A Glimpse Of What Was Left Behind II (Page 4)

~~~(POV: Samuel Grimm)~~~

~~~(Location: Dorm Hallway, Columbia University, New York)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time, Year: Thursday, January 11th, 8:17 PM, 2024)~~~

~~~(Age: 19 Years)~~~

Amanda slowly unfolds her arms from herself. Processing my request of her. She hasn't answered whether she'll help me or not. Given my offer to protect her, I would think she wouldn't hesitate. But it's not like I'm a normal person.

In her eyes, I'm worse than the zombies running around eating and turning people. The things I can do are far beyond anything a person can imagine in an apocalyptic scenario.

Her eyes meet mine, and I can see she's made up her mind about something. What that is, I don't know. Amongst all my new abilities, reading the minds of the living isn't among them. She takes a sharp breath, preparing to speak.

"You wear the face and body of my best friend... You say you are him, and at the same time, you're not... What does that mean? If you tell me what's happened, I might help you."

Her voice is slow and whispery. Edging on the side of caution. I can understand her desire to know what's happened to her friend. To Sam.

To me.

Telling her what I know may only confuse her more, but if that's what she needs to help me find out more about Samuel. Then I don't see any other option. I guess I should start from the beginning. Since that's all I know at the moment.

She watches me with calculating eyes as I prepare to speak. Waiting to see any deceptions or lies to call me on. I don't hold that against her.

"What I remember is the cold and dark."

Her eyes widen slowly as I start retelling how I came to be the way I am now.

"I was in a morgue. On a metal table with two scientists digging through my chest cavity. They woke me from that cold, dark slumber."

She leans against the wall of the hallway we're in. Processing what I'm saying.

"When I woke up there, I had no memory of who I was or how I came to be there. Only after consuming the two scientists did I learn the name of this body. My original body."

There is a flicker of hope that flashes through her eyes and body as I claim this body as my original. But as I continue telling my story, I shift my form into those I've consumed. The scientists, the soldiers, and three men I've just killed.

Her deep and panicked breaths are signs of hyperventilation. She's having a panic attack. I watch her sink to the ground as I return my body back to Samuel Grimm. Finishing my story of how I came to be here as I do.

All I can do is watch as she holds her head between her legs and take deep breaths. Trying to calm down.

The part of Sam that's still in me is urging me to reach out and comfort her. But that would be a mistake. No doubt in my mind that it would be. I know enough from the way she's acting that I'm terrifying to her.

Still, I don't stand idle. I crouch down in front of her and wait for her to regain control. Her head slowly lifts as she does, and tears fall from her eyes.

"I need an answer now. I don't know how much time I have until the military starts searching for me, and I want to learn as much as I can about Sam before I start heading West."

Words slowly and calmly leave my lips. What I say is the truth. I'm not unaware the military is likely trying to find out where I am after my escape from that morgue. The more time I waste here, the closer they get to me.

Amanda dries her tears and snot. Slowly standing up, and I follow her as she does. Her back is still against the wall, with her eyes still locked on me.

"So, you're really Sam..."

If that's what she wants to believe, she's free, too. The story I told her can be concluded that I am Sam. In the end, I don't feel like Sam. I would know if I was Sam.

I think.

This is all still new to me. It's my first day as a... Monster. I don't know how else to describe it. Before I can reply to her, she steps forward and wraps her arms around me. Taking me by surprise. My body moves on its own, and I gently reciprocate.

"It's still you... Your warmth... Your touch... It's all the same..."

She gently speaks as she closes her eyes while hugging me. After a few seconds, she lets me go, and I do the same. I don't know why I hugged her. A specific reason or urge I can't identify. Just my body did something I didn't command.

It was instinct.

"Does that mean you'll be helping me?"

She still hasn't answered my request for her help. After a moment of gathering her thoughts, a small smile appears on her features.

"Yes, I'll help you."

She's a stronger girl than I thought she'd be. She said that she and Sam have known each other since they were little kids. I'll have to ask her more about Sam when I get the time, but right now, I need to find out more about Prof. Carnid.

Those memories I had earlier said something about research. Those are the last memories I have before becoming what I am now. At least, they are the last memories I remember. There could be more.

"That's good. I'm heading to the Genetics department. What do you know about Prof. Carnid?"

Amanda gives me a quizzical and confused look. Wondering why I'm asking such a thing. Then, she realizes something.

"That's right. I forgot already. Your memories are gone."

While she's still on edge around me, there is a more relaxed tone in her voice. After a second, she clears her head and prepares to talk.

"Sam, you're a genetics major. A genius, really. You're Professor Carnid's star student. I don't know the details 'cause you told me you couldn't say, but you told me the both of you were working on something together."

As she explains another piece to the puzzle of my memories to me, I break eye contact with her and stare into figurative space. Processing what she's just said.

Does my work with this professor have anything to do with what's happening to the world and what's happened to me? The coincidences line up perfectly. Samuel Grimm had a role to play in this pandemic.

I turn my attention down the hall and start walking. Amanda falls in line behind me, and we eventually make our way outside. As we exit, slow-moving zombies notice us. Alerting the more jerky and twitchy ones.

Soon, we're being run at by the monsters that are outside.

"What do we do!?"

Amanda begins panicking behind me. Getting closer for protection. While carving my way through a horde to the genetics department isn't off the table. I have a person to protect, and I wouldn't be able to be as effective with her safety on the line.

Instead, I pick her up in my arms and start running. She screams and wraps her arms around my neck. Tucking herself into my form more closely. I carry her like a princess, and after gathering a lot of speed, I jump off the ground.

Gathering great height and momentum. We glide through the air, and Amanda screams as we start descending near the genetics department. As I impact the ground hard, some of the nearby zombies are sent flying.

Impacting hard against walls and random objects.

The loud sound has attracted more, but I waste no time and leap up the stairs to the front doors. Pushing them open and releasing Amanda from my arms. She stumbles to a table and leans against it.

I turn around, kill, and absorb all the zombies charging up the stairs. It only takes a few seconds, but the forming horde is cut down and added to my biomass.

My attention shifts to the many lights still on in the surrounding buildings. As I look closer, my vision picks up movement that isn't zombie-like. There are survivors in the buildings next to the genetics department.

They stare at me through the window. Shaking as I notice them. They pull their heads away, and I don't see them again. I bet seeing what I just did freaked them out. There are pockets of survivors outside the Auditorium.

That's good to know. I turn around and ascend the stairs again. Once inside, I lightly close the doors behind me. Amanda is hiding behind a couch, head peeking over the backside of it in my direction. Her head slowly lifts.

"Are they dead?"

Her voice is quiet and slow.

All I do is nod my head, and she releases a breath as she stands up. My eyes shift to the map on the wall showing a person's way around the genetics building.

Time to find out what happened to Samuel Grimm.