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“I’ve done it, “ my voice shakes ,”Is it true?” I can feel the sweat roll down my face. My eyes are practically bulging through my lids as I peer into the microscope. Through the scope I can see an egg, fertilized, and with success. it has begun dividing. Insurmountable relief washes over me. I wish I could jump with joy, but now I must place it into it’s ‘mother’.
With ease I pick up the petri dish I was examining, and swiftly move through vacant rooms and hallways. Until I reach the main chamber. The chamber is circular with a domed roof, in the center is a large, glass tube surrounded by monitoring devices. I look at the tube then to the zygote. It will never feel the embrace of a real mother, should I feel pity?
--POV CHANGE--
‘Consciousness, what is it?
Is this consciousness? An eternal darkness, populated by my own thoughts? Is it the warmth I feel as I fade in and out? Is there reason to this cycle? I feel I should probe further, but how can I?’
I know I am suspended, and embraced by warmth. There are sounds, for which I have no description of. They’re constant, monotone at times, but at others the sounds fluctuate. Different tear into my radar, but only at times of pain. A pain that aches at times, but pierces at others. ‘I wonder why?’
Never have I ever found the need to want in the world I know.
‘Perhaps I should want? What do I want…? I want… the darkness to end. I want it to be filled with something else, anything else!’
The pain comes, piercing this time, but something along with it. There is no longer darkness. There is something else. ‘What is that?’
--POV CHANGE--
‘Paperwork! Blasted paperwork! How does one end up with so much blasted paperwork! Truly, this is exasperating.’
My mental rage is quenched by a knock at my door, “Come in.”
“Sir, I have been requested to deliver a message,” a young man dressed in white scrubs enters closing the door behind him.
“Proceed,” my gaze shifts as I’m not particularly interested.
“It concerns the subject. A few months before we detected brain activity, as expected, but with slight spikes that we cannot explain. We deemed this as harmless. It seems we have assumed wrong. Today, we’ve examined higher readings than before, and before I came here the subject had opened it’s eyes.”
“I’m sorry, opened it’s eyes,” I am unsure if this is a prank.
He fidgets, “Yes, it was surmised that the subject has been operating at minimal levels, but…”
I tremble with excitement, “You are dismissed, I will be down momentarily.”
“Yes, sir,” the young man bows, and turns to leave. I can feel my face contort into a smile, odd looking at best, as the news sink in.
‘I had believed for so long that he would never wake!’
The feeling of joy and accomplishment washes over me. I stand, unsteady, and fix my white overcoat. Still unsteady I walk towards the door, and leave the blasted paperwork to rot. Through the doors I enter a plain hallway; there are doors on each side and branching corridors. I doubt any of the rooms in this corridor are inhabited except for mine. Security cameras are my only company. I begin walking down the hallway and take a few branching corridors to an elevator. There are two men in black suits, who are practically giants, standing on both sides.
With my excitement I can barely address them, “Basement level 5, please.” They call the elevator, the doors open, and I enter. One of them enters with me, as a security precaution, and inputs my desired floor. The elevator begins its descent. I count the floors we pass until it halts, opening to the room where it all began. The main chamber.
“Sir, the preparations are ready,” a young woman approaches me.
This young woman is my assistant, who by my standards is quite beautiful. She is dressed in the same overcoat as I. Her hair is long, auburn, and swept to the side; she knows how to accentuate her oval face. Her brown eyes are fixed on me with admiration. I look her up and down taking in her pear shaped body, and plentiful bosom. Ahem, I mean her on point uniform.
I smile, “I assume the subject is still aware?” She nods in response and leads me to the center of the chamber. This room seems deceptively larger than from what I remember. We approach the monitors, they are now filled with information. Too much infact, that I can currently absorb.
“Sir, as the what the messenger should have said, the subject has been utilizing minimal brain activity. These five long years have been difficult to endure. This day has rewarded all those on the team,” she looks to the other men and women in the room, they look to me,” for this excruciating wait. As you know recently the sub…”
I am no longer listening. My mind, and eyes have wandered to the one I have long awaited.
It is a young child, a small boy. Who looks no older than five years. He looks frail, and his skin is like that of a doll, porcelain white. In contrast his hair is black as the night, and I assume it reaches the middle of his back. There is no way to tell as it floats aimlessly along with the wires that are hooked to his body. It as they said, his eyes are open, they are the color of the aimless blue sky.
Tears begin to stream down my face as I heartily smile, pride swells within myself, much like what a father would feel. I look to my assistant. She is no longer looking at me, but at the subject much like I was with her mouth agape. Her eyes are screaming surprise.
‘I wonder why she’s so surprised.’
I look back to the subject, still with the same expression, but that changes. The subject, he’s smiling. His eyes are focused on me and me alone. The pride grows stronger. The others in the room are also silent, completely astonished.
I speak under my breath directed towards my assistant, “ Prepare to extract the subject, we have much to do.”
That command is partial to my impatience, and anticipation. I simply cannot wait any longer, I wish to meet him.
--POV CHANGE--
‘Wait, there was something. Now it’s dark again. I cannot accept it, why!?’
The ever present feeling of warmth has left me. This is not what I wanted. I’ve wanted, and it’s backfired. I am now left cold, with the demeaning feeling of vulnerability.
‘Have I wanted to much?’
No, there’s more, something else.
“Sir, the subject has regained its consciousness, shall we continue,” a familiar sound invades my ears. It’s much less muffled, more clear, and crisp.
Where am I?
“No need to stop,” another, much deeper, responds to the previous.
‘I do not know what to name these sounds, but I understand them?’
I feel pressure then a pinch. In response I open my eyes to find two large beings hovering over me. There is one to my left, and the other to my right. They continue to poke and prod me, with intention. I deem the intention as annoying, and do something I thought impossible. I move, I can move. It’s erratic and weak, but it’s a pleasant sensation. I soon tire out and stop. I’m left with two options, do absolutely nothing, or observe this new world.
I choose to observe, and so I move my attention from the towering beings, and to another two in the room. One looks familiar, it's the one who caught my attention before. I feel closer to it than the others.
‘How do I connect to one I have never met?’
“We’ve finished the physical.”
“Alright, sedate him, we need the relocation to be devoid of stress.”
I feel another pinch, and I soon feel my consciousness slip away.
----
I’ve learned much since I’ve entered this new world.
The towering beings were in fact, humans. They are the ones who inhabit the planet called earth, and have become the dominant species due to their complex brains. Though their complex brains led to deaths of many of their own. This spanned over millenniums, but they soon learned the error of their ways and entered a time of peace, and development. Their machines of war were destroyed, and they were happy. Sadly, another species, not native to earth, found them. They invaded, and the humans were left defenseless. These string of events led to a unity between species, both similar, but different. That is simply a summary, and the reason I’m here. I am the intermingled creation of these two species.
This is what my ‘father’ has told me, and he often jokes that I am the ‘love child’ of the two. I’m not sure what he means, but I think he means to be funny?
My father, is the one who I felt connected with. He is a man of great stature, a brilliant human, and maybe it's his height too? It's almost as if he takes after a lion; his face is well chiseled, and his blond hair is untamed. His eyes are a soft green, and nevertheless regal. I only call him father, as I am not related, because it seems appropriate to me. I do the same with his assistant, I call her mother.
They’ve both been there for every step of my personal, and intellectual development. My mother has taught me all that I know pertaining to education: literature, mathematics, and so much more. My father has been the one to help develop emotions. With their dedication I feel like I should call them by these appropriated names that have been used since, well I don’t know how long. Sadly, I’m not sure how they feel about me though. It seems like they only follow protocol as they administer tests, but for fleeting moments I feel a particular love from them. I do not receive this feeling from any of the others that have visited me.
I feel like this sort of peace I’ve found solace in won’t last long.
----
I had been practicing my mathematics, when my father visited me with a grim expression. I was sitting in the room where my mother taught me all the subjects that she deemed important. I heard the door open and in came my father, his face was pale, devoid of the pride I usually see.
Worried I inquire as to why, “Father, you’re pale, why?”
“There are a group of prestigious men and women who wish to see you,” he smiles acting as if I didn't question him.
“I must greet them?”
“Yes, Ash, it’s important.”
I get up, and walk towards him. He leads me out the door into the adjacent hallway, to the right of me are a strange looking group of men and women. It seems their skin is glowing giving them a youthful look. All of them have lighter shades of hair, and eye colors. They all seem quite beautiful people, but their heights and slightly pointed ears grab my attention.
‘Remember your etiquette!’
I prostrate myself into a deep bow and identify myself, “I am subject 01, also known as Ash, I greet my superiors humbly.”
I can feel my father move closer to me, almost as if on the defensive?
“Rise,” a crisp clear voice commands me, “You may return to your studies.”
I assume this is a member of the group. I do not wish to look back at them. From before I bowed I saw eyes of predators, with what they want in sight. So obediently went back into the room, and resuming my previous position. I became exceedingly curious and let it get the best of me. I focused my hearing so I could eavesdrop. I've done this before when mother and father step out to speak privately, so my hearing was well developed.
At first their voices are muffled, but I could make out a few phrases and words.
“Is it ready to serve the empire,” the crisp voice rings loudest.
“My deepest apologies sire, --- only seven, we are not sure,” father's voice is harder to hear.
“How does that prevent its service?”
A slight pause.
“I ---, he will be --- execute your orders in due --- We will fulfill ---”
“I’m glad we have come to an understanding.”
The voices become harder to make out as they walk away, and soon their footsteps are no longer to my ability to hear.
‘I’m not sure I heard right, what does father mean by that?
Execute their orders? What will I do that made him hesitant? Should I not have assumed I was loved? Should I have expected this from them, for what else would my existence be necessary? Was I telling myself a lie, and letting myself fall into a false reality?’
I clench my fists until the skin on my knuckles becomes white.
‘Am I that gullible that I’m allowing myself to be tricked?’
I can feel my heart in my throat, and my chest tighten up as tears begin to fall from my eyes. There is no reason for me to sit in the chair, so I simply slide out of it and lay on the ground.
My thoughts fueled my despair, and I couldn’t control it. Then there was pain, the piercing pain, and then dark. Both of which I had not experienced for a long time.
--POV CHANGE--
‘I thought I had escaped this confounded paperwork! Why do I, the lead scientist of this facility, have to do blasted paperwork!? I should be down there helping them!’
Anger gets the best of me and I slam my fists down onto my desk. The paper flies everywhere with no mercy to how far. Exasperated I massage the bridge of my nose. A small, ahem, distracts me. I look up to see my assistant standing before the door. Her face is deathly pale.
“What do I owe your visit for, my lovely assistant,” I smile.
“Sir, they’re here.”
My face drops. That’s not right. No, it’s nowhere near right.
“What happened to the initial plan? In their words, ‘Wait until the subject has attained maturity. Then, we will talk,’ What
happened to that,“ anger seeps into my hushed words.
‘The bastards! What made them go back on their own word?’
I readjust my demeanor, calming myself down, “If you would, could you bring them in?“
“Yes sir.”
I stand and make myself presentable. My assistant turns around opening the door revealing a beautiful group of people, not humans. All in business suits, they could be mistaken for a docile group, but they’re wolves in sheep's' clothing.
“Hello, Doctor, I do apologize for this unplanned and early visit. I’m afraid to tell you the plans have been readjusted. There has been miscalculations, so we need the subject much sooner than we anticipated,” A male in the front speaks up.
I’m assuming he’s the voice and leader for the group.
“May I ask why? This is speaking as the head scientist, and for the welfare of the subject.”
He scowls at my question, “I’m afraid we are having issues that cannot be disclosed to you at the time.”
I bow, “I see, I apologize for intruding.”
“If we are to move quickly, I will look over this.”
“Yes sire…” I stand upright, “Then, will you follow me.”
Under my calm exterior, I’m seething with rage.
I lead them through my office doors down the hallways, and into the elevator. Again we are accompanied by a guard, but the floor is one level lower. This level was created specifically for the creations of this program, and there is currently one inhabitant, Ash. From the elevator there is another hallway, and the closest door is the desired location. I approach it breathing in, calming myself, and hoping he does not notice.
“Please wait here.” I say as I open the door to the room.
I enter the room he looks to be doing mathematics. The room is sparsely decorated with educational posters, a few bookshelves, and the desk he is using. He notices me and turns to look, but his expression drops as he looks at my face. I assume he can tell that I’m not in the best of shape.
“Father, you’re pale, why?” his small voice almost breaks my heart.
“There are a group of prestigious men and women who wish to see you,” I try not to breakdown.
“I must greet them?”
“Yes, Ash, it's important.
He nods, and stands up. He walks ahead of me through the door, and does what my assistant has taught him. I watch them eye him down, unconsciously, I step closer to him. They soon dismiss him, and he promptly enters the room resuming his work.
He promptly stands straight and walks back into his room closing the door. I turn back to the group and smile. We then discuss what his future holds for him. Frankly, it looks bleak, and I’m not willing to allow this. It’s just that I simply can’t prevent it. If I were to retaliate, they would track me down across the globe, and then send me to the deepest depths of hell. Unless they need me.
I lead them back into the elevator, and to the floor where we develop potential subjects. There is only one that has successfully passed the zygote stage, and is now in the tube. All the others have been unresponsive, or they simply die never to reach the embryonic stage. They have proved great tools for learning, but in the eyes of the group I lead, failures. The thing they want is an army, a genetically superior army, and the only way to meet their standards is create hybrids. I’m not sure why they want this army, but it created the opportunity for me to do what I have dreamed of. Sadly, I feel these failures will get my head lopped off.
It was still worth it though, even if I do end up dead. To meet the one I’ve dreamed of for so long.
“What is it Doctor?” he notices my pause in my stride.
“Oh? Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all.”
He chuckles, and with a menacing tone says, “Are you so sure? At this rate, it will be something.”
I freeze. I look at him, his face says it all. The menacing grin, and predatory eyes, they scream trouble. His drops all expression and he says, “In two weeks time we will return, and we expect an added companion.”
They all smile, creepy, and return to the elevator with the intention to leave. We’re prevented from continuing though.
There’s a group of medical specialists waiting for the elevator. They're all anxious, and seem skittish.
‘What’s going on?’
I push past the group I was leading, and join the medical specialists on their way to their destination. They take the elevator to the floor that Ash is on. The doors open, and I see my assistant outside of the room I left him. Her face says it all as she tries to push the door open. The whole team joins her quest to open the door. It takes a few tries, and as the door opens something slides out of the way. They rush in before me doing what they are here for.
My courage is shot, I do not wish to see what has become of him. I have to, I walk in. The room is in shambles. There’s furniture thrown into the walls, and among it is Ash. He is unconscious and blood is running from his ears, eyes, and nose.
Oh god, I can feel my knees give out and I fall. Unable to process the image before me. The medical team has strapped him to a stretcher, and are checking his vitals. The only words to describe the deep pit of emotions I feel is despair. My assistant comes up from behind me, and I can tell she is feeling the same thing as she gasps.
“Doctor is there a problem,” the bastards leader had followed us.
I stand, dispelling my emotions, “No, there is no problem.”
I move to block his view, but he has already seen the furniture lodged into the walls. Lust for power ripples upon his face, but only briefly.
I conjure up a stern face, “He is not ready. I request that you be patient, and I will notify you when he is physically able.”
My only response is a smile, and his departure. The medical team leaves soon after him. I intend to follow them, but I am stopped by my assistant. Her eyes are red, and fear apparent. I fear she’ll break down, and I’ll follow suit.
“They can’t have him,” her voice is resolute, yet shaken.
“They can’t have him? Well, then what do you suggest we do in this situation? We made him for them, do you think they’ll let that happen!?”
“No, but we can still try!” she pauses, “ we have to run!”
----
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“What other choice do we have? We’ve already thought of it, they’ll know! We have to do it now or never,” my assistant speaks with such conviction I’m taken back.
I didn’t want to do this, originally, but what else could we do? She is right. We can’t let them have him. Under their use he’ll be subject to commit horrible things, making him a monster, and changing the world into their twisted vision.
Originally I thought nothing of it, it’s just a hybrid, what could happen? That changed after the aftermath of his unexpected ability. I had agreed, determined this would work. There was one fatal flaw though. We are in an underground facility, and the only exit is guarded.
Despite that, I’ve found myself smuggling Ash from the medical wing. I brought a suitcase, and told the medical specialists on hand that I wished to get a last look at him before I leave on a business trip. It surprised me, but the doctors were dense enough to buy that. Like me! One of the most important assets to this program could leave. It aroused my suspicion, but not enough to deter me from my goal.
When I placed Ash into the suitcase I made sure to leave pillows under the covers to prevent premature suspicions. Using the pillows was one of the oldest tricks in the book, but its flaw is once they wish to conduct tests his lack of presence will alert them.
I could feel sweat drip down my neck as I said my goodbyes to the doctor on duty, and I left the medical wing. My body is betraying me by sweating buckets.
A gallon of sweat later, I made it to the main elevator. There I was greeted by my assistant, sparking my jealousy, I noticed she had a calm demeanor, and there wasn’t even a trace of sweat.
There were two guards standing behind her, on both sides of the elevator. Their gazes were unknown to me. I couldn’t really tell. They have such beefy bodies their eyes looked like they receded into their heads. It must be the downside of genetic manipulation. Clearly, it was done by an amateur.
Just a few feet away I stop looking to my assistant, “Do you have the papers ready?”
“Yes, of course sir. They’re all organized in order of presentation.”
“Good,” I turn my attention to the guardsmen, “we are expected to attend a meeting at ground level. I would like passage.”
They simply look at me. Did I go over board? Is it the sweat that I fear drenches my coat? A gruff ‘Yeah’ interrupts my undue panic. They stand to the side and call the elevator. The interval between its arrival felt like a century. The doors open and we walk in. My assistant saves my nervous wreck of a self and presses the first floor button, so my shaking isn’t revealed to the guardsmen. The doors close, and we begin the ascent. Nervous, I dread what will happen; still I wished for the best.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
‘How long has it been since I’ve been on the surface? Maybe eight years?’
The elevator stops, and the doors open. I’ve forgotten the majesty of the capital city. Before me is the inside of a building. The building was an architectural feat. The way the walls and windows curved towards the sky reminded me of a tree. Plants had made their home following the flow of the walls. The building was populated with men and women, and they all walked with purpose. They either took massive elevators to floors so high I can't see the where it ends. Or, others left the building seemingly done with the business that demanded their presence.
We walked out of the elevator, and made our way for the front entrance.
Lacking the ability to process so many sights in such a short time, I wasn’t able to take in any more details. It was all a blur. Though I know for a fact there had been more developments. Outside of the building I noticed a half dome like structure that had been built. My, was it massive, it definitely dwarfed the skyscrapers around. The materials were definitely glass, but there was stunning geometric designs integrated in the glass. That led me to think otherwise. There were also more buildings each one unique in their own way, but all were overtaken by the plants that called this city home.
The familiar scenery welcomes me, but calls forth a disturbing memory. There’s a woman my mother, her dead eyes staring at me. I’m alone, and scared. It leaves me, and I’m taken back. I almost trip over my own feet, but my assistant catches me.
“Sir, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing. We have to keep going.” With her support I regain my balance again, and we walk towards a one story building situated near the road. It was a maglev train depot. Large beams of metal shot out of the back and front.
They rose up and then elevated in level around thirty feet above the roads.
My assistant pushed me on, I felt like a child. We entered the building, and walked to an attendant asking for a train to the outer limits. Her face paled when we asked, but she complied. The reaction was odd, our destination was an older district, and if I remember correctly, there were plans for development, were they not carried out? Doesn’t matter, the train is here. We board it and find seats in a back car. The seats were simple, the decorations were plant boxes suspended on the ceilings, and the sidewalls were overcome by large windows.
The train set off, and I was left with nothing to do. I was too nervous to speak, and there was no way I could look out the windows. The scenery was moving too fast. I guess I’ll just sit patiently.
‘This will be a long trip.’
----
The train begins to slow down, and it stops.
‘It’s over, it’s finally over.’
We’ve arrived to our destination. The ride was infuriatingly long. I’ve forgotten how large the capital city was. It took around five hours if I counted right. The sun has set, and I’m dead tired. My assistant seems tired too, but we have to keep moving. I can’t quite see what’s outside of the windows since they darkened as the sun went down.
I look to the only other passenger and ask, “What do we do now?”
“We keep moving.”
It was a blunt reply, but it worked. We stood and left. There wasn’t any depot building though, just a metal platform with the longest stairs I’ve ever seen in my life, that led into a chasm devoid of light.
“What is this?! When – “she yells out, but I can’t hear the rest since the train departed in mid-sentence. It is odd. This area should be in the late stages of development. Instead it’s a black pit. There is no turning back now though. The train is gone, and there’s practically nowhere else to walk other than the metal platform.
I look to her and smile, “Guess we should keep going? There isn’t anywhere else to go.”
I begin walking down the stairs, not too long after I hear the clack of her heels as she follows me.
----
We’re still going down, farther, and farther. In the beginning it wasn’t that challenging, but soon we entered this musk. It was black and smelt like multiple disgusting smells had intermingled. The musk eventually began to weigh us down as the lack of clean air was a shock to our lungs. Not to mention I was carrying the weight of a eight year old with an arm. I'm not stupid though, eventually I did start carrying it with both arms; still the weight was getting to me. There hasn't been much movement; I’m not too surprised though, that episode must have worn him out terribly.
Somewhere in our journey I heard a really sharp whine, but it quickly disappeared like it was swallowed by the chasm. I assumed it was something with a hole falling fast enough to generate sound. Doesn’t matter, what matters is the descent. The whine signals the sight of lights. My assistant, contradictory to her character, squeals in joy. I sharply breathe out feeling like I no longer carry the world on my shoulders. The amount of light slowly began to increase, until we finally felt solid ground. What met us wasn’t a developing district.
There were brick buildings that spanned so far my eyes no longer registered their existence. The buildings were dilapidated, there were black bags piled anywhere and everywhere. Never mind that, it was completely. There were flickers of lights from windows, but not a soul on the streets.
My eyes caught a familiar sight, the bastard, was here also. He looked changed somehow, his beauty replaced with a feral appearance. Completely different to the composed version I saw during their visit. Among him were more variants of the beefy guardsmen found in the lab. Behind them was a hovercraft. Its sleek body seemed out of place.
The bastards voice interrupted my thoughts, “I’m shocked to see that you two really thought you could get away that easily, “ he laughs, “honestly I expected more from you Doctor. Does your excellence in genetics take away from common sense?”
My grip tightens around the briefcase, “I had my suspicions, but there wasn’t any turning back.”
“I guess you’re right.” He nods to the guardsmen.
One of them approaches me, and man handles me taking the briefcase. My assistant yells out, so I assume they did the same to her. They take the briefcase and unlatch it. He seems completely out of place to the surrounding. His untouched hair and skin is completely out of place. The bastard walks over to Ash and steps on his head, grinding his feet against his face.
He then chuckles, “You see. You’re brilliant, and you’re creation is brilliant. I want it, and when I want something it’s mine,” his gaze becomes increasingly ravenous. “You tried taking my property away, but sadly I need you. You’re too vital for the program.”
He pauses and walks over to Carina who’s struggling in the grip of the guardsmen. With a slapping sound, and a laugh, she screams. I can’t watch. Then the bastard continues, “We don’t need her though…,” a pause, “Wake up the subject. I want him to see this.”
Still closing my eyes I hear another slap, and a gasp for air. My eyes shoot open, and there he is. His innocent eyes are darting around. He’s probably panicking, and before long his big blue eyes find the scene unfolding before him.
I yell out, “Ash close your eyes! Do it quickly!”
He doesn’t listen; instead he looks to the bastard. Who's holding a knife, the blade is a type of metal, but the color betrays it. It’s glowing a tint of blue.
‘Is it heated? No, that cannot be good’
I begin to thrash, and thrash. It won’t work though. These men can probably carry a small building with no problem. I keep trying though, anything to take my mind off of it. I look to Ash he hasn’t closed his eyes; they’re glued to the bastard and her.
“What did I tell you? Cl-“ Screaming and unhinged laughter cut my sentence short. I look over; I recoil in disgust, and slam my eyes shut.
The screams of my most devoted assistant, and the laughter of the bastard. Will haunt me till’ the end of my days.
--POV CHANGE--
The pain and darkness did not last long. I was met a dream, complex, and beautiful. I was among the stars free to do as I wish. They seemed to call to me, welcoming me. It filled the emptiness I felt previously, a sense of belonging maybe? The dream didn’t last long. There was a man's voice. His tone was threatening, he then laughed, then talked again. I couldn’t hear what he said, but a sharp pain on my face answered my question.
I sat up quickly gasping for air. What met me when I woke seemed completely unreal, I felt out of place. The surroundings were bleak, and almost everything was a hue of brown. The place was completely devoid of life, besides the ones currently in my presence. There pungent smell that I will never be able to describe.
I truly wanted to run, but I was frozen. It was fear that kept me from moving. My fear was further fueled by my father and mother in the grasps of these large men. Another man was here, he was one of those who I introduced myself to.
He looked to me, I could feel the blood lust radiating off of him. I couldn’t help but frantically look back and forth between my mother and father. My blood rushes, I’m left unable to differentiate the blood rushing through my ears, and outside sounds. I think someone is yelling something, but I don’t understand. I can see the man, he has a knife that’s glowing.
‘Wait, what is he doing. Where is he going with it?’
I watch him step closer to mother. His blood lust seems to radiate off his whole body now. I can’t look away. Closer, and closer he steps towards her until he has reached an arm’s length away. He then lifts the blade, placing it on her outstretched arm, and he pushes down towards the shoulder. I can’t look away. The blade cuts through her arm like butter. The once white coat is burnt, and soaked in blood. He’s holding her arm now; I can see the muscle of the disembodied arm spasm. It then goes limp. Another scream signals that another limb has fallen victim. I didn’t look though. The blood gushing from her shoulder kept my attention.
The man seems to notice I’m no longer following his every move as he says, “Perhaps…”
He then brings the blade up to her shoulder pressing the flat side of the blade on her wound. He doesn’t stop there though. Slowly working up her neck to her face he repeats the process over and over until her bones begin to show. My mother screams louder, and the smell of burnt flesh invades my nose. The man's laugh erupts betraying his beautiful
features. It’s akin to a cackle.
I want to puke. I’m going to puke, and I puke. I know I’m crying, I can feel the tears drop down my face.
‘What should I feel?’
I look at the man; he’s no longer doing anything as my mother has stopped moving. The men drop her body. I run to her body, and drop to my knees. I gently shake her trying to wake her up. She won’t open her eyes. I can see pain and terror on what’s left of her face.
‘I know what I should feel, anger, I should feel anger.’
It begins welling up in me as I slowly look at the man who did this. His face is smug, almost disgusted.
“We’re done here; we’ll be bringing the doctor back to the facility. While we leave this subject here,” he orders the giant men.
They walk towards this large metal object with wings, and shove father into the body of it. I can see him look back at me, his face swollen from the tears that still fall from his eyes. He looks like he’s trying to say something, but no words leave his mouth.
‘Why didn’t he do anything?’
My respect for him plummeted. The giants get in blocking him from my view. They then turn around ready to help the final passenger aboard, but he’s looking at me with a twisted grin.
“I look forward to our next visit, “ he then boards it never looking back.. It begins hovering up farther and farther leaving me alone, with the dead body of my mother.
I look back towards my her, more tears fall out. I can feel my anger grow deeper. It feels like it’s rooting into my heart, unwilling to let go. For some reason though, I feel like I want to keep it, so I will. I don’t know why, but I will use it, and nurture it. I let go allowing myself to mourn, I cry, occasionally screaming as I bury my face into her stomach. My own muffled screams are the only thing I hear now.
----
I don’t know how long I’ve been mourning. I feel as if I entered a trance. Not caring for anything other than to mourn, but something tore me from the trance. It was a touch on the back of my neck. The touch was cold, lifeless, but I recognized that it was a hand. For the first time in a while I turn away from my mother. What I see is malnourished human. It looks male but I can’t tell. Its face and body is too hollowed to try to make a guess of what this person’s sex or previous appearance was. It’s eyes bulge from its skull revealing the intense desire to eat.
More walking corpses crowd around my mother and I. It seems like they’ve come from nowhere. They all have the same look in their eyes. I look to my mother knowing what they want.
“I’m so sorry…” more tears fall from my eyes.
I shake it off, and quickly stand up. I push through the crowd of corpses holding my nose, the smell too great to handle, and I run. I keep running. I’m running from the cracking of bone, and the tearing of flesh.
‘No more, I don’t want to hear anymore.’
I can feel my legs tire as I go deeper, and deeper. And as I go deeper the darker, and less populated it seems. The buildings also got taller; they tower so high it seems there is no end as they recede into the black sky.
‘I have to keep going, I can’t stop.’
I take every fiber of my being, and focus it on running. Until I realize, what am I running for? Is it to run from the sounds of my mother's body being butchered? I am too far to hear the crunching of bone, and meat.
‘Then why am I running?’
I start slowing down to a brisk walk. I can no longer see anything, so I don’t know where I’m going or what’s around me. I reach out my arms, and veer off into another direction. I eventually find a solid surface, and I follow it.
The ground slowly becomes softer, and it only gets softer as I continue. Then I happen across a pile of bags. Encumbered by my own weight I flop onto the bags no longer caring for my hygiene. As long as it’s soft, it’s good for me. Laying there in the dark silence, I can’t help but to recall the mutilation I experienced. It repeats over, and over in my head. Each time ending with the wicked smile of that man. My only escape is in my dreams.
----
The last time I slept was the tenth time, so how long is that? Can I measure time on sleeping? No, I don’t think I can. I just know more time has passed, and as it goes, the hunger grows. I’ve come to accept the pain, but the mental desire is unbearable. I keep imagining myself as a shuffling corpse ready to eat another. This thought has terrifies me, but I remain vigilant.
There hasn’t been any contact with anyone, or anything. The silence is my only company. The darkness has become less of a problem, my eyes have adjusted.
I have made myself a home between thin opening between two buildings. It acts much like a hallway, where it opens up on both ends into expansive fields.
‘What purpose did they have before this place came to ruin? I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. I think I should just go back to sleep…’
Sleep did not come. There was a sound, a shuffling of some sort.
‘Should I find solace in this sound, or fear it?’
It gets closer, and closer. It resembles the sound of my feet on the ground when I run, so a pitter patter sound? It stops in front of me. My stomach suddenly convulses like it’s telling me food is nearby. Instincts take over and my hand shoots out. I catch it, but in return I can feel it biting me. It’s frantic. I crush its body in my hand, my instincts still in control. I killed it.
‘What do I do with it?’ I bring it close to my face, not daring to use my nose, and bite down. I ran into some interference, still it was no problem for me to eat it. No particular feelings bugged me, food is food. That’s from a survivalists perspective, but looking from a moral standpoint. I feel like I committed something atrocious.
‘How would mother think of this behavior?’
I disregard the thought to prevent an episode.
Now, I think this day was a good day, so I’ll reward myself with sleep.
----
There have been more of those small creatures. They sometimes came in groups, and others in singles. I assume they’re dimwitted. Who doesn’t notice their numbers are shrinking? As long as there’s food, I’m happy.
There’s another coming. It’s different this time. The footsteps sound thicker, like they’re smacking the ground hard. Each step is accompanied by labored breathing. Then I see it, a large bodied creature coming towards me. It has a thick coat of fur with a large tail swinging behind it. The head is low to the ground, and it has a long snout with gnarly teeth protruding from the sides. I look into its eyes, and it looks to me. It lets out a low growl. I begin to feel warm as my blood rushes. My body seems to know what will happen.
We stare each other down. Neither of us willing to be the first to charge. Then the creature shrieks submitting to its impatience. It covers the distance between it and me, unbelievably fast! It was surprising! I had assumed from how heavy its breath was this would be easier. I was wrong. I stood there frozen as it opened its mouth revealing more of its deadly set of teeth.
‘Maybe I should have moved?’
Around five feet away it turns its head so its mouth is vertical to the ground. It catches me in its mouth, still going, and clamps down. The teeth don’t go far, but the rush of pain is overwhelming. I scream out, not completely stupid, and I begin bashing down on its head aiming for the eyes. With luck I do hit an eye, and hard.
It squeals, and begins thrashing about hitting the walls, losing control of its momentum. The grip on my abdomen loosens, and I try to squirm out. I can feel the teeth dragging across my skin inflicting more damage. Successful in my attempts I fall to the ground and roll. A surprised growl escapes from its throat, and in an attempt to pick me back up I see it turn harshly. The creature miscalculated its attempt to reclaim me. The width between the walls is too little, so instead it rams head first into the wall on the right. I take this chance, scrambling to stand up, and run into the clearing behind me.
I figure I’m far enough and I turn around. The wounds I received are bleeding profusely. I fear I don’t have much time. I still stand tall, and try not to fall over. My vision is still lackluster in my environment, but I see far enough to the edge of the alley. I can hear the labored breathing. I hope the dumb creature smashed its head hard enough to crack its skull. Wishful thoughts, it lumbers into my field of vision. Its face looks flattened; I guess there won’t be any more charges. I’m not too relieved as something begins whipping around behind it.
‘Is that a tail? Oh, give me a break!’
The thing looks at me with its good eye. I can feel it mocking me. The creature spins around, and the tail whips through the air just above my head. Instead of waiting for it to attack again I run towards it bending forward.
The thing fully circles around just to find me jumping on to its back. I land on it awkwardly. My hands clamp on to matted fur near its neck. This allows me easy access to its now soft head. Tasting victory I bash a hand down on its head. Again, and again I keep hitting, I won’t stop till it drops. I can feel its tail thrash around behind me. Getting closer each time until it finally hits my back. The force behind the hit outweighs my grip, and it sends me flying. I hit the ground hard, and begin to roll.
The rolling stops, but I’m unable to move. My body has been beaten to the utmost limit. There is no way I can move, so I’m left with a single option, to die.
The creature begins to lumber its way towards me. Each step it breathes heavier. We both have fatal wounds, and both will die. Just, the creature will die with a full stomach, and I with an empty one. It knows this as much as I do.
It’s now standing over me, the smell fuming off of it is overwhelming, and blood is dripping on to my face.
‘There’s no way I can allow myself to die like this. I need something, anything to help me.’
The piercing pain I know well resurfaces. There is no fade to dark this time, but a strange vision.
I’m no longer inside my body, but on the outside watching a scene before me unfold. There’s boy around ten or eleven. His skin blackened by dirt, and hair unruly.
‘Is that me?’
Beside the boy is the creature same creature I fought with. Both of the bodies are in terrible condition, but my view changes again too quick to gather details. I’m now inside something. It’s pulsating, it’s a consistent pulse. Albeit a little too fast for it to be normal. Something, I don’t know what, tells me to crush it. I imagine it collapsing in on itself not expecting anything to happen, but it does happen. Something squeals, and the vision fades.
I am in my body again, I open my eyes looking to the creature. It’s frozen, stiff, no longer moving. It looks shocked, almost stupefied. Then it falls over, dead.
‘Did I do that? I won?’
I laugh, but the laugh is stifled by the pain of my injuries and I pass out.
----
‘I didn’t die?’
I attempt to sit up, only to be attacked by residual pain. I look to my opponent. Its dead as one can be. I look to my stomach to check the injuries. They’ve scabbed over.
‘How is that possible?’
I run my hands over the scabs still in disbelief, but in joy that I still live. The stench from the creature repels me, I just want to rest, Yes, rest, I drag myself to my makeshift bed, and I plop onto it.
‘Does this mark good fortune in the future?'
I hoped, but I knew that the future was unpredictable, and cruel.
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Alright, I lied, chapter seven will be out by tomorrow.
Let me know what you think of the sketch I drew for the cover.