Withering World [MCSM Fanfiction]

INFLAMMATION: Chapter 12

Petra

Today's the day they draw blood... well, it's not quite that dramatic, actually.

What's really dramatic is the wither skeleton tugging at my vambrace, practically ripping my arm off. I kick it low at its shin so it falls and I violently finish it with Miss Butter.

We work less and less as time goes on in the day when most skeletons have been defeated and looted. However, the population resets in the morning and every muscle in our body experiences a different level of torment every time.

Jesse doesn't want us working at night, even if I suggested we build a warrior's base not too far from the quarantine. Now the sky's hues are transitioning from flames of dull tangerines smoldering to navy blues, meaning I have to round us all up.

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My fingers reach for the clasps drilled to the sides of my bright blue helmet, unlocking them for easy removal before putting it on the stand. I smooth out my poorly creased bandana and mildly damp hair, then start unfastening my armor, dyed specifically for the leader.

When I drop my inventory of bones and coal into the chest and lock the fortress watchtower, most people have already disappeared via our newly engineered elevator serving all floors in Sector Central.

Must be hurrying to get their blood tests over and done with, I suppose, which seems a more scary task than hunting infectious wither skeletons all day.

The glass elevator pings and I hop in as the door slides open. Downwards I go, descending into the depths of QZ where the unnatural light is the only light most residents get to see. At least the builders have given quarantine a makeover, successfully accomplishing the enchanted, fantastical look, its display of flowers and vines planted all over.

They're serving baked potatoes today at Sector Central's food court, the one meal I gladly skip as it ruins my appetite completely. Maybe I'll just trade for a baked good tonight.

I alight on floor three and enter the shared hospital in Central, with lots of signs pointing me to many different wards.

Each turn in the winding corridors makes me dizzy, robbing me of my sense of direction that I swear I circle the venue twice before finding myself in a completely new part of the building.

In the maze of the impressively illuminated hospital, eventually, I find the clinics, where the research team has assorted us into a room with either Harper or Ivor to initiate the test.

There's no queuing and no hassle. Everyone else got their blood test out of the way this morning during the warriors' working hours. I'm the first patient to show up in ages.

Thank goodness the sheet of paper with my name on it is categorized under Harper. Subconsciously, my lips curl into a grin as I bend my trail rightward to the Old Builder's room. The trust I have in her is ten times more than the trust I have in Ivor. And that's also more likely an understatement too.

Despite that being what I originally thought, I feel the need to take it back once I peek through her clinic. It's a tight room, most of it composed of laminate bamboo and the light a cozy shade of pink. The only unsettling thing about it is the item placed in the center of her desk, its supposed hand holding the needle - a robot - that sends me stumbling backward.

"Oh, heck no-"

"Petra? I wasn't expecting you in a while," Harper says, sterilizing a few unknown tools of all shapes and sizes outside my knowledge bank.

"The warriors are having dinner. I skipped," I respond, suspiciously eying the armed machine, "so, can you do my blood test now?"

Harper nods, gesturing to the patient's seat accordingly. "My friend over here can begin your test-"

It takes me a few moments to figure out what she's really talking about. She can play with her pet robots all she wants, but I opt to have no participation in her AI testing. "Nope, I want an actual pair of human hands to do this, please."

"Oh, come on, it ensures extra precision. Besides, he'll be quick."

Of course, she uses human pronouns for a brainless invention.

"Well, last time a computer did something to me, I got brainwashed and even tried to kill my best friend. It was not precise or quick," I say, folding my arms in resistance.

"Someone's got some fire in their head."

"That's me," I murmur under my breath. Then, I clear my throat to continue. "I can't believe I'm actually considering deserting you for Ivor at this point-"

"Okay! Wait!" Harper comes to her senses, removing the needle from the robot. "I'll do it myself, don't worry. And let's not... bring up PAMA again please."

Relieved by her change of mind, I roll up my right sleeve, ready for the sting.

"Now it's okay to feel scared-"

"Oh please," I say, clicking my tongue against my teeth.

Fed up with me, she wipes down my arm with disinfectant and positions it to her preference, finally telling me one more thing before the needle comes down. "Don't tense up and don't look at it."

"What's this test for, anyway?"

"Test slash donation," Harper adds, "we need to know who's secretly carrying the sickness, so we can hospitalize them immediately. As for those who don't, we'll check their blood type, sort it, and donate it to the compatible hosts who need it."

The searing sensation abates after she finishes, the needle pulled out of my vein being the peak of my discomfort. She tightens the lid of the vial containing my blood, labels it, and stores it away in a fancy compartment full of named tubes filled with more wine-like liquid.

"Results will be posted within twenty-four hours." Her hand digs into a drawer for a bandage she wraps twice around my punctured arm.

"Thank you."

Just as I am about to conclude and flee the clinic, Harper informs me about a quest that I must endure to obtain crucial ingredients the research team needs for studying properties and making developments.

The squad has assigned me and wholly me to conduct the task that I may pick my companions whether it'd be a group of fifty or ten. They also wouldn't mind how those materials are accumulated just as long as they get to lay their hands on them.

Perks of being Beacontown's most active adventurer I guess.

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A/N

I can't. I literally stayed up until 1 am to finish this chapter. The myths are true - there really is no rest for an author.

Plus, I also realize that I get Petra's chapters done much faster in comparison to the other two characters. That doesn't mean I like Lukas and Jesse less, because they're all my favs and I love them equally. I just find it easier to write in Petra's voice, and you'll probably find more of my colorful writing in her chapters for some odd reason...

However, it's time to vote for this section or comment about anything you have to offer about the story so far. Both would be greatly appreciated (like always lol)!

Thanks once again guys, see you in Chapter 13!