said before disappearing out of the walker arena leaving Bailey alone with bitten once again.
"I wish I knew how to save you, but you've been bitten. What other way to keep you safe than chained up here until we can find someone who can make a cure" she explained as River rushed to the chained fence while Red Dragon guards stopped her from entering after hearing about Nova's up coming demise.
"You gotta let me in! My sister need me" River begged catching Nova's attention as she turned seeing the one person she didn't want to witness such a gruesome change, but where was Kaine? "First my boyfriend and now you want to tie up my sister! I won't allow it!" she exclaimed using her wings to give herself a jump boost over the chained fence, rushing over towards Bailey and Nova.
"Stand back, kid. This is no place for your kind to be wondering about unprotected" Bailey instructed turning to face the teen as they stopped seeing how worried the leader of this base seemed to be over one person. "You can't do anything to stop the transformation, she had to be chained down for our safety, not for the entertainment" she added making it clear that the other walkers were tied down for their simple entertainment than experimentation to find a cure to prevent such tragedies from happening.
"You didn't say the same for Kaine! You knew he was innocent and was only defending me and his right as part of his demon genes, not the stupid virus" arguing against Bailey's word puffing up her wings as Nova wasn't liking the way she was talking, as this was the only option they had on saving their base from walkers.
"Stop it, River. We haven't got time for your rants. I allowed them to do this as I have been bitten, so get out of here and stay away from me. I don't want to turn anyone into a demon walker once it the transformation starts" Nova stepped in backing Bailey up for this one not having anyone like River see her change into a monster.
"B-but.." River stumbled with her words as members came in, and grabbed both of the girl's arms as one came from behind keeping her wings pressed together, making it impossible for her to escape their clutches.
"Get the child out of here, she doesn't need to see this.. Nobody does" Bailey have them one more demand as they understood and exited the arena ceiling it up tight, allowing the two to talk while they had the chance Bailey sat down in front of Nova in hopes to have a decent chat while she can still talk. "And a heads up, the changing into a demon walker isn't pleasant, and will take at least twenty-three hours or more until you completely turn into a walker. Twenty-three hours of endless pain and suffering that is, I know that because bared witness to it myself" explaining to Nova that none of this is going to be easy, and seeing it all before made it clear she didn't like to see the infected in pain, even if she can be a little bit of a handful at times.
"No kidding, and thanks for the scare. I would rather live than become a rotting walking corpse" Nova replied not sounding very relieved about what was soon to come in the next couple of hours. Bailey stood back up seeing how dark it was and back at the unfortunate sympathising, but thinking of a solution to prevent the pain, and with everything destroyed 'cause of the demon walkers it seemed highly unlike to get a grab on anything medical.
"I guess that's all.. I wish we had more time to chat, but my bed awaits me. I'll have someone check up on you first thing in the morning" bidding farewell for the night leaving Nova alone to think through everything or life as she once knew it, way before this life changing apocalypse took place.
Nova's PoV:
I feel no different, but the chains making it feel like I'm trapped just like how it used to be back in that dusty old attic. Why must I always do this to myself? Am I truly that much of a burden?
"Psst.. Psssssst!" getting my attention I glanced to my right to the far end of his arena spotting Kaine tied down by black chains, but these weren't ordinary chains. They held angelic magic inside making it impossible for him to break out of. His horns were sharp, his tail was slick and if I were an idiot like some of these Red Dragon grunts I too would think he was infected, but he wasn't just an ordinary supernatural being.. A real demon.
"What? Can't you see I'm busy dying over here?" I replied not really feeling the pain Bailey told me I should be experiencing as it's getting closer to the next day, and a girl needs her beauty sleep. He seemed to look at me awkwardly as silence hit us both, well not complete silence, since we were stuck with other chained up walkers in this arena. "I got bit a few hours ago, didn't you hear or see the doctor patch up my injury?" hoping to at least give him a reminder of what happened not too long ago, but he didn't seem to enjoy being chained down and neither do I.
"I can't smell it on you, and those who change let off a very... Disgusting stench. Are you sure you're infected?" he questioned causing my mind to freeze for a moment and go back to when those innocent people got bitten back in the mall. They didn't start changing until a few hours after escaping the mall losing their minds first for the hunger of human flesh along with growing disturbing horns and tails, and then the rotting begins.
"They smell?! How the heck you find that out?.. Wait, on second thought don't tell me" I replied not wanting to know how he found it out or how close he got to sniff one of them, which is kinda disturbing in my opinion. What if he tried to smell me? And I wouldn't even know about it.
"Don't get any ideas, we demons have enhanced sense of smell unlike you humans and angels. And sniffing the walking dead is something I wish I can get out of my nose, but you're not exactly infected as you smell like lavender. And that is not a rotting smell or something out of date, if you get my drift" he said not liking the idea of smelling the dead, but he wasn't wrong my family feared demons especially the kind that can sniff them out. I still felt off by the fact he knew how I smell, even if I was unsure if I should believe his word or not incase I'm actually infected, but it could just be slow.
"Nice to know that you're no different to a dog, weirdo. Stick to what you do best, and prove to them like you've proved to me that you're no threat to society, unlike these brainless freaks" I hated to be mean, but it was true his high sense of smell is awkward and disturbing to me. I wonder if River knows about this?
"Funny, but the more I think about it, you could actually be immune and save several lives once a cure is actually made" I didn't know if it was sarcasm or the truth, as I don't feel anything at all other than being alive, but no pain, no sweating or anything similar to the symptoms were coming like they should. Maybe he wasn't talking shut after all.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but If it turn and you're right, I actually might actually let you marry my sister once everything is sorted out" my word was truthful and if it did turn out that I cannot turn then maybe I'm not a complete burden after all, but all I need to do is wait.
No one's PoV:
When the next day came around Nova's head was slanted making it impossible to know if she was changing, but no horns or tail could be seen growing out of her body. The guards were scared to check if she was alive or dead forcing Kaine to wake up.
"She's still human and completely immune you babies" he called out still trying to prove himself that he's not one of the walkers nor the man behind it all. His yelling caused Nova tiredly groan lifting her head with a big yawn, unable to properly stretch thanks to the chained that kept her bound.
"Is the demon freak telling the truth?" One of the guards asked turning their attention to his pal, who just shrugged their shoulders.
"Can you guys keep it down? I'm trying to sleep over here if you can't fucking tell" Nova grew grouchy as the light hit her face making the girl even more grouchy.
"She isn't a walking corpse.. What should we do? This never happened before" the guards quietly discussed between one another after turning their backs on Nova and Kaine.
"Tell the boss obviously you ding wit!" Hitting the guard on his head before pulling out their walkie-talkie and called through to the big boss herself.
Bailey walked over having no problem seeing the issue in hand as not only one, but two people they thought were infected weren't exactly infected.
"You have five seconds to tell me everything before I throw you in there with them" she threatened not understanding any of the gibberish that was coming out of their mouths.
"The girl hasn't turned or is shows any signs of turning. We think she might be immune" one of them explained causing Bailey to lean to the side seeing Nova fully conscious and with no signs of changing, not by the slightest. She sighed believing their words, but a professional should be called in to determine whether if they were telling the truth.
"Call for the doctor and if it turns out that she's immune, unchain her as she'll be becoming apart of the Red Dragons. We are in desperate need of someone with her skills" Bailey instructed in basic easy steps for the guards to follow, as they both nodded in agreement understanding what they needed to do.