Prologue: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/7666025 (not counted as words, but it's recommended to read for context) Marticon High was situated at the eastern part of the city. Like magic, even though they were in a Western country, it felt like the area the school's in is situated in Japan. However, the pink cherry blossoms guarding the school aren't blooming as bright as usual, like the colors were drained out from them. Marbles had just managed to escaped the epidemic with Weren with the help from Luna. "Guys, this way." Luna whispered, passing by a group of infected people who were wandering aimlessly around the school. They crawled under a tunnel beneath the school that Marbles never acknowledged before. The tunnel was small, but big enough for all of them, including Weren, who was very tall, to stand in the passageway. It was humid in there. The smell of blood, sweat, sewage filled Marbles' nose that it became a sickly miasma. "Luna, are you sure it's the right way?" Weren asked, anxiously. Luna smiled, "Of course! The principal actually told me about this." By the end of the tunnel, Marbles was greeted with a bright flash of light as they emerge from the supply closet. "What the..." The school had changed. The area was filled with the smell of alcohol for sterilization. The walls were painted white and classrooms were filled with beds instead of desks. It became a refuge area. It was no longer a school, it became a hospital. "We need to be efficient when an epidemic happens, so we renovated everything!" Luna explained to her baffled-looking friends. "How long did it take?" Luna thought quietly, something about her thinking looks stirred something in Marbles. "Around four hours." Weren's eyes widened in shock, "So much in four hours??" But Marbles was only half listening. "Um, what? That's so efficient! Hehe..." Luna continued, not noticing Marbles fumbling over his fingers, "Anyways, you two should get ready, as you guys are required at the science lab tomorrow. They will tell you everything they know about the virus. You got it?" They nodded as Luna prepared to leave, "Wait, Luna! Did Martin survived the epidemic?" Marbles ran up to her with his face entirely flustered, wishing for his answer to be what he'd not expect. Luna answered flatly, "Hm, no. He and his gang didn't make it." That wasn't what Marbles expected, "Really? Yes! I'm finally free from their grasp!" Weren smiled, but something was off about Marbles. "Marbles, are you okay? Your face is entirely red..." Marbles blushed, making the red dark crimson. "H-huh? I-I..." Weren approached him, his eyes concerned, "Do you have feelings for Luna?" Marbles turned his gaze away from Weren's, who were somehow making him lose focus, "Maybe a little..." Morning shone onto Marticon High. But the atmosphere was different. No one was out on the fields, and blood splattered all over the grounds. In this day, Marbles woke up to see the scenery. He remembered. The events yesterday. When someone suddenly went on a rampage in the park and killed almost everyone, and infecting some others with his disease. He remembered the faces of those killed by their loved ones. The girl who fell off the roller coaster; the kid who was killed by the rampage. On this day, Marbles will stop the madness. "Marbles, are you ready?" Weren asked, in his lab coat. Marbles, adjusting his buttons on his coat, replied, "Not yet, I must look good for-" "You're not going for a date." Marbles flushed, "Luna's gonna be there..." Weren rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated. "Let's just go." Trekking down the polished hallways, Marbles eventually found himself in the science lab, where the research was carried out. The moment the doors opened, the noise inside resonated their ears. Everyone was busy and extremely dedicated, even some, to Marbles' surprise, lazy students. "What the-" "We require everyone talented to cooperate in this research, which includes the both of you." The principal said, approaching them. "We need your help at the research station, Marbles. They'll explain everything to you. Weren, you're required for field missions." The procedure was so sudden that Marbles hadn't said goodbye to Weren as they each headed to their respective stations. [i]Damn, I'll miss him..[/i] "Marbles! You're here! Quick, we need your help..." Luna came rushing over, all thoughts of Weren were immediately replaced with Luna's smile. She handed him a sheet, "This is all the information we know regarding the virus. After lunch we will observe the patients and their behavior to observe any symptoms." Marbles barely had time to say "Okay" before she left for other tasks. [i]She's so dedicated...[/i] Marbles thought as he looked at his sheet. [quote] Species: [i]varicellovirus violetta[/i] Source: unknown Method of transmission: UV light Symptoms: Purple blisters all over the face, erratic behavior If left untreated: Patient will lose all neurons and will die [/quote]
Marbles now knew why Luna was so shiny when they met her, to protect herself from the disease. But he didn't understand why the virus hadn't attack him. Weren probably hid in a shady area, but Marbles was exposed to the Sun. It was odd. "Well, at least I'm alive." Marbles thought before he followed Luna. [i]The virus is weird, like a mutation...[/i] Marbles thought as he exited the room of patients. No new information were obtained except the patients are calmer when loved ones are nearby. "Luna? What are you investigating?" Marbles asked, seeing Luna peering into a microscope, "Hmm, it's weird... The virus keeps changing forms, but the shape of each form is similar..." she said while showing Marbles a diagram she drew. "You're right... They all take the shape of some letters... Kr?" It stroke something in his brain, "Isn't Kr the symbol of the element krypton?" Marbles said, surprised. "But that means the virus may have been made from krypton! If we study the virus more, we can find out its backstory! Then we can discover the cure!" Luna hugged Marbles, making him blush, "Good job! You're so smart!" Marbles blurted, "U-Uh, thanks..." Luna straighten herself, "Tonight, I'll create a footage regarding the virus' past. So get ready by then!" Tonight came pretty quickly. Everyone from the research team were looking at the footage Luna prepared. "Get ready, guys. It's on!" Instantly, everyone's faces became happy, then shocked, then angry, facing Marbles, who looked extremely devastated. [i]"Damnit, the virus is not dying off..." Marbles said quietly, examining the sample of the chickenpox virus the teacher gave him. "Guys, it's the right time, he's alone. Attack!" Immediately, Martin barged in with his gang, "Wh-" They beat him up, leaving Marbles with bruises all over his body, "Ow..." "This is what happens when Weren isn't around. You're just a pathetic nerd." With that, they left. Marbles struggled to stand up, "Oh, shoot!" He knocked over a beaker of krypton into the sample. "It's okay... Let me sterilize it with UV light..." Marbles said as he shone UV light onto the sample, staining blood all over the lens of the lamp. "I better treat my wounds... I don't want to get caught by the disease..." But he didn't know, because of the blood and UV light, the virus mutated with the help of krypton. It escaped into the Sun through the lamp, and infected the Earth.[/i] "N-No..." The footage has been taken. Everyone in the research team stared at Marbles, eyes filled with hatred. "So, the person who caused all this mess is Marbles?" "Honestly, it's pretty obvious. We've gotten so much productive since he joined us." "I bet you he planned to create the virus to kill Martin and his gang." "What an absolute menace." So many insults came in at once. So many biting remarks hit Marbles like a bullet in the stomach. No matter how much he tried to justify, they brush it off. At once they threw anything in the room towards him. Chairs, their goggles, even the laptop. Marbles desperately tried to look for Luna. She wasn't throwing things at him. But she was doing nothing, staring at him in shock. "J-Just kill me already..." was what he managed out as things collided with his fragile body. That's why. The virus didn't want to kill their creator. All those who died to the disease. That girl who was the first casualty; the kid who was barely half his age. All dead, all gone. [i]And it's all my fault[/i] There was one way out of this: infect himself and die. Dashing out of the room, with people still chasing him, he found it. The sample. "Goodbye, everyone. I'd never see you again." He shone the UV light onto his hand, making it blister. Everyone staggered away from him as he approached them. [i]Just like how I want it...[/i] Days pass. Then weeks. Marbles was confused. [i]Why am I not dead?[/i] Of course, the virus didn't want to kill him. "Damnit!" Marbles screamed, knocking over his bed. He was moved to a quarantine zone to prevent infection, but he planned to isolate himself from the world. The cure was administered, but no one revealed who caused the disease. [i]Why didn't they do it? Why did they conceal it? Just let everyone hate me, even in death...[/i] The door squealed with a creak, Marbles looked at the figure standing at the doorway. The person he needed. "Luna." Luna sat down beside him, not in any protective gear. "Marbles, I'm sorry... I should've defended you, but-" Luna stopped abruptly. Marbles wanted Luna to continue, but at the same time, he didn't. "Geez, it's so awkward. I've never done this..." "Then don't." Luna looked at him in shock, seeing his face out of the shadows. Scratch marks all over his face, blisters oozing purple pus, but calm eyes. "Marbles! Have you been harming yourself? Don't do it! It's bad for yo-" "Shut up!!" Luna jerked back, but Marbles hated the way she spoke. It didn't feel like friendly talk, instead felt like a lecture from a guardian. He didn't like Luna, he never did.
