ABYSS OF INFECTION

Over the following weeks, my days were consumed by a relentless cycle of training sessions and art school classes. Dr. Volkov's unexpected departure due to an emergency had disrupted the usual flow of things, leaving Adam to take charge in his absence.

As I threw myself into my training with Seraphine, each session became a grueling test of my physical and mental fortitude. The weight of Dr. Volkov's expectations lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the stakes at hand. With every push-up, every spell cast, I felt the strain of my own limitations bearing down on me, threatening to crush my resolve.

Amidst the sweat and exertion, I found myself grappling with a torrent of conflicting emotions. Doubt and uncertainty gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, their insidious whispers threatening to undermine my confidence at every turn. Yet, in moments of clarity, I glimpsed a flicker of determination burning bright within me, a steadfast resolve to prove myself in the face of adversity.

Dr. Volkov's absence weighed heavily on my mind, casting a shadow of restlessness over my days. His absence left a void in our training sessions, a palpable absence that echoed in the empty spaces between us. I found myself missing his presence more than I cared to admit.

As Jess and I stepped out of my art class, the familiar buzz of conversation in the corridors was eerily subdued, drowned out by an unsettling silence that weighed heavily on my senses. The air felt thick and suffocating, charged with an unspoken dread that sent a shiver down my spine.

In the distance, a crowd had gathered, their hushed whispers carrying an undercurrent of fear and uncertainty. Instinctively, my heart began to race as I pushed my way through the throng of students, drawn towards the source of the commotion like a moth to a flame.

As I reached the center of the gathering, a wave of horror washed over me. There, amidst the sea of faces, was a sight that chilled me to the core: a fellow student, once vibrant and full of life, now transformed into a grotesque caricature of their former self. Their eyes, vacant and wild, glinted with a primal fury as they lashed out at anyone who dared to approach.

The air was thick with the stench of fear and desperation as the infected student's frenzied screams echoed off the walls, sending shivers down my spine. My pulse quickened, and bile rose in my throat as I bore witness to the harrowing spectacle unfolding before me.

Without a moment's hesitation, I sprang into action, my heart hammering against my ribcage with adrenaline-fueled intensity. Ignoring Jess's stunned expression, I ripped a strip of fabric from the hem of my dress, my fingers trembling with urgency.

"Alivia, what are you doing?" Jess's voice trailed off in disbelief, but I didn't have time to explain. With a swift, determined motion, I launched myself at the infected student, tackling them to the ground with all the force I could muster.

As I pinned the infected student to the ground, their body writhed and convulsed with feral energy. Guttural growls emanated from their throat, interspersed with wild, incoherent snarls. A viscous drool oozed from the corners of their mouth, dripping onto the cold, hard floor below.

The sight sent a shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to focus, suppressing the rising tide of fear threatening to overwhelm me. With every ounce of strength I possessed, I struggled to keep the thrashing student restrained, my muscles straining against their frenzied resistance.

With trembling hands, I swiftly tied the torn fabric between the student's gnashing teeth, gritting my own in determination. The makeshift gag muffled their guttural growls, but their frenzied struggles persisted, fueled by the insatiable rage coursing through their infected body. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I exerted every ounce of strength to maintain control, my heart hammering against my ribs with each thrash and lunge.

My voice trembled as I issued the urgent command to Jess. "Jess, get the carriage driver," I managed to say, the fear evident in my tone. "We need to get her to Agatha's immediately."
Jess nodded, her eyes wide with alarm, and dashed off to fetch the carriage driver while I struggled to restrain the frenzied student, my mind racing with dread at the sight of the infected girl's desperate thrashing and wild-eyed gaze.

As the carriage driver arrived, Jess and I wasted no time in lifting the thrashing girl and placing her inside the carriage. Her frenzied struggles continued, sending shivers down my spine as I glimpsed the wild, primal energy coursing through her infected body. With trembling hands, I secured the makeshift gag in her mouth, muffling her guttural growls but unable to quell the primal rage burning within her. Jess and I exchanged a tense glance, our hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and determination as we prepared to transport her to Agatha's infirmary. Without a word, we climbed into the carriage and set off at breakneck speed, the urgent need to reach Agatha's weighing heavily on our minds.

Once we reached the infirmary, I sprinted through the door, my heart pounding with dread. Horror washed over me as I entered Agatha's once serene sanctuary, which now had been transformed into a nightmarish tableau of suffering and despair. The air was heavy with the sickening stench of blood and decay, suffocating me with its putrid embrace. Moans of agony and cries of torment reverberated off the walls, blending into a cacophony of despair that echoed through the cavernous halls like a haunting melody from the depths of hell. My eyes widened in shock at the grotesque sight before me, the twisted forms of the infected writhing in agony on bloodstained cots, their tortured screams piercing the air like daggers to my soul. The weight of the suffering engulfed me like a suffocating shroud, pressing down on my shoulders with an unbearable heaviness that threatened to crush me beneath its merciless weight.