Chapter Text
[2009.2.5...]
Elliot didn't move a single inch, gaze locked into the display like his life depended on it, his intuition supplied that this was important, and so he was right. The announcement made it seem like the onset of end of the world is happening in real-time.
[Attention all Robloxians, a dangerous, contagious disease of unknown origin has been discovered in Robloxia. To ensure containment, the borders have been closed indefinitely to prevent exit or entry. To keep safe from the infection, take the following precautions:
1: Stay away from infected individuals at all costs, even if they seem docile.
2. Refrain from wandering around populated areas as much as possible.
3. Keep up regular hygiene, and get rid of contaminated things. (Including people.)
How to recognise a infected?
A affected Robloxian can be recognised by numerous signs depending on which stage they are in.
Stage 1: A bite/scratch/infection site on their body, paleness and lethargy, increased passive aggression or isolation, subtle 0 and 1 digit aura over them, dilated pupils, vague beginnings of the corruption starting to take hold.
At this stage, one is not contagious, doesn't necessarily pose a active threat, but basic distance should be kept to be sure.
Stage 2: Visible signs of corruption seen as a black substance, typically starts at infection source, hands, chest, back, and eyes, increased binary number aura, weight loss, exposed ribs and spine, vocal distortion adjacent to digital tones, dementia/amnesia, chronic pain, forced involuntary grin, red sclera and dotted pupils, active aggression, one doesn't have full control over themselves at this stage, they are contagious and interaction should be avoided.
Stage 3: The corruption (The black substance) has almost completely spread over their bodies, even developing black spikes and similar appendages, high concentration of binary aura which can behave like a infectious spore, complete loss of control, aggression peaks at this stage, very contagious. Interaction must be absolutely avoided, If possible, neutralise the threat.
Stage 4: Entire corruption spread, appendages adjacent to black branches, binary aura reaches a perimeter of 1 kilometer when carried by air, one is unable to walk anymore due to fused feet/ tree roots embedding them into one spot. Aggression marginally lowers, contagiousness peaks, if encountered, run the opposite direction. Duration of this stage is unknown at the moment, more information to be added.
Though, it's suspected there may be a fifth st-]
The broadcast mysteriously cuts off, leaving Elliot with answers, but at the same time, questions unanswered. A overwhelming urgency washes over Elliot and he knows sitting there playing Nanny alone with a kid isn't a stable position in a literal cataclysmic disaster. He hastily wakes up C00LKIDD by nudging him a little too harsh, C00LKIDD squeals in confusion as Elliot grabs his hand, and starts leading both of them out of the house.
"Wh-ere are we going?." The boy asked quietly, Elliot didn't look back on him as they walked fast, but he did provide a answer in understandable kid-terms.
"Well, hellspawn, we are playing a game of 'Zombie Apocalypse' and we're heading to somewhere safer than home. Got it?" He replied, still maintaining his firm grip on C00LKIDD so he doesn't wander off.
"Really? Does that mean I can fight zombies!?" C00LKIDD gushed right away, the childish excitement the kid had for fighting off zombies was cute, but utterly unacceptable.
"No, you're gonna stay inside, and you're gonna suck it up." Elliot chided, leaving no room for protests or objections. He began walking towards his work place, the Builder Brothers Pizzeria, hoping to find a safe zone there alongside other citizens.
"No fair! I called shotgun on being the defender!" He pouted, sticking out his bottom lip, his attempt to cross his arms was prevented by Elliots grasp on his wrist.
"I'm not arguing with you tonight, kiddo." Elliot mocked, not to jeer C00LKIDD, but to silence him. And it worked, stubbornly enough. The path to the BBP was short, but heavy with dread and anticipation.
[2009.2.4...]
"Oh calm down, John's not THAT sloppy, he'd know to be compliant when we're helping him!" Builderman jeered cockily, literally shoving his face between the cage bars without even realising it, blinded by his arrogance.
"Builder, look out!" Shedledsky exclaimed a warning, but it was unfortunately too little and too late, Builderman could barely retreat a inch before John lunged at him from within the jail, and clawed at his face with terrifying velocity.
Builderman yelped fearfully as he shoved away from John, finally making enough distance that he couldn't attack again. Shedledsky stood, pissed off at his friends stupidity.
"Ugh... Fuck. I didn't think he'd actually try that!" He cry-laughs, followed by a shaky, breathy chuckle, not born of laughter. He touches gently at the slash wound across his face, more skewed to the right side, the injury even reaching up to his cheek and now-bloodshot eye. It was bleeding, not lightly, but not concerning either. Though he didn't notice it yet, there seemed to be a faint binary aura there, but Builderman didn't think much of it. Dropping his hand from his face, he forced a casual, but formal expression, the cut eye slightly closed as a reaction to the hurt, barely noticeable under the professional mask was a grimace.
"Dammit, Builderman! I told you this would happen, I better not see you near that cage a second time!" Shedletsky yelled at him, stomping his way to the doorway, before turning around.
"I'll be back later to check on that research of yours, 'kay?" He said, this time his voice was more controlled, the anger faded quickly, or maybe he simply didn't have the time to bicker.
"Okay..." Builderman replied, Shedledsky closes the door, leaving him alone in the office. He began to write down what had just gone down, murmuring his notes under his calm but shaken breath.
[Subject is hostile and presumably no longer in control of their actions.]
He sighs miserably, looking up to the ceiling and muttering.
"Why do I work with the most stubborn prick alive..."
"Well, there's always sacrifices to be made in the name of science, and clearly Shed is too cowardly to do so." He added, resuming to his studies.
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't atleast somewhat worried about that mark on his face, the blood had stopped, but the odd effects took place shortly after. It was strangely easy to get knackered, even writing a LITTLE too much tired him out. His head felt like it weighted a ton, and he told himself his ghostly complexion was a trick of the light, nothing more, nothing less, it was a contrast to his usual lively grey.
"Today raised my cortisol way too fuckin much..." He mumbled, excusing the exhaustion, the sickly pasty color as just stress from the onslaught of tasks from this day. As expected as the workload from this project was, it was still demanding a lot from the two admins, especially John...
"Stop thinking about it..." He sang-song to himself in a lilting tone, he hummed as he continued to document everything.
Shedledsky made his way to the BBP, he discovered there were already guests there, not a lot though. He could count them on his fingers... Elliot, Coolkidd, Dussekar, Clockwork, Guest 1337, Noob, Sixer, Chance, ITrapped , Two Time, Azure, and Jane Doe who must've freshly arrived.
He hemmed and hawed awkwardly for a second before speaking up,loud and clear.
"Hey! Shedledsky here, Dussekar, Clockwork and I are gonna keep a eye on the safety of this place, don't want any infecteds getting to us, don't we?" He announced, everyone was quick to agree and so it was settled, or atleast in Shedletskys eyes it was, or so he thought.
"Oh, hey, it's you..." Jane greeted Shedledsky, albeit with a look of skepticism, she never fully trusted the admins, and said faith, who was hanging on by a thread prior, was now on the verge of shattering, especially after being denied a confrontation or at minimal, basic closure, with John back at HQ.
"Uh... Mr.Does wife, right?" Shedledsky sheepishly asked, Jane nodded grimly.
"So, how's John doing? You planning on giving me atleast a damn crumb of closure?" Jane started passive-aggresively, she wasn't in the mood for games, not when it involved her husband.
"He's in a situation... It's not looking good I must say... I left it up to Builderman to handle it, we're trying to fix it... I swear.. There was a reason we didn't let you talk to him, he wasn't safe. He could've gotten you hurt or worse, like what happened to Builderman just now." Shedledsky explained sombrely, reasoning with Jane to show her they weren't viciously gatekeeping him. It was a half-truth at best, Shedledsky omitted a lot of the important stuff out, such as the exploitation, coercion, experimentation... He just couldn't gather the courage to bring that up at the moment.
"That's it? No details, nothing?" Jane questioned incredulously, surprise lingered in the background at Shedledskys cryptic secrecy, she wasn't pushing for more answers yet, but the implications were clear, she was expecting more information soon.
"I'll tell you later..." He grumbled, walking away from Jane to talk to Clockwork and Dussekar about their responsibilities and schedules now that they are shielding BBP's residents from the outside. It was only going to get worse when more folks would later arrive, because he knew just 10-15 Robloxians was far from how many were to come at latter times.
John Doe wasn't himself enough, consumed by the instinct to cause terror and bloodshed, he bent the bars at unnatural angles, just enough to slip through. It was relatively easy with the talon-like, void black claws of his. Builderman barely batted a eye, too caught up in drowning in paperwork to properly acknowledge him! Not that he was capable of forcing him back into the cage on his own anyways. He vanished into the abyss of HQ, catalysing mayhem, with silent terror and destruction for now. Or maybe not so silent and hidden afterall...
Before the administrators knew it, the headquarters building was littered with the black substance and binary numbers he emitted, it was on walls, staining floors, windows, the janitors were going to quit on the spot today...
John saw red-hot, both in his vision and eyes, as he collided with a mangy, underpaid janitor... Fellow admins said dubbing it as 'A butchered disaster' was a generous description of what they saw in that clinical hallway afterwards. Nobody knew who did it, the average robloxian definitely wasn't capable of any of this! The weird particles in the air, the dark stuff everywhere, the animalistic slaughter... It put them on edge, they patrolled on high alert now, whatever this supernatural predator was, it wasn't friendly, something malevolent, roaming the precinct with malicious intent...
This was only the start.
Damnation was coming for all...