Cyrus

The walk to Cardigan hall was surprisingly upbeat despite our mission. The weather had perked up, and the street was filled with people who were actually breathing this time. I had Angelica at my side of course, and Vincent had insisted on coming along.

Vincent was the brother of the mapmaker and cook on the ship, Em. I didn’t really know much about her, she never talked to anyone except her brother as it was. He was a good natured lad and she could cook without burning anything so they were welcome aboard my ship. (It helped that Vincent wasn’t all that bad looking)

The stores around the Hall were all closed and I wondered if it was because all the store owners had been killed or abducted.

I looked up at the large hall, looming over the town square. It was a marble building with columns holding up an overhang. Flags hung at each peak above, and at the main entrance a large clock stood above it all. I looked at all the people going in and out of the building, none knowing of the massacre that had occurred only a few hours before.

I wondered when the missing persons signs would show up in the news, on the bulletin boards. I wondered when the people would realize the massive peak in disappearances. I wondered, if, the people would even notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t care.

I took a breath and turned to Vincent and Angelica. “You two go see if you can find anyone who is missing someone. Ask them how long ago it happened and if anything strange was going on before the time of the disappearances.”

The two stalked off, and I looked back at the hall. With one last glance around me, I marched in. It wasn’t a suspicious sight really. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Just people, doing people things. I thought about baldy, and how he had met his ill fated death here.

The inside of the hall was spectacularly decorated, large oil paintings hung from the walls and golden framed mirrors accompanied them. Hand woven persian rugs were placed on the floors and red velvet couches were arranged as a seating area. These lavish antiquities were all paid for out of the loving hand of taxes.

A woman in a light blue petticoat and bustle was shouting angrily at one of the men behind the answering booths. I recognized the man as the Royal Armies Representative. Basically, the man was there too explain why they suck at their job. I mean defend, how they suck at their job.

“I want my son back!” She shouted at him angrily, pretty much spitting into the man’s horrid mustache. Even I knew that was unfashionable. Not cute, not cute at all.

“Ma’am, I told you. We’re trying our best…” He said, not looking sorry at all.

The woman started bawling as she screamed at the unhappy looking man. “He never did anything to you people! Just give him back.” She pounded on the man’s desk, as if breaking it would bring her son back.

I sauntered up and looked in mock surprise at the tear filled mess of a woman. “My lor’! Are you alrigh’ ma’am?”

“No!” She screeched, a blubbering mess. “My son has been missing for three weeks and they have done nothing to find him! They took him! I saw them take him! Those men in white! I saw them drive away with my Johnny!”

“Ma’am! I told you already, we’re looking. Do the service a favor and shut the hell up! We did no such thing.” The man spat at her. I looked disapprovingly at a man. Now that sure as hell wasn’t attractive.

“You say you saw men in whi’e take ‘im?” I asked her, ignoring the horrid excuse for a gentleman. My hand rested on the poor woman’s shoulder, a sorry attempt at ‘comforting’ her. I suppose I shouldn’t have used the mech arm.

“I know I did! I know I did!” She cried. “They keep telling me I’m crazy!” She wept.

“If you come back here again I will call the disciplinary units.” He barked. “Now get away from here! Both of you!”

I led the crying woman away from the counter and around the corner, most of the rooms back there were for private meetings and business transactions. I helped her into a chair in someone’s office and sat down on the desk in front of her.

“Oh please, sir! You must believe me!”She wept. “I-I’m not insane.” She continued to cry, and while I could understand her pain (I might’ve just stabbed that counter man had it been Vic missing), the waterfall of tears and snot were getting in the way.

“Do stop cryin’” I spoke softly, hoping not to upset her even more. “I believe you.”

“Y-you do?” She asks, wiping away tears from her eyes. I nodded.

“I’d like to ‘elp ya, madam.” I tell her. “Bu’, I need ya to tell me, wha’ ‘appened. Anythin’ tha’ migh’ hint a’ who they were.” I coaxed.

She hesitated a moment then reached into her purse. “Well, it's not much but I found this this morning when I was on my way to Cardigan Hall. It’s the same thing the men in white were wearing.” She handed me a torn piece of white fabric with an insignia on it, half of the logo had been ripped off but it was still more of a lead than we had before.

“Thank ya ma’am. We’re this much closer to findin’ yer son.” I tell the woman, slipping the piece of cloth into my breast pocket.

The woman sniffles and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping her face off. “T-Thank you.” She pulled out a small cardstock card and handed it to me. “If you find him, please call me.”

“Will do, ma’am.” I tell her, standing up to take my leave.

I strided confidently out of the room and down back onto the square infront of Cardigan Hall. Vincent and Angelica stood outside, gathered around at some sort of presentation. I waltzed over to them, and tapped Angelica on the shoulder.

“Did you guys have any luck?” I ask her as she turns around to face me. She shook her head.

“No, I’m afraid not.” She says, she turns around and gestures at the platform ahead. “All we’ve managed to find out is some mad man’s trying to raise the dead.” She looks almost disapproving, but the curiosity in her eye is undeniable.

I turned my attention to the speaker, he had greying black hair, glasses and sharp cheekbones. In his younger days he might have been attractive. Now he just looked crazy, and tired. Such a tragedy when a nice face expires. I looked downwards. Tch, disappointing. He wore black pants that were tucked into silver buckled boots and a loose cream collared shirt. Over his shirt he wore a long white lab coat with deep pockets crammed full with papers and things.

“We could bring back your loved ones! The people we have lost! Just a little more research and you could be reunited with the people from your past!” He cried out, sparking hushed whispers throughout the crowd.

“See what I mean?” Angelica shook her head. “Did you find anything?”

“I-I’ll prove it to you!” He shouted, interrupting my reply. The man went to the back of the platform, and rolled out a metal table, covered by a dirty white cloth. He pulled the sheet off, and presented the blue corpse to us all. I gagged. Angelica looked away quickly, averting her eyes from the decaying form.

“I’m no’ exactly sure I wan’ tha’ back in society.” I muttered, covering my mouth. It didn’t smell, but I didn’t like to think of the implications of what that meant. The girl was covered by a raggedy night gown, her once long black hair was now falling out and her stomach had sunken in, indicating that she was hollow inside.

“I shall raise this girl from her eternal slumber! Watch, as the dead become the living!” He bellowed.

The scientist pulled out a syringe filled with a toxic red liquid that looked oddly similar to blood. Not creepy at all, I thought. Then again, raising people from the dead isn’t exactly all that warm and inviting either. I wondered when the people would start shouting necromancy.

The man lined up the needle with a patch of the woman’s scalp which had been-

Removed.

I winced at the sight of it, having only just realized it had been there. He emptied the syringe into the ladies head slowly, the red liquid leaving only a drop in it’s wake. I contemplated looking away, but it was already done, and the syringe was removed.

The man put the syringe down, and stepped forward to explain. “I have injected this woman- Annabell, with living, enhanced, stem cells. These ones, reproduce much faster. Think! If stem cells can replace cells that are damaged, if they can fight off such diseases. Imagine what these new ones can do! They’ll be able to fight off death itself!” The man exclaimed, clutching onto his hair.

Yet another wave of whispers. The man gestured towards a generator he had set up, and pulled out a large crocodile clip. “With this-” He says, waving it around. “I shall give it the kick her system needs to put it all into motion! Annabell, will be living once more.” He said clamping two of the metal clamps onto the metal bed ‘Annabell’, was stationed on. He marched over to the generator, his hand clasping the lever. “Behold!” He shouted, slamming the lever down.

An electric shock spread across the table, causing the body to jerk violently. She looked like she was having a seizure, though it was horrific as parts of her flesh were falling off as she moved. I gagged again and averted my eyes from the sight. The crackle of electricity filled the air and remained there even after he released the lever.

I continued to look away as Angelica shook my arm. “Cyrus! Cyrus look!” She shouted, still tugging on my arm. I glanced back over, and my eyes widened to find the girl sitting up. Her stomach was still very clearly hollow, but the skin seemed to fill with air, and empty as she went on. Her skin had a slightly more human color, and the scientist looked at her with proud eyes. Her’s, on the other hand, we’re still glossed over, and I wondered if she could see through them.

“Bloody hell, he did it!” One of the men said in awe, stepping closer to get a better look at the girl. Her head snapped towards him, and I wasn’t exactly sure I liked the look on her face right then.

The girl let out an inhuman screech and lept off the table, landing on top of the man who spoke, she ripped through his skin with unnatural strength and tore into his ribcage, tearing out his organs in the process. The crowd descended into chaos as people began screaming and running for cover. The girls head jerked at any sound and she leapt from one victim to the next.

“No! No! NO!” The scientist from earlier cried out. “I can make it work! I can make it work!”

The undead creatures head snapped to us, it’s glossy black eyes stared into us as it began half crawling half running its way towards us. I pulled out my sword, preparing to attack the- The- Thing. I refuse to think of that monster as a human. Angelica did the same, while Vincent pulled out a pistol.

Suddenly, before the creature even got close enough to attack the loud crack of a gun resounded through the square. I watched the creatures body fall to the ground, the bullet having hit right between the eyes. I looked behind me to where the bullet had come from and saw Victoria standing on top of an overturned crate, her revolver in hand.

She was huffing, and I couldn’t exactly process the look on her face. I wasn’t sure whether I was outraged, or extremely relieved to see her at the moment, so I did the one thing that always seemed to work.

I ran up and pulled her into a hug. She seemed surprised.

I let go and squinted at her. “I thought I said to stay on the ship.”

“Do I ever listen to anything you say?” She rolled her eyes and pocketed her revolver.

“No, and it is horribly annoying.” I reply.

Angelica nd Vincent ran up to us. “What are you doing here?” Angelica snapped.

“Who bloody cares!” Vincent said, glaring at Angelica. “She damn well saved quite a few of us.”

“We had it under control!” Angelica yells at him.

“Apparently not.” Victoria says, gesturing to at least five new corpses. Angelica scowled and I wrapped my arm around her neck.

“It's alright Angelica, she shot the thing, it's over.” My brows squished together. “Speaking of which…”

I turned around to find not only the body but the scientist gone as well. I cursed under my breath and ran over to where the beast had died- again. There was a splatter of a blood like substance and chips of bone and flesh littering the cobblestones. What the bloody hell was going on here? I glanced around but the scientist was long gone, leaving no trace of where it was he had run off too. I was about to go off to look for him when the man from inside the town hall marched outside with a red face.

“You!” He screeched, seeming to recognize me immediately.

“How does he know you?” Angelica whisper shouted at me.

“We ran intuh each other in the town ‘all.” I whisper shouted back, “‘E mus’ remember my stunnin’ good looks.” Curse my amazing face!

“Or your stunning stupidity.” Victoria muttered.

“It’s probably the mech arm.” Vincent corrected, oh so helpfully.

The man stopped inches from my face (blech, I’m even closer to that abomination of a mustache). “You’re under arrest!” He shouts. I gape at him.

“Wha’ di’ I do!” I exclaimed in surprise as he pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs.

“You sure you want to do that mister?” Angelica roared pulling out her sword.

“Put the sword down!” Vincent hissed at her, “Unless you want us to be convicted of a real crime!”

“You would let your captain be arrested!” She glanced at me, asking what to do with her eyes.

I turned calmly to the man. “Under wha’ precedent are ye arrestin’ me?”

“I see the corpses surrounding you! What, do you think I'm blind?” He guffaws.

“Why sir, ask anyone ‘ere, they’ll tell ya wha’ ‘append!” I told him. He scowled at me. He looked at the nearest person.

“You there!” He barked at them. The person jumped, clearly still shaken by the recent events.

“‘Ello sir? Wh-wha’ can I do for ya?” The man said shakily (there was something off about it though), walking towards us. He had the same accent as I, so I assumed he wasn’t too high up in the social rankings. Very, cute, I thought.

“What did you see happen here?” The officer snapped, spittle flying from his mouth.

“Ah, well, sir. I’ is a bi’ tough to explain you see, a woman came back from the dead and attacked several people. The corpse of the girl and the scien’ist who crea’ed ‘er don’t seem to be ‘ere.” He explained, he sounded well taught for a lower class citizen.

The officer looked completely lost, not that I could blame him. “What’s this about the dead?” The officer said, looking dazed. “Scientist…” He laughed. “Ahaha, ok. Sure. ‘The dead are walking’. Hahaha.” He waved his hands around, and just walked away, and I hoped it was to get someone to clean this bloody mess up. “I don’t need to lock you fools up! The loony bin will get to it for me!” And with that, he stalked off.

“Well that wasn’t very nice.” Victoria mockingly pouted.

“Better than being arrested.” Vincent pointed out.

“Well, I be’er be off then.” The man said awkwardly. “Cheerio.” I looked after him, raising an eyebrow. Something was horribly off about him.

I just didn’t know what.