Chapter 307 - Who We Are (1/2)

Although they had been looking for a story to boost their ratings, they never expected to end up face to face with an infected. And more startling than that was that this infected was obviously very strong. For a moment, they both froze in their tracks wondering just what Laz was planning to do.

Seeing this, Laz just smiled and didn't do anything. Instead, he turned his head away and went back to eating his beef jerky as though he didn't have a care in the world. Due to his actions, the internal fight of both the handsome guy and attractive girl waged war in their heads.

They were truly afraid. The news, the reports, everything they had heard up until this point was indicating that people like Laz were violent sociopaths who's mood could turn on a dime and would kill you without blinking.

And yet this person in front of them seemed almost... peaceful.

In the end, the temptation that Laz offered outweighed their fear and instead of running, they walked back over to him, albeit slowly.

”You seem to be scared of me?” Laz asked, still amused.

”Well. There are a disturbing number of stories that have come out about your ki... about people with the same affliction you have,” the man replied, changing his wording at the last minute.

”Yeah. I mean... there is more than on example of how normal people have been attacked and killed in horrible ways,” the girl added while moving a bit behind her partner.

To this, Laz could only sigh.

”You're right of course. Although I have a hard time believe every story I have seen about us attacking normal people, I can't ignore the fact that there have been more than one who ended up drowning in their own power and losing their sense of self. There was even an incident in the past where I personally killed one of 'my kind' after he had kidnapped and rȧpėd a girl. So I can only say that yes. There are infected who are nothing short of pure evil,” Laz finished up his thought, nodding his head and agreed with them.

”You're not going to defend them?” The girl asked.

”Why would I? I mean, should I?” Laz asked in all seriousness.

”But they....”

”They are they and I am me. Even before these things came to pass... tell me... did evil exist in the world? Humans have been killing each other since the dawn of time. Sure, they try to pass it off as killing with reason, be it in war or to save someone else. But the end result is still the same. There has always been a dark streak in the hearts of humans. Some can hide it better, others get gloried legacy's of documentaries and podcasts about their endeavors to kill their fellow man. The higher the body count, the longer you will be remembered.”

”That's... well... You have a point,” The attractive man said after the female couldn't respond back.

”So there are good and bad ones of you?” The man then asked.

”Good and bad? There are good people and there are bad people. That's something that will never change,” Laz answered.

”Then why do you hide your face if you're a good guy?” The female asked, not totally believe him.

”Who would believe me even if I told them that?” Laz turned the question back on her as understanding dawned on her.

”So. Moving on. What are you doing and what do you hope to achieve?” The handsome guy thought that maybe they were making Laz angry and that getting him on to other things might be a good idea. As such, he figured he would ask what was on everyone's minds.

”Killing off some bugs before skipping town.”

”Skipping town?''

”Yeah. As long as I am alive, I am a threat and they will come to kill me. Therefore, it's best to be on my way sooner rather than later,” Laz stated as a matter of fact. Even though he was speaking about himself as though he was a criminal, he bȧrėly showed any emotion about that fact.

”You don't seem like a bad guy...” The attractive female responded as though trying to encourage him.

”Well. That doesn't really matter, does it? It's ok though. For many of us, we have accepted this fact. Besides, what would we do about it anyway?” Laz asked back without a hint of anger.

”Can't you protest? Or contact someone?”

”The entire government, the country and even other countries all over the world have said the same thing, we are a danger to ourselves and others. And they aren't really wrong either you know. For many of us, our abilities are under control. When given enough time from when we awaken until we actually have to use them, there isn't a problem. The problem comes about when either the change is so dramatic that it can't be controlled or if a person is placed under enough stress that they loose control. Or if they use their abilities to do bad things. There is that too.” Laz said, shocking the two interviewers.

”So... your saying...?”

”I'm saying that yeah, a newly awakened person can be a danger. But, that doesn't mean that we are dangerous. An angry teenager with a weapon and a chip on his or her shoulder can be a danger, that doesn't mean that every kid does out and does something they will regret for the rest of their lives.” Laz's face looked a little sad as he said this, remembering what it was like to have your biggest worry be fitting in at school.

The ones interviewing him didn't know what to say back, at least until they check their stream.

”Holy shit...” the handsome guy said, looking at his phone.

”What?” His pretty counterpart asked.

”Hang on.” Pulling out his tablet, he loaded up the stream and showed his co-host what he was talking about. Currently, they had over ten million people watching them with the numbers going up like crazy. The chat was flooded with questions and comments that flew by as soon as they came up so it was impossible to even see what it said.

”We are number one currently and the viewer count just keeps going up!!!” The handsome guy stated, clearly excited.

”Change the chat donations to make it so that questions will stay up long enough to ask,” the pretty girl suggested.

”I'm on it.”