Sinking Sickness: Chapter Three

.Infected.

Rusl stood motionless, eyes locked upon Link as the youth slowly sat down next to Ril. The man had removed his glasses and was wiping them silently, yet with shaky fingers. Hesitantly he'd glance towards Rusl, then Link's bloody arm, then back to his glasses before placing them back on. A small sigh and Ril would finally break the silence.

"I…I don't know…what to say." A small pause would ensue, but then the scientist would sigh again and look to Link fully now.

"You are, for sure, that Urik was a carrier of the virus? No record of a human being affected has ever been heard of. I just can't believe…"

Shaking, Ril would bury his face in his hands, careful to mind his glasses as he seemingly tried to cope with this bit of news. However, Rusl was very quiet and very still, staring as if stone towards Link who sat at his feet. As for Link himself, he was waiting as patiently as his mind would allow him to for Ril to speak again. When this did not happen and it appeared that the other was not about to do so, he'd ask the question he knew was burning in Rusl's mind.

"How long do you think I have?"

At this, Ril would lower his hands and look almost hopelessly towards Link, his body trembling every now and again.

"Two weeks, that is how long it took to take hold of Urik. But in animals it is a speedy process. It normally takes hold in a matter of hours to a day. Then they….die a week or so later from what I've seen. But I don't know what exactly about the virus kills them…or why. They just…die."

Nodding slowly, Link wanted to keep Ril talking, to find out as much as this man had to offer. "And what happens during those few days while they are still living while infected? What is it they do all day?"

Ril hesitated. "Night…they only seem to come out at night no matter what specie they are. From a bat that lives for darkness to a horse that is active during the day; they all prefer the darkness. All day they sleep and hide away in caves and hollows. But then they kill and fight all night. I am not sure why they feel the need to slaughter every living thing they come across. The illness must just bring out the full force of aggression to the highest extreme and only that."

"And there is no cure? Is there even one in process of being made?"

Both Link and Ril turned, for it was Rusl who spoke this time. For the first time, Link saw something that never before haunted his friend's eyes. It was a desperate, sad, yet all at the same time angry gleam that was set to Rusl's features. Instantly, though he did not know why, Link wanted to hit him. Unnerved by this most peculiar urge, he'd turn away and stare towards the ground as Ril replied.

"We are trying everything we can to find one…but it wasn't so urgent to discover one 'til now. Since it can infect humans, I think we should take every precaution to make sure it doesn't spread."

Turning to Link, Ril looked determined yet fearful, and his next words were not kind ones. "We have to stop it here. Kill the beast before it can kill us, as the saying goes. Yes. We must protect ourselves! We must burn that house with Urik and Link inside."

At this, Link would flinch, for he actually had a feeling that something like this may creep up. However, before anyone could do much else, Ril cried out in pain. Looking up in surprise, Link stared at Ril who was now lying on the ground, glasses knocked askew, and a trickle of blood running down from his nose.

"How…dare you!"

Rusl would advance, fist drawn back as if he was preparing to hit Ril again as he glared darkly at the man before him. "How DARE you even suggest something like that!"

Cringing, Ril would only whimper as Rusl picked him up by the shirt and forced him to stand. Link, who had never seen such anger from this man before, could only watch as Ril stood shaking with a hand on his broken nose.

"P-please. We h-have to do it! I don't want to die!"

"Coward!"

Rusl would throw Ril to the ground, shaking in his fury as he stood towering over the scientist. "Yes. We will burn what needs be to make sure it won't spread. But I am not going to kill Link just because he may be infected with some virus. Were you not just saying the illness only can be spread through bodily fluid? Did you not just tell me that it is, most certainly, not an airborne disease?"

"I don't know anymore! I just don't know! All I thought was true is false and all that I thought was impossible is real. What do you want me to do Rusl? What? If you expect me to sit here and just wait for him to go insane and kill you all you have another thing coming! I'm leaving."

Without another word, Ril gathered himself up and turned away, fleeing into the darkness until he was gone from sight. Rusl stood there, jaw clenched and his body quivering as he stared after the man, then he huffed and shakily sat down next to Link. Before much else could happen, Uli and Colin would appear at the door, and instantly Colin was by Link's side.

"What happened? I heard someone yelling. Are you okay?"

Uli had moved to her husband's side, her brows delicately furrowed as she placed an arm around him. "Dear…is everything alright?"

"I will discuss it with you later, Uli…but Colin…" Rusl trailed off and looked to his son, then towards Link who was still mute on all the matter. Sighing, Rusl would look away and slowly ease to his feet. As for the hero himself, he could only sit there numbly as the family stared at him, and before anyone could say much more, he looked to the boy next to him.

"I am going away Colin. I will need you to take care of things here."

"Sure Link! I'll be sure to keep all the monsters away. But where are you going?"

Rusl looked pained and Uli confused, but Link had already made his mind up. Things were too risky for him to stay around any longer…and therefore he decided that it was simply best for him to up and go before anything disastrous could take place. He knew it was the best thing for the village…but it did not stop his heart from aching dully as he thought about it. He'd never be able to come back once he left.

"Link…please. Don't go."

Rusl would move and place a hand on Link's shoulder, gently urging him to sit back down. Link would hesitate, yet comply all the same. Motioning for Colin, who was now worried, to go back in the house, he spoke softly to his wife.

"Uli…that virus that Ril was telling us about…it can taint humans." She'd gasp, eyes growing wide, yet Rusl went on before she could say anything. "Urik was a carrier and attacked Link. Now he is dead and Link…he…"

Rusl needn't finish the sentence, for Uli got the message all the same and, instantly, she turned to Link. Tears were in her eyes and it looked like she wanted to say something, yet nothing came out of her mouth as she stood there. Link, not wanting this sort of attention right now, slowly stood up and shook his head.

"Don't worry…things will be alright in the end. Things will always work out somewhere down the line."

"But you are going to stay, right? Ril said two weeks. We should at least give you some time before we determine if you must leave or not. After all…perhaps Urik got the virus as a fluke. Perhaps we have nothing to worry over."

"That is wishful thinking, Rusl. You know that. I will stay a little while longer, but only to figure a few more things out before I leave." Link would pause, not wanting to leave them with no hope, and quietly added. "And I will return after a month's time if all goes well. But I should give it at least that long."

A small, sad smile fit to Rusl's lips as he nodded softly, muttering as his wife walked forward. "You were always brave Link…but know this…you are not alone no matter how far from us you are."

Uli would softly hug Link, which is something he'd not been expecting. You would think a person would avoid physical contact with him, yet here she was, crying as she held him gently. "We are here for you. Always."

This, no matter how simple an act, made Link's heart clench in his chest and his throat tighten. He'd always known this village was family to him. It just never occurred to him just how deeply their bonds went until now. With a slight smile, Link would withdraw and look Uli in the eye. "And I will always be here for Ordon. Virus or not."

With that, he'd slowly turn and head back towards his home, only glancing back when he was near the small stream near Rusl's house. Both he and Uli were standing, side by side, watching him walk away. This mere sight was enough to change Link's mindset entirely. Originally, he'd felt the beginnings of sorrow and despair…but now he felt far from such emotions. There was a new power rising in his mind, a sense of duty that overrode the depression most would fall into. Just why he felt this so strongly, Link would never know. But he did know this. As long as he still drew breath, he would keep to that promise he'd made to Uli. Infected or not, he would protect this village. There was a cure somewhere out there in Hyrule. And Link was going to find it. He was bound and determined on that.