Zombie Chronicles: New World Order

A day had passed since the Imperium had taken us in. In that time, Rin had only gotten sicker, but she was well enough to visit her brother’s grave, redone after the truth of his sacrifice reached the kingdom.

“I’m... sorry, brother... so sorry... for everything...” She rasped, with tears flowing down her cheeks.

We stood there, both of us taking a moment to mourn Len—of course, I didn’t know him nearly as well as she did... but he had a good heart. He didn’t deserve to die the way he did.

“I think we should go...” I said to her as I helped to her feet and led her back to the infirmary.

On our way back, she let out a small chuckle.

“It’s funny... back when I was ruler here... I had no idea you were related to Jason...” She said, laughing to herself a bit before her laughs devolved into coughing fits.

As I helped her back inside, I glanced at Diamond using her staff, practicing her forms and glancing back at us before looking away, her form now slightly shaken.

“Hey.” I said to her.

She stopped and turned to me, a faint smile forming on her face.

“Hey, Kyle...”

I glanced at the staff, somewhat recognizing it.

“That was Jason’s, right? He taught you all of that?” I asked her.

She smiled again and slightly nodded.

“Yeah... I can’t count how many times this thing saved my life once I found it again.”

I let out an awkward laugh as we both soon took a seat in the grass, neither of us knowing what to say to the other.

“So... how’s Rin doing?” She asked after a minute of silence.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t have long left, but she still seems so... strong. We’ve had a few bite victims at Sanctuary, and at this point, they’d be unable to move, but... Rin isn’t giving up.”

Diamond did nothing but sigh, still sitting on the grass ground of the Imperium.

“I... just wish I was better to her... I always acted like she didn’t exist—we all did. What she turned into here is on us—my mother and I. It’s safe to say we both got our upcoming in the end...” She grimly added.

What could I possibly say to that? It came out of nowhere, and I knew exactly what she was talking about.

“I’m gonna check on the others... wanna come with?” I offered her.

She shook her head and I left her to her thoughts, which may not be the best idea...

Pain. It was the only word that could describe the only thing I felt, writhing around in the infirmary bed, tied down to avoid infecting anyone once I turned...

The anger... I was told that when the infected get bitten, they start showing symptoms of Rabies, like frothing at the mouth and rage-filled episodes... I’ve felt the rage recently but did my best to soothe myself.

I told them not to put me down, at least not until it was done. I wanted to make every second I had left count. As I heard my tent’s curtain open, I glanced up to see one of the Imperium’s many doctors entering and shut the curtain behind him.

“I’m... not so certain if you remember me...” He said as he looked over and picked up a scalpel...

“...But I remember you. I remember how you ordered your soldiers to wipe out my camp after we refused to pay tribute to you.”

I stayed silent, knowing exactly what he meant... I had no excuse and not even a reason for what I did to them...

As he crept closer, his figure began shifting into Spoiled’s... or at least what I could perceive as Spoiled.

“I know... saying ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t going... to change anything...” I managed, my voice snarling as I did.

The doctor sighed, his voice changing into my not-mother's...

“No. No, it isn't.” Her voice said as the doctor approached, raising his scalpel in the air...

Only to be cut off by a knife being placed across his neck.

“Put the scalpel down, doctor. Now...” Chrysalis’ voice ordered.

He froze in place, unable to say anything as he dropped the blade on the table, tears slowly flowing down his cheeks.

“I... I’m sorry...” He managed as Chrysalis summoned two guards to take him towards the castle.

Chrysalis glanced at me and took a seat next to me.

“I’m sorry about that—I should’ve known a guard detail would’ve been needed.” She said to me.

I didn’t really respond at first, I only let out a weak scoff.

“I’m dead, anyway... just... promise me that you’ll bury me... next to my brother...” I managed to ask.

Chrysalis’s face carried shock, but she nodded and left to most likely find a few guards to watch over me. My vision grew blurry again as in the tent, I saw a silhouette of...

“Rin...” I heard Len whisper in front of me...

I ignored him and closed my eyes, knowing he was just a hallucination.

“You’re not there... I know you’re not...” I whispered back.

He walked aside me and chuckled to himself.

“It’s funny—these people mowed through your friends’ old home, killed men, women, and children, and now... now Kyle’s risking what he has left by bringing them back here.” Len chuckled.

Whatever happened after we left Sanctuary, they learned their lesson-- that was plain to see.

“He doesn’t have a choice... he’s doing this for his family--”

“What do we know about family? We barely got to meet ours-- Jessica abandoned us, twice, and Filthy treated us like outcasts.” Len said.

“They had... no choice.” I reminded him.

I glanced around at the very few of us that were left... there weren’t many. I glanced to see Sunset talking with Oz from the lineup. After a moment of them sitting and talking, Sunset soon rested her head on Oz’s shoulder, with him wrapping his arm around her. I smiled at Sunset finally at peace after so long and kept looking for my father...

I soon found him alongside Celestia at Luna’s grave, right alongside Sombra’s, where Chrysalis stood and seemed... distant.

I walked over to them and looked at the gravestone, not knowing what to say or do other than just... being there.

“...Did she... did she suffer?” Celestia asked me.

I shook my head.

“No... she was one of the first. It was fast... I promise.” I said to her.

Celestia let out a relieved sigh as my father rested his hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer.

"I know you have questions... come and see us later—I'll answer whatever questions you have...” Dad said as we went our separate ways.

As I walked through the streets of the Imperium, past houses under construction and people passing by, I eventually saw a familiar face being escorted back to the castle...

“Jet Set.” I called out to him.

He glanced at me and sighed, his arms tied together and a Knight guarding him.

“They offered a walk out of my cell... I decided to take it.” He said.

I nodded and before I could walk off, he looked to the floor and said,

“I didn’t want anyone to die... that was why I took the deal—I keep them informed on what we’re doing, when we’re doing it, they won’t attack us. But in that time, Celestia was stabbed, Adagio was killed by her own brother-in-law, and... well...”

I didn’t respond as he took a breath and continued.

“I know I made a mistake—now more than ever. I also know that I have a shitload to atone for—me and the other Shadowbolts—and I’m ready to do my part, whatever it is. So, whether you want to pull whatever secrets you want or if you need someone cleaning up the dead, fuck, I’d even clean out the goddamned latrines if this place has any... whatever you need me to do or share with you... I'll do it.”

I woke after a little nap I had wound up taking, with the passive-aggressive vision of my brother now gone, and the voice of Spoiled Rich took his place, her eyes stabbed from the brutal fight we had all those years ago.

“Rin...” Her voice called to me.

I ignored her and took deep breaths, desperate not to give in to my rage and let the infection take hold.

“Rin Kagamine Rich, you look at me when I am speaking to you!” Spoiled’s voice roared to me.

I glanced at her as my blood slowly boiled at seeing the monster who masqueraded as my mother for my entire life.

“I have nothing to say to you... you’re lucky Jason killed you instead of your prisoners...” I rasped.

She let out a laugh and shook her head.

“I almost had him... I was this close... but then Jessica had to come back and ruin everything—again! And look where that got you—dying on a stretcher amidst my achievement... not yours, not that child molester, and not Kyle Williams’. Mine!” She screamed as she slammed her hand on the medical table, nothing on it moving because... well...

“You’re not real... I don’t give a single shit what you have to say...”

She chuckled and shook her head.

“You know... that horde isn’t much farther... we both know how hordes like that work, they’ll tear through anything in their path, including this place...” She said as I already knew this...

I chuckled at her suggestion before an idea popped in my head...

“Oh... I like you’re thinking... Unleash Hell.”

I saw the scalpel on the table and reached for the scalpel with my fingers, almost cutting them as I had to grab it by the blade-end. I managed to flip the scalpel around and grabbed the handle before I sawed through my cloth restraints, trying not to cut my wrists as I went. Once my one hand was free, I easily cut through the other, getting up and walking out the tent. I saw the gate and glimpsed at the dust from the horde somewhat growing closer.

As I walked out the gate, I felt a hand go on my shoulder as I tensed a bit... I turned to see Kyle standing there, seeming somewhat cautious. As we stood there, others surrounded us, including my mother

“I... I have to lead them away. I can lead them right to Caverns, and... I owe too much to these people...” I told him.

He looked out at the horde and back at me, slowly taking his hand off my shoulder. I slowly walked towards the gates, that opened and soon closed behind me as I slowly marched down the road, the clouds of dust growing closer and closer...