She couldn’t hold back the tears. They fell like wild rain and I could feel her pain.
“There must be something we can do,” I quaked.
“There is no way for us to alter the mutation at this point. We are playing with fire and the results could destroy all living things,” Silas explained, “if our calculations are correct, the new gene of virus will be spread around the world within weeks. Every screamer will die.”
“If they can’t be turned back into humans then death doesn’t seem like a bad alternative,” I stated.
“The problem really isn’t that we can’t heal the screamers. It’s that we can’t save the humans that are still here. It means that every last human is doomed,” Silas responded.
He hung his head in defeat. I didn’t want to believe that the end had come for humans.
“What about my dad and the others in comas?” I quaked.
Silas wouldn’t meet my eyes. I felt defeat sweep over me too. It was the coldest kind of defeat I had ever known. I couldn’t stand there a second longer. I darted from the horrid lab of death and didn’t stop running until I was at the gate. I screamed and screamed. I fell to my knees because my legs couldn’t hold up all the burden and weight of the world any longer.
“It’s not fair! We’re just kids!” I yelled out, shaking the fence.
“When has life ever been fair,” Silas said making his way to my side.
He knelt down next to me and pulled me into him. I rested my head on his chest.
“I hate that I can’t push a button and fix this mess. There has been too many lives loss,” I cried.
“It does suck. It all sucks but maybe we can help the humans enjoy the time they have left. I know it may only be days but let's make the best of it for them,” Silas said smiling.
“For them,” I repeated.
Day 116:
Today the soldiers, including Zola, Julia, Gabe, Silas and me loaded into three big trucks and made our way to the warehouse. We had made a plan to go back to the warehouse and bring the remaining humans back to the facility. We were going to have a celebration with food for them. Our group didn’t eat but it wasn’t about us. It was about making amends with the the humans. Even though they left us for dead it didn’t matter anymore because we now knew the horrifying truth of what was to come. Perhaps we were being a bit selfish but we wanted to be with the humans. After all not so long ago we were human. Last night it was decided which of us would go and whom would stay.
We also decided to try and wake one of the coma patients. Julia was successful in waking the young women but it was only for minutes. The women woke and seemed to know death was upon her. She called out for her son, Wes. Unbelievably the women was Wes’ mother. He held her hand and she smiled at him before convulsing. The transformation occurred in minutes. She changed into a screamer but then froze before attacking anyone. Death completed her moments after her transformation was complete. It was awful to witness. Hannah found her mother, sleeping and Addy found her father. Each of the thirteen had a parent in one of the beds. It was hard to believe and process but in the end we were thankful, it was a way for each of us to get to say goodbye. Not all of us wanted to wake our loved one. I couldn’t bare facing my father but more then that I couldn’t let him die the way Wes’ mother had. Silas sat by his mother’s side and wept for her. We felt each others pain and sorrow. Somehow through all the sadness that surrounded us we came together and this made the thirteen of us closer and connected in a way we hadn’t known before.
The ride to the warehouse was sullen. Everyone was somber and deep in thought. We all knew the end was approaching for the humans. Even Gabe sat quietly and restrained from using his snarky words. The city was now in complete shambles. It was incredible to see the damage the screamers made. They had torn through buildings like rabid animals. Cars were upside down, debri was scattered around everywhere. The wind picked up a faded newspaper. The paper landed against the windshield. The page showed multiple pictures of men, women and children at war. The headline stated, “War is everywhere around us but we can’t see past our phone,” I swallowed hard.
“Watch out!” A voice yelled bringing me out of my thoughts.
The soldier driving the truck swerved to miss a man standing in the road. The truck smashed into a turned over mail truck. The impact sent everyone in the truck flying forward. Gabe grabbed Silas and my hand. We teleported out of the crashing truck and stood on the sidewalk. We watched the trucks collide.
“That was incredible,” Silas gasped.
The other two trucks came to a halted stop, barely missing the collision themselves.
“I should have tried to teleport the soldiers too but I didn’t,” Gabe explained sounding disappointed.
We ran over to the crashed truck. Silas and Gabe worked on getting the driver out.
“Stop,” Zola ordered, “You are wasting your time. He is dead.”
“How do you know? We can try and save him,” Gabe yelled and continued to pull at the stuck driver.
Zola pushed Gabe out of the way and pulled out her gun. She fired a bullet into the drivers head. We all jumped back. Zola turned and stared coldly into Gabe’s eyes.
“I can feel right here,” she said pointing to her heart, “When one of my men dies.”
“Zola,” I called but she hurried over to the man standing in the road. She held her gun to his head. The man shook with fear.
“I’m sorry,” the man stuttered, “I heard your trucks coming and didn’t want to miss you. I haven’t seen anyone in days.”
“Zola,” I yelled running up to her.
“Hey, come on. It was an accident,” I stated.
Zola held the gun to his head for a breath before lowering it. The man sighed out.
“Where did you come from?” I asked.
“The warehouse down the road. It was overrun with screamers. I hid the night of the attack,” the man explained.
“Tom?” Gabe questioned.
We all turned to face the man named Tom. He looked at Gabe and then at us with a puzzled expression.
“Tom, it’s me Gabe, from the warehouse.”
“Do I know you?” The man inspected Gabe and then the rest of us.
Zola pulled me aside out of earshot from Tom.
“He is sick. It has already begun. We should head back,” she observed.
“We can’t leave him,” I stated.
“Yes we can and we should. If the others are sick too it will be bad,” Zola explained, “We don’t know the extent of the mutated virus. All we know is the humans are going to die.
I shook my head, “We are going to help them,” I finalized.
Zola stormed to the truck and spoke quietly to Julia. After some debating amongst the group it was decided we would move forward with our plan. We crammed into the two trucks and continued on our way. The warehouse came into sight and a mixture of emotions ran through me. We drove through the broken gate and parked at the entrance. The building was damaged and matched city. The screamers were beast and destroyed everything in sight. We walked into the warehouse and found the makeshift beds in shredded despair. Tables and chairs scattered and broken. I followed Silas, he lead the way to the bunker. Although the sun shone outside and the temperature was hot and humid the inside was damp and cold. Dread suddenly filled me when we stood at the bunker door.
Silas banged on the door and called out, “Hello?”
There was movement on the other side of the door.
“Get behind us,” Zola commanded.
Gabe, Silas and I were pulled to the back of the group. I stood next to Julia. She had a thin line of beaded sweat on her forehead.
“Are you okay?” I whispered.
Before she could reply we were shushed by a soldier in front of us. The lock to the bunker slid forward and the door slowly slid open.
“We are here to help,” Zola stated.
The door opened inch by inch until it was fully open. My view was blocked b
y the soldiers.
“Get back!” I heard Zola yell and then chaos broke out. A loud bang sounded in my ears, followed by screams. Bodies exploded from the bunker. Gabe pulled me back. Silas and Julia followed. We ran fast, our feet moving at incredible speed. Gabe looked back and I did too, although I wish I hadn’t. The humans attacked the soldiers. There were too many and the soldiers were outnumbered. Even with the guns firing at their targets it was pointless. My eyes watered and guilt once again ate at me.
“No!” I screamed as I was dragged down hallway after hallway.
“Screw this,” Gabe yelled.
He grabbed my hand and Silas’. Silas held Julias hand. Tom made his way towards us. He cried out, a mixture of screamer and human gone mad. Blood dripped from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
“Come here!” Tom hissed.
We faded out of the warehouse and landed with a hard thud out front of the facility. I couldn’t lift my head. My whole body was shaking. I curled into a ball and cried. I should have listened to Zola. She warned me and I didn’t listen and now she was dead. All the soldiers gone and it was my fault. When would death rest?
Day 120:
The cafeteria that had been set up for the party sat empty. The facility was eerily quiet and still. Dr. Mills died early this morning. It was a quiet and quick death. His death was bittersweet for me. I did, however, feel sad for Julia, even though he wasn’t her real father; he had loved her and raised her as his own. Shortly after Dr. Mills passed Quinn joined him in death. The loss of Quinn was a terrible pain each of us felt but Lucy struggled the most. She wouldn’t leave his side and her grief and pain was unbearable. She screamed out for Quinn but he was gone. He was the kindest and gentlest man I had ever known. He brought light to the darkness this world had become. He didn’t deserve to die. The sadness and loss of lives was taking a toll on everyone.
I found Julia in the laboratory. It was strange knowing she was my sister and having a connection with her made the situation even odder. She was clearly upset when I entered. She threw a microscope across the room and pounded her fists on a work table. She grabbed her fathers computer screen and chucked it to the floor. I noticed small drops of blood fall from her nose.
“You are sick?” I choked.
Startled, she regarded me, “I am dying like the others.”
“Dr. Mills injected you when you were a child. You should be immune,” I trembled.
“Dr. Mills injected me with a different strain of the virus. The thirteen of you were injected with strain T2218. The injections took place before Dr. Nickel’s released the virus that turned the population into screamers. The virus that caused the screamers was called T4172. There was 0.01% of the population that was immune to the virus. The 0.01% immune systems of the non infected were weakened by the first virus. When Dr. Nickels released the infected screamers with the second virus, we didn’t stand a chance. Dr. Mills then tried to counter the second virus with N4142. He knew at this point he was grasping at air but he had to try. Unfortunately it was too late. It is airborne and we don’t know what the long-term effects will be . I’ve been working with Silas and teaching him everything I can but I fear it won’t be enough. I’ve shown him where all the files are stored,” she drifted off.
“Is there any possible way to fix this? Is there any hope?” I begged.
I watched Julia search frantically around the lab before she focused on me.
“No, there is no hope for the humans. You know we never even got to know each other. All these years and I had two sisters,” she said blood tears fell down her pale cheeks.
“It doesn’t seem fair but what is fair in a world full of pain and death,” I replied.
“You and your group have to keep moving forward. Find the strength inside you and keep moving. The world will be your canvas and although I don’t agree with what Dr. Nickels has done; maybe he was right and the humans time has come to its end,” Julia muttered.
Julia coughed hard and the fight in her left. She fell back into a chair and her body sagged. The virus dug its claws into her and pain spread across her face.
“Silas!” I yelled.
Julia placed her hand on mine. I felt hot wet tears fall from my eyes.
“It’s alright Layla, I am done here. I am thankful I had the opportunity to meet you,” she coughed and blood sprayed from her mouth, “When I found out I had not one but two sisters I had to find you. I needed to see you for myself and when I saw you and how brave you were I was happy. You have fought for what you believe is right and fair. I admire you for that,” She coughed again.
“Go get Silas. He loves you very much and will always be there for you,” She smiled weakly.
I stood and raced to the exit. I had to find Silas. I wanted to save my sister. I had already lost one. I couldn’t lose her. I made it halfway down the hall when I saw Silas. I opened my mouth and started to form words when a loud and all to familiar boom echoed through the halls. My eyes widened in horror, realization sunk in. My chest tightened and my head shook involuntarily. I turned away from Silas and dashed back into the lab but it was too late. My sister jerked on the floor and blood spilled from her head and spread across the white tiles. I screamed out in frustration and hurt. Everyone died and I couldn’t take it anymore. I sobbed on the floor with Silas holding me. Only this time Silas sobbed with me. Death was taking its toll on him as well. We stayed crying on the floor for what felt like hours. We must have cried ourselves to sleep because when we woke it was evening.
Silas and I were thirsty and found water in the main quarters. Lucy sat curled in a ball sleeping on a sofa chair. Gabe was by her side. Addy and Olyvia approached with care.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Addy said.
“We need you to come outside with us,” Olyvia ordered.
The four of us walked to the front entrance where we found Sara and Nate standing at the gate.
“Do you hear that?” Nate asked.
We listened quietly and heard the screams far away.
“I thought the screamers were dying?” Nate questioned, concern on his face.
“They said the screamers are dying but no one knows when or how long for it would take,” Silas explained.
“Their screams aren’t hurting my ears and they sound different,” Nate added.
“Maybe it’s because they are too far away,” Silas stated.
“I don’t think so. Something doesn’t feel right,” Olyvia added, “Can’t you feel it in the air?”
I closed my eyes and searched for something, anything different then it hit me. The screams were screams of pain, not rage. They didn’t hurt my ears the way the screamers screams did. Nate was right something was happening. Maybe the screamers were dying somewhere out there in the world.
“I guess only time will tell what is happening to the screamers. I think we should stay here and wait it out,” I stated.
“Good idea,” Nate said.
We started to make our way back into the facility when we heard something hit the gate. We turned and saw a figure walking into the gate repeatedly. I slowly approached the figure. Over and over they walked into the gate. The figure came into view and I felt sick. Zola meekly cried out when I approached.
“Help me,” she whimpered.
“Zola,” I cried.
Silas and Nate held me back from getting too close. I fought against them.
“Let me go. I have to help her,” I cried.
“That isn’t Zola anymore,” Silas whispered.
“Layla, help me,” she screamed.
She closed her fingers around the fencing and frantically shook it. She looked like a wild animal. Clumps of her once beautiful red hair were missing from her head. Her skin was a sickly green and I realized she had chunks of skin missing from her arms and neck.
“How can she be talking to us if she is a screamer?” I cried.
“I’m not a screamer,” she yelled, “I was attacked by a bunch of crazy people. I’m not
infected. Let me the hell in.”
I didn’t know what to do. I had made too many wrong choices. I didn’t want to make anymore. There were so little of us left.
“I’m sorry. I can’t let you in,” I wept.
“You stupid bitch! Then we'll tear this goddamn fence down and eat you alive,” she laughed in a mad and crazy way.
Others came running towards the fence. There were lots of people and they didn’t appear to be screamers. They yelled out and cursed at us. We backed away from the fence and darted into the facility. Nate locked the door when we entered.
“I don’t think that is going to keep them out for long,” Silas said, staring at the gate.
“We need to get the others. We have to leave,” I trembled.
We didn’t argue. We ran and found the group. Thankfully everyone was gathered in the living quarters living room.
“We have to leave now, no questions,” I yelled.
Screams and voices yelled from outside. Everyone gathered in a tight circle.
“We are going to do this together. Everyone think of the bunker at my house,” I demanded.
We took hands knowing we had to work together. We faded out of the facility and our feet met the solid floor of the bunker. I released hands and reached for the light. The room once again came to life and the safety of home filled me with ease. Everyone was safe. We all teleported together and we made it. I grabbed a jug of water and handed it to Gabe. He appeared exhausted but seemed proud at the same time. Our abilities were developing into works of art. I glanced around the bunker and found the twelve to all be exhausted and in need of rest. I know I was wiped and sleep was sounding like a great escape from all the death and trouble the world had thrown at us.
Day 125:
The screamers had cleared out of the basement and we repaired the house the best we could during day time hours. At night we heard the screamers lurking around outside the house. They were most definitely changing each day. Their screams were less painful on our ears and they weren't moving as fast as they were before. In fact they were moving slowly. They didn’t run at all, even when worked up they moved more like turtles then leopards. The bunker was crowded with thirteen of us crammed into small living quarters but it was our only option for the time being. We had a few heated debates on weather to go back to the facility or to the warehouse but each discussion ended with us staying put. We were all drained from seeing so much illness and death. Each time we thought things couldn’t get worse they did. We all needed time to reset and find a way to move forward but we didn’t know where to begin. Silas and I decided we should at least check on the people at the facility in the comas. No one wanted to go with us except Gabe.
The Demise of Humanity Page 15