Radical method

ㅤ They held the line at the fon Fabre estate: there were no safe routes out of the city. They weren't afraid for themselves, as the only one in most danger was Luke. And for his sake, they tried their best to protect Tear. After all, if she became the carrier, we would have to put an end to the shared happiness that everything was moving towards. They had trapped themselves. With their kindness… They had sheltered most of the replicas in Baticul. And it was at them that the replica-hater struck. Equal parts genius and madman, he decided to quickly get rid of the "undesirable creatures" alien to nature. He created a biological weapon for them—a virus. Those who didn't fall victim to the atomizer were reached by their own "kind", who had lost all humanity. "Revealed their true faces." The virus gave them strength, so ordinary subjects of the Kimlasca kingdom couldn't cope with them—they had to be evacuated. The crazed replicas no longer distinguished between "friend" and "foe", attacking everyone indiscriminately. They tried to devour those who were closest, like wild animals. Having encountered other virus outbreaks—"test cases"—Jade shared his observations in a letter, anticipating the coming disaster. He himself set out to investigate its source, planning to obtain an antivirus. Alas, his warning failed to save everyone… But it did provide important information: although the originals show no symptoms of infection, they are still carriers. And, like any virus, this one is transmitted through any bodily fluid. If one of his friends becomes infected, they will become dangerous for Luke. But the worst part is, it was now impossible to say for sure which people actually posed a threat and which did not… "It's okay," Guy reassured, out of breath. "We'll find you a safe place!" "A deserted island!?" Luke raised his voice in fear. "I won't survive there!" "Tear will help," Natalia reassured him with a smile. Alone on a desert island… Luke couldn't help but blush. But the situation didn't allow for long thoughts about stupidities: the barricades couldn't hold. They needed to take advantageous positions and keep Luke safe. He was strictly forbidden from engaging in combat: one drop of enemy blood could spell the end of his existence. Tear stood before Luke, preparing to pour her soul into hymns and fonic artes. It was important to maintain control of the situation. The infected would break through, but they could dictate the conditions and the source. They needed to use a narrow passageway that prevented a crowded attack. They had prepared several rooms for a gradual retreat until they reached a dead end. By that point, there shouldn't be many enemies left. They had to slaughter everyone… They had no choice. "Terrible… This is terrible… Who could have done such a thing…?" The shared thought brought pain to their hearts. But to succumb to it, to hesitate, meant death. Luke watched, his face turning pale, as his friends cold-bloodedly murdered what had once been ordinary townspeople. Some of them they even knew well. And he stood aside, wishing only to close his eyes. To not see any of this. To never have this happen… And that was his mistake… A scream. A push. Luke opened his eyes just as Tear was already bitten. Shielding him with her body, she pushed Luke away to avoid getting blood on him. Soon, Natalia's arrow flew into the infected man's head, but… It was too late. An insurmountable wall had grown between Luke and Tear, through which they could only look at each other with pain and understanding. The fight continued. And to keep the fighters from losing heart, Guy tried to somehow lift their spirits. "No time to despair! Jade will definitely come up with something! He'll definitely find an antivirus. And if he doesn't, he'll create one himself! You know him!" They knew… Just like they knew that science is a complicated thing. And that Jade can't do everything. And even if he manages to overcome the virus, no one knew how long it would take. 'Looks like I'll be alone on a desert island…' "Right!" not knowing Luke's thoughts, Natalia exclaimed, supporting Guy. "There's still hope! As long as we're alive, hope lives! We've almost won!" 'Almost…' Mountains of corpses, a sea of ​​blood… Unbearable loneliness. The price of this victory was too high. However, no one was about to give up. Having healed her wound, Tear stood up and began singing another hymn. With a beautiful, clear voice. Enchanting. Allowing one to forget all hardships. Even if any close contact was now forbidden, Luke could still enjoy the connecting thread from afar. Her voice… lived in his heart. And yet… 'Jade, don't let us down…' ㅤ