French lessons

Hey everyone.

Gabriella here. A lot of stuff happened recently. You probably read Michael's last post. So I'll start where he left off.

I had just finished reading his post when I heard some scuffle outside. Then silence. Then the door flew open and there he was. My savior. Took him damned long enough.

First thing he did was hug me. After that long without human contact I probably needed it. So it felt nice.

Second thing he did was grabbing my hand and leading me outside.

We ran past several other isolation cells. Aside from the people in the other cells the whole area was eerily empty. Except that one guy on the floor with a knife in his back. Took me a while to recognize him. “Is that the Gevaudan dude?” I asked Michael.

“He got in my way.” He nodded.

“Well, that's a shame.” We ran past him straight to the gate of the isolation area. “So what's your plan?” I asked.

“First we get out of the isolation area.” He produced a key out of his pocket and opened the gate. “Got this key from agent Alû. Didn't even notice me picking his pockets while he talked about the other agent's names.” He explained as he threw away the key and we dashed towards a nearby house.

We squatted down next to a wall. “Second part of my master plan is that.” He pointed at some villagers running and screaming from the Plague doctor. “A distraction.”

“You summoned the plague doctor for a distraction?”

“I wish. That was just a happy coincidence. My distraction was supposed to be the rioting villagers. Surprising how long it takes to agitate them enough to riot.” He said as he pulled me aside. Just in time to avoid a group of ENCAGE agents.

“That was close.” I said as we watched the agents rush by us.

Michael nodded and we moved on as soon as the agents were out of sight.

A bit further ahead we encountered some villagers yelling at ENCAGE agents. Which allowed us to slip by unseen. Eventually we reached a large farm shed.

“Seems like your distraction worked. Those villagers looked pretty agitated.”

“Yeah, just had to slip the right rumors in the right ears.” He said while closing the barn door behind us. “Throw in some doubt. Could ENCAGE even help them? Will there even be a cure? If so, will it be here on time? Some were more receptive to thinking ENCAGE didn't even want to save the village. That the quarantine would stay up until everyone in the village died.”

“Yeah, that'd do it.”

“Wasn't easy though. Almost nobody in the village speaks Dutch or English. Hard to convince people of things when you can't even speak their language.”

“I did try to teach you French.” I reminded him.

“In my defense, the other lessons were more fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “So what's the next part of your 'master' plan?”

“Our escape route. Turns out one of the oathbreaker tunnels leads to the forest just outside the ENCAGE fences. Got one of them to tell me how to get there.”

“ENCAGE doesn't know?”

“They've got no clue. Don't have enough people to explore down there.”

Michael then moved a a few bags of grain and revealed a secret trap door. It led down into the tunnels. Just as Michael said it only took us 20 minutes of walking down there before we emerged out in the forest.

Once we were out of the tunnels I did some quick stretches, there was a lot of walking ahead so I'd need them. “Huh, guess the oathbreakers weren't kidding. I wonder how many of them escaped through here.”

Michael shrugged. “No idea. I'd like to see the looks on the faces of ENCAGE when they realize how badly they screwed this up.”

“Now you're just being mean.”

We both laughed and started walking.

--

So yes, we have escaped. I was waiting to post this until we were out of ENCAGE's reach. Which should be about now.

We did lose some time so we're going to have to wait for the Sneak to pop up again. If we're lucky we can catch her next time. Until then me and Michael are going radio silent. We'll be busy with preparations, and French lessons.

Out of hand

ENCAGE has been trying to calm the locals. It hasn't worked. In fact it's only getting worse. Right now, at 11 PM, there's a mob with torches outside. Yelling to be let out. They're waving signs, pushing the ENCAGE agents and throwing things at the fences. It's bad.

Something is happening. Someone seems to be walking towards the mob. It's too dark to see who but they don't look familiar. Scratch that, they are very familiar.

Fuck me sideways, it's the Plague Doctor.

The ENCAGE agents seem to have figured out who it is as well. They're panicking.

They're trying to disperse the crowd but the people aren't listening. The Plague doctor is still walking slowly over to them on the main road. The crowd is completely unaware of the danger they are in. This is going to get very ugly.

Oh, one of the ENCAGE agents just jumped into the crowd. Now he's running straight towards the Plague doctor. Is that an omega symbol on his hoodie? I think it is.

He shot the plague doctor.

It didn't do much but now the crowd is paying attention.

Oh ouch, that has to hurt. The Plague doctor touched him and his arms just fell off. Yeah, he's dead.

Now the crowd is screaming and running for their lives. ENCAGE has no control over the situation.

I guess that's my opening. Gabriella, pack your things, I'm getting you out of here.

Questions of a personal nature

The doctor finally paid me a visit. Nice to see a face that wasn't hazmat enby. Not that there's anything wrong with their face. I'm just a girl who likes new things. Not a lot of those around here in this quarantine room.

When she came in the doctor was also wearing a hazmat suit. I guess you aren't allowed to be in this section of the camp without one. I only realized it wasn't hazmat enby because they're shorter. I was sitting on the floor because the bed is terrible. I looked up at her as she closed the door behind her. “Gabriella?” She asked.

“Yup, still here.”

“It's nice to meet you. I'm agent Estrie but you can call me Myriam. I'm the doctor in this camp.”

“Nice to meet you as well.” I said while getting back on my feet. “So, what's the news?”

“Well, I have been informed that you claim you aren't infected. After a thorough look at your blood results and some other tests it seems you were right.”

“That's great news. You're releasing me then, right? Thanks.” I started grabbing my stuff. Turns out I was moving too fast.

“I'm sorry. I can't do that.” The bit of her face that I could see seemed genuinely apologetic.

“Well fuck, why not?”

“Gabriella, you've been coughing up blood several times a week.” She gestured towards a reddish-brown patch of dried blood in the corner of the room. “You're not infected with the virus but clearly you're sick. I want to help you.”

I shrugged. “The only way you can help me is by letting me go. This isn't something you can just cure.”

She sighed. “Look I'm an expert in eldritch diseases. Who knows, maybe I'll find something that can help?”

“You won't.” I crossed my arms.

“Is there any harm in trying? Just let me examine you.” She took a step closer. I took one back.

“There's only one thing that can help me and you're not it. So you should focus on that crisis out there that you can actually solve.” I pointed to the door.

“Gabriella, I'm a mother. I know you don't want help. I've had a teenager. Right now she's out there somewhere with her runner girlfriend. I would rather have my little Leaf with me. But-”

I cut her off before she could finish. “I'm 23. Not a teenager.”

“Then why are you acting like one?”

I glared at her, there was a tense silence. “Myriam, I do not consent to you examining me.”

“Alright. I apologize, I pushed too hard, I shouldn't have. If you change your mind you can tell agent Qilin* and they'll let me know.” Then she left.

That was a close one. If they find out what my sickness is they'll never let me go. They might try to keep me locked up indefinitely either way. Babe, get me the fuck out of here.

*Agent Qilin is Hazmat enby's code name.

ENCAGE agents

I sat down with Agent Alû. The younger of the two guys that interrogated us two months ago. He's one of the few agents who talk to me. Mostly because they all speak french and I don't. Hey Gabriella, that reminds me, one of these days you're gonna have to teach me french.

I don't mean french kissing this time, I promise. Pretty sure I've mastered those lessons.

So I asked agent Alû about his code name. Where it came from, why he got that one, etc.

It was lunch time so he was eating a cheese sandwich. “Ah, an Alû is a Mesopotamian demon. All of our code names are based on some mythology or folklore. Most of the time our code names are chosen based on the Fear we first came into contact with.”

I grabbed an apple out of the fruit bowl. “So then what was your first Fear?”

“Mine? The Nightlanders. Back when I was in high school me and some friends sneaked into an abandoned factory. There were rumors the place was haunted. Turned out they weren't wrong. Except it wasn't ghosts. Two of my friends died when they fell through the floor. The basement was full of those shadow creatures.. They were both ripped apart. Me and the other two were saved by ENCAGE.”

I took a bite out of the apple. “Yikes, that's terrible. The Nightlanders come after you?”

He shook his head. “Haven't seen them since. It's been ten years. If they had I'd be a runner not an ENCAGE agent now. Can't be both, runners are too great a risk.”

I then decided to ask about his partner. “So what about Gévaudan? What's his story? I assume he's named after that french werewolf?”

He nodded and looked over to the old guy sitting a few tables away. “Obviously he didn't see a werewolf. But I'm sure you can guess what Fear it might have been.”

“Black dog?” I guessed.

“Yeah, killed his entire family thirty or so years ago. He was the only survivor. He told me he made an oath to himself to never let that happen to anyone ever again.”

No wonder he's always so grumpy. There's no way he could ever keep that oath. I didn't say that out loud though. Would be too insensitive. Instead I switched subjects. “What about your boss?”

“Agent Lilith?” He looked surprised.

“Yeah, you know her story?”

“Not the full story no.” He scratched his head. “I did hear bits and pieces though.”

“Think it'd be okay to share?”

“Probably. I believe her grandfather was a high ranking Timberwolf. He died when she was very young, that's when she found out. She was horrified. Decided she would do everything she could to stop men like her grandfather.”

“And her name?”

“Not sure but probably Biblical.”

“Because Archangel.”

He nodded.

I asked about a few other agents I had come into contact with. They don't matter So I won't bother you with them.

Wait, hold on.

Edit: There's a mob of villagers shouting at the gates. Seems like they've grown tired of being stuck in a cage. I should probably go check it out.

She Peeped

Michael, Problem. My sources just contacted me. The Sneak's bubble popped near Strasbourg. It won't be long before she starts moving again. We need to get out of this shit-hole or we'll lose track of her. It's time for drastic action babe.

I miss you Gabriella

Two months. Well almost.

That's how long it's been since we captured the oathbreakers. Yet we're still stuck here. Apparently ENCAGE won't lift the quarantine until they've found a cure. If they don't hurry there won't be any people left to cure. Just a whole lot of human-goo.

The locals are getting sicker by the day. None of them have had contact with the outside world. I too am getting sick, sick of boredom. Technically I'm not allowed to post on this blog either. I'd like to see them try to stop me.

Seems like ENCAGE itself is struggling as well. There's been no reinforcements. The doctor they have is working all by themselves. Obviously the oathbreakers aren't being helpful. In fact they're just taking up more resources. Plus some of the agents have been forced into quarantine too.

The only reason there aren't more sick people than there are agents is because many of the sick have died. I'm not sure how long that balance will keep up.

The upside of all this is that at least Gabriella is in no danger of being infected. She's still being held in quarantine. According to her the Sneak hasn't made a peep yet. Which suggests that her next outburst will be a doozy. The longer she holds it in, the larger the fallout.

If she does make a peep soon we'll have a problem. ENCAGE isn't gonna just let us go. I Might have resort to something drastic.

Chat log

Michael: How you holding up?

Gabriella: I'm not. You better be working on getting me out.

M: I am. Just got back from the tunnels.

G: Got the Oathbreakers?

M: Most of them. Including Dr. Slager.

G: How many are left?

M: Three of them they think.

G: Think?

M: That's what Dr. Slager said during his interrogation.

G: What's the real number?

M: More.

G: Encage know that?

M: They suspect. Aren't sure though.

G: Are you?

M: Had a chat with the doctor before we arrested him. So yes.

G: You trust him?

M: Hah, no. We can use him though.

G: Just be careful. Letting that virus get out would be bad.

M: I'm usually the one telling you to be careful.

G: Fuck you.

M: Wish you would.

G: Get me out of here first. Then we'll see about that.

M: Yes, Ma'am.

G: You have a plan right?

M: Obviously. Would be easier if they just let you out though. I could use you by my side. You seen that doctor yet?

G: Hazmat enby keeps telling me the doctor is busy. She has received my request though.

M: She'll probably be more busy now that they've got Dr. Slager. They're already dismantling his lab. Not ideal.

G: No shit.

M: Any word on the Sneak?

G: Still being sneaky. Hasn't popped yet.

M: Hopefully she stays quiet until we get out of here.

G: Unlikely.

M: Yeah, she has a tendency to show up at the worst times.

G: We should still have time. Outbursts tend to happen at least 6 months apart. Hasn't been that long yet.

M: Last one was three months ago, right?

G: Yup. We almost got her. Being stuck here would set us back by a lot.

M: I know, working on it.

Rats trapped in their tunnels

Michael here.

Even oathbreakers need to eat. More than that they need supplies. A man like Dr. Slager would not stop his project just because of a setback like this. Wherever he's hiding, I'm sure he's still working away on the virus. He can't do that without materials and test subjects. Which means they have to come out of their hidey-hole eventually.

Today was that day. The Oathbreakers knew ENCAGE had a doctor. Which means we had the supplies they needed. Add in the message I let ENCAGE make to let the people in the village know we had food rations for them. And out come the rats.

We made sure the supply tent was lightly guarded. Then we followed the oathbreakers as they came to steal what they needed. Obviously we made sure that whatever they could steal was not usable. We found the entrance to a basement they used. Thanks to the trackers we put in the food boxes we also know they move underground. Probably using some tunnels. Unfortunately for them those tunnels don't go outside the quarantine zone.

So Oathbreakers if you're reading this, we're already inside your tunnels.

Where's our welcome party? We'd love to say hello.

Can't cure a Goo

Michael here

Gabriella was right these people are seriously understaffed. No wonder they were so eager to get my help. There's only three teams out looking for the oathbreakers. The rest of them are needed to guard the fences.

Perhaps it would have been easier to escape if we waited a bit longer. Hindsight, my favorite super power.

Agent Gevaudan, Agent Alu and me have been going on patrol. Trying to find us some oathbreakers. Been doing that for a few days now. Didn't find any. The whole place is a ghost town these days. The villagers are either sick and in quarantine or dead. Not all of them though. Some are too sick for quarantine and have been left to their fate.

Which is far from pleasant. First their body starts to bloat making them look like human balloons. Then they pop. A hole in their flesh, guts everywhere. Somehow this doesn't kill them. They just slowly start to melt. At this point we shoot them. Can't heal a puddle of goo, I guess. I'm just glad I'm not on the crew that has to clean them up.

Gabriella mentioned hazmat suits. If she thinks they look weird to look at, she should try wearing them. Can't leave the camp without one on. It's awkward as fuck.

This is going to take too long. I wonder if there's a way to flush out the oathbreakers?

No, I know what you're thinking Gabs. I'm not using fire. Remember what happened last time? Didn't end well, did it?

Dying of boredom

Gabriella here.

I've been in here for like forever. No idea how long it has actually been. I'm sure I could easily find out. I do have internet access after all. I just don't feel like it right now.

Good to know Michael is working on getting me out as soon as possible. I swear I'll end up with a depression if I stay in this bare room for too long. Seeing only one person a day doesn't help either. I wonder how long it'll take for me to get used to seeing a Hazmat suit from up close like this everyday. Unless I already got used to it. I'm not sure.

Speaking of that one person. I'm pretty sure it's the same one everyday. They bring me food and water three times a day. Not that you can call that shit food.

Anyway, back to what I was trying to talk about. I had a chat with hazmat enby. Asked for their pronouns, turns out they're non binary. Asked for their name as well. The only reply I got was “Agent Qilin” which I doubt is their real name. Seems ENCAGE is fond of code names.

Hey Michael, should we get code names as well? Too late now I guess. Oh well, perhaps in another reality.

Sidetracked again. I'm sorry about that. Not really though.

Figured I could get some information out of Agent Qilin. So I started asking questions whenever I saw them. Including this morning. “How's things going out there?”

They shrugged and set down my plate of food. “I think they're still trying to find those oathbreakers that caused all this.”

“This village is small, can't be that many places to hide.”

“Probably not.”

“I figured they'd have searched the whole place by now.”

“If we had more people sure. Look I have other meals to deliver. If you have more questions can you keep them for later?” They gestured to their cart in front of the door.

“Sure, just one more for now. I thought I would have seen a doctor by now. You have any idea when they'll get to me?”

“Our doctor is spending most of her time on making a cure. Not much sense in trying to diagnose people when it's all the same virus anyway.”

“Good point. What if I wasn't infected with the virus though?”

“I believe you coughed up blood, correct? You're infected.” They turned to leave.

“There's other diseases with that symptom. Wouldn't hurt to check, right?” I smiled at them.

“Fair. I'll talk to the doctor.” They didn't smile back but just opened the door and left.

Learned quite a bit from that conversation. For one they still haven't found the oathbreakers. With a village this small that means they're heavily understaffed probably. From the sound of it there is also only one doctor working here and she's busy with finding a cure.

Also learned that hazmat enby never seems to smile. Still need to figure out if they're just a sour person or depressed all the time. Then again those aren't mutually exclusive.

Hopefully I'll be let out when they find out I'm not infected. Michael, babe, if that doesn't happen you're gonna have to hurry up. I'm literally dying in here.

Cracking cookies

Michael here

Gabriella was dragged off into a quarantine cell. Coughing up blood is apparently one of the symptoms of the virus going around. So now they think Gabriella is infected. Which I guess is a reasonable conclusion to reach.

At least they let her keep her electronics. So she can still talk to me. She can also still post on this blog as you've seen. This situation is far from ideal though. Something must be done about it. Preferably before they figure out what Gabriella's sickness actually is. This is gonna be a tough cookie to crack.

Don't worry Gabriella, I'm working on it.

I asked the guy who actually spoke dutch if I could talk to whoever was in charge here. He and the other guy took me to a large tent in the middle of the camp. I'm gonna guess they're reserving the actual buildings for putting patients into quarantine.

The first thing I saw were piles of books on a carpet and a single desk further back. On the desk were some files, a lamp and a name plate that said: Agent Lilith. Behind it sat a woman, probably in her early forties if I had to guess. When we entered her tent the old man told her something in french. She responded. I have no idea what was said. I assume it was about me, which honestly is a bit rude.

The woman got up from behind her desk and walked towards me. Despite being in a tent surrounded by trees she was wearing a grey business suit and high heels. At least I can admire the dedication to fashion.

She picked a file off her desk and quietly looked through it. Then she looked up at me. “You're a runner from Antwerp correct?”

“Yes, ..Ma'am” Figured she'd be pissed if I wasn't polite. She seemed like the type that demands respect..

“You requested to see me. Why?” She snapped the file in her hands closed.

“Well, Ma'am. You probably know it's not a good idea for runners to stay in one place for long. So I was wondering..”

“No.”

“With all due respect Ma'am. I don't think I was going to ask what you think I was going to.”

There was a silence while she looked me over. “Fine, I'll bite. Go ahead.”

“Thank you. I realize you can't let us go until you've got the situation resolved here. So I want to do anything I can to help speed things up.”

There was another silence. I had trouble reading her face. I bet she's a great poker player. “Have you seen combat?”

“Plenty.”

She nodded. “This virus is the work of a dangerous man. An oathbreaker. Goes by the name of Doctor Slager. He and a couple of his assistants are hiding in this village. Go with agents Gévaudan and Alû there.” She pointed to the two guys behind me. “Track down their hiding place. Then report back. I assume you can do this?” She raised her eyebrow.

“Yes Ma'am.”

“Good.” She signaled for us to leave and walked back to her desk.

Doctor Slager, have I heard that name before? Nah, probably not.

A problem

Gabriella here.

Our escape attempt turned out pretty badly. So instead of being free from this quarantine we're in handcuffs instead. Well not literally. At least not anymore. They took those off after a few hours. Wasn't my first time in handcuffs but normally they're part of something more pleasurable.

Both of us were put in a dark room. Handcuffs tied to the table in front of us. Only one door in or out. Completely empty aside from that. I'm not sure how long we were in there. Michael fell asleep eventually.

I suspect they were watching us. Because not long after he started snoring the door suddenly slammed open. They probably wanted to scare him awake and intimidate us. If that's what they were trying to do they failed on both counts.

Michael slept through an earthquake once. A little door slamming isn't gonna be enough to wake him either. Nor are we that easily intimidated.

Two men came walking into the room. One was an older guy with grey hair. The other seemed younger than the two of us. Perhaps just out of High school. They both sat down across the table from us. The older guy sat in front of Michael, the younger one sat in front of me.

When they saw Michael hadn't woken up the older man slammed his fist on the table. This managed to shake Michael awake. Awake might have been an exaggeration though. He yawned and looked like he could fall asleep again at anytime. Which the older guy didn't seem to appreciate.

He started talking to Michael. He didn't get a response. So he raised his voice. Still nothing. Michael loves messing with people. Except this time he wasn't trying to. The guy was yelling at him in French. Michael barely understands French.

It was quite funny seeing Michael sitting there with a confused face while this large dude was yelling in his face.

The following conversation was in French. But I'll just be translating it. That way Michael can actually read it.

After a few minutes the old man sighed and stopped yelling. He grabbed a glass and took a sip of water. I figured that was my cue to speak. “Sir, my partner does not speak French. He did not understand a word you just said to him.”

The man turned to me. Then looked back at Michael. Then back at me. “You're not from here then I presume?”

I nodded. “We're from Antwerp.”

“Ah, Flemish then. What are you two doing here in the middle of nowhere then?”

“Just passing through.”

The guy looked at his younger colleague and asked him to switch places. They did. Once they sat back down they both looked at me. “Where are you traveling to?”

I shrugged. “To be honest we don't really have a plan.”

“Then why did you try to escape?”

“We can't stay in one place for very long. It's not safe.”

“You're runners then? What are you running from?”

“Red cap.”

“That's unfortunate. You have gotten caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“It would seem so.”

He then turned to his colleague. “Your turn.”

The younger guy nodded and turned to Michael. He began asking him questions in Dutch. Seems like the older guy doesn't speak Dutch but the younger one does. He asked all the same questions to Michael. I assume they were trying to catch us in a lie.

After that both of them left the room again. Michael was about to go back to sleep. I shook my head. “Dude, you can't be that tired.”

“I'm not. Just bored.” He yawned.

“Stop that.” I said after I had to suppress a yawn of my own. “So how are we going to get out of this one?”

Michael just smiled at me.

That's when the two men walked back in. The younger guy spoke first in dutch. “Good news, we won't be putting you in a prison cell. We can't let you out of the barricade though. If this disease happens to get out of this village it would be disastrous. Once the quarantine ends you'll be free to leave. We can't be sure when-”

He was interrupted by a cough.

My cough.

Everyone in the room looked at me.

I looked down.

There was a bit of blood splattered on the table.

My blood.

Cats in a bird cage

In the dead of night when all was quiet we took our things and left this doomed village. Which is what I would like to say. Yet that is not how things turned out.

We managed to reach the forest around the village. Things were going well for us. We managed to find a hole in the fence they had put up around the area. There was almost no moonlight shining through the trees. We used the darkness to make our escape.

Gabriella went first and I followed right behind her. For a moment I wished there was more light so I could enjoy the view. I guess you have to be careful what you wish for. Suddenly a blinding light fell right on our position. They used a floodlight to find us.

We made a run for it.

There was another fence.

The ENCAGE agents surrounded us. They had guns. We did not.

We did the only thing we could, we surrendered.

Guess we'll be extending our stay here.