Running. It always starts with running. At first I don’t know why I’m running, but then it hits me. I’m running because of what I’ve done. What we’ve done. Because what we did was an abomination and God has decided to punish us. But I don’t want to be punished- I fear the pain, and so I run.

The world is black. There’s nowhere to run from and nowhere to run to, but still I run. I run so hard my heart can’t take the strain. I can hardly feel my legs anymore, but I urge them to keep pumping. To keep moving.

And then I hear it. It’s behind me, chasing me, and it’s gaining. Fast. I don’t know what it is, but I know what it wants. It wants to justice. It wants vengeance for the sins I have committed.

Suddenly the world flashes into focus. I’m running down a stainless steel corridor in my neon yellow Biohazard suit. The suit is designed to prevent anything nasty getting at me, but only on the microscopic scale, and what’s chasing me is a little bigger than microscopic. It’s the first bug. The one that started this whole thing.

It’s not really a bug of course, but it’s what people call them. At least, it’s what the ones who survived call them. There’s only one name on the lips of the dead. Mine.

I can see the end of the corridor. It’s so close now. I’m so near to being safe, but it’s nearly upon me. I can hear its breathing.

I awoke with a start.

The Captain was moaning, softly. No sleep for the wicked it seems.

I got out of my chair and walked over to the bed. She opened her eyes, slowly. “Well now, that’s what I call fun, doc.” She said, and grinned, softly.

“You’ve been out for about 18hours. I’m going to give you some morph for the pain,” I said, softly touching her on the shoulder. “I don’t have too many of these left, so make the most of it. The Major has promised me he’s going to make getting more a priority, but until then...”

“Don’t,” she said, taking hold of my arm and stopping me from giving her the drug. She looked down, groggily. “I notice I’m slightly more deficient in the clothing department than when I came in here. So did you like what you saw, doc? Mmmhhh? Did you cop a sneaky feel?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Er...”

“S’ok, I don’t mind.” She sat up, and the sheets slide down her naked body. “You just saved my life, after all.”

She was a beautiful woman. Or at least she would have been if it wasn’t for all the scar tissue. It was like a roadmap of suffering. All the pain...

“Ummm...”

“And it’s not like any of us get many chances to indulge in our... sexual needs. What with the need to survive.” She took my hand and guided it down onto her breast. She let out a soft moan and looked up into my eyes.

Suddenly, I regained my composure and pulled away. “I don’t think you should be doing that.”

“Why ever not?” I heard a soft patter as her feet hit the cold, ceramic floor. She touched my shoulder. “Turn around.”

I turn around, staring at the floor. “I need to explain something. To tell you who I am. What I did. What I’ve done...”

“Doc?” She took my chin. “Fuck now. Talk later.” And she kissed me.