The clash of metal against metal, like a death knell symphony, echoed through the blood-soaked laboratory. Nova, with wild eyes and claws elongated into sharp swords, lunged at the creature with astonishing speed. Whoosh! her blades swung, cleaving the air, aiming for the monster's body.
Axel, gasping for breath and wounded, watched the fight with horror. This was no longer the Nova he knew. This was a feral beast controlled by primal instincts.
"Nova, it's me! Axel!" he cried out again, hoping for a flicker of consciousness behind those burning red eyes.
Nova didn't respond. She continued her brutal assault, her movements swift and deadly. Axel was forced to keep dodging, using the shattered laboratory tables as shields. Each time the swords struck metal, small sparks flew, briefly illuminating Nova's face contorted with rage and pain.
In every swing of her blades, Axel saw a glint of tears in Nova's eyes, mixed with the burning fury. It wasn't just the rage of a monster. It was the anger of a woman whose soul was torn apart, trapped in a body that wasn't her own.
Axel knew he couldn't fight Nova physically. He had to reach her human side, the part that was still hidden beneath the virus's darkness. He had to make her remember.
"Remember the beach, Nova?" Axel shouted, his voice rising above the whine of the blades. "Remember when we first met? You helped me when I almost drowned."
Nova paused for a fraction of a second, her swords freezing in mid-air. Her eyes, which had been burning red, dimmed slightly, showing a flicker of doubt. An expression of confusion crossed her monstrous features.
"Remember the nights we shared stories under the stars?" Axel continued, his voice softening. "Remember all the promises we made?"
Tears began to stream down Nova's cheeks, mingling with the drying blood. Her sharp claws trembled. She seemed to be fighting a fierce internal battle, struggling against the force that controlled her body.
Suddenly, Nova clutched her head with both hands, letting out a strangled groan of pain. Strange sounds emanated from her throat, a mix of bestial growls and human sobs.
"Go…" she whispered, her voice hoarse and choked. "Axel… go… I can't…"
Axel saw his chance. He took a step closer, reaching out his hand towards Nova. "I won't leave you, Nova. We'll get through this together."
Just as his fingers were about to touch her face, Nova's eyes flashed red again. The expression of pain and confusion vanished, replaced by a cold, feral stare.
"No!" she roared, then lunged at Axel with full speed.
Axel had no time to react. Nova's swords slammed into his chest, an unbearable pain searing through his entire body. He was thrown backward, collapsing heavily onto the cold laboratory floor.
Blood poured from his wound, staining the concrete. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring. He saw Nova standing over him, her eyes filled with a horrifying regret.
"I'm sorry," Nova whispered, tears still streaming down her face. "I couldn't control it."
With the last of his strength, Axel reached out and grasped Nova's hand. "I know," he whispered weakly. "I know you fought hard."
Nova looked down at Axel, her eyes filled with a deep love and sorrow. The light of her humanity shone brighter than ever before.
Suddenly, Nova directed one of her swords towards her own chest.
"No!" Axel cried out, trying to stop her, but his body was too weak to move.
With tears still flowing, Nova plunged the sword into her own heart. A soft moan of pain escaped her lips, and then her body went limp, collapsing onto Axel.
The light in Nova's eyes dimmed slowly, then faded completely. She was Nova again, for the last time, in Axel's embrace.
Axel held Nova's cold body tightly, his tears mingling with her blood. He had lost everything on this cursed island. But in those final moments, he had seen a glimmer of hope, a spark of humanity that could not be extinguished by any horror.
Outside the laboratory, strange sounds still echoed, a reminder that the island's terror was not over. But inside the blood-soaked room, Axel found a strange peace. Peace in Nova's sacrifice, and peace in their enduring love.
Axel knew he couldn't stay here. He had to get off this island, carrying with him the memory of Nova, her courage, her love. He had to tell their story, so the world would know the horrors that had transpired on this island, and about Nova's last light that shone in the darkness.
With the last of his strength, Axel rose, cradling Nova's lifeless body in his arms, and stepped out of the laboratory, towards the bleak dawn. He didn't know what awaited him outside, but he knew he would never forget Nova. He would carry her memory with him, forever.
END