by Michael Carr
Thomas smiles...he knows his abilities are superior and the fight is his to lose. “Like old times, eh?”
Corey looks on with a drive to end it here and now. The force of the exaggerated movement has revived the pain from the branding. The wound begins to bleed and soak through his shirt again. As Corey initiates an exaggerated strike back, Thomas steps to the side at the last minute allowing his foe to stubble past him.
Tonya’s face betrays the enormous conflict she feels. She understands this is her friend’s fight and he does not want her help. However, as he turns to face his rival, she notices the blood on his shirt. Thomas times it perfectly, kicking Corey’s hand, knocking the sword away. Corey keeps his distance in order to plan his next action. The two pace completing a half circle back to their original positions.
Thomas inserts banter, “I really thought you had more in you.” As he continues to humiliate his opposition, Thomas comes within a comfortable distance. Not allowing any more time to slip away, he jump-kicks Corey in the chest bashing him to the ground. Thomas wants to enjoy the moment. He broadly swings the blade to the right as Corey crawls backwards, his shirt soaked in blood drowning out the image that was once a symbol of their friendship. The blade is swung again but this time to the left backing Corey up against an old tree. Thomas walks up before delivering his final thrust. He gradually displays a sinister grin... a cookie cutter image from the victory at the weapon pickup. Looking down his extended blade to Corey, “You are such a typical human...so gullible and trusting.”
Thomas, still looking down...suddenly begins to stumble backwards…a blade protruding through his abdomen. With Tonya standing just behind, Thomas looks down at the wound. Corey moves away rapidly, desperately looking for his sword wanting to apply the fatal strike…not recognizing it is his sword in Thomas. The sudden change in power is recognized by the Zlys. Seeing its master’s considerable trauma, one of the Zlys swoops in, grabbing Thomas and struggles to fly off. In the air, the handle sticking out of Thomas' back emits a flash. Using the flicker of light from the sword’s handle as a target, Chief reaches for his handgun and fires at the quickly fleeing pair.
Tonya felt compelled to help, but offers an apology. “Sorry, I couldn’t just stand there…didn’t mean to steal your thunder,” Corey looks away somewhat disappointed, “Yeah.”
The survivors do not have time to celebrate...there are still two Zlys left that show no mercy and prove why they were so sought out by Thomas. The two highly trained mutants move quickly against the seven humans whose handguns do not result in much damage and can only slow the Zlys down to a degree. With no signs of turning away, the winged warriors move forward into the heavy gunfire of the survivors and kill without remorse.
Minutes have passed and three humans have already died from the melee. Patrick who is seventeen, tall and built like an athlete takes an opportunity to jump on the back of one of assassins. He pulls back on the beast’s horn to force its mouth open. With his teeth, Patrick pulls the pin of a grenade then shoves it deep into the Zlys mouth. As he jumps away, he makes sure to push the beast forward so the blast would go away from him. 'BOOM!’ The headless Zly rains green and bluish matter on the survivors standing just in front of it.
The last Zly is concentrated on Tonya firing back with two handguns. It is unaware of Corey who leaps up with his drill and fires, nailing the Zly’s claw to a tree. As Corey approaches the beast, it attempts to release itself. Corey knows it is now or never and replaces the nail gun attachment with a drill bit. He thrusts the weapon upward drilling through the creature’s mandible stopping in its brain. The Zly's screaming stops as it falls downward, the body is left dangling by its nailed claw. Corey looks around to see a beaten up group of humans left alive…only four now.
They have won their first battle together, but at a cost. Unfortunately a decision has to be made, one with which they will all eventually agree. They know they have to remove the possibility of their friends returning…returning as walkers. While Chief took the responsibility of shooting each of the fallen in the head, the others dug graves for their friends who fought so they could carry on. After completing the burial, they each carefully laid one of their own possessions on the mounds…a picture, a necklace, a baseball card, and a can of food. Regardless, the loss was tough…any loss of life at this point is hard.
Chapter Three
Grenades, Flames and Zlys...
Oh My!
The survivors begin to sort through the gear and weapons. Tonya sees Corey packing his bag and senses his uneasiness, “Are you okay?”
He is still disturbed about the unfortunate deaths of people he had just met and the encounter with Thomas, “Yeah... I'll be back.”
Corey grabs his gear and marches on towards the Colony. He has a feeling that his attempt to find his family at the Colony is in vain; but, going is something he must do…as long as there is any possibility, any hope.
Chief climbs into the rocket launcher to look it over while Tonya jumps in the jeep and Patrick takes a tank with a small mounted gun on the back. While waiting for Corey, Tonya and Patrick siphon gas from vehicles that will be left behind to fill the tanks of their chosen rides. They each take some time to get a basic feel for their newly acquired weapons. Patrick really struggles to maneuver the tank, but refuses to change weapons. He feels they will need the tank. Even though the humans carry on doing what is necessary, they feel an absence…an absence of their friends and family. It is not long before Tonya gets antsy and decides they should drive towards the city to meet Corey.
Corey comes to a stop at the end of the steps of the Capitol, shotgun in hand. He carefully scouts out the area as he comes close to the entrance. He stops and presses his back against the wall. Clearly skeptical of finding anything positive, Corey looks in and slowly moves forward, his gun pointed ready to fire. As he reaches the center of the building, it is apparent why this is referred to as “the Colony”. The dome of the structure is perfect for the combs that have been assembled and suspended above the floor. Anything of historical value is covered in a termite-looking clay…tunnels of dirt everywhere. He looks closer at the cocoon shaped tubes that are attached to each other in a geometric pattern and extend completely to the top of the dome. He sees developing human-like bodies lying in gelatinous goo. Some are zombies starting to take on Zly characteristics; others are Zlys that appear to be ready to burst out of their encasements. Sadly, there is no sign of his family anywhere…at least that he recognizes. He struggles to push that thought out of his head.
As he continues his search, he notices some strange writing on the walls. Unknown to Corey, the inscription in front of him roughly translates as, “The infected go through a state of hibernation to transform. Once metamorphosis is complete, the Zlys will have twice as much strength… twice as much hunger.”
Corey turns from his discovery in disappointment. Frustration begins to overtake him…it is like a fire overcoming him. Without hesitation, four grenades are pulled from his bag. Corey continues to stare ahead as he marches towards the exit. The bombs are brought to his temples and his thumbs pull each of the rings out. He runs as the grenades drop to the ground and he exits the Capitol.
Chief, Patrick and Tonya park nearby to wait on Corey. He slows his pace, wiping his eyes as he approaches his friends. Patrick eagerly, “You ready man?”
Corey stands next to Tonya's jeep, “Yea, give it a second.”
“KaBoooom!!!”
Corey looks back to watch the convulsive blasts at the Capitol. Shortly after, smoke begins to pour out of the exit. Corey looks back at Patrick and replies, “Now, I'm ready.” As he takes his bag off and throws it onto the backseat, Tonya guns the engine, “Come on slow poke!”
Corey goes around to the passenger side of the jeep. Suddenly, a flaming hand reaches over, grabbing Corey. An inflamed Zly has found its way outside the Capitol, looking to defend its Colony. It acts oblivious that it is on fire and throws Corey to the ground. Defenseles
s, Corey looks up at the enraged and burning brute. Tonya moves quickly from the jeep, pulling her sleeves over her hands, delivers a forceful blow to the Zlys’ shoulder. It swings hitting her, throwing her back. This exchange gives Corey enough time to get into the jeep. He searches desperately for a weapon. In the distance, the sound of a small engine starting up is heard. In an attempt to help his friends, Chief has grabbed a chainsaw and holds the trigger as he runs closer to the Zly. But before he can apply the fatal cut, the Zly takes hold of Corey's head, leaving his shoulder vulnerable. The Zly applies a powerful chomp and then swings its head without compassion. Chief locks the saw’s trigger and shoves the spinning blade into the back of the Zly's head. The enraged and flame-engulfed beast runs in a frantic circle, away from the humans, until the saw ultimately explodes.
Corey bitten, drops with his hoodie on fire. Chief and Tonya frantically try to remove the burning hoodie and throw loose earth to extinguish the left over flames on Corey. Chief looks at Tonya, “We have got to get him to the base! Help me get him into the jeep.”
Chapter 4
Enter Lu-CI-4
In the distance the Colony still burns…smoke rises with an acceleration that quickly covers the sky with a blanket of blackness. The darkness casts a shadow over the three survivors as they stand around Corey unconscious in the back of the jeep. They have moved to the other side of the city, just outside of what they believe to be a military base, their original destination before meeting Corey.
Tonya concerned, puts her hand on Corey. She whispers, “You’ve got to be OK. We are going to get you help as soon as we can figure this all out. I promise!” She removes her hand and sees Corey’s bag. She cannot help herself and begins to view its contents. Through her search she finds a folded piece of paper.
[scene: A nightstand with a small lamp and a framed picture of Core and his siblings.]
I know you are upset with me. But know I needed a way to escape the continuing pressure...the emotional wrap that makes breathing difficult. The triggers are not initially definable...but I pace aimlessly looking for them. I look for something to offer as an explanation for my unusual actions.
[scene: A wider view of the bedroom…a hand dangles from the edge of the bed.]
Possibly it’s because I feel alienated, disposable and forgotten.
Regardless, putting an end to it all is not a cowardly act. It is a means to an end. The expectation to perform daily in this evil circus of a planet can be exhausting. Functioning in a world of liars and selfishness is depressing…especially when those you have trusted with everything abandon you.
[scene: A lifeless female on the bed, her hair in her face and, not far from her hand, an empty pill bottle
Someone once said, “In life I have found everyone will hurt you. You must decide the ones that are worth suffering for”…when there are none, consider your options.
Tara
A teary-eyed Tonya holding the note looks at Corey. Brushing his long bangs back she questions, “Why does life have to be so hard. Why do we suffer so much?” Wanting to assure him of her sincerity, “I will look out for you Corey. I promise!”
“ARRRGH!” Tonya in the jeep with Corey hears a man yell. She looks back to see an unknown fighter has thrown Chief to the ground. Chief feels something pop internally followed by an unusual and intense burning sensation. He tries desperately to defend himself. Patrick runs towards the fighter, gripping a large wrench. Tonya begins to run behind Patrick but he turns yelling at her “Get Corey out of here!!” She jumps into the jeep, punches it, and barrels toward the base.
Armed guards furiously motion her to stop at the checkpoint, but there is no stopping her. She crashes through the checkpoint, finally braking before hitting a building. Gunfire is unleashed towards the jeep but is immediately stopped by a ranking official's command of “Cease fire!!” Tonya hunched over in the driver seat shakes frantically, scared as the soldiers approach.
Back at the fight, the warrior is unlike anything ever seen by the survivors. It has a wasp-like helmet head. Humanoid in stature, its body in black and yellow has a reflective glare to it, almost shiny. Though it is of average human height and build, it acts with significant strength. Not heavily armed, it holds a staff-like weapon, exactly as those carried by the Zlys. The attacker stands over Chief with staff raised, about to strike down. Patrick drawing near, swings and hits the strange fighter in the side of the head with the heavy wrench. The militant staggers and Chief sees an opportunity to get away. He rolls onto his stomach and begins to crawl. Patrick pulls a handgun from his side holster and fires at the fighter. The bullets tear at the warrior’s polished body armor, slowing it down slightly, like the Zlys earlier. Chief continues to crawl, making his way towards the vehicles. Patrick, locked in a struggle with the fighter, uses his right foot in an attempt to sweep its leg out from under him, but every attempt fails.
Chief finally reaches the tank. Struggling, and in a lot of pain he begins to make his way to the turret. Patrick, still in battle is able to hit the warrior in the chest knocking the fighter away. He continues to fire at the fighter. Again, the bullets do not seem to affect the polished colored warrior…just push it back. Patrick has no choice but to unload the clip and hope that he finally inflicts some damage.
“Damn it!” he shouts to the sound of clicks. He is out of bullets and starts looking frantically for the wrench.
“DROP!!” Chief yells in the distance.
Patrick falls to his stomach and looks up. The warrior has no stop in it. It is driven to see this human dead. But Patrick is safe as Chief’s mounted gunfire connects with the attacker…the warrior spins, twitches and falls apart.
Patrick, on his stomach covered in the warrior’s entrails, is relieved and disgusted at the same time. He looks over at Chief, “Thanks!” The young jock jumps up and runs towards the tank, trying to remove slime as he goes. After climbing into the driver seat, he looks around trying to determine which pedal is the gas and which is the clutch. Chief turns the turret towards the base and yells down, “Treat it like a stick shift...the clutch is on the left!” Patrick mashes the gas...grinding the gears as they go. As Chief rocks back and forth from Patrick’s wretched driving, he notices the launcher that is left behind.
The tank stops. Chief, frustrated with the young man shouts, “Hey! What are you doing man?”
“Um...Chief, don't you think it would be a better idea to walk to the base instead of approaching it in a tank?”
Chief thinks for a minute…the kid is right. If this truly is a military base they would be destroyed before they got close. Patrick already out of the driver seat, extends a hand to help Chief out, but he is determined to do it himself and avoids the gesture.
They approach the base seeing the damage visible from Tonya’s entrance. Patrick, who is quite tall, slumps over to support his injured savior as he walks. He prays that the slow pace will let them pass as friendlies, but the advancing soldiers consider nothing safe. Before they can reach the base, armed guards wearing gas masks surround the two.
“You have entered government grounds without authorization…put your hands on top of your heads!”
Chief looks up at them with a shit-eating grin. “Does that seriously look possible, amigos?”
Patrick and Chief walk onto the base with a guard escort and their hands restrained. One of the soldiers assists chief. Once inside the building, they are forced to walk down an isolated hall passing a series of air-pressured blowers. They stop and look up as an intercom overhead makes an announcement, “Try not to breathe when you feel the air running against you.” The two look at each other with puffed-out cheeks and hold their breath momentarily. Continuing through the segregated hall, they look around but there is not much to view… just a vinyl-looking material that lines the walls and ceiling.
After they complete what is assumed to be a decontamination exercise they are quickly led through an institutional-looking hallway. They pass rooms with small windo
ws that remind them of hospital rooms. Having only enough time to glance into the rooms, they are able to see medical beds and people in examination gowns. Their attention is quickly transferred to a soldier waiting for them at the end of the hall.
The soldiers usher them into a meeting room. Upon entry, they see Tonya seated at a beautiful oval mahogany table seemingly out of place in this stark room of bare floors and concrete walls painted in a sickening vomit green. As the guards remove the men’s cuffs and direct them to sit, Patrick looks around and notices the cool clean air coming from a large air vent in the ceiling...a welcome relief from the harsh elements to which they have become so accustomed.
The soldiers exit in silence. The door shuts and Tonya tells them, “They have Corey in an infirmary. You are ok, aren’t you Chief?”
Chief leans forward in his seat, “Oh…I can’t take a beating like I used to. Whatever that thing was, it was strong. It threw me on the ground like I was nothing!”
Patrick joins the conversation, “The bullets I fired just slightly peeled away that armor-like coating. What was that shit?”
Tonya cuts her eyes towards Patrick, “Did you two not hear what I said about Corey?”
Patrick and Chief look at each other puzzled, they are still caught up in the recent events since they last saw Tonya and Corey. Before they can respond, the door opens and an officer enters the room with a guard. The man is of obvious high rank, based on what his medals imply, “Look, I am General Anders and I’m going to give it to you straight. The three of you are lucky to be alive! Your approach to this base should have been considered an act of hostility. Who are you and why are you on my base?!”