The Carnage Trilogy (Book 3): Aftermath [Who Will Be Left?]

by Birch, Matthew

  “Please, both of you, we need to... relax...” Robert, he tries so hard, but he is blind, the branding spreading right through to his brain, making him constantly offended or susceptible to anger without effort. He is the predator; he is the one I am scared of. At any moment, he could lash out!

  Lastly is Zack, moving sluggishly, in a state of shock, he is devoid of everything. I haven't spoken to him once. In fact, has he spoken to anyone? Matty and Chris are so normal, so human-like, they are the most... Different. Details...

  “I need to save Holly” Steven murmurs, face loopy. Turning, I face the man who walks to my side, and maybe a step or two behind.

  “Sorry?”

  “Maya-” He spurts up, looking me in the eyes with a true to heart look of melancholy. “I lost my Dad and Holly. I see it now” His voice in undertones. “I am living the nightmare... But I am in control-” He turns. “I have to save her now before it is too late...” He susurrates, and I reach out, grasping at his miniature wrist to stop him from wandering to his grave!

  “LET GO OF ME!” Steven fights me off, forcibly pushing me back. Dejectedly, he smiles, nodding at me and turning to leave. I've never seen him move so fast, breaking out into a surprisingly agile sprint; he escapes back through the train tunnel?!

  Callum stops him. Details...

  Pouncing on him and dragging him to the ground in one fatal swoop. Details...

  Then, my fears, a human weapon, a gunshot-

  THE DETAILS...

  GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

  Smoking, the fierce barrel of Matty's revolver has everyone head over heels insane. He stole it from Callum; it is the exact same weapon he always harboured. Standing there, Callum moves his hold off Steven so he can stand properly instead of the knelt position he was in. Crying, the whimpering Steven is handled by his skull. Callum, chaotic, looks down deliberately, his eyes tracing the bullet wound in his stomach. A faint trail of blood pops out, though it hardly fazes him.

  “I fucking knew it” Matty whispers but it feels like a shout in my ear. All my senses tell me something is not right and I need to get out of here while I still have the chance.

  Now, it happens, rage, screaming, something we cannot decipher, not English, not any other language, the power of his instinct drives him forward. The monster inside is out. The strings pull at him the same way they do at us all to survive. Robert advances on Chris and Matty, a fight is waiting to happen. The threat I had felt for so long isn't just the humans in our group, it is the Branded, and in that regard, everyone here is untrustworthy. We aren't branded. We aren't monsters. We aren't dying. We are evolving...

  “Callum, please stop!” Ed shouts with his face full of dread. It is me who is caught in the middle, stuck between two sides. On one side, my senses hear the disturbingly loud crunching as Callum sinks his devilish black teeth deep inside Steven's defenceless side, ripping the flesh, tearing the muscle, and even crunching the bone. He chews, bites, swallows, and a small chunk of Steven is consumed. Healing his wound like it would a beast; like it would... The Carnage.

  Ed barrels into Callum, lashing out into an animalistic like fight where the two men viciously claw at one another, rolling around on the floor like lions as they use their inhumane strength, speed, and raw power to overcome the other. They look for flaws, their senses no doubt on high alert. They fight as monsters, not humans. Their battle is short-lived, with several slashes, and a deadly kick to the stomach, Callum embraces his demons quicker than Ed can. Seconds later, the booming kick sends Ed into the roof of the tunnel! Denting it, smashing his spine and skeleton, his fragility shining through when he gasps eyes wide in shock. Gently, he almost glides down, bringing rock and more down with him.

  I want to step out, but I can't. I'm too afraid. Why am I so scared? Is it death, am I scared of death. Losing him, or myself?

  Ed, growling, embraces it; his own demons...

  No, please... Ed, I love you-

  Don't waver-

  Don't break-

  Don't give in!

  Gripping his hardened, not human-like fingers into the chunks of rock that descended with him, he begins discarding the boulders at Callum who dodges some, and is ruthlessly smashed by others-

  Their battle is breaking the tunnel, the supporting structures are fragile as it is from the lack of human intervention and the previous battles fought-

  Do I help Ed, or do I help the humans?

  Robert goes straight for Chris, he's bitter, furthermore, for some reason the person he wants revenge on the most is him.

  There is one piece in this equation. A singular little puzzle piece no one had considered until now. Zack, the man of stone steps in, taking a hold of Robert, the two men grapple with one another, Zack using his gun on Robert, several bullets hit him, only for the weapon to be apprehended, yet Zack doesn't let go! The bullets soar from the fully automatic assault rifle he had been carrying, tearing the ceiling and structure where Ed and Callum dual to pieces!

  I need to step in, it doesn't matter what side. I will fight, I will act, human or not, I WILL SURVIVE-

  One, final, shot...

  It is all it took.

  Among the darkness, with the flashes of light and everything in between, I experience the most damned stinging sensation I have ever felt ripple its way through my skin, muscles, organs and bone. My stomach has been intruded. In this moment, where I have been struck, and my curious eyes look up at my murderer, I feel normal again. Not a monster, not a human, I am me. Maya Vazquez-

  Stumbling blindly, I welcome my insecurity, why can't I fight this. How can I not shrug it off as smoothly as Callum had done, is it because he healed himself? Matty, Chris, please help me. The tears sting my eyes because the reality is to live now I have to consume someone. I refuse to, I am human, I am human, and I am, HUMAN-

  Another boom, the blast reverberates all around us, and for the second time, I am struck when all I desired was their help. I needed support, some form of aid, because without it-

  “I'm sorry Maya” And another deathly shot, surely he has no more ammo, Matty can't keep firing forever. When will he leave me alone? Or at least help me. Doubled over, I sway, everything rocking as I feel my head go faint; three bullet holes penetrate my body and make me feel inadequate. Everything’s a stupor as I scrap the side of the relentless tunnel. Fading in, and out of reality...

  One moment, I see the supporting structures behind us give out, rocks come tumbling down like an avalanche, and the dual between Ed and Callum forces a separation, and thus a ceasefire. Heavily injured, Ed limps back, falling flat on his ass as he bleeds profusely from several wounds. He was no match for Callum who is now stuck on the other side. Steven continued to escape during the conflict; hopefully, he is far enough now that he is safe.

  Fading in, fading out. Another moment where I see Chris repeatedly stab Robert to death, multiple times, different places, no mercy for the man he worked under-

  Fading in, fading out, blinking-

  At last, a Molotov is lit; something Matty and Chris had been hiding and working on. They were never scared. They were petrified of being discovered for what they had been planning from the beginning... The details, my feelings, the senses, they were all trying to warn me of this exact moment.

  I fade out, and when I fade back just as swiftly, my blinks and heartbeats change the scene every few seconds. Rushed footsteps, Matty and Chris make their escape; my only view is of fire. The whole area is set alight where they have thrown, catching Zack off guard in the flames that engulf him. I hear merely a pained grunting as he drops and rolls, assaying his stubbornness to challenge the fury of the fire to no avail...

  When I come to the next time, after a much longer, drawn-out session of falling into the darkness, I open my eyes and see the burning corpse of Zack. He is dead, and the only source of light now with Matty and Chris stealing all the torches. Now, Ed is all that is left. He kneels in front of me, he hands shaking me, travelling my body, trying to stop th
e blood-

  He scrambles about, trying his hardest to find some way to keep me alive-

  Bless his heart... He cares, he loves me...

  There is nothing he can do; I know what has happened to us. The only way I can survive now is to remove myself from what gives us our humanity. I will never lose it. I can't. I'd rather die human than become a monster.

  I will not see myself become the villain.

  “Please, you need to eat Robert-” Ed, worrying about me, rushing to perhaps get Robert who still lives, panicking that I will die before I can consume flesh...

  Taking his hands in mine, I gently pull the man I love down next to me for the last time. Embracing him, I wrap my frail arms around his tough body. Blinking, I let loose the tears as I cry into him. The last emotion I want to feel, is sadness, happiness, and then love. All I've ever wanted was to truly feel loved and he gave me that feeling. He made me happy when no one else did. Smiling faintly, my features debilitating with each passing second, I whisper delicately into the love of my life's ears. “I want to die human; I know you know it too...”

  And he breaks, tears fall freely, his emotions are free. He holds me so close, clutching me and never letting go. He doesn't want to, but he will. I love him; though my time is up.

  “I can't lose you-” Ed wipes his eyes, moving back and looking into my own puffy ones. His monstrous form reeks of his evil, forgetting our past, I see deep inside him is humanity. He still is compassionate and loving... and a good man...

  Marcus would be proud...

  “You're all I have left-” He chokes on his words, his grip tightening around my impaired body...

  Is this how it feels to fade? I feel no pain, only my emotions. I assume I have already accepted my fate. Shaking my head, I reach up, taking his cheek and guiding him time towards my dry lips. Our kiss, so sweet, so full of life and love...

  I love you so much, Ed...

  Separating myself from him, our lips parting, at last, I take my bloody hand away from my torn shirt and bloodied chest; with all the power I have left, I move my hand up and over his chest and torn shirt, where I press my hand against his heart. “Save Steven... Don't let him die...” I rustle with my last breaths.

  “But-”

  “And don't lose your heart... or your love, or your compassion for this world... You're an amazing person-” I harden, a torture undulating through me as I strive for air, I go into shock when my heart misses a beat-

  “MAYA!”

  Lifting my finger up and over his lips, I make a tender shushing sound, “Please, no matter what, you have to survive... Tell the human race our story...”

  I am running out of time...

  “I promise...” Giving up, no more tears, he gives in. Taking my hand one last time in his, as he lays his head against mine, our foreheads pressed together, and the tips of our noses brush past one another. Our skin is delicate and flares with each and every last touch, because this is it...

  Smiling belatedly, I whisper, “Never give in...” Kissing him one last time, we share this moment, because as I fade, I feel him press into me, trying to retain and sustain this last kiss for as plentiful a time as he can until I develop a newfound weakness, and my body fades, and my heart stops. In my final moments, with the flickering flames illuminating each other scarcely, I see the man I love with all my heart screams in a rage, though I do not hear. Everything is a blur as I fall back gracefully. Eyes closed, I go limp...

  My heart beating for the last time...

  Chapter 13 - It must be done...

  1 hour and 40 minutes until the passing

  Flickering, the flames dance, sustaining itself long enough for Ed to stand tall and inhale a breath of minty dead air. He feels so calm, too calm. A new world is around him, a world without love, a world without her...

  Hand cleaving through the gravel, Robert's pitiful crawling ceases when Ed stomps his boot down in front of his skull, barely missing its target, his purposely aimed strike has Robert in shock, his dying mind trying to comprehend this boot in front of his eyes, his nose almost scraping against it.

  “We need each other-” Robert gasps, straining his neck to look up at Ed. Empty, lifeless, Ed spares an indivisible, uncaring glance at Zack's body, the fires flicker ever still. His corpse is useless and has been deemed so by Ed. “Please help me!” Robert reaches out, enwrapping his arms around Ed's foot, and the leg, as he struggles to gain sympathy. His efforts are in vain.

  Ed, kneeling down, drops onto his ass and sits beside the frail Robert. His eyes scanning, discovering each bullet wound, stab wound, and strike where he had been ruthlessly beaten down, attacked, and betrayed. Deftly, Ed's bloodied hands caress Robert's bald, branded head.

  “I'm sorry Robert,” Ed says, continuing his suspicious actions. Confused, more so disturbed, Robert is taken aback and feels a wave of fear. Vulnerable and pathetic, he knows he is useless to protect himself. Ed sees this too.

  “W-why?” Robert stutters, revealing his inner weakness, the man is broken, no longer who he once was.

  “I can't let Callum get away with this...” Just a whisper, his tone of voice, at last, exposes its true intentions.

  Realising the truth behind the creepy choice of words and body language, Robert's human side understands the reality of his situation. It's a tough one, but he sees through it all. Opening his mouth, he panics, trying to figure out how to stay among the living. “Please, we can do this together!” Robert, unable to do anything, is turned over so he is laying on his back, breathing heavily, Ed sits him up and rests him on his knee. Both men are injured; only one can come out of this.

  “I want revenge...” Robert whispers, his eyes frantically darting around.

  Ed's stroking gets extra benign since he tranquilises the dying man. Once Robert was relaxed enough, he strikes...

  “I want to see Callum die” Ed mutters, his stroking increasingly more intense as he begins to pry the skin away on Robert’s head. He winces, fighting the urges to yell in pain. Despite being in a similar state evolution-wise, due to his injuries, Robert's human side is more open than ever. His true self is shining through. The branding, disappearing.

  “Ed-” He squeaks-

  “Shush” Ed says, hands trailing across his body. Deep down, after everything, he cannot believe he is going to have to do this. His guilt overpowering him, but it isn't enough to prevent what he is about to do.

  “And the promise about your humanity...?” Robert whispers, referring to Maya. Good move in one regard because it reminds Ed that he made a promise to Maya. Bad move in another regard because it brings back all the emotional pain...

  “I promised her I'd keep Steven alive...” Ed replies sorrowfully, his teeth beginning to bare themselves in preparation, his hands gripping tight onto Robert's shoulders as he prepares the man for death.

  “But, you'd be going against her-” Robert's last argument is the one that is actually enough to stop Ed. Tears falling, the salty water drips onto Robert. Paling, red eyes with black, swollen veins wreak human tears, Ed is mourning...

  Robert watches, for a moment, he believes he got through to Ed-

  Only for the more advanced Ed, with a new stage of his branding, unlocks more of his hidden potential as his body evolves. He needs more strength and biomass, and to defeat Callum, he'll need all he can get. With one, single swift motion, he chomps down on Robert's neck, causing the agonisingly distressed man to shout, thrash, and fight back-

  With one final bite, his body goes limp, rendered immobile after Ed chews away the vital cords that keep him alive.

  “I'm sorry... it must be done,” Ed says out-loud, the flames dying out as the light escapes. Now in obscurity, Ed continues to eat faster than he ever has. His body growing and developing to something so much...

  Worse...

  Chapter 14 - Finding my Escape

  Alice

  1 hour and 30 minutes until the passing

  Droplets of the crystal white snow rain
all around, blessing us with a gorgeous winter paradise. The trees are coated, and the road is covered, our route disappears, and with it, so does our path. The highlands become an on-foot only job, our feet trucking us through the dense snow that crunches beneath my feet. It's soft, so soft, and lovely to touch but so cold to the bone! The highlands are a beautiful view, but as the temperature drops the further we travel, our worries begin to settle.

  Of course, we came properly prepared, scavenging what we could. We moved so far, honestly losing our bearing to the point that we believed that we were well and truly lost beyond return. We eventually see the stiffening snow shift, a stumbling creature unleashing itself from its frozen state. Covered in ice, its decaying process halted, we see the first generation of the Carnage, a basic, reincarnated human, the parasite within driving it as normal. So far north, where humanity dies, and they cannot thrive; they freeze up, helpless to survive.