The hug was unexpected. Brooke resisted the urge to throw her kid sister against the floor and incapacitate her. All that stopped her instincts from kicking in was the fact that Olivia was no danger to her. Brooke wrapped her arms around the woman just as tightly as she remained silent. However, deep within, she was just as happy. Whenever did she miss the touch of her sister so? The choking grip made it hard to breathe, but Brooke didn't mind. She hadn't seen her baby sister in years. She'd just enjoy the moment. It may be her last.
Listening to Olivia talk, Brooke rubbed her back gently. "You should've just went straight to the pick up point, Liv. Amber's smart she can take care of yourself," Brooke said as she sighed. She knew the services were down, but she had to ask. "We'll find them. You think germs could kill dad? He's far too stubborn. Mom too."
As with all of their meetings, this one was no different. Brooke frowned as she clasped her hands together. From her parent's praises to always leaving Olivia alone, the older sister could hardly blame her. If Brooke was in her position, she'd probably react the same. The sister that was never home, never there to talk to her, never there to share in her pains when she needed someone. That's what this life had cost the older Wilhelmsson. Even so, she hadn't regretted a moment. From stopping dozens of threats against the states to bringing stability back to unstable regions, those were proud accolades to be had. However, she needed her family too.
"Olivia Wilhelmsson. Stop being such a child and sit down," Brooke said as she stared at her sister. Though she was glad to see her kid sister, Olivia could be such a child. Such a spoiled, rotten child. "I'm not leaving you because I want to. I have a job to do. I need you out of the city and safe."
Getting to her feet, Brooke crossed the table as she placed her hands on Olivia's shoulders. "I'm doing this to protect you. All of us," she said. "I'm going to go find you an ID. You'll have to fake your identity for but a moment. Walk out of the base and get as far away from here as you can. My ... christ, Liv. My team and I are about to go to the hot zone. We need to find the source of the chemical to manufacture a cure. Don't you dare tell you a soul. I'm telling you because I trust you. I
trust you, sis. Now, don't make this any harder on me. Our home was attacked. Someone's gotta pay. Now. Stay here. I'll be right back. Don't leave this tent, understand?"
With that, Brooke put her respirator back on and walked out. She needed to get Olivia out of here quickly.
---
ThemeSecurity was obviously not a priority as Brooke found an ID laying around outside of a decontamination tent. The person didn't look like Olivia, but as long as her sister moved fast, the soldiers had other things to worry about other than identity identification. In fact, things seemed to be growing more tense by the moment. Brooke hadn't been monitoring the radio chatter, but the number of soldiers had increased. Their body language told her something was amiss as well. Feeling her heart beat slightly faster, she hurried on back to the tent.
That was when she heard the gunshots.
Screams filled the air like the choir of the devil. The sound of rifle fire was were the drums while the people were the strings. There was another sound. Wails and guttural growls that Brooke had never heard before in her life. Her body shivered as she looked in the direction of the sounds. Then she saw
it.
Her mouth dropped open when she saw the creature moaned sounding uncannily like the large cargo ships pulling into the harbor. When she saw the creature pick up a woman and thrust its hands through her chest, Brooke felt her legs began to shake. The creature began to ooze a liquid over its victim as the woman wailed. Her skin began to corrode as the creature began to suck on the woman, as if it were drinking her.
It was when the creature discarded the corpse to the side did Brooke finally regain control over her senses and ran. She heard the intercom system calling for total lockdown. She knew what that meant. Code Black. Contain the scene no matter the method.
Running as quickly as she could, Brooke nearly yelped as another one of those things appeared around the side. It looked at her as it groaned again, as if it were in agony. What the hell were these things?
Scampering the other way, Brooke tripped as a half melted soldier switched on the ground. She couldn't tell the difference between organs, blood, and the liquid. It all was the same crimson-brown mush. Grabbing the soldiers rifle and sidearm, she took whatever magazines she could find before taking off again.
Making sure to lose the monster before heading back to the tent she left Olivia, the brunette prayed that her kid sister listened to her.
Bursting through the tent, she had her rifle pointed inwards. She lowered it when she saw Olivia. "We're leaving," Brooke said between breaths. She handed Olivia the pistol after checking it. "Safeties off. Just point and pull the trigger. Only if you have to. The corpse I took it off of had two clips. Here. We don't stop for anyone. We come across a dead soldier, we take their magazines and water. You hand them to me; I'll put them in my bag. Rations too."
Taking a deep breath, Brooke gripped Olivia's shoulder. "Just follow me, okay? We're leaving. Together. No matter what you hear, just keep your eyes on me, okay?"
