The Virus Within (Original rough draft)

Chapter 112

I reluctantly approached the gate as the sky started to lighten. I had snuck over the fence when I left Daniel on guard, so the guards had no idea that I had gone back inside without them knowing.

Mindful of their request I called out, "It is just me."

I could easily see one of the two men holding a rifle, but it was obvious that neither could see me in the near-dark while I was so far out. A mocking reply came back from the one man in the sentry post, "And who is 'just me'?"

Who else were they expecting to be wandering around in the dark? He either has short term memory or was not been properly notified when the shift changed. That didn't cut him any slack.

I halfway growled and replied in a similar tone, "If you need an ID card, just ask. I am sure that a Nightstalker scream would easily prove my identity." And possibly wake up every single person in this place with the worse wakeup call ever... If that sound doesn't get their hearts pumping, nothing will.

"Ah, that won't be necessary."

I snorted as I walked closer. My tone was dry, "Glad to hear it."

They unlocked and opened the gate to allow me back in. If I had known that the current shift was clueless, I would have just climbed over the fence and waited to see if anyone even noticed. One of those on the original shift would probably inquire as to which gate I had come back in through. If I wasn't attempting to be a polite guest, I would be sorely tempted to do just that.

I didn't need them bothered by my actions though. Daniel was going to be upset enough to make up for it. I knew he hadn't found Nina's assailant either because I had crossed the third man's trail as he fled the Stronghold in the dark. Daniel had not stirred outside the fence since sunset, possibly afraid to leave the two humans unattended and unprotected.

I reluctantly reached for the doorknob to Nicky's room and whispered, "It is just me."

Daniel was clearly smarter than the sentry. Not once had he ever asked who 'me' was. Then again, if someone was approaching them in the dark, it was a pretty easy guess who it was. If he heard my light footsteps, he would recognize them. If he didn't hear my footsteps, then he would know who was speaking in the darkness like that. My voice also gave me away.

I glanced around the unlit room as I closed the door quietly behind myself. Nicky and Nina were still sleeping while Daniel predictably sat in the padded chair. He gazed in my direction, but I knew he had no chance of seeing me. I ensured my footsteps were loud enough for him to track as I walked over to sit on the unclaimed half of Nicky's queen-sized bed. I crossed my legs and leaned against the wall as I got comfy.

"Care to enlighten me as to what exactly happened last night?"

Neither Nicky nor Nina must have told Daniel. Considering that no one was knocking on the door, no one else had noticed the incident last night. I doubted that they would ever find the bodies either. I had taken them across the fence and dumped them far away. I had no desire to answer questions and how that third man had convinced the gate sentry to let him out with that motorcycle was something I would probably never learn. I didn't intend to inquire either, since it would also raise questions.

I kept my voice as quiet as his to avoid waking our companions, "Not really."

He exhaled slowly as his annoyance built up. He had probably stewed over this all night and his patience was already worn down. "And just why not?"

I was silent for a moment before taking off my glasses so he could tell that I was looking at him, "Because your snarl would wake these two up and likely disturb our neighbors."