Xion Island's Chronicles Forty and Forty-One
In a dilapidated hideout, the air is thick with the oppressive weight of dampness and the sour reek of sickness. The room, once grand, now warps underfoot with rotting wood and old pine needles, a testament to its neglect. A rusted lantern casts shadows that jitter across the walls, the flame within leaping around like a nervous heartbeat.
In the center of this forsaken space, Travis stands tall, flushed, sweaty, and unsteady on his feet, yet functioning with feverish energy. A tick embedded and bloated behind his ear adds to his dishevelled appearance. His eyes, once bright with hope, now hold a haunting emptiness.
Travis admits there is no cure for him. He has burned his research before leaving Xion, aware that there is no antivenom for his condition. He offers a deal to Nash, his captor, suggesting he call off the team and let Travis take his own life. Yet, Nash emphasizes the importance of keeping Travis alive.
As Nash negotiates, Travis's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. He kicks Alan's dead body, slumped against a post with a gash in his throat, making a sickening noise. Travis laughs, mentioning that Nash lives in a different world. Nash closes Alan's eyelids, avoiding the recrimination he sees in Alan's dead eyes.
Travis threatens to kill himself if Nash does not call off the team. Nash, in response, contacts Alpha team for an armed entry, authorizing the capture of Travis. The room echoes with the tension of the impending confrontation.
Despite the grim surroundings, Travis seems resigned to his fate. He speaks of the years of work, including files, samples, and backup devices, now gone. His voice carries a sense of loss, a testament to the life he could have had if fate had been kinder.
The manhunt for Travis, the infected fugitive, continues, but the outcome remains uncertain. The world watches, hoping for a resolution, but the fate of Travis, and the secrets he carries, remain shrouded in the shadows of his hideout.
In the midst of his despair, Travis contemplates the loss of his general-news-worthy life's work, a testament to the years spent studying books on various subjects, including crime-and-justice. Amidst the entertainment value of the high-stakes manhunt, the world longs for a resolution, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of Travis's secrets, hidden away in his hideout like pages tucked in an old book.
