Chapter 503: The Infection Within

Aether leaned down, grabbing the foot to examine it. It looked exactly like a human one, nothing like its other three. It was a weird sight to see, but what didn't make sense was that the one he fought didn't have something like this.

Looking at the whole monster, Aether rushed to its face, lifting the hair off its eyes... one of them was normal... while the other looked exactly like a human eye. Opening it with his hands, his suspicion only became even more real...

This thing... had human body parts merged with its lizard parts.

But why.

How.

...

Then his attention shifted to its mouth. Opening it, he examined it, and really, he didn't notice anything abnormal; it had a normal mouth, its sharp teeth were like any monster he had faced... what was strange was its saliva; it was an awful green color, with brown spots everywhere, like it was dirty, infested. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Backing away, Aether gripped his chin. 'Teeth... no bite... don't... let it bite?' Was that what the paper was trying to tell him, but why? Why shouldn't one of the monsters be able to bite him? What would happen if they did?

'In times like this, I do wish I had a board where I could have everything I know on it, and that way I could draw lines... but no, I have to use my imagination.'

...

His eyes widened. He had a theory, but it was wild, really wild, and really, he wanted to be wrong. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense; of course, that didn't mean it was absolutely correct, but it was hard to argue against a theory that had so many things that worked in it.

'The letter, it was a warning, trying to tell people not to let the monster bite them... since if they did, it would turn them into one. That was why there were so many, and why this one had human features, because it was a human not long ago.'

He chuckled. 'It's like those zombie viruses in the books I read about as a kid... not that this is cool or anything...'

To think that his gut had saved him... If he didn't trust it, and if he hadn't found that note, he would have let it bite him, and probably would be turning into one as he thought... it was a scary thought, one of the scariest.

'Then... is it safe to say that we Readers weren't the first here? Had there been a civilization before us here, hence the note written in another language, that got fully infected with this... virus or what it is?'

...

'If so, are the people inside the camp even safe?'

He felt himself shiver slightly; this whole thing felt wrong...

When he first arrived in this place, he definitely did not expect this... and there was something his gut kept screaming at him, and had been screaming ever since he failed to meet one monster the whole walk, well, until now.

As convenient as it was, it shouldn't be possible; he should have long been attacked. After all, he was all alone, so then why not? Why has he not been ambushed yet?

'These monsters aren't dumb... they have to be planning something, but what? There has to be a reason for all of this, and I have to stop ignoring this just because it's good for me?'

Aether looked back, behind him, at all the ground he covered, sighing. 'And really, all that comes to my mind is... an attack. They are planning on attacking the town where all the Readers are living, ambushing, infecting, and making them lose the battle from the inside.'

Let's say his gut was right; what should he even do? If he tried to go back, he would probably already be too late to warn the people, and while he could probably take on the weaker ones, he was never going to be of a big help in the battle; he was just putting himself in danger if he went. And with his curse, he could even make things worse.

...

But at the same time, if he just left and let them fight on their own, if they lost, wouldn't that haunt his mind? He could have maybe done something; he didn't know for sure that he would be late.

Maybe he got back in time, and his warning saved them... wouldn't that be better?

Wouldn't trying to help do more than just letting it happen? He had just criticized the Harbinger for not trying...

Aether sighed. "Damn it, and I was getting close to the hole I came from; how annoying." He said as he started running back.

...

...

...

As he got closer to the town, he heard the walls trembling around him, and with Eden's help, he saw a sea of monsters, all running with him towards the town. It confirmed his theory, but this was one of those things that he really didn't want to be true.

But it was.

His gut had been telling the truth.

Reaching the entrance of the town, he watched as monsters just flowed into it, like a waterfall. It was like reading a book about a horrendous apocalypse, just that this was real life, and not a book. He wasn't living a story or reading about it; this was his own reality.

Monsters ran the streets, as Seekers had to run for their lives. He saw many getting eaten to death, and others slowly turning into these hideous monsters...

'How... how can I ever help in this situation?' Who knew how many of these guys were Seekers, and how many were Bearers or stronger; he had no chance in this battle. So what could he ever do?

'Damn it!' He clenched his fists.

...

He knew he couldn't have everyone; it was impossible for him, and he knew that he couldn't be a hero... but he could at least save someone.

Elise, he needed to find her before it was too late. He wasn't going to lose her, too.