Parker coughed, blood dripping from his lips. "Deepa," he groaned. "Did they bite you?"
"Yes," she sobbed.
"It's okay," he wheezed. "I love you."
"I love you too," she cried, clinging to him.
"You have to run," he urged, his voice weak. "Get away before anyone comes out here."
"No," she sobbed. "No, I won't leave you."
The door to the bar opened, several loud voices spilling onto the asphalt outside.
"Please," he begged, his voice a whisper. "My leg....it's…I won't be able to keep up."
"Parker-"
"Just do this for me…Please."
"Parker-"
"Promise me, Deepa. Promise me that you'll survive."
"I promise," she sobbed, tears running down her cheeks.
"Good," he smiled, wincing in pain.
"I love you," she whimpered, clutching his hand.
"Hey!" someone cried out from across the carpark. "Are you alright?"
Deepa froze, panic washing over her.
"Go," Parker urged. "Hurry."
"I love you," she whispered, planting a kiss on his lips before rising to her feet and bolting into the darkness.
Deepa darted between buildings, cutting through alleys and side streets as she tried to put as much distance between her and the Infection Control officers in the bar.
Her heart was pounding, her chest heaving with ragged breaths as her body screamed in agony. The transformation had begun, and it was a slow, torturous process.
The world blurred around her, shapes and colors blending together as the virus coursed through her system. Every muscle in her body was contracting and releasing, her bones cracking and reforming, her skin burning and crawling.
She gasped, falling to her knees as a wave of nausea washed over her.
Her stomach lurched, bile rising in her throat as she vomited. The pain was excruciating, her vision fading in and out as she fought to stay conscious.
"Please," she whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "Please, make it stop."
The moon rose above the clouds, illuminating the dark sky as the last shreds of Deepa's humanity faded into nothingness.
"Parker," she breathed, her voice hoarse.
But there was nothing but pain and darkness.
Chapter Two
Deepa's eyes flew open, her chest heaving as she sucked in a lungful of air.
