Mankind

by Stalletti, Matthew

  Matthew starts to feel relieved after hearing this. He questioned whether or not Zak was a man of his word. Michael begins to wonder what the catch is. He knows that Zak wouldn't have set them all up like this just to tell them that they’re going on a trip.

  “Oh man… I wish it were that easy. You guys really fucked up. You fucked up real fucking bad. My friends are dead because of you… and for that, you have to pay.” Zak says.

  Zak walks in front of Matthew and looks down at him. Matthew looks up with dread in his eyes. He realizes that things aren't going to be that easy for them. Matthew wonders what Zak is going to do, but he doesn’t want anyone besides himself to get hurt.

  “I’m going to have to kill one of you for what you did.” Zak says.

  Matthews heart skips a beat when he hears this. He doesn't want to believe what he is hearing. Matthew fought through the things he did for his family to make it this far, but now he is confronted with death. Matthew looks down. The panic in his eyes shows Zak how afraid he truly is. Sweat runs down his face, and his hair is damp. Zak sees how scared he has these helpless strangers. Michael realizes that he got his family into this mess by killing Zak’s friends. He decides to be the one who needs to be punished.

  “It was me, Zak. It was just me who killed them.” Michael explains.

  Zak chuckles, “That is correct, Michael. You did kill them. I must admit, I admire your heroism… I truly do. But you see, I can’t kill the guy who’s asking for it. That wouldn't be any fun, right fellas?” Zak says.

  The rest of his friends start laughing and looking at each other. Zak gets all serious and crouches down next to Michael. Zak stares into Michael's eyes with hatred of his own.

  “You really think I’m gonna let you get the easy way out? No. You’re gonna have to live with what you did to my friends… by seeing someone you care about die! You’re gonna have to live with the fact that they are dead because of the actions YOU made!” Zak shouts.

  Michaels eyes tear up as he realizes that someone he loves is about to die because of him. He thought that he made the right decision to fight Zak’s men the other night, but he quickly begins to regret what he did. Zak sees that he has broken him down and smiles as he watches him hold back the tears. Zak stands and walks in front of Matthew again. The reality that he may die tonight crosses his mind. Matthew doesn't want to die, but he is willing to in order to keep his family safe. Matthew looks up at Zak with mercy in his eyes. He just wants things to go back to the way they were. He wants to be the person he was when he walked out of his house the first time. He wants to be naive and trusting of others. He wants to live in a world where there is hope. All that remains are in Zak’s hands. It’s his decision whether those things are possible for Matthew anymore. Zak looks at him cower in fear. A realization comes upon him.

  “You must have been the one who they were looking for in that camp, right? If it weren't for you, Michael would have never come across us, and he wouldn't have killed my men. Maybe it should be you who has to bite the dust. You should be the one who has to go, don’t you think?” Zak asks.

  Matthew doesn't say anything. He doesn't want to be the one, but he won't fight it either. Sydney looks around at her family as they cower in fear. She realizes that they shouldn't be the ones to suffer anymore.

  “Stop! Just stop, please. If you’re gonna kill someone, kill me!” Sydney says.

  Everyone looks at her confused. Matthew doesn't realize why she would sacrifice herself for them. Zak looks angry now.

  “Didn’t you just hear what I said to Mikey? I’m not gonna kill someone who’s asking for it.” Zak explains.

  Sydney looks around at her family gracefully. She decides to do something that she hadn't wanted to do for a while. Sydney hesitates, but ultimately decides to lift her shirt and reveal an infected bite mark on her rib. Sydney slowly looks up at Zak with tears in her eyes.

  “I’m not asking for it.” Sydney says.

  Zak is surprised to see one of them bit. They all know what this means now. Sydney is slowly dying from an infection. Matthew looks at Sydney. He doesn't understand what is going on. The possibility of one of them dying to an infected never crossed his mind. Matthews eyes fill with tears, and he slowly begins to cry as he looks at his cousin. She holds back the tears, but she wants to cry as well. They both know what this means.

  Shelby holds baby Joe and looks at her sister. She is shocked to see that she is bit. Shelby begins to cry as she realizes that she is about to lose her sister tonight. Michael looks at her in shock. It suddenly hits him hard. She must have gotten bit earlier in the woods. Michael realizes that he failed to protect her. He wanted to keep her safe, but he couldn't. Michael doesn't feel anything other than guilt and sorrow. He can’t look at her any longer. Michael turns his head and closes his eyes. Zak watches the four of them break down as they learn about their loved one.

  “How could you keep something like that from them? It’s a goddamn shame, really. None of us ever expect to go out that way. It’s such a bullshit way to go out if you think about it.” Zak takes a deep breath and pulls out his Matthews revolver, “Well, we might as well get this shit over with…”

  Zak walks around the four of them as they kneel on the ground. The rest of the Legion members watch in anticipation for what’s about to happen. Matthew looks at Sydney, still crying. She feels terrible but knows that she is dying is what’s best for her family's survival. She instantly remembers the argument that she had with Matthew. She doesn't want him to remember her like that.

  “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry!” Sydney cries.

  Matthew cries out, “Just look at me… keep looking at me.”

  Zak walks up behind Sydney. He doesn't look very happy, but he inevitably raises his pistol and points it at the back of her head. Sydney continues to look at Matthew, ready to die by the hands of Zak.

  “I’m sorry it had to go this way.” Zak says.

  Matthew looks at his cousin, wishing he had done something differently leading up to this point. He begins to wonder if any alternate decision could have prevented this. Michael starts to cry uncontrollably once he realizes what's about to happen. Shelby also cries while holding the baby. Joe wakes up to the sound of all the crying and begins crying himself. Zak takes a deep breath and gets ready to do what he came here to do. The anticipation builds, and as Zak gets ready to fire, he moves his arm and points it at the back of Shelby's head. Zak pulls the trigger.

  All their hearts sink into their chests as soon as they hear the gunshot. Matthew, Sydney, and Michael turn their heads to see a bullet fly through Shelby’s head. Matthew watches the blood gush from the exit wound, and it all quickly runs down her face. Shelby falls forward onto her stomach, crushing baby Joe in her arms. No one can believe what they just witnessed. It all feels unreal to them. Suddenly, Sydney begins to scream and cry at the sight of her dead sister. It quickly hits Matthew and Michael hard. Shelby and Joe are dead by the hands of Zak. They anticipated that Sydney was going to be the one. It made sense to them; she was already going to die. Matthew begins to cry at the sight of his cousin dead. Michael stares at Shelby's body in complete and utter shock. Matthew and Michael feel like they failed. They failed to keep their family together. They failed to keep them alive. Sydney’s cries get louder as time passes. She wanted it to be her. Shelby and Joe didn't deserve any of this. Sydney just wanted her family to live, but now her sister is gone. Zak looks at Shelby dead on the ground and realizes that the baby is dead as well.

  Zak laughs, “Holy fuck! It’s a double whammy, boys! I’ve never done something so badass before!”

  Zak walks around and stands in front of the three of them, still holding his pistol. He looks at all of their emotionally disturbed faces and he smiles for a brief moment. Matthew never imaged anyone committing such a cruel act. Killing an innocent person is bad enough, but killing an infant is crossing a very fine line. Matthew looks at Zak with nothing but anger and hatred in his eyes as he knee
ls. Michael looks down at the ground, trying to process what he just witnessed. Michael is almost at his breaking point now. He cannot bear another death of a loved one. Sydney looks up at Zak with mercy in her eyes. She doesn't understand why he didn't just kill her instead.

  “What?! You really think I was gonna kill you? You’re bitten… you’re already dead!” Zak shouts.

  Sydney continues to cry. She realizes that her world is falling apart right in front of her. Zak walks up to them as they kneel on the ground hopelessly. He stands in front of Matthew and looks down at all three of them.

  “It’s over now. It just made the most sense that she was the one who had to go. And honestly, I didn't realize that the baby would go down too. But besides… what use is there for a baby in a world like this?” Zak asks.

  In a fit of rage, Michael lunges upward and attacks Zak. Zak sees this coming and steps out of the way. Zak pistol wipes Michael over the back of the head. Michael falls onto the ground in pain, holding his head. Matthew looks at Michael, terrified for what Zak may do to him now. Zak is infuriated by Michaels poor choice. He doesn't understand why Michael would compromise his family by attacking him.

  “Wow! You are a real fucking idiot, you know that right? It’s gonna be so much fucking worse now!” Zak yells, “Teach them a lesson fellas!”

  Matthew looks around and sees the dozen or so Legion members smiling. His heart sinks at the thought of them retaliating because of Michaels actions. Michael looks up in fear at the men around him. Suddenly, Jonathan and Henry step out and begin to kick Michael and beat him on the ground. Matthew watches his cousin get hit and abused by these monsters. Out of nowhere, Matthew feels someone grab his jacket from behind. Tony yanks Matthew back and he falls onto the ground. Tony kicks Matthew in the head, and then proceeds to get down and start punching him. Sydney watches her brother and her cousin get beat on by these men. She begins to sob and hyperventilate. Her world is falling apart. A few moments ago, she though that she would be the one to die, but now it is everyone around her. Zak walks up to Sydney with an evil sadistic smile on his face. She watches him with horror. She can do nothing but accept the reality of this cruel life now.

  Tony punches Matthew multiple times, and blood begins to fly out of his mouth. Matthew can do nothing besides take the hits and hope that they show him mercy. He knows that if he tries to fight, it will be worse. Tony winds up and punches Matthew one more time. Matthews head jerks back and faces Shelby’s dead body. He feels like he is about to be knocked out, but he suddenly regains focus. Matthew looks at Shelby’s body and sees the baby’s hand sticking out from underneath her. The sight of this causes something in Matthews mind to snap. That man who walked out of his house a few days ago who wanted to live in a peaceful world is gone. That's not who Matthew is anymore. Matthew just wants to hurt and kill. These men around him deserve death and deserve to be killed by him. Matthew begins to feel something that he has never felt before. Matthew feels nothing but complete and utter rage. Matthews eyes glow with hatred as he turns his head and looks up at Tony. Tony is surprised to see him look this way. He never expected someone who is weak to look at him this way. Matthew realizes that he’s done being a victim of this new world.

  Matthew reaches for the knife strapped to Tony's belt, and pulls it out. Matthew violently stabs Tony in his thigh, and slowly twists the handle to cause severe pain. Tony screams louder than he has ever screamed before. Everyone around looks at Tony and Matthew and stops doing what they are doing. Matthew pulls the knife out from the thigh and thrusts it into his stomach. Matthew lunges up and pushes Tony onto his back. He continues to scream as Matthew holds the knife in his hand. Matthew rips the blade out from his gut and swiftly slashes Tony’s throat wide open. Blood begins to burst, and the screaming stops. Matthew looks down at his pathetic face as he chokes on his own blood. Matthew grips the knife and vigorously thrusts it downward into Tony’s eye, killing him.

  Jonathan and Henry stop beating on Michael and turn to see what is going on. Zak watches Matthew in shock. He never expected such violent behavior from him. His friend was just murdered by Matthew. Sydney turns around and looks at her cousin. She fears the man that she sees. Matthew doesn't move. He gets ready to get up and continue his slaughter as the rest of the Legion ready their weapons, but bullets suddenly begin to fly through the air from the darkness of the night. In a desperate attempt to avoid gunfire, Matthew hits the ground as bullets fly over his head. Sydney does the same.

  The Legion members turn and face the darkness of the night, but they are too late. One by one, each Legion member is struck by bullets. They all fall in pain and agony or fall dead. Zak raises his handgun to begins firing at whoever is attacking, but suddenly gets struck in the arm. Zak drops the gun and falls back in pain. Henry and Jonathan crouch down to draw their own guns. Michael regains conscious after being beaten. He looks over at the slaughter that Matthew caused, and understands what must happen now. He feels the same rage that his cousin feels. Michael rolls over and realizes that he has an opportunity to strike. He had been beaten on the ground this entire time, but now he can make a stand.

  Matthew rolls over and looks off into the dark night. He sees a figure approaching with and assault rifle in his hands. As he gets closer, he realizes who it is. Right in front of him, holding a rifle is Dan, the man in the brown hoodie. He must have come to help. Dan runs behind one of the cars as Henry and Jonathan open fire. Dan crouches down and evades the bullets.

  Michael looks up as Henry walks ahead, and Jonathan remains behind him. Michael sees a knife holstered on his belt. As Jonathan is focused, Michael lunges up and pulls the knife out. Michael raises the knife high in the air and stabs Jonathan in the neck. Jonathan falls over, paralyzed and defenseless. Michael picks up his shotgun and pumps it quickly. Michael aim’s the shotgun and points it at Henry. Michael fires, hitting henry in the back of the leg. Henry falls onto the ground in unrelenting pain. He rolls onto his back, and quickly sees Michael walking over to him. Michael pumps the shotgun, puts his foot on Henrys chest, and pulls the trigger. The shotgun pellets spread and riddle Henry's face. Henry's face explodes into blood and brain matter. Michael feels nothing. He doesn't feel guilty for killing anymore. All this just feels right to him. Michael spins around and pumps the shotgun, aiming at Zak who is kneeling in pain. Dan walks out from cover and also points his gun at Zak. Dan is a stranger to everyone here, but he knows whose side he is on. Michael puts his finger on the trigger and gets ready to fire.

  “No!” Matthew screams.

  Michael turns his head in confusion. Matthew and Michael lock eyes. Michael doesn't understand why he told him not to do it, but his expression tells him everything he needs to know.

  Matthew rips the knife from Tony’s skull and stands up, “This one’s mine… “

  Matthew stands up with the knife in his hand and walks over to Zak. Zak stands up and walks backward in fear. Zak’s back slams against the wall of the store, but Matthew doesn't stop walking. Zak raises his hands in fear.

  “Please, don't! Stay away! I’m sor-”

  Matthew lunges the knife into Zak’s stomach. Zak eyes bulge as he feels the sharp pain of the blade piercing his skin. Matthew stares into his helpless evil eyes as he stands up against the wall with a knife in his gut. Matthew pulls the knife out, and violently stabs him again. Matthew does this multiple times until Zak begins to vomit blood. The pain is too much for him to handle.

  Michael, Dan, and Sydney watch Matthew stab Zak to death. Dan sees Matthews cruel actions and begins to relate to him. He sees himself in Matthew. It all reminds him of what he did to those Legion members a few days prior. Maybe these people are truly the ones that will survive. Michael watches, wishing he was the one to kill Zak. He wanted to do right by his dead sister. Sydney continues to watch in horror, but she understands that this was the only way for Matthew and Michael to survive the night. They had to fight back.

  Matthew continues, and Zak begins to slide do
wn the wall and falls to his knees as he loses control over his body. The tables have turned, and Matthew slowly begins to pull the knife upward. He slowly carves a straight line in his torso, all the way up to his chest plate. As he rips the bone and flesh with the knife, Zak’s blood bursts out and hits Matthew all over his body. Matthew pulls the knife out and stabs him over, and over again in the chest. Zak is now a lifeless body being mutilated by what he once believed was his victim. As Matthew stabs him over and over, he never breaks eye contact. With nothing but rage, anger, and hatred, Matthew stares into Zak’s lifeless eyes. Sydney’s eyes fill with tears as she watches her cousin destroy any chance he had of holding onto his humanity.

  Finally, Matthew pulls out the knife from the corpse and lets it fall to the ground. Matthew looks down at the body he just destroyed and drops his knife. He never thought he was capable of doing something so cruel, but it’s what he needed to do. Matthew falls over and sits next to the body. Matthew takes the revolver that Zak had removed from his person and holsters it. He slowly begins to cry as he realizes what just happened. Matthew looks up and sees Dan standing next to Michael. Matthew nods his head, accepting Dan for all the help he gave them. He wants to thank him and apologize for not letting him join the group sooner, but now doesn't feel like the right time. Matthew sees that the sun is rising. They had been awake all night, and never got any rest. Michael stands, staring at the ground. The tears on his cheeks are dried up, and he feels nothing anymore. Matthew wants to look at Shelby, but the sight is too much for him to handle. He suddenly remembers that Sydney was bitten. He looks over at her and sees the sad expression on her face.