Survival of the Fallen Race

Chapters

Act 1: The Uprising
Mobilization
The Truth Behold
Hooverville
Visions
Him...
Darkened Skies

Act 1: The Uprising

Survival of the fallen RaceBy: Dark NebulaAssisted by: Pegasus KlondikeAct 1: Battle for ManhattanChapter 1: The Uprising

Isaac trudged his way through the snowy plains of what was once New York City’s Central Park. Snow covered the bodies of soldiers, and other various creatures littered the snow, tanks and other vehicles lay unused or are too damaged to be used. looking around the snowy waste, that was once a beautiful park, he could see in the distance an old military tent. Looking up at the dark cloud cover sky larger snowflakes began to make their journy down to Earth. The wind was now beginning to pick up its pace. There's a blizzard coming, He thought Guess I'm going have to stay here for the night. He thought glancing towards the tent.

Flinging the flap open Isaac made his way inside, the wind howling in the night blowing snow all over the interiour of the tent. Turning back and zipping it shut Isaac sighed and sat on the ground, taking off his burlap sack. Isaac began to rifel through his belongings. In the end, he pulled out his most beloved possesion, his old journal. It didn't look like much, except for an old five subject journal that a kid would probably use for school. But to Isaac it was his life, in this here journal was a story. A story that told of his grand adventure through the American waste, looking at the poorly written title on the top of the page above the margin Isaac smiled Survival of the Fallen Race By: Isaac A. Ridgewood. Looking back down at the rest of the page Isaac began to read...

You’re probably wondering who I am or why I’m recording everything that has been happening. My name is Isaac Ridgewood, I’ve been writing everything down in this very here journal, I’ve literally just started doing this. I see no point in this honestly but… Seeing the fact that the world has gone to utter shit, might as well do something to keep my mind occupied…

What to write about?

Well, I guess I can write about the apocalypse, it all started about a decade ago...

:[-]:

I was surrounded by darkness, all around me I heard voices, voices of so many different languages. As if I was listening to everyone on Earth speak all at once... I couldn’t understand them, except for one... I heard her loud and clear, something divine and desperate it said, You were warned, do not fight this and it will not hurt you. Live with peace and harmony and you shall be ignored. with that there was a bright flash of light...

My hand slammed down onto my alarm clock ceasing the annoying ring it was letting off. I groaned and laid up in my bed stretching out my arms, I flung my legs over the side of my bed I began to make my way to my bathroom. Looking into the mirror I ran my hand through my blonde hair which was an utter mess. Turning on my shower I sat back on the toilet waiting for the the shower to heat up.

I stepped into the shower, only to be greeted by a wave of excruciatingly hot water,

“Ah! God dammit!” I lunged for the knob and twisted it all the way to cool. Seconds later my body was being pounded by beats of lukewarm water. I sighed with relief and began my everyday morning routine.

After my shower I made my way to the kitchen where I then began to look for something to eat. Opening my freezer I realized I had no more waffles, disappointed I closed my freezer and walked towards my pantry. Opening it I found out that I’m also out of cereal, “Aw, come on this just ain’t fair.” Slamming the pantry shut I grabbed a loaf of bread and slammed two slices of bread into the toaster. I made my way to the fridge going to grab some jelly I opened the fridge to find that I was also out of jelly. Now angry I slammed the fridge shut, before walking away I found a note on the fridge a note I wrote the day before I went to work.

“Don’t forget to go to the store... God Dammit!” I was furious with myself also I felt like a pure idiot. Behind me the toaster dinged and the toast popped up, “I bet I’m out peanut butter too.” I spoke out loud. Reaching my pantry once again I opened but this time finding I do in fact have peanut butter. “Aw... The treat of the Gods.” I said reaching up to retrieve the peanut butter. Upon grabbing it I noticed something was wrong, it was light, too light. Opening the jar I peeked inside, “Mother Fucker!” I whipped the empty jar of peanut butter at the garbage can, and surprised myself when the empty jar dunked in like an NCAA free throw. I grabbed my bare slices of toast and went to my living room to watch T.V and goof off on my laptop.

“Atmospheric Administration is reporting an odd rise in electromagnetism in the lower atmosphere-” I clicked the next button on the T.V Remote.

“Boring.”

“There has been recent thunderstorms along the western coast causing some types of Electromagnetic pulse interfering with smaller electronic devices such as cell-phones-” I clicked again.

“Not interested, oh look, politics.” I said leaning forward. I never really cared for politics that much, but sometimes I just find some of their political disputes rather amusing. I know it’s weird watching politicians just constantly argue with each other to me though it’s like sitting down and watching a rerun of Friends. To think that some people padded their bank accounts with millions of dollars a year just for shouting their opinion at someone with an opposing opinion always made me a touch envious of the societally useless political analyst.

“Mr.Vangetski just listen to yourself, lower our budget for the military!? That’s just flat out Ludacris, you're practically opening our doors and allowing other countries to come in and attack!” The Politician on the right ranted. The man on the left simple just stared and listened occasionally nodding his head,

“Mr.Bouchie it’s not about weakness, it’s about showing our trust to our enemies showing the we have no need for quarrel or bloodshed. Also if we lower our military budget just think of the economic boost. In just a matter of a few years America can be out of the red and back in the black.”

I chuckled to myself, “I see what you did there you wannabe poet.”

“Well Mr.Vangetski that still doesn’t give you the right to crap all over our 2nd amendment rights! You guys up in congress are going against our very own constitution!” The man sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “They went too far with those gun control laws! That’s just straight tyranny, what if your little “lower the military budget” gets us attacked. None of the American citizens will be able to defend themselves.” I nod my head,

“I see where you're getting at here Mr.Bouchie...” My watch began to frantically beep. Tilting my head slightly downwards to look at my watch it was time for me to get ready for work. Heading to my room I undressed from my casual wear and got into my work attire. Fixing my tie I began heading back to living room, while passing by my employee of the month plaque. I stopped and looked down at it,

“Isaac A. Ridgewood Employee of the month. Heh... I’m still surprised I even got that reward.” While walking out of my apartment I turned off my T.V.

:[-]:

Opening the door to my station wagon, I found my keys were still in the ignition. “So that’s where they friggin went!” With a frustrated growl I stepped into the car. Turning the key, the old Plymouth painstakingly roared to life, and with a few checks of the mirror I backed out of the parking space and began making my way to work.

While waiting at a red light I decided to check my wallet for how much money I had. Pawing through my wallet while keeping one eye on the light was a task that I had managed to master through years of practice, and just like I had done everyday, I hopefully searched through my billfold, hoping the cash fairy had been merciful. But to my disappointment, I didn’t have enough to hit the grocery after work. “Thirty two dollars and sixty three cents... I’m going to need to stop at the bank.” A few minutes passed and I pulled into the parking lot of Apple Bank. To my surprise the place was packed with people, dozens of men and women in formal wear and even just normal lower-middle class peons like myself. All crowded the bank a line that stretched all the way right outside the door. “What the Hell is going on?” Barely fitting the station wagon in between two taxicabs I got out and made my way inside.

“Please, I just need everything in my savings!” said the man up at the teller's desk.

“Yeah me too!” shouted a woman, all around me more people began shout all requesting they get all their money out. I raised an eyebrow gently pushing people out of my way I began heading towards the ATM machine. Pulling out my credit card I slid it into the machine and began getting to work, noticing that everyone else was taking out all their money. I began to worry so I decided to jump on the band wagon and take out the rest of my college funds.

Leaving the bank I looked over to a nearby grassy clearing, in that clearing laid a bunch of people most of them young adults all held hands as they gathered in prayer. “Is this like the beginning of the end of the world or something?” I asked no one in particular.

“The end is near! Brothers, sisters, gather around! Gather around as we make our final prayers to our faithful lord!” preached the preacher who stood in the center of the small crowd of people who gathered in prayer.

“Okay, this is just too weird.” Turning to leave a man who looked to be hobo ran into me. “Whoa! Man chill out-” I turned to leave but the man reached out and grasped me on the wrist. “Hey let go!”

The bum lifted a finger to his lips. “Shh-shhh! Listen to me fella, you seem to be trustworthy, just hear me out. It’s coming tonight!” The man stared at me, his brown eyes were stern and serious. He wore a torn up old green hoody, his jeans bore large holes on his knees, through his thick grey beard I saw he was frowning.

“Get your hands off me you old lunatic!” I tried to pull away, but the man's grasp seemed to only get tighter.

“For in which the second wave,

go down below to find the way,

stay away from the wretched bay,

for deep within the Kraken lays.

But remember to stay within the light,

if not you will fall prey to the dwellers

of the night.”

I stared at the crazed man who just recited one of the worst poems I have ever heard. After a few moments of silence the man released my hand. Right after he let go I cocked my arm back and punched the psycho in the face. The man crumpled to the ground clutching his nose, “You fucking lunatic.” I said, walking back to my station wagon.

What the hell was that all about? Was trying to warn me or something? What did he mean that it was coming tonight? Ah, who cares, probably just some old drunk...

I glanced around at the growing displays of prayer, of people making bank rushes that would almost surely make the markets take a Black Tuesday dive. Maybe they were onto something. Shit, maybe the world was coming to an end.

:[-]:

On my way to work I received a call from my parents, “Hello?” I answered while pulling into the parking garage.

“Hello Isaac.” replied my very cheerful mother, “I’m just calling to make sure you’re still coming down this weekend.” Muffling the phone I cursed, I completely forgot about our get together plans! Taking my hand away from the phone I replied,

“Yeah, I’ll come over this weekend. But could we maybe extend to Sunday instead of Saturday?” I asked, my parents live down over in Bluffton, Ohio. In a small cottage like house by the woods, very nice place especially the small pond full of all kinds of wonderful fish.

“Of course we can, how about your brother Kyle? Is he going to be able come down too?” Finally finding a parking space by the elevator I parked the car. Getting out I answered,

“I don’t know Mom, I’ll stop by his apartment after I finish shopping. But Mom, I’m afraid I’m going to have to go, I just arrived at work and I have a ton of paperwork to catch up on. Maybe we can catch up later or even this weekend.” I pushed the call button on the elevator seconds later it dinged and the two sliding doors parted.

“Well, okay but before you hang up there’s one last important thing I should tell you.” She said her once cheerful voice leaving.

“Eh... What’s that?” I asked.

“You remember Scratchy right?” Scratchy is my childhood dog I grew up with, he’s more like a best friend then a pet.

“Yeah why? Don’t tell me he didn’t pass-”

“No no no Scratchy’s okay... Well I think he is, he’s been acting quite strange lately.” Hitting the sixth floor button on the elevator the doors slid shut and I began my ascend upwards.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked growing uneasy. My Mother sighed

“He’s been growing more aggressive lately, well rebellious is the right term to use. He bit Michael earlier today just because he told him to get off the couch.” Michael was my father’s name. And it hardly surprised me that Scratchy took a snap at him, the old man was never too gentle with my dog.

“What Scratchy would never do that he is the kindest Labrador I’ve ever known!” I said the sliding doors came apart and I proceeded down the hallway. “Well Mom I have to go now, bye!” I hung up the phone and placed it in my back pocket.

“Your Mother making sure you packed your lunch?” My colleague Eric asked sarcastically.

“Stuff it, Eric!” I growled.

“Whoa, just kidding, just kidding.” He raised his hands in defense.

“So how’s your day going?” he asked.

“Well, despite having bland toast, watching politicians scream at each other, being stuck in traffic for almost two hours, having to push through crowds of people, and get scared shitless by a hobo. Life is going pretty good.” I said stopping at the coffee dispenser.

“That's New York for you.” He said raising his freshly poured cup of joe.

“There’s more to it than that.” I said taking a sip.

“Huh? Like what.”

“The hobo who stopped me gave me some sort of warning. He said I seemed trustworthy and it comes tonight.”

“What was the warning?” Eric said adding more sugar to his coffee.

“For in which the second wave,

go down below to find the way,

stay away from the wretched bay,

for deep within the Kraken lays.

But remember to stay within the light,

if not you will fall prey to the dwellers

of the night.”

I recited the poem, even though it sucked it was quite catchy, very hard to get out of your head.

“Wow, really? That shitty poem was a warning?” Eric half laughed. “Probably some old drunk.”

“I also saw a mass group of people in prayer, the preacher was shouting that the end is near.”

Eric sighed, “Ah... Religion. Honestly, I see nothing strange about that at all. Remember Harold Camping, that crazy ass radio show guy who said the world was going to end two years ago? And what about those Heaven’s Gate guys who all killed themselves because they missed their cosmic cab or whatever it was?”

“What about it?” I asked.

Eric shook his head, “Nothing.” Eric was never really a believer, well I shouldn’t really judge at times I had my doubts, but still even to this day I still believe in some type of superior entity.

“Ridgewood, get over here! Tenpenny, you lazy piece of shit, go get to work! I need those papers by Thursday!”

“But Mr Preston, today is Thursday,” Eric pointed out.

“Exactly! Now get to fucking work!”

“Yes sir, Sergeant Preston.” Eric scratched the back of his neck and left. My English boss approached me pinching the bridge of his nose. He growled,

“I can’t wait to fire that no for good piece of garbage.”

“Sir, I believe the way you're supposed to say that insult is that no good piece of trash.” I said sarcastically. Preston shook his head.

“Oh just shut up,” he snarled. “ Well anyways I need those car reports by the end of friday.”

“I thought you didn’t need them till next week!” I said almost choking on my coffee.

“Well I changed the fucking due date okay!” he snapped. I wanted to throw something right now. Partially because of the stiff-lipped bastard breathing down my neck every moment of my work day, partially because of my laziness in the office.

“Now I need you to work your hardest today okay. You’re hard workmanship is the reason why I assigned you this task.” Hard Workmanship!? I don’t work hard I just like to get my work done so I can play Tetris on the computer for the rest of the day!

I sighed and placed my coffee cup back on the table, “Fine, I’ll get to work now.” I said. Preston smiled placing a hand on my shoulder he said,

“I knew I could always count on you Ridgewood.”

“Please sir, just call me Isaac.” Preston grinned.

“Alright, Isaac, now get your arse in there and make me a happy man!” God I swear that man treats me as if I’m his son.

“Alright see you later Mr Preston.” I turned and made my way to my cubicle.

:[-]:

I sighed and laid back in my chair, finally after countless hours of work I have finally completed half of the papers that I need to finish by tomorrow. Lifting up my arm I checked to see what time it was, “11:25, I got about about twenty minutes until need to get home. I’ll finish the rest of the pages tomorrow.” Leaning forward I began playing a few rounds of Tetris on the computer, after about a good ten minutes my phone began going berserk playing Carry on my Wayword Son

Grabbing my phone and checking the caller I.D., I smiled. It was my friend Andrew, a man who always had some kind of story to tell about his most recent exploits and conquests. “Hello?” I answered.

“Bro! Get your ass down to the club immediately!” Andrew said while trying to hold back a laugh.

“Sorry man, I’m stuck at work,” I said “Why are you laughing so hard, did I miss something?”

“You know that bitch Angela Reaves right?”

“Yeah, she’s that slut from High School,” I said going back to my Tetris game.

“Well her and a group of her friends came to the club about a minute ago, and they started ragging on Chris and his girlfriend. Well apparently Angela got the bright idea to call Britney a whore, and no one fucks with Britney, at least not after a few minutes ago. Because Britney stood up and took Angela’s drink and dumped right over her head. Dude, you should have seen the look on her face, just straight up humiliation!” Andrew laughed

“Hah! Well the bitch deserved it. No one messes with Chris and his girlfriend,” I replied, taking a slow sip of my coffee.

“See man and that’s the thing. Chris did nothing! He just sat there and took every blow. It was Britney who stood up for him and herself. See man, me and you need to have a talk with Chris, we gotta show that boy that he needs to learn how to stick up for himself. But also not just for himself we need to also teach him how to stand up to-” A loud explosion erupted from the other line. “What the!? What the FUCK IS-” The phone line cut out. Pausing my Tetris game I brought the phone away from my ear and stared at the screen.

Connection Disrupted...

“What the Hell, thats impossible. This place's Wi-Fi shouldn’t be disrupted!” Seconds later a large explosion caught my ears as a wave of green force shattered the building’s windows flinging me out of my chair, all lights and electronics going out all at once. “Jesus Christ!” scrambling to my feet I stared out the shattered windows staring out into the dark city of New York.

No lights, all cars were shut off, and for once the city was actually silent. Behind me my colleagues approached the windows. Every single one of muttering to each other, others began pulling out their cell phones just to find out that none of them work.

“Was it a power surge?” Asked Eric who came up right next to me,

“I don’t think a power surge would cause explosions and a shock wave of that magnitude,” I said turning back into my cubicle and retrieving my jacket.

“Maybe it was a power plant or something exploding.” Says a woman in the back,

“I doubt it.” I said pulling on my jacket; the lights came back on seconds later, Everyone's attention turned the ceiling looks of confusion crossing their faces. “What the Hell? They got the power on that fast, must be world record or something,” I muttered to myself while flipping my phone back on I realized I still couldn’t get a connection. Shoving the phone back into my jacket in frustration I began to make my way to the elevator.

Passing by the break room, I was stopped by the television screen, “We’ve just received reports of domestic household pets going completely berserk after the recent power outage we just had. Also animals in the Bronx Zoo have also gone ballistic; turning on the zookeepers and owners.” I stared at the television screen raising an eyebrow.

“What in God’s name is happening?”

“Police forces and Animal Control have been called in to deal with the animals,” Just outside I could hear the faint sound of howling and what sounded like bestial screams coming from the streets.

“W… Wait second folks.” A man from off camera hands the anchor man a few papers. “I just received even more reports that the Police and Animal Control are having difficulty containing the feral animals.” Without any thought I turned away from the T.V and continued my way to the elevator.

About a good ten minutes later I reached the parking garage, I ran to my station wagon. After flinging open the door I stepped in and began looking for my keys. “Come on where the Hell did I put those damn things!?” I patted down my clothes but no luck I kicked the bottom of the dash boarded. I stopped my frustration at the sound of jingling keys, looking down I realized I still had my keys in the ignition all day long. Thank God though the car was still off from when I arrived today. 'I really need to stop leaving my keys in the car.' I thought turning the keys the engine roared to life.

I swerved my way through the streets of Manhattan. The streets were packed with panicked people and crazed animals. What the Hell is going on! Reaching down I activated my radio,

“We keep receiving news reports on about regular household animals are going insane and attacking owners and everyone in sight. We’ve also received reports of excotic animals breaching their cages and are now running rampant around the southern parts of the Bronx and the upper parts of Manhattan ” The reporter said.

“I already know that! Tell me something I don’t know dammit!” I cursed swerving past another a person this time barely hitting them. I was stopped by a police barricade at the end of the road,

“All civilians please stay indoors! I repeat please stay indoors!” A cop said through the megaphone. Another officer approached my vehicle he tapped on my window requesting me to roll it down.

“Sir I’m afraid that you are going to have to clear the streets.” he stated.

“But officer my house is just a few blocks away.” I said. The cop raised an eyebrow,

“You mean by Central Park?” He asked I nodded my head.

“I’m sorry son but Central Park and the surrounding areas are a battle ground. I’m afraid I’m going to have to tell you to turn around now before…” A large grey wolf tackled the officer to the ground and began to maul at his face. “Get it off me get it off me!!” He cried. The other cops at the barricade turned to see their comrade pinned to the ground while being mauled to death. Quickly they drew out their guns and began popping off shots, above me I heard the sound of compressed metal popping. Looking up I saw the the ceiling of the car was being pushed down by something. Right away fear took over, I brought the car in reverse and began going back down the road. Putting the car back into drive I did a 180 degree turn flinging whatever was on top of the station wagon off.

The wolf flew off my car like a rag doll smacking the ground with a sickening thud. It howled and yelped in pain, "You mother fucker!" I slammed my right foot on the gas pedal as hard as I could speeding my way towards the crazed creature. There was one last yelp of pain as my car bounced upwards while I went over it.

Alright, I can't get to my house, but there is one more place I can go to, to seek refuge. My brother he lives in southern part of Manhattan, but it's the only other place I have in plan.

On my way there I constantly ran into road block after road block, each one getting overrun by animals. As I was driving my phone rang to my surprise I actually jumped not because I wasn't expecting a call. Quickly my hand flung to my jacket I brought it out. The Caller I.D. had my brothers name on it: Kyle. I answered the phone, "Thank God, Kyle I'm on my way to your apartment right now!"

"Isaac! Please get here quickly, I hear something outside, it's trying to get in here-" A loud bang erupted in the background "Son of a -" The phone cut out again.

I parked outside the apartment complex and quickly made my way up the front steps towards the lobby doors. Around me cries of animals filled the sky it sounded like a jungle out here. Except for the fact that this jungle was made of concrete and metal, I kicked open the door to the lobby. Seeing that no one was at the front desk I guess he or she must've left one shit hit the fan. I ran to the elevator hitting the call button I realized it was out of service. I slammed my hand against the door in anger, "They said they would fix this a week ago!" I turned away from the elevator and made my way to the stairs.

I made my way up the steps by two, luckily my brother only lives on the third floor and not the fifth. I ran down the corridor searching for his rom "Come one 123 A, 123 A" I told myself. "Ah HA!" I said at the sight of my brothers apartments torn down door. In the middle of the room laid a Rottweiler with a splintered piece wood lodged in its windpipe. I covered my mouth at the brutal sight "Kyle," I called out. "Kyle, where are you?" a low moan admitted from the bathroom at the other end of the room. A small trail of blood also led towards the bathroom. "Oh no... Kyle!" I hopped over the dead mutt and ran to the bathroom. "Kyle!" I jiggled the door knob. He must've locked it when he went in there, "Kyle! Oh God Oh God! Kyle! Please don't be dead oh God please don't be dead!" Fear began to overwhelm me, I began to ram the door with my shoulder. After three ramms the door gave way and I stumbled into the bathroom. Blood coated the white tiled floor, leaning up against the bathtub laid my older brother. He was obviously passed out, his right hand clutching the upper part of left shoulder. Blood painted his entire hand his once white polo was now crimson.

His eyes slowly opened, and Kyle took a belabored breath. "Ike... I'm sorry," is all he said before his eyes fluttered shut and he slipped into unconsciousness.

"No! I'm taking you to a hospital right now!" I gently made my way to Kyle, lifting his right arm I laced it around the back of my neck. Raising him off the ground, he released another groan. His own blood began dripping onto me ruining my jacket. But right then, I could have cared less. "Come on Kyle, you're gonna have to work with me here."

New York was in utter chaos, animals roamed freely ranging from tigers, lions, dogs, I even saw an elephant ram a patrol car, flipping it over and scattering the police that had been using it as a barricade. I sped down the packed streets with my wounded brother by my side. His bleeding was severe, just by visually seeing him you can tell he lost a lot of blood. His skin was a pale white, and getting paler with each passing moment and each drop of lost lifeblood. "Kyle, hang in there buddy we're almost there... Kyle? Come on man answer me." Kyle let out a faint raspy moan. I reached over and grasped my brother on the shoulder, "We're gonna get you all patched up man. Just gotta stay with me... Jesus Christ!" I slammed on the breaks at the sight of a rhinoceros ramming a bus. The rhino turned looking over at us, he let out an angry snort and began pawing his right foreleg on the ground, preparing to charge at us. I placed the car in reverse and began driving backwards blindly. The living tank snorted heavily, thundering down the street towards my pathetic excuse for a getaway. At first we were fine, gaining more and more speed. The old Plymouth may not have had the power of a rhinoceros, but for an older car it still had the speed of a cat. We were gradually getting farther away until I slammed into another parked car. "Oh no, no, no!" I yelled, cursing under my breath. I put the car back into drive but it wouldn't move. "Now is not the time to stall!" I roared at the car. The rhino continued to charge down the desecrated street, batting parked cars out the way with each swing of its mighty head.

"Isaac..." Kyle groaned. "I'm sorry." I looked at him in disbelief.

"No..." I said. I reached over planting both hands on him I pulled him towards me opening my side door I dragged him out of the car. "I'm getting us out of here no matter what!" Despite his moans of pain from his grievous wounds, I pulled Kyle as quickly and as hard as I dared towards any kind of cover that would stop such an unstoppable mountain of rage. “It’s not going to end like this!”

And when I said that, I could only remember the warnings that I had seen throughout the day. The prayer circles, the paranoia, how everyone had been ranting about the end of the world. And with that wave of light, perhaps it had flipped Lucifer’s switch and kickstarted Armageddon. Even if this was just some kind of freak zoo escape, it was the end for me.

I clutched Kyle to my chest, hoping to at least die with my family.

But the thundering mountain of death did not come. I turned to see the rhino stopped in the middle of the street. "What the..." But it wasn't the rhino that had confused me the most. Looking down, I realized something was standing in between us. A small quadruped, no bigger than a child, about four feet in height. It was looking at the rhinoceros, seeming to stare down the lumbering beast without fear. Every now and again it would bob its head, as if it were communicating with it. The small horse-like creature turned to me and my brother, and I could truly see why the rhino had stopped in its charge. It looked like something a young girl would imagine up, with a coat of bright colors, a strange mark on its hip, and a garish mane. But what struck me like a fist was when the creature looked me in the eye.

Those eyes, they were nothing like the eyes of a dumb animal. There shined something in those blue-hued eyes, a certain intellect and understanding. A spark of inner fire that just did not shine in the eyes of wild beasts. When that horse-creature looked me in the eye, I saw a soul.

It stared at us for a moment, then it turned back to the rhinoceros. With a nod of the horse’s brightly colored head, the rhino grunted and slowly turned away from us. Taking one more look back at us, the horse nodded before cantering off with its companion. "What the Hell just happened?" I stammered.

If this was the End of Days, then God must have a fucked up sense of righteous fury.

Mobilization

Chapter 2: Mobilization

After a good twenty minute walk, Kyle and I hadn’t come across any more trouble. We reached Gracie Square Hospital, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Civilians and police officers were arriving in droves, some wounded or bringing in their wounded friends or family members. I slowly made my way up the steps of the hospital followed by dozens of others.

Hospital staff rushed through the lobby, nurses checking on patients that weren't already being treated to by the doctors. Others such as secretaries were taking the names of individuals who had to wait.

“Next!” shouted the secretary, I approached the desk my brother still in my arms. The African American woman sat back in her chair looking over her clip board. Not even bothering to look up at me. She slapped down a information paper in front of me, “I’m going to need your name, birthday, and any medical history.”

“I’m sorry ma'am but my brother needs a immediate medical attention.” I said in a rush. The women still didn’t look up at me,

“I’m sorry sir but all individuals must go through the paperwork before getting consulted by a doctor. Next!” I slammed my right hand on the table in frustration,

“No!” I yelled, “My brother’s dying right now, and all you do is tell me to go fill out some fucking useless medical forums!” The women looked up at me obviously by her expression she is really stressed out right now.

“I’m sorry sir but you're not the only that has told me that today. Now please go take a seat.” The women remarked. Pissed off I snatched the paperwork off the desk, looking around the lobby. I saw dozens of people, maybe even a hundred or so. If not all most of them had some sort of injury ranging from broken arms, to gash marks and deep cuts. Reaching to my right to retrieve the pen on the table, I found a nearby seat and got to work.

“Do you mind if I take a look at him?” asked a woman in front of me. Looking up I saw a nurse, dressed in her uniform she was coaxed in blood. Looks like she just got back from doing surgery.

“Th-that would be great!” I said, finally some light is being shined on my day. The nurse crouched down in front of my brother.

“What caused his injury?” she asked.

“A bite from a Rottweiler,” I said. Reaching over she placed her hand on his eye. Spreading apart his eyelids, she flashed a small penlight into his eye.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m checking for pupil dilation, if his pupil shrinks in the light, he’s just unconscious, at worst in shock.” The nurse turned away from his eyes and carefully peeled the blood-stained shirt away from his wound. The wound looked ugly enough to me, but to her, it seemed satisfactory. “No signs of infection. Thank god no signs of rabies,” she said.

“Is that what you think caused all of this?” I said.

“It’s a possibility,” she replied with a despondent shrug. “But right now the chances of it being rabies are really low. The vets at the zoo have to test the animals there for rabies bi-monthly, and an outbreak wouldn’t be this quick. And it wouldn’t spread to every pet in the city without at least a few of their owners getting infected.” We sat in there for in a moment of silence, save for the sound of crying children and the groans of the wounded. Looking away from my brother I looked over at the entrance of the hospital, there stood three soldiers, National Guardsmen to be exact. Two in which looked to be lower ranks talking to their commander or something.

Is it that bad? That they need to actually call in the military? “How long have the weekend soldiers been here?” I asked the nurse.

She glanced over to the three armed men at the door. “They arrived here about a few hours ago, about forty minutes after the power surge. Whatever is going on, I have a feeling that the government might have something to do with it.”

“They aren’t telling you anything?” I asked. She shook her head reaching over and grabbing a thing of wipes she began to clean up Kyle.

“No, they just tell me to go back to what I’m doing, or they just say that’s classified.” For the rest of the time she worked in silence. I sighed, scribbling down what I knew of Kyle’s medical information and insurance.

“Well I’ve managed to stop his bleeding. What about you? Anything I can help with?” she asked.

I gave her a tired smile, but I shook my head. “All this crude paper is finished.” I said capping the pen.

“I’ll take that from you,” she gingerly took the papers out of my hand.

I sighed, “I’m afraid I never got your name.” The nurse smiled to me.

“I’m Nurse Cares, but you can just call me Sarah.” She stuck out her right hand. Which I kindly took.

“Isaac, Isaac Ridgewood.” I said.

“Isaac, huh? That’s a name I haven’t heard in awhile. Well, the Doctor will be with you shortly, Isaac.” With that Sarah left to go tend to other wounded. I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes, breathing a sigh of relief and foolishly believing that perhaps the worst of this horrific night was over.

:[-]:

“Get everyone out of here right now!” A soldier shouted, gunshots ringing throughout the hospital. My eyes instantly shot open my heart racing faster than ever, my ears rang at the sound of the rapid fire shots coming from the soldier’s carbines. Screams of civilians erupted inside the hospital and the began to run from whatever was attacking, I instinctively looked to my left to find that Kyle has gone missing!

Did he run off when the chaos started? No, he wouldn’t leave me behind like this! Also he was wounded and had a large amount of blood loss he wouldn’t have been able to move. At least not until he got some medical attention and some proper bed rest. I heard a scream of a soldier next thing I knew I was being propelled to the ground. On top of me laid an unconscious soldier with a shattered left arm. Pushing him off me I heard a loud roar and the sound of something beating its chest.

“Come at me you damn dirty ape- ARRGH!” Above me another National Guard soldier was thrown. This one slammed into the nearby white wall, for a moment I laid there not knowing if I should get up and run or lay here and wait for whatever was in here to leave.

A deep laugh erupted near the entrance of the hospital, “Puny humans think they can defeat the strong and powerful Kuntchra!” Kuntchra? What the Hell is a Kuntchra? I thought, a large shadow casted over me. What the Hell? “Huh? What do we have here? A sleepy human?” Above me was about a five foot tall silver back gorilla, who beared two large masculine arms. Was he the one that just spoke? Impossible! Animals can’t speak they don’t have the right types of vocal cords that would allow them to speak!

The soldier to my right moaned in pain, “Oh hohoho, it seems the little human is in pain. Here let Kuntchra help you...” Grabbing the soldier by the bottom of his chin the large Gorilla lifted him up off the ground.

“Kuntchra!” yelled a female voice, “We are not here to kill the humans, only to plunder.”

The huge ape groaned. “Aww, but he attacked me with his thunder weapon. Look, he sliced a bit of my fur.” The gorilla complained, patting a small wound on his muscled forearm.

“Think of the Great Mother, Kuntchra. Do you think she would be pleased with you if you killed that defenseless demon? If you kill the defenseless ones, you become no better than they are!” Oh great now we’re being called demons. The gorilla groaned in disappointment tossing down the soldier he let out a cry of pain when he landed on his shattered arm.

“You ponies never let us Primates have fun.” Ponies? What the Hell is going on? Is this some type of animal revolt or something? This literally feels like I’m in a A Planet of the Apes movie or something. The gorilla sighed, turning away and heading away with the pony. I laid there in a few moments of silence. Not daring to move single muscle, as if I move a single millimeter I would die.

I need to find Kyle, the doctors must’ve taken him away for check up while I was asleep. After another few moments of silence I slowly began to climb to my feet, looking around the lobby I noticed how much of a mess it was. Bodies of soldiers and some civilians laid scattered across the floor. At first I feared the worst, I thought they were dead but after another glance I realized they were all unconscious. With a sigh of relief I made my way over the sea of toppled over desks and chairs.

I was heading towards the double doors in the back of the room. That’s where they must’ve taken Kyle, opening the doors just like the lobby this place was a mess. Doctors and nurses laid on the ground injured and unconscious. On the floor in front of me laid a soldier quickly I tried to hold back the urge barth up my breakfast.

The National Guard who laid in front me was dead, his skull had been cracked open by what seemed to be a metal pole which laid next to him. By his sighed though laid a nine millimeter pistol, leaning down I picked up the handgun. I never held a gun before, well not a real one. I don’t even know how use a gun correctly, I didn’t even like those god-awful shooting games that seemed to be all the rage. Well I’d better learn fast, there is no way I’m ending up like this poor bastard. Nervously placing my hand on the trigger, I stalked down the hallway, the barrel of my new weapon leading the way.

Room after room proved to be empty, and I searched for my brother but to no luck. The still silence of this place was chilling, and though there were living people all around me, I felt like this was some kind of horror movie. “Dammit Kyle where are you?” I hissed opening another door and peeking into the patient room, empty! Why are they all fucking empty! Did everyone just get up and leave! I highly doubt it! I pulled the door shut harder than I intended.

“Did you hear that?” An unfamiliar voice said up ahead. Quickly I jumped to the nearest janitors closet. Opening it I slid through the crack in the door and quietly pulled it shut, the sounds of footsteps no it sounds more like a horse walking on marble... What in God’s name!

Slightly leaving the door ajar I peered through the small crack, two horses... no, ponies came into view. Just like the one back in the streets they had a colorful coat and a mark on their rears. The thing though that bewildered me the most was their eyes from a distance they seemed normal but up close. The sheer size of them are just astonishing!

The two ponies looked around the hallway not even bothering to step over the bodies, the two just walked all over them as if they were some sort of carpet. The expressions on the doctors and nurses faces when they were stepped on angered me. Raising the nine millimeter, I prepared myself mentally to attack. I aimed the the barrel right outside the door. Slowly my finger squeezed the trigger.

I wouldn’t do that if I were you...

I flinched at the sound of the other voice. Spinning around quickly I took my eye off the two ponies. Looking around the janitors closet I realized no one else was in here except for me.

“Who are you!?” I hissed “Show yourself!” I aimed the gun blindly around the dark closet.

“It was probably our imagination.” Said one of the ponies outside. Turning my attention back out in the hallway, I saw the two ponies turn around and head back down the hallway. Looking around again to who spoke to me I saw that there wasn’t anyone,

“I must be going insane...” I whispered. Stepping back out into the hallway, I began to make my way to elevator. Obviously my brother wasn’t on this floor maybe if I can reach the elevator I could-

“You there, halt!” My heart stopped for second, turning around I saw three ponies looking at me. What’s with all these freaking ponies! This place is just crawling with them! The pony in the middle approached me, come on me it’s just a horse just take a few steps back and make a beeline to the elevator. The pony raised it’s hoof,

“Commander Flame, it’s just one demon let it go it won’t cause any harm.” The pony in back said she being able to tell by it’s voice was red and had a black mane. “Just look at it, it’s weak and doesn’t even have a weapon there is no point in-” I raised the nine millimeter and fired off a shot into the air. The recoil vibrating my entire arm the shot causing my ear to ring and pieces of drywall falling onto me from the hole in the ceiling. The three ponies flinched and took a few steps back.

With this diversion I turned and began sprinting down the hallway.

“After him!” shouted the pony in charge.

Come on, come on just a little further. I thought sweat pouring down my face, behind me I heard the sound of hoofs, I was never really the best athlete in high school but dear God was I flying fast down those hallways. Rounding another corner I saw the elevator, my heart leaped with joy.

The elevator dinged, what the Hell?

The door slid open revealing seven soldiers all of them wielding M4-Carbines all weapons raised and trained on me. “United States Marine Corps. Get on the ground now!” Shouted the soldier in the middle.

I flung my hands in the air dropping my gun. “I’m not the enemy!”

“I said get on the fucking ground!” Not wanting to get shot I dove the floor. Above me I heard the rapid fire sounds of seven carbines firing simultaneously. Seconds later I heard three objects hit the floor.

“Cease fire! Cease fire! Hostiles down! Fan out inspect any rooms that may contain the enemy!” The sounds of soldiers spreading about inspecting the other patient rooms. In front of me a soldier squatted down, “Alright sir it’s safe to get up now.” Looking up I saw a middle aged man looking down at me smiling he scratched his beard and stuck his hand out to me. “Captain David A. Steward, commander of the Giant Squadron” I grinned and took his hand pulling me back to my feet David looked around the room. “This place went to shit fast didn’t it?” he asked. I nodded my head quickly, glad to see some heavily armed people around who could help me.

“Uh... Captain, what the Hell is going on? Where are all the patients?” I asked. The Marine looked at me and shook his head.

“Son, I don’t entirely know, one moment I’m at home with my wife and that random surge of energy struck. About thirty minutes later I have my superiors knocking on my door telling me they need down in Manhattan. As for the patients before the attack on the hospital we evacuated them to Central park for Helicopter Evac.”

I took a few steps back running a hand through my hair I sighed at least Kyle was safe, is all I could think of. “Do you think you could escort me there?” I asked looking back towards the captain. The Marine captain nodded.

“That’s the reason why we’re here, but by the looks of it,” Steward looked around at all the unconscious civilians, “It looks as if we're going to need a truck. Private Jenkins, radio HQ and ask for a M939!”

“Long range communication is still down, sir!” the Marine further down the hallway shouted back. Steward cursed under his breath,

“Looks like you're the only one who’s going to be tagging along with us for now.”

“Cap’, we got one that’s awake over here!” A Marine said with a slight western accent, he approached us carrying a young nurse in his arms her eyes were slightly open and she was breathing heavily. “It looks as if she was knocked out cold, but she should be okay in few minutes.” Looking at the Guardsman I saw a patch on his arm with the red cross symbol on it, he must be the medic of this squad. I thought looking back over at the girl I recognized her immediately.

“Sarah!” I said running over to assist the medic.

“You know this girl?” he asked

“Please, just call me Isaac, but yes this is the nurse who helped me and my brother before the attack.” I said placing her other arm around my neck.

“Well that’s mighty kind of her,” he said, “Here, lay her down gently in this chair right here so I can check up on her. Here, take this canteen, there’s a water fountain down the hall and to the right. I need you to get some water, can you do that for me, Isaac?” I nodded and took the empty canteen. Before I could leave though the medic shoved a M9 in my hand. “If you see any of those freaks, don’t be afraid to shoot any of em. Now go, we evac for Central Park in twenty!”

:[-]:

I slowly made my way down the hallway my gun aimed out in front, the eerie silence be coming just unendurable. My own paranoia creeping up on me, the silence outside was daunting just last night the sounds of chaos were everywhere but now it has been replaced with this silence...

I found the water fountain the man was telling me about, shoving the beretta in my pocket I jogged up to the machine, unscrewing the cap on the canteen. Large dents have been formed in front of the machine and just below laid a cop who I guess was the cause of the dents. Gently dragging the man aside, I held the open end of the canteen under the faucet, and to my surprise the machine still worked. I pushed the button for the water a loud bang came from the machine but no water. I growled to the unresponsive machine and kicked it angrily. The water fountain groaned, and a spurt of water lazily began to dribble out of the faucet. Holding the canteen under the faucet.

But while I was turning around I was stopped by a pony, instinctively I pulled out the M9 and aimed at the pony. “Stay back!” I shouted, the pony tilted its head like a confused dog, her coat was green, and she had some type of tattoo of a shield on her rear. Her green mane was long and flowed down to her back with few yellow streaks. I stared at the pony for a few minutes trying to decipher why hasn’t it attacked me yet.

Then, finally it spoke, “Don’t fight this.”

I flinched, but her voice was calm and soothing like a mother trying to calm her young and frightened child. But nothing could dampen the mind bending thought that a gaudy little horse was speaking to me in fluent English. “Do not fight this, and if you do decide to fight this, you’ll surely fail.” Then finally it dawned on me, this was the creature who saved Kyle and I the night before.

“Why...” I asked, lowering my gun, “Why did you stop the rhino last night? Why did you stop it from killing us? Why is this happening? What is happening?” The pony looked up at me and said nothing, seconds later she turned and began walking towards the window on the far side of the room. Sunlight seeped through the blinds, and she raised her hind legs and kicked open the window. But before she left, she turned back to me.

And she said to me, “In time, it will all become clear.” With that she dove out the window.

:[-]:

“Alright, I got the water.” I handed the medic his canteen.

“Thanks,” he said, taking the water.

“Did you find anything wrong with her?” I asked, concerned for the nurse who had done so much to help my brother.

“Visible damage is limited to a small gash on the side of her head and some bruises. But she suffered pretty bad head trauma, she could have a concussion.” The medic took the water and poured a bit onto a rag, raising it up to her head he gently brushed at the splotches of blood on her face. The medic turned to me. “Isaac, can you part her hair a bit so I can get to the wound?” I nodded, and approached Sarah. I gently grabbed the silky locks of her hair, parting them away from the wound. It was a nasty cut, and small drops of blood still dribbled from her wound, but it was survivable.

“I never did get your name,” I said while the medic did his work, gently cleaning her wound. Placing the rag aside he pulled off his backpack and began digging through it,

“I’m Private Nigel J. Rooker,” he said while pulling out a medkit. I wanted to offer him a hand to shake, but I knew that Private Rooker wouldn’t take it. The medic was in his zone, and if I interrupted him now, it could end up hurting Nurse Cares. Rooker fished a few gauze pads out of his kit, and he dabbed just a little disinfectant on each one, pressing them down on the unconscious nurse’s wound.

“Well, thanks for saving me back there Nigel. I guess I owe you a drink after all this is over.” The medic nodded to me, engrossed in his duty.

“You’re welcome,” he said distantly. Private Rooker finished cleaning and dressing the wound, wrapping a roll of gauze around Nurse Cares’ cut. Letting out a sigh of relief, Rooker leaned back, having done as much as he could for the nurse. “You know, that was the first time I ever fired my gun,” he said. I stared at him, confused. “Well not at a creature at least. See when I first enlisted into the Marines, I was looking to be in the infantry. You know, be on the front lines, get in the action, earn some medals. Well it so turns out I’m really good when it comes to medical shit. That’s mostly because my mom was a veterinarian and dad was surgeon. You see, everyday when I was little I always asked my father and mother questions about their jobs. Over time these little facts and stories begin to stick with you and never leave you. Well when I took the test to see what position I should be put in for the military. I realized that maybe infantry wasn’t my thing. Yeah, I still wanted to on the front lines, but I also wanted to work in the medical field. So I took up being a medic. And here I am, saving lives instead of taking them. Sending people home in a wheelchair instead of a body bag.”

“Well it seems you have a nice past, but what does that have to do with you never firing a gun?” Nigel leaned back, throwing away the packaging from the gauze and reaching into his kit for another roll of bandages.

“Well you see, sir-” the Marine medic began.

“Please, just call me Isaac.” I hated when people address me like that...

“Alright Isaac, we medics don’t really get to fight. We got move in fast get who over is injured and get the Hell out of there. We hardly fight, I’ve only been on the battlefield three times, counting this.” Nigel finished the wrapping the last of the bandages around Sarah’s head. “I was sent in with the Giant Squadron to retrieve and treat the survivors here at this hospital-”

“We got hostiles inbound to our position!” Shouted an African American Marine who bolted around the corridor stopping right in front of us.

“Shit! That’s impossible, scouts said this area was clear except for the hospital,” said Captain Steward. “And we just cleared the damn hospital.” The Marine took a deep breath.

“Charlie said he would take the rooftop for lookout in case of any enemy sightings. He spotted a whole freaking swarm of them heading this way.” Captain Steward sighed and began rubbing his temples.

“Alright Deshaun go get Charlie and the others, were getting the Hell out of here now!” The Marine nodded his head and sat off to go warn the others. Steward looked at me, his face stern and emotionless. “Alright civi, I need you and Private Rooker there to take that girl and go around back to the parking garage and search for a vehicle we can use.”

“What about you, Captain?” Nigel asked while taking Sarah’s arm and draping it over his neck.

“Don’t worry about me son, I’ve been in the service for almost twenty years I know what I’m doing. Before you go though, when you get a car come around front and honk three times, if we don’t show up in thirty seconds drive to Central Park like a bat outta Hell and warn HQ.” Nigel gave the Captain a quick salute and turned to me.

“Okay Isaac, we’re gonna go as quickly as we can, but as quietly as we can. Enemy forces are likely to be coming at us from all sides, and at any moment I may have to hand her off to you so I can provide suppressing fire. Move from cover to cover, and find a safe spot to hunker down if this turns into firefight. Are you ready for this?” he asked. I nodded my head.

“As long as I get to see my brother by the end of this, yes.” Nigel nodded back,

“Alright lets go parking garage is this way.”

:[-]:

After a few seconds of walking Nigel decided to break the silence. “So what did you do before all this?” he asked.

“I worked for a insurance company, back in one of the skyscrapers.” Nigel smiled while we turned a corner.

“What type of insurance like medical, life,-”

“Car insurance,” I quickly replied. I was not overly proud of my career. There were no good stories that one could tell about the workings of a dull, boring automotive insurance office. Nothing that could compare to Nigel, a man who had probably seen the most brutal and bloody side of human conflict in the Middle East. Nor even like Sarah, who single-handedly saved lives every day of the year.

“Oh... Neat.” We continued on for a few moments of silence. “So did you have girl?”

“What?” I looked over at him confused.

“You know, a special lady waiting for you outside the city. Maybe a gal that you decided to spend the rest of your life with?” I brought my hand up to silence him.

“I know what you meant, you just caught me off guard. That’s all,” I replied.

“So... Do you have one?” he reiterated.

I flashed a quick grin, carefully shifting Sarah’s arm to a more comfortable place on my shoulder. “Well there was this one girl. We weren’t dating or anything we, we more like really good friends.” Nigel nodded in understanding.

“So like friends with benefits?”

“Aw! Hell no! I would never do that with a friend of mine!”

Nigel chuckled quietly under his breath. The Marine medic slowed down as we approached another hallway, motioning for me to hold onto Sarah. I shifted the unconscious woman solely onto my shoulder, and Private Rooker raised up his rifle, carefully peering around the corner.

“Okay, the doors are just down this hallway. Now Ike, we need to be as quiet as possible, we don’t know what could be in there,” he whispered. I nodded to the medic, and he led the way down the hall, sliding back the action on his rifle and chambering a shell. Rooker reached up to his scope, twisting a knob and shooting out a beam of green laser-light that would pinpoint his shots without looking down the scope. We approached a set of double doors at the end of the hall, the bright red lettering above it indicating that this was the entrance to the parking complex.

“So how did you know the parking garage was this way?” I whispered while we slowly approached the door.

“Before I joined the military, this was my hometown. When I was just a kid, my grandma came here, feeling ill and hurting all over. Doctor said it was leukemia, that she didn’t have long to live. Almost everyday I would come and visit her, and after walking around these halls so many times, you start to learn the layout like the back of your hand.” Rooker said quietly. And though I knew he was trying to stay as stealthy as possible, I could see the medic choking up.

“Were you two close?” I asked. Nigel looked over at me before opening the door and nodded.

“She was like a second mother to me, the day she told me she had leukemia and only had a few months to live was probably one of the worst days of my life.” Nigel opened the door revealing us to the almost pitch black parking garage.

“Damn, I can barely see.” I said.

“Don’t worry, I got this.” A few seconds passed a blinding ray of light admitted from the tip of Nigel’s carbine. “Got a flashlight built on this gun, really comes in handy in situations like-” The sound of gunfire stopped Nigel in mid sentence. “Oh shit, alright we gotta work fast find a car preferably one that is big enough to support all of us!”

“Well I can’t search if I don’t have a light!” I stated Nigel sighed,

“Look in my bag I should have a spare!” Nigel turned his back to me so I could open his bag and look in. Shuffling through his bag was extremely difficult due to the fact I couldn’t see shit. The gunfire began grow louder and louder they were probably being pushed back by the enemy. “Come on man we don’t got all day!”

“Well it would help if I could actually fucking see!” I retorted. I reached my hand deeper down and I felt my fingers scrape something that was a metal cylinder. Grasping my fingers around It I pulled out an extra flashlight! “Ah ha!” I cheered.

“Alright you take the right side I’ll take the left!” I ran towards the right side of the parking garage, searching every car it all wasn’t that hard trying to find car. Due to the fact this place was full of cars. It was the matter of fact finding a car that was big enough to support nine people and one you could actually get into which that part was easy because I could just easily break it open.

“Did you find the right car yet!” Nigel called out.

“I didn’t know we were looking for a specific type of car!” I yelled back.

“Well obviously I think a truck would be the best, or a van that could work too!”

“Well you should fill me in on everything before getting to work because I just passed three vans and two trucks!” I shouted.

“Well I thought it would be fucking obvious!” I frowned he had a point there. After a few seconds of silence like literally everything gone silent no more gunfire, no sounds of any animals just a creepy eerie silence.

“You hear that?” I called over finding a nice blue Chevy Silverado.

“Hear what?” He replied, “I hear nothing?”

“Exactly... Do you think they’re okay?” I asked

“Who knows... Maybe they actually drove the animals back.”

“Well anyways come over here I found our ride.” I said taking the M9 and bashing the trucks window open. Seconds later Nigel jogged up carrying Sarah on this back,

“Okay good... Do you know how to hotwire a car?” I asked.

“Step aside I got this. But first take the girl and put her in the back.” Nigel handed Sarah over to me which I gently took her in my arms. Nigel opened the door stepping in he unlocked the back, allowing me to place Sarah inside while he got to work hotwiring. “Ah! Fucking... Argh!” Nigel cursed.

“What!?” I pulled out my recently acquired pistol, fumbling it around in my hands until I had a firm grip on the strange weapon.

“Just... nothing just shocked myself that’s all,” he growled, jamming his finger into his mouth to take the edge off.

After a few minutes of trying to hotwire the Chevy’s engine roared to life. “Whooo! Alright!” We both cheered.

“Alright let’s go get the others!” Nigel slammed on the gas pedal and the truck sped forward. “Alright like Captain Steward said we're going to drive to the front and honk three times if they don’t show in thirty seconds we’re getting the Hell out of- Oh shit!” A loud roar wracked our ears and the ground literally heaved, as a large full grown African Elephant tore down the aluminum garage doors.

“Turn! Turn!” I shouted grasping the sides of my seat.

“I am I am!” Nigel made sharp right turn, turning out of the way of colossus path as it charged. “Alright we’ll just use the southern exit!” The elephant stopped in its charge and turned towards us. It let out a frustrated roar and began to give chase, tipping and flinging cars out of its way.

“Come on we’re almost there we just need a little more gas-” I was stopped in mid sentence by a loud bang, last thing I remember of that moment is the car flipping and me blacking out.

The Truth Behold

Chapter 3: The Truth Behold

My head throbbed, my vision blurred and swayed. My body was sore, what happened? Why am I in so much pain? Why am I not in the truck? I attempted to move my arms but some reason my limbs wouldn’t comply, finally trying to focus on my vision I was finally able to comprehend my surroundings. I was in the middle of the street right in front of the southern exit of the hospital. Fire roared all around me, did the military drop a bombshell on us? I tried to move again this time pain flaring through my body, what the fuck why can’t I move!?

Tilting my head to the side I realized I was pinned under some rubble, oh this is just fucking great! Using all my strength I attempted to lift the rubble off myself, only being able to push a little bit off me in the process. Screaming in agony I dropped back to the ground, gasping trying to regain my strength, I blacked out...

:[-]:

Do not give up young one... It is not your time to die.

“What the Hell?” I was in a black void, all around me I heard the voices of people as if I could hear all of humanity. But this time the voices were anger, sad, and scared, “Who are you!? Where am I!?” I shouted into the dark abyss.

In time, child of man. You shall learn the truth, in time you shall learn the truth of your past...

“Stop speaking in riddles! Just tell me who you are!” I turned around looking behind myself, I looked to my left, right, up and down, trying to find whoever was speaking to me. “Show yourself!” I commanded.

I’m afraid I cannot do that just yet.

The voice actually replied to my command, and I could no longer believe that this was some kind of dream. “Why not!?” I shouted, my voice ringing in the endless void of oblivion. I received no reply this time, instead I heard all the voices around me begin to drift away. A million voices in a million languages blended into one man’s voice. A voice that was shouting my name. Soon I felt as if I was being pulled at million miles per hour back into the waking world.

My eyes flew open I was back in the middle of the road, still covered in rubble.

“Isaac! Fuck, Isaac answer me!” shouted Rooker. I tried to move but the striking pain in my back returned. All I could do to reply was moan in agony.

“Shit! Isaac you’re going to have to figure out a way out of there! I think something blew up a portion of the hospital I don’t entirely know what it was but... shit! It did a pretty good fucking job blowing up the place! There’s some debris separating us I’ll try and figure out a way to get over to you but for now try to seek some shelter. I saw something moving around out there so be careful!” I groaned and tried moving the rubble again this time I succeeded in pushing a large portion of it off my back.

“What about Sarah!” I gasped through the excruciating pain.

“What? You’re going to have speak up!”

“What about Nurse Cares!” I shouted out.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine, she’s just slipping in and out of consciousness. But we have to get moving now. Isaac, if you can, get to the evac point in Central Park, see you on the other side!” With that Private Rooker went silent, and I was alone. I gasped in pain as I shifted the rest of the rubble off me.

In the process of removing the rubble something caught my ears. My eyes snapped to the left, to my left laid a pile of rubble and debris. On top of it all some pieces of rubble began rolling off the side as if it was disturbed. Instantly Rooker’s warning quickly ran through my mind, I began working my way out even faster ignoring the pain. My heart raced, whatever was out there it was stalking me and I don’t like being stalked!

With one final push and cry of pain I threw the last cement block off me, I laid back, finally being able to stretch out all my limbs I sighed with relief. But then another wave of excruciating pain shot through my body. Instantly my hand shot to my side which is what seemed to be the source of my pain, instantly my hand was coated in liquid bringing my hand back to my face to inspect. It was blood... MY BLOOD!

Instantly I felt woozy... I wanted to puke. The world was spinning in a horrible torrent of gut-wrenching agony. The floor felt like it could fall away at any moment, and with the blood freely running down my leg and pooling on the ground, I saw a blur begin to work its way into my vision. I was in shock, I was scared and helpless, like the time when I broke my arm out in woods back at my parents house in Bluffton. I had the bright idea to try and climb a tree in the woods in the middle of the winter. I made it about twelve feet before I slipped on a icy branch and fell. Breaking my arm when I hit, I was alone and I felt helpless, miles from home with no help and the worst agony I had ever known making me weep like a newborn.

But that day in the forest, I didn’t I have anything stalking me. But here, outside the comfort of solid walls, in the middle of an abandoned street in New York, the predators that had haunted mankind’s ancient past had once again decided to regain control over our fears, and each shadow could have contained a slavering beast, waiting for me to succumb to my wound. Taunting the instincts that had been born from thousands of generations of being prey to more powerful animals, the beasts that lurked in the shadows made my heart freeze with fear. There was only one option, I needed to get out of here! I decided to attempt to climb to my feet. I started off well but by the time I made it to my knees I instantly crumpled to the ground. Gasping for air, I knew that I could not stay on my feet.

“Okay, walking is out of the question,” I gasped in pain. But how about crawling?

I sat there for a few minutes trying to regain my breath my composure, I tried calming myself by telling myself everything is going to be okay. After that I rolled onto my stomach and began to pull myself along the concrete, making a few inches every few minutes before having to stop and rest. Blood seeped out of my open wound causing a small trail of blood to form while I began to move. The pain began to become unbearable for me, sweat began to drip off my face and onto the pavement. I was heading towards the nearby carry out store across the street from the hospital, which by the way is at least thirty to forty yards away.

I stopped at the sound of panting, not my own but something else. This sounded like... “Shit!” I exclaimed. I turned to my right to see three Siberian Wolves all looking at me with hungry looks in their eyes. A surge of adrenaline poured through my veins, and my hand dove into my pocket, seeking out the only weapon I had ever wielded. Thank the lord I still had my M9! Thankfully the gun hadn’t been damaged in the blast, and was still loaded with a few rounds. Raising my handgun I readied myself to fire, but I was too slow. The first wolf was on me in seconds, a blur of silver-gray fur that leaped across the gap in a flash of shining fangs and snarls. His long fangs sank into my wrist, and the wolf shook my arm like a rag doll. A stream of my own blood escaped from the wolf’s iron-gripped teeth to spray on my face. I screamed in pain as the beast turned me into his personal chew toy, taking the pistol in my other hand, I began to slam the butt of the pistol between its eyes. But unlike any person I had ever seen get pistol-whipped on television, the wolf didn’t show any signs of passing out, or even that it noticed my frenzied attack.

Bringing the gun back I jammed it into the wolf’s eye and pulled the trigger, the back of it’s head exploded flinging parts of bone and brain back in a spray of gore that painted the pavement red. The two wolves that had stood back while growled and charged me. I screamed and began firing shots randomly, praying that at least one bullet would strike true.

One bullet zipped by, striking the wolf on the left in his back hind leg sending it head over heels into the ground. I aimed at the final wolf getting ready to pull the trigger but when I did the slider flew back but no bullet came out, only leaving me with a lousy click signaling I’m out of bullets! And for a moment, I cursed Rooker. The man may have given me a gun, but he never gave me an extra magazine!

The wolf sailed through the air, spreading apart its lips to bear all of its dagger-like teeth. And with the adrenaline pumping through my veins, it was as if the world slowed down to a crawl, and I reached for the nearest thing by me that I could use as a weapon. My grasping hand closed around a metal pole, and I turned to face the wolf which was only a few feet away from me. I raised the pole in the air like a spear and planted the other end firmly on the ground. Preparing for the worst I looked away.

Shunk...

Blood splattered my face followed by a shriek of pain, but not from me. I opened my eyes above me laid a wolf with metal pole puncturing his chest. Blood gushed from the open wound, the wolf spasmed and shook, sliding down the pole and snapping at my face, trying to end my even in its final moment. Finally, the beast’s body went limp. I dropped the makeshift spear causing the wolf to crumple to the ground lying right next to me. Clutching my wounded wrist I layed back watching the wolf that I shot earlier in the back leg climb back onto it’s other three legs and limp away. Despite how much pain I was in I laughed, I laughed not only because I survived but by the fact that this was the third wolf I killed in the matter of two days.

Isaac A. Ridgewood, Wolf Slayer. It rings like a bell, and it beats the shit out of employee of the month by a long shot!

:[-]:

I don’t know how long it took for me to pull myself up to the curb, but when I started, it had been the small hours of the morning, and by the time I made it the sun beat down on my broken body and bruised flesh. Holding back the urge to scream, I rolled onto my back. Panting like a hot dog on a warm summer day, I used my sleeve to wipe the sweat off my head. Cursing, I rolled back onto my stomach and made my way to the doorway of some small cornerstore, and by the time I crossed the stoop the sun was high in sky. It took me hours to cross that street, now marked by a trail of my own oozing blood, and though I was still bleeding, it wasn’t as bad as before.

The corner-store was a mess. It was mostly looted, and trashed as if a tornado ran through there. Whatever shelves remained that weren’t bare were full of things that were either inedible or too heavy to easily carry away. Breathing heavily I attempted to climb back up onto my feet, placing my knees on the ground I pushed with all my might. Trying to ignore the pain I reached up and grasped the door for support, more blood began to ooze from my open wound. Gritting my teeth I climbed onto my feet, gasping for breath between the rolling waves of pain. I leaned on the door and tried to catch my breath. After a few moments the pain began to subside, I opened the door and stepped in, making my way through the corner-store I began looking for anything that could help me. I made my way behind the counter, opening shelves and looking for any type of aspirin or something that would help relieve me of this unrelenting pain.

What was I doing? Was it wrong to rifle through someone else’s possessions? Was what I was doing considered stealing, though the man who may have worked this counter in days since past, in a world that wasn’t topsy-turvy, may now be just a greasy smear on the street thanks to some ravenous monster that had come only a few hours ago? No, it couldn’t be stealing. Stealing was something that people did when they merely wanted something. I needed this. I never knew I would stoop that low, but I needed something to relieve me of this pain. After a few minutes of searching I found what I was searching for. Opening the bottle of aspirin I took two tablets and shoved the lid over the bottle, I knew it wouldn’t relieve all the pain but it would help.

After searching the rest of the looted corner-store, I filled my stomach with a sumptuous feast of chips and other junk food that they sold there. I was never a man with a complex palate, but right then a meal of cheese Combos and a side of Doritos, and I felt as grateful for the food as I had at any Thanksgiving. The rest I just shoved in my jacket, after that I was on my way to meet up with Nigel and get to Central Park as fast as I could.

:[-]:

The city felt as if it was deserted, empty streets, no one to be seen, quiet save for the few street wars I heard in the distance. The sounds of gunshots and explosions, sounded like a distant war was raging like two armies clashing head on. Even with my nasty wound I kept at a decent pace, climbing over a nearly full block of taxicabs was straining the ragged wound on my side, and I clambered over each derelict vehicle slowly and with no small amount of pained grunts.

I climbed on top of the taxicab overlooking a sea of vehicles that lay before me. Cars that were flung over like children’s toys rested on top of each other. Some bodies of unlucky civilians and soldiers laid scattered about. The sight sickened me to the core. These were men and women that I might have known, people that had lives and families. And it made me angry, whatever was going on just didn’t seem right. Nothing could have driven these animals over the edge like that, nothing could’ve given the animals the ability to organize, to mobilize! And most important, nothing could have given them the intelligence that I saw in the eyes of that mare in the hospital, the speech that she so eloquently riddled me with about my fate.

I stepped down off the ruined taxi and made my way through the see of destruction, again as I limped my way through the destroyed street paranoia began to take over. Every few seconds I would glance over my shoulder to see nothing was following me. My hand rested on my gun, even though it wasn’t loaded I still held onto it. But no matter how many weapons I could have placed upon my person, I knew that they would not drive away that terrifying insecurity that plagued me, nor fend off the unseen eyes that haunted every street and alley of the broken city.

The sounds of the distant street wars began to grow quiet, just to pick up again moments later. In the distance I heard a loud explosion as the ground literally shook below me causing me to stumble into a nearby car. And moments later I knew the source of that ground-shaking explosion as a jet fighter screamed over the buildings of Manhattan, firing another of its deadly missiles at some other target. Moments later a second explosion erupted and the sound of machine gun fire followed and the screams of soldiers shouting commands.

I needed to get off the street, looking around I found an alley way. Quickly I began to hobble my way over to it, to my right I heard the sound of a horn. Not a car horn though, something you would hear in Lord of the Rings or something. Something that signals a charge... Oh no! Looking to my right I saw a large group of animals, most of them being ponies, but there was also elephants, apes, and an entire pack of big cats.

Above me, another jet screamed in from the horizon, letting loose another missile, colliding with the center of the animal forces. A large ball of fire flew into the sky, obliterating the entire street and everything in it. Chunks of asphalt and pieces of torn flesh rained down from the dusty sky, but the creature force had only been stunned for a moment. Tracer rounds flew over my head, the sounds of tank treads going over cars wracked my ears. The sound of metal being crushed and scraped caused my ears to burn in pain. The line of soldiers wasn’t advancing, but the line of creatures down the street was very quickly thundering down the street of broken asphalt. To avoid getting caught between the crossfire of my own people and the rending teeth and claws of the animals, I limped my way down the alleyway as fast as my fresh wound would allow me.

My heart pounded and more blood leaked from my open wound, and with every minute I began to grow weaker due to the lack of blood. My feet began to grow numb and cold, and I decided that I very quickly needed to find a safe place to hide until I could walk. I found a nearby hotel to take shelter in, pushing open the back door I made my way through the abandoned halls, hoping to get away from the coming battle which grew louder and louder as the screams of men and animals joined the cacophony of gunfire.

The building shook with each explosion, pieces of the ceiling fell as the very foundation shook in protest. The windows creaked, and moments later the building released a daunting groan. I needed to get out of here right away before the place comes crashing down, I began limping towards the lobby. Cursing with every step the lights began to dim, the groaning becoming louder and louder. Gunshots and the screams of the soldiers began to reach my ears, and instantly I was filled with even greater dread.

We were being beaten back. The creatures’ charge had overwhelmed their line, and now the US Army was being beaten back by a bunch of escaped zoo animals and police horses!

Next thing I heard was thunderous bang of tank firing it’s main cannon, moments later multiple thunderous bangs followed after. I entered the main lobby, making my way towards the door every step it growing closer my only chance of escape.

But something really unsettling caught me by the ear, the sound of a helicopter's rotors, when it’s going down. Next thing I knew that white light that was coming from the doors was overcast by a shadow. A loud bang shook my ears and the ground heaved causing the windows to shatter and pictures to fall off their mantles. A black mass that was outside was growing closer and closer, I attempted to run but I was too late the downed helicopter tore through the main lobbies doors the blades destroying the walls causing the ceiling to cave in itself. The twirling blades of the downed chopper sliced through the steel and wood structure of the building like a hot knife, and I only saved myself from being filleted by ducking down as quickly as I could. The whirring blades of death whistled inches from my head, and ground to a halt as the chopper lost all power and came to a rest against the back wall. I had missed death by a mere inch or two, but I could not dodge the collapsing building that was right above me...

:[-]:

I slowly opened my eyes, which didn’t help considering the entire area was dark.

“Am I dead?” I murmured to the darkness.

No, I couldn’t be dead, this felt like all the other times I had been on the brink of unconsciousness in the past few days. The air was dusty with debris, and the pain from my wound was real enough. Reaching into my pocket I pulled out my phone, pressing my numb finger against the power button and hoping that it would turn on. Thank God I charged it last night. The light flashed in my eyes practically blinding me, which was the opposite of what I wanted it to do. As I expected, there was no signal to be had, but that wasn’t what I wanted it for. Turning the phone’s screen away from me I shined it around the new area I was in, I was in what looked to be cave made of cement, wood, and glass. I was in the fucking debris of the collapsed hotel! Aiming my phone up I found a large steel I-beam above me, easily holding up thousands of pound of rubble, thank the lord that was there to save me! If not I would be a pancake, giving a nervous chuckle I stood up, keeping a hand pressed on my side trying and to ignore the constant pain. I didn’t really see any sort of light besides that small crack in the wall down over by where the doors should be.

And then I heard it, a noise that managed to sneak its way into my sanctum of debris. A voice that was melodic. And laughing...

What the Hell? I looked around the almost pitch blackness, another round of laughter caught my ear. It was coming from the hole in the wall, pulling myself towards the hole I brought my eye up to it and peeked through. I could see Saint Catharine’s Park. But the most thing that caught was there was ponies everywhere, all were scattered around the small park. They were all chatting and laughing with each other. How was I going to escape! Was the next thought that came to my mind, looking around the rubble I found a metal pipe the tip of it flattened by the incredible force that was dropped upon it. Retrieving the pipe was a bit difficult due to it being crushed under some debris, after a good ten minutes I managed to wriggle it free without causing too much noise. Panting, I sat back up against the wall leaning my head up against the opening, I heard two distinct voices approach the destroyed hotel. One male and the other female,

“Wow...” said the female voice. “Did that flier really cause all this damage?”

“Heh... I am surprised the birds were able to take it down,” the male voice said.

“Sapphire! Falenix! You’re suppose to be scouting the area in case the routed demons return!”

“Yes Commander Kuntchra! Deeply sorry!” Kuntchra! That was the ape from back the hospital! Leaning over I peeked through the small hole, seeing two ponies dressed up in poor excuses of armor. Most of it looked like trash can lids bent and beaten flat, while the bigger creatures wore pieces of car paneling. One was blue and the other was a dark shade of green, both were looking at a large silverback gorilla, a chillingly familiar brute who had a large makeshift metal spear strapped to his back.

“You do not need to apologize,” the large ape said, as he himself seemed to be slightly mesmerised by the crashed helicopter and the carnage it had wrought. “Just go do your jobs, the elementals tell us that we need to move on the human encampment by dawn. Only after we drive them from the city can we unite with the others and prepare for the next push against their armies.”

I heard a gasp from the female pony. “But-but Commander Kuntchra, that’s suicide! We barely even won the last skirmish!” The gorilla growled and pounded the ground with his huge right fist.

“Do not question me, young one, these are not my commands, but commands from on high!” he snapped, the female pony flinched and took a few steps back. Kuntchra sighed and began to amble back towards their own camp, mumbling to himself frustratedly. Moments later the two ponies shared an uneasy glance and walked away, sighing I stepped away from the wall.

Looking back at the metal pipe I began to inspect it, seeing that the other edge of it was flattened due to being crushed. I began to think, I could possibly use this as a shovel and dig my way out of here... Okay that’s a fucking stupid idea! I can’t dig through concrete! I sighed and sat back on the ground wincing I clutched my side. My wound was getting worse and I was getting weaker, I needed to figure out how to patch myself up...

Thinking back to the old shows I use to watch on television about how to survive in the wild, I stripped off my jacket and took off my white work polo. Ripping the sleeve off the shirt I took the torn piece and brought it down to my wound. Gritting my teeth I wrapped the torn sleeve around the wound, instantly drenching the sleeve in blood turning it from a bright white to a dark red. Holding back the scream not wanting to attract some unwanted attention, I finished wrapping my wound.

Taking two aspirins after I finished, I laid my head back against the wall of debris breathing heavily, I passed out.

:[-]:

I was laying in a open field, the sky was clear and the sun shined brightly in the sky. The field was filled with flowers of all kinds of colors and beauty, the birds chirped and the bees buzzed. Everything was so peaceful and tranquil, I smiled while climbing to my feet. I stretched out my refreshed limbs, and I noticed I didn’t have my nasty wound and my clothes seemed to have been restored. I looked to my left, on the horizon, at the top of a hill was a lone oak tree. It was full of luscious green leaves, and the view looked wonderful and inviting. I began to approach the tree, walking through the nice tall grass and slowly ascending the hill.

In the distance I heard the laughter of children, I stopped dead in my tracks looking around for the sound. I couldn’t see anything, save for the open field that seemed to stretch for miles until ending upon a forest in the distance, and beyond them, a cool stretch of rolling mountains. Shaking my head I turned my attention back towards the tree.

The thick bark of the oak felt rough under my fingers, and even in this surreal place, the tree seemed to exude an aura of power, of majesty, and of life.

But something was wrong, the tree’s leaves began to change colors, they went from green to orange and then to sickly yellow, then withered to black. Can leaves go black!? They then one by one began to fall off the branch, slowly drifting to the ground. The bark on the tree also began to change color, going from a dark brown to a nasty pale white. I touched the bark of the once mighty tree, and it crumbled into ash under the gentle brush of my fingertips. The tree was dying, all around me the grass and flowers began to wilt. The soil cracked and became dry, and the world itself seemed to succumb to the spreading poison that had felled this once eternal symbol of life. The sounds of the children I heard earlier were replaced with the sounds of crying. And the cries of the children turned to agonized screams.

And once the earth itself had been tainted by the spreading veil of death, the sky began to change in color. The pleasant and ever cheerful pale blue began to change as fingers of red tainted the sky in streaks of blood. Yet the sun wasn’t setting on this land of death, a pale, distorted moon rose and shrouded the decaying world in an eclipse of silence. In the distance, I heard the sound of a horn. The same horn I heard back in the streets, and to my left I heard another horn yet this one sounded like something from a semi-truck. Turning back to face the field I saw a horrifying sight.

Two opposing armies, one army consisted of human men and women, and the other consisted of ranks upon ranks of ponies standing side by side with creatures that I could only conceive of from my wildest dreams. To my right was Man’s machines; tanks, helicopters, artillery guns, anything that could be used to fight. And to my left stood the army of ponies, clad in golden armor, and wielding shining spears and swords. The creature army stared at the army of Man, their eyes full of pure determination, and that feeling was just as imprinted upon the faces of the human army. They too had the look of hatred, and with a unknown cue both armies began to charge. The tanks fired their cannons, soldiers unloaded their guns into the opposing army. And in their unrelenting volley of lead, entire ranks of creatures fell to the lifeless ground, their blood feeding the parched earth.

Ponies chucked their spears, impaling dozens of soldiers, while the others rammed into the human forces. Clashing into massive melee battle, I screamed at the two armies to stop fighting! The once peaceful field was turned into a massive battle ground. The once luscious grass was replaced with mounds of bodies and flowing rivers of blood. Craters formed in the ground due to the exploding tank shells, I continued to scream and yell, shouting for the fighting to stop. Dropping to my knees I cupped my hands over my ears, trying to shut out the sounds of battle.

“Stop it! Stop it!” I screamed, desperate for this horrendous slaughter to end. “It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream,” I whimpered. “It’s just a nightmare, that’s all, it’s just a nightmare!”

A nightmare indeed.

Said a familiar female voice, a voice I knew all too well from my previous dreams. Everything stopped, literally everything just stopped. As if someone hit the pause button on their T.V remote, all the fighting stopped. Soldiers and armored ponies stopped in mid combat, their embraces of mortal combat frozen. Tank shells, missiles and bullets hovered in mid flight. And everything gone silent, opening my eyes and taking my hands off my ears, I looked around, mesmerized by the image that laid before me... pure chaos.

“Why... Why are you tormenting me with this? Why are you doing this to me!” I shouted to the frozen world.

I do not wish to torment you, child, only to show you the truth.

“What truth? What is there to know? Why is this happening? Who are you?” I began to blurt out questions one after the other. Confused, frightened, I wanted to know the truth but what was the truth, what is this, but what was this? All these questions I wanted an answer to, yet I never got those answers. Whatever was speaking to me seemed to have left, the weird presence I seemed to have felt just moments before seemed to have vanished. Leaving me to the ungrateful sight of a battle which resumed just moments after...

What truth could be found here? Only the truth of the slaughter, of the merciless bane of life and love that glowed in the face of every soldier on this field of battle. Perhaps the truth was not directly here, not in the screams of shells, but in the screams of the children that I had heard so joyously laughing what seemed like only moments ago.

And as the battle turned in the favor of the humans, as the booted feet of my kind trampled down the pitiful revolt of the creatures of the Earth, I no longer saw the faces of men, but the frenzied faces of demons reveling in their victory.

Perhaps that was the truth.

Hooverville

Chapter 4: Hooverville

Drip...

Drip...

I tried to synchronize my blinks with each little drip in the dark, doing anything to pass the impossibly soul crushing monotony. How long had I been here, entombed in this dark and dusty place? Had it been days, weeks, or what drove me mad with indecision, had it only been mere hours? It was almost impossible to tell what day it was, or what time of the day it was. There was only one tiny shaft of light that managed to pierce through the dark, the hole that my impromptu prybar had made. But I did not dare to get close to it, to look out into the world to try and glean even the slightest clue. If I looked out there, would there be an eye looking back, one that would shout that there was a human in their midst?

I only knew that it had been long enough to where my eyes adjusted to the dark, and the sounds of the animal camp that was only a few dozen yards away trickled in through the tiny hole in the wall of debris. I knew that it had been at least five days since the crashing helicopter had sealed me in here. Or, I had fallen asleep at least five times since I became trapped. Each time I lost the battle against fatigue, there was no way of telling how long I slept. And each time I nodded off in this strange world, I found myself in an even stranger one.

Each time I entered the dreams, I was subjected to some new dreamscape that shook my core. But it was not just the nightmares that chilled me, it was the dreams as well. Sometimes I would see things that escaped even the farthest reaches of my imagination; scenes of wonder, moments of triumph, and even moments of the purest ecstasy. But they were always shown in contrast. In a single vision, I would be shown all the beauty of life in all its glory, and in the next vision, I would once again be standing in the middle of the blood stained field of battle, or seeing some terrible vision of anguish in the darkest chapters of human history.

Yet, I always felt the eyes of an unseen watcher peering at me from just out of sight. A mysterious presence that I could only see out of the corner of my eye, yet vanished whenever I turned.

Even if I did not want to sleep, I still needed to eat and drink. I crawled over to the sound of the dripping water, reaching the damp puddle that had formed in a depression on the floor. I cupped my hands, bringing a mouthful of the questionable water to my cracked lips. And with my source of water drained for the time being, I dragged my aching body back to the most comfortable place in my debris-cave. My supplies of cornerstore junk food had lasted as long I could stretch them, and I shoved the last of my supply of Doritos into my mouth, choking them down.

And as I lay there, in that dark and horrible place, hovering between consciousness and the horrible realities of my dreams, I wondered how much longer I could stand this. How much longer I could survive on the meager supplies of food and water, and more importantly, how much longer my mind could survive the loneliness?

:[-]:

I woke with a start, my eyes darting left and right. Why was everything dark!? My heart raced did I bleed out in my sleep!? I began to panic, to reassure myself I shifted my body pain flared. Crying out in pain I quickly clasped my hand over my mouth, remembering where I’m at. I let out a sigh of relief that no one heard me.

Slowly bringing myself to my knees I peered out the small hole in the wall, the world was dark and lifeless the moon shined high in the sky, but that wasn’t what caught my attention instantly my heart was caught in my throat, the camp outside was deserted! What, that’s impossible! Did they get chased out while I was asleep? No I doubt that I would’ve heard some gunfire or something if they did, or would I?

Thinking back to earlier it dawned on me,

“We attack the Demon encampment at dawn.”

How long was I asleep for!? I began to panic again, what if the evacuation has finished and I’m stuck here! Oh God, oh God! Pissed off I picked up the nearest object next to me I closed my eyes and bashed the wall.

Despite the pain in my side, I heard something break. Opening my eyes I looked down and saw that the hole was larger. It grew large enough to fit my fist through it, for a few seconds I glared at the hole with awe.

Shaking myself out of my stupor, I began looking around my now dimly lit tomb. Finding the metal pipe I tossed to the side earlier, I flipped it so the flat tip faced the hole. Bringing my arm back I rammed the flat tip into the wall chiseling my way out...

:[-]:

I slumped back up against the wall, wincing when a snapped piece of wood jabbed me in my back. Shifting over to the right I sighed, three hours have passed and I’d only managed to knock away at least a few centimeters. More light managed to seep through the hole and into my tomb as the sun began to rise and peak over the skyscrapers. Distant gunfire could be heard followed by the sounds of what seemed to me as helicopters. Slowly my eyes began to droop, shaking myself awake I reached into my pocket. Pulling out my phone I went to check the time, pushing the power button the phone wouldn’t comply except for a flashing battery on the screen with a slash through it. Right away I knew all too well I’ve must have been trapped down here for a while. Because last I remember my phone had at least three bars and it would-

A loud explosion knocked me onto the ground followed by a wall of fire, which engulfed the debris that encased me. Right away I began to sweat as the intense heat from the fire began to bake me alive. I need to get out of here! The cave of debris was now lit by a bright orange glow coming from the outside. The sounds of helicopter blades swooped overhead which then came another round of explosions.

Retrieving the pipe once again I began to wailing at the hole in the wall, large chunks with each slam of the pipe flew off as I slammed the wall. Smoke from the fire outside began to fill my lungs burning my insides. I choked and gagged but kept on going.

With the smoke and the fire starting to become unbearable I finally said, “Fuck it!” and dropped to my knees. Forcing my body through the tight space, my vision began to grow blurry my hands burned at the touch of the scorched concrete. I groaned in pain but kept on pulling, through the process I cried out in pain as my right leg was caught by a piece of broken glass slicing it open.

With one final push I felt myself crumple to the ground, coughing as more smoke began to choke my body. The final thing I remember before passing out though was the voice of this unknown man.

“Sergeant! We got a live one over here!”

Then the world went black...

:[-]:

Following the typical nightmare pattern, I was in a rush, speeding down the road in my station wagon. In the far distance a brightly lit cabin sat welcomingly at the top of a hill about a mile or two away. In this eternally dark and dreadful world that had become the home of all my fears and anguish, it stood as a single pinprick of light piercing through the midnight veil. I don’t know why I was heading there. But in the nightmare I felt as if I needed to get there, as if my life depended on it.

My old station wagon creaked and groaned with street that it and I plowed down, searching for a way to that all-hopeful cabin on the hill. While rounding a corner that’s when I saw her standing there in the middle of the rode. I gasped and slammed my foot on the brake, but I was too late. The hood of the bumper smacked into the mare, hurling her back like a rag doll a few yards.

Quickly I got out of the car to check on her, I don’t know why though I got out. It was as if I had no control of my body whatsoever. It felt as if my mental self was sitting back and watching my physical body through a T.V.

But despite seeing it through disembodied eyes, I could still feel the mare’s soft fur under my fingers. I could smell the metallic scent of her blood as it pooled on the concrete beneath her. And I could see her eyes as they lost the spark of life, and the warmth of her body as it escaped into this realm of nightmares.

I let out a guilty breath and sat back, running my hands through my hair. Looking back at the mare I realized something. It was the same mare from the hospital and the streets, why did I keep seeing this one particular?

And more importantly, why did I feel guilty about killing her? She was the enemy, a creature that had probably taken human lives, yet it tore wounds in my heart to watch her eyes be overcast by the grey veil of death.

“IsAAC!"

I jolted at the sound of the invasive voice, this was nothing like the other voice I heard in my previous dreams. Its very presence seemed to rattle the dreamscape, and I cringed as it threatened to destroy everything around me. It started off normal but quickly changed and distorted like a broken record player. I couldn’t make out if it was a man or a woman, but my experience in my dreams quickly told me that it definitely possessed a human quality. I quickly climbed to my feet, looking around and trying to find the bearer of the demonic voice.

Not being able to find the person or thing that spoke to me . I turned my attention back to the dead pony, looking back I yelped in fear and fell back on my behind using my legs to push myself away.

Where there had been a slowly bleeding corpse of a pony only moments before, there was now just an empty stretch of concrete.

“Isaac,WAKE UP!”

I scrambled back onto my feet, my heart racing, this didn’t feel like an ordinary nightmare. It felt real too real, I looked around the area once more. The sea of towering skyscrapers twisted and rotted away into a forest of tall, looming trees. Their sharp and twisted branches grasped at my clothes like skeletal fingers, and a lonely breeze moaned through like the groan of a living corpse. A shadowy black fog began to blow in, swirling around my feet and leaving an icy chill wherever it touched. “Wh-what the fuck is going on!” my voice trembled.

“Isaac,WAKE UP!!”

The demonic voice screeched once more, again threatening to rend and rift this already unstable reality. Looking up I saw a mysterious dark mass flying towards me from between the trees. Covering my head I screamed...

:[-]:

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!” chided a familiar voice, as whoever it was shook me, my eyes snapped open. Darting left and right looking to see if that mysterious dark figure was still out there, I felt the need to run, and to hide again in the safety of the debris-cave. But a steady hand found my shoulder, and held me still. “Isaac, jeez, are you okay? You look like you’ve been through one hell of a trip.” Calming down, I smiled when I saw the friendliest face that I would ever know.

“Speak... for yourself,” I croaked with a dry, raspy voice, looking up at Kyle. It hurt to speak, my voice felt as if someone took a large sheet of sandpaper and rubbed the inside of my throat raw. Bringing a hand up to my throat I raised an eyebrow and looked at Kyle, not much had changed since the last time I saw my brother. Except for the new clothes and the bandage they had wrapped around his shoulder, he was still the mischievous guy who had plagued my younger years with wet-willies and taught me how to hit on girls.

And it was at that moment that all the damage that had been done to me seemed irrelevant, and I launched myself up from the sterile cot, wrapping my weak arms as strongly as I could around his shoulders.

Kyle smiled, giving me a pat on the back with his good arm. “Wondering what’s wrong with your voice?” he asked. I nodded and slowly sank back down into the comfort of the cot. “Well the Doctor said the soldiers found you down by St. Catherine's Park. Just a stone’s throw from where the military was performing some bombing runs on those bastards out there. They say you’ve got throat burns like a Viet Cong insurgent on the wrong end of a barrel of napalm. Well anyways,” He said handing me a glass of water, which I took rather greedily and began chugging it. “Whoa! Slow down there, Flash! Don’t want to drink it too fast,” he said, tipping the cup back, I frowned and glanced over at Kyle. “Sorry, but anyways what I was saying was Second Lieutenant Rodriguez found you lying just outside the hotel.” I nodded my head making a mental note to thank this Rodriguez fellow if I ever see him.

Taking my gaze off Kyle I glanced around the room taking in my new found surroundings. I appeared to be in a tent surrounded by cots and medical cabinets, to my right was a row of wounded soldiers. Most with bite marks and gashes, I even saw a soldier in the back getting an arrow surgically removed from his right shoulder.

“Where... Am I?” I wheezed, looking back over at Kyle, my brother smiled and stood up from my bedside.

“I’ll show you,” he said as he leaned down to help me up. Kyle gently grasped my side, slowly lifting me out of the bed. I awaited the imminent flash of pain from my wound, but surprisingly, my body didn’t ache or flare in pain, it probably had to do though with the amount of morphine they probably pumped into me.

“Hey! What are you doing, all patients must stay in bed until cleared by the doctor,” said a woman from behind us. Kyle wrapped my arm around the back of his neck. Turning towards the nurse who was just in military attire, she also wore a bandage around her forehead. Kyle raised his right hand.

“Don’t worry miss, it’ll only be for a few minutes. Besides, he’s taking up room that someone with a real problem could be using,” he said jokingly, giving me the kind of tough time that made me look like a whiner and a hypochondriac, despite my poor condition. The nurse shook her head in protest.

“I’m sorry sir, but you need to let him down now. I just don’t want to cause any problems, now please put him down.” Kyle shook his head,

“I’m sorry Ms Cares, but please this is the first time in a week since I saw my brother.” My eyes grew wide, I’ve been out for a week!? Impossible, that’s just... Impossible. I rested my head in the palm of my right hand.

“Isaac are you okay?” Kyle asked looking down at me,

“Yes... Just in... Shock.” I said.

“See, Kyle he isn’t stable enough to even speak yet. Now please just set him back down.” Kyle rolled his eyes, carefully shifting my body to ease me back into the cot.

“Fine, just give me a sec-” The flaps of the tent flew open as four soldiers followed by three medics stormed in, carrying three stretchers which held a few wounded soldiers.

“Make some room, we got injured here!” shouted a large built African American man who held a large light machine gun. Instantly Nurse Cares snapped back into her “Zone” and got right to work.

“What’s the cause of injury?” she asked, walking along side the soldiers.

“Same damn thing as always, bite wounds,” said one of the medics, “We were down in the subway tunnels about an hour ago during the cleanup operation. We were unable to see what attacked us, all the lights were out and the entire area down there is pitch black. Whatever it was though it was extremely fast...” Kyle tugged me to the side, pulling me away from the conversation.

“Come on Ike, let’s go for a walk while Commandant Cares isn’t looking.” I looked up at Kyle, raising an eyebrow. Kyle tilted his head towards the flaps on the tent, and I nodded in understanding. To be honest, I didn’t want to be cooped up in a bed all day, I’d rather take a walk around outside and get the breath of fresh air that I had been craving for a long time. But honestly, even if I didn’t look like it I was actually the happiest man on the Earth right now. My brother Kyle was actually alive and well enough to be giving me that older-brother-routine, Nurse Cares was okay and she seemed to have gotten a role in being a nurse for the military right now.

“Alright Isaac, welcome,” Kyle reached out and grabbed a hold of the flap pulling it out wide I was blinded by a white light, “to Hooverville.” My brother held out his hand as if showing off a great marvel, seconds later my vision cleared to see a bright lit world of large green military tents. Men and women of all ages roamed freely amongst the sea of military tents, some standing around blazing barrels like the proverbial hobos that had once filled New York. Hardly any of them though looked happy, and it was a heart-wrenching sight despite the clear skies and bright sun.

It felt as if all the spirit and the fight in these people had been sucked clean, and save for the quiet murmurs and whispers I heard, everything was silent. I looked over at Kyle, confused. “You never paid attention in history class,” he said in response, giving me a nudge to my sore ribs. “We’re in Central Park.” I raised an eyebrow, even more confused.

“I... I thought Central Park was evacuated? Like the rest of the city,” I forced out, my throat was starting to lay off me and every minute it was becoming easier for me to speak.

“Well...” Kyle began but was cut off by the large African man we seen earlier come out of the tent.

“We put an end to the evacuation two days ago,” the Marine said. “Ever since we found a way to sniff out the sons of bitches with a spectrum scanner that we used to use to snoop for dirty bombs, now we find those fuckers wherever they hide and blow them sky high without puttin’ a boot on the ground.” He took a moment to gaze out over the camp, seeming to be somehow satisfied with the way things were turning out. He turned back to my brother and I. “Name’s Lieutenant Ronald Bell,” he said, sticking his right hand out to me, which I firmly took.

“So I take it we’re winning the battle then?” I asked, and Ronald laughed in response to my question.“Winning? Shit, did the Texas Rangers just ‘win’ against the Orioles? Wiped the floor with ‘em is more like it. Those bitches never saw us coming. Just a week ago they thought they could attack Hooverville head on, all we did is place a few omega detectors along the streets, and the main artillery would make it rain whenever a detector started chirpin’. They ran with their tails tucked between their legs.”

“So you’re saying you guys actually developed a scanner that can detect where each and every one of these animals are?” Kyle asked. “What, is it like thermal censoring or something?” Ronald shrugged and began walking,

“I don’t know the real specs of the detectors, I’ll tell you what I know while we walk.” Kyle nodded and we began walking with Ronald. “The detectors have a technical name that’s twenty words long or something like that. Honestly, I have no Idea how the damn things work, like I said before, soldiers on deployment in the Middle East used to use those suckers to sniff for yellow-cake uranium that terrorists were trying to use to make dirty bombs. The corporation that made ‘em tried to pitch ‘em as a Geiger counter, a FLIR system, and a spectrum analyzer all rolled into one. Couple of scientists far out west found out that these bastards have a special type of energy that just tickles the omega detectors pink. Ever since they spread the word on how to fight them, we’ve been kicking ass.” He said as we walked out of the town of tents and into clearing that was filled with helicopters, tanks, cannons, and other weapons of destruction.

The dream about the war between the creatures and man flooded back into my mind, the face of the marine at the end of the battle flashed before my eyes every time I blinked. In the back of my head I felt a migraine begin to form, clutching my forehead, I requested that we should take a break.

Kyle sat me down right beside one of the transport helicopters. “Is everything alright with him?” Ronald asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine... Just got a real bad headache that’s all.” I said, running a hand through my hair.

Kyle smiled and reached back into his back pocket. “I got something to take the edge off for you.” And he grinned madly as he pulled out a bottle of vicodin.

“Where the Hell did you get those?” Ronald snapped.

“Okay, I’ll admit, I smuggled them from the pharmacy down the street. On the last scavenging trip.” Kyle said while unscrewing the cap, he took out two tablets and handed them over to me. Ronald sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose,

“My God man do you know how pissed my superiors are going to be when they find out, that someone has been smuggling supplies.” Kyle sighed and looked up at him,

“Don’t worry man I only took this one, the nurse told me that Isaac might wake up soon. So just to be prepared I went and got him these. Besides, it’s not like they were doing anyone any good just sitting behind some counter.” I popped the two pills in my mouth, sighing I tilted my head back and rested it on the back of the chopper.

Looking around at my surroundings, it wasn’t much besides the vehicles and trees. But there was one thing though that caught my attention, soldiers, dozens of them. They surrounded the distant helicopters, working in teams as they removed some black object with a large dish on the end out of a padded crate. I yawned as the powerful opiates began to work through my system, and I looked up at Ronald.

“What are they doing to those choppers?” I asked pointing over at them. Each engineer struggled to lift the heavy looking device as they bolted them to the underside of each helicopter.

“Oh, them? They’re mounting the omega detectors. We just got a new shipment this morning,” he said. “By the way things are going, I’ll bet you all of this will be over within the next week.”

Visions

Chapter 5: Visions

It had been three days since I’d arrived at Central Park, (Or Hooverville as the soldiers like to call it.) Well, a week actually, but I had laid comatose in that cot for days, recuperating my strength and healing my wounds under the strict and watchful eye of Nurse Cares. I’ve found a journal just recently at the supermarket down the street. It’s nothing much, just a black, five-subject notebook. But due to the lack of nothingness going on I decided that it might be a good way to clear my mind and write about what’s been going on recently. Just this morning I was able to fill in at least twelve pages of information about the day this all started. Honestly now that I look back on it I actually have a talent for writing. Probably because of all those years of working at the office I was actually able to increase my writing talent.

And I must say, this writing shit has actually put me in a better mood. But something else has been bothering me recently. My dreams... they seem to be getting worse. More vivid, more violent, and far more real. Just last night I had a dream that I was looking through the eyes of a girl, one who had lived years and years ago, during a darker time in this world. A young girl to be exact... She... She wasn’t even around thirteen years old... She... God I don’t really even want to talk about it... She... she was just a schoolgirl from Poland, with good grades, and so much promise and potential. But then they came, thundering from the west, raining bullets and shells like a hurricane of hellfire, trampling everything under the treads of their tanks and the stomp of their boots. They came to her door, and broke it down. And the next scene, it became too evil for me to ever comprehend in the hearts of men. They raped her, over and over again. Three Nazi soldiers, standing over a broken and abused girl, smiling in a wicked way as they each took turns. A young girl! God, it was probably one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Even though I couldn’t understand her pleas I knew... I knew she was crying out for them to stop... I knew she was crying to God, begging for it to end... And that’s what happened... It ended. It ended with a bullet going through her head.

I watched as that bullet erupted from the barrel of that pistol, and buried itself between my eyes. Her pain, her humiliation, the death of her innocence...

I don’t know why I was dreaming this... I don’t know why, I don’t know why I’m being tormented with this, with these images and dreams. But that wasn’t the end of it, after that I was back in that same field! The one overlooked by the dying oak, standing vigil over the same field caked in blood and bodies, the same faces of the same soldiers.

Those soldiers were not human! Those soldiers beared the faces of a monster! A demon that was forced out of the pits of Hell, a demon driven by the thirst for blood. One that would do anything to kill and kill again. And time and time again, I felt her watching me... She speaks to me in my sleep. Tells me that I am the bringer of light, equality, happiness. And I don’t even know what she is talking about, I don’t even know who she is!

Every time I ask all she tells me is, In time, child of man, you shall know your destiny. and that doesn’t even relate to the question I fucking asked! I’ll then proceed to ask her what she is talking about. But’s already it’s too late, because she already left. I then would sit there in that blood drenched field, waiting for myself to wake up.

Going over repeatedly in my mind what she just said. After what felt like a lifetime I would finally wake up. Covered in sweat and panting like a dog that just finished running a mile... And still in my mind, I hear her voice. I can hear the voices calling to me, telling me that it’s almost time.

Time for what? She tells me it’s going to happen soon, that on the tenth day on the first day of spring at noon, they’ll take to the skies... What the fuck does that even mean? Resting my head in the palm of my hands I sighed.

“Am I going mad?” I murmured to myself. Nightmares of people and places I could never have seen before, whisperings of dead voices, the feeling of a presence in my dreams. I have heard of people that were called crazy for less.

I placed my pen back in the coffee mug, closed my journal and placed it back in my new backpack. Pushing my chair back away from my desk I switched off the lamp. Lately Hooverville had been having some issues with power outages. So we had been told to cut back on power and resort to these very shitty battery powered lamps. I stood up and slung the bag over my shoulders and made my way outside.

It was around six o’clock in the afternoon, about three hours away from curfew. I began making my way towards the medical tent to get to work and assist Sarah. After that I have night watch for a few hours. I would then go to bed, suffer from possibly another nightmare, wake up go get some breakfast. Work on the perimeter, have a two hour break, then back at the medical tent.

Lather, rinse, fucking repeat.

I haven’t even been here for a week and this shit is fucking boring as Hell, God I can’t wait to return to my apartment. Yeah I’ll admit this is better than being stuck in a office being bitched at by your fucking British boss. Oh yeah did I mention that, that cocksuckers here too, oh fun for me!

After a brisk walk from my tent, I reach the medical bay in about a good two minutes. I fling open the flaps on the tent and I see Sarah treating to a few wounded soldiers. Ever since the scanner thing been brought into the battle, in over one day we’ve been receiving less and less wounded soldiers. Every now and again I would hear the sound of an exploding Valkyrie missile, and already I can tell they found another group of those surgelings. (That’s what the soldiers been calling the creatures for fun.)

“Oh good, you’re here! Quickly, go over to the medical cabinet and get me the rabies shot!” Sarah said, with a bit of panic in her voice. A soldier in the back hollered in pain.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Oh nothing serious, this man might be suffering from a nearly incurable infection, but other than that, everything’s peachy!” she growled sarcastically. “Quickly will you!” she snapped, without any further questions I turned and made my way toward the cabinet. Taking the key I opened the cabinet and began rifling through the medicines and other drugs,

“Morphine no, vicodin no, penicillin no-”

“Would you hurry up he’s starting to go into cardiac arrest!” Sarah ran over to the soldier in the back who appeared to be having a seizure.

“I’m trying to but I can’t seem to find it!” I said looking back over at Sarah.

“Bottom shelf on the right, just below the chlordiazepoxide. Two over from the amoxicillin!” I bent down onto my knees and grabbed the syringe and the rabies vaccine. Sarah jogged over to me and took both items, running back over to the soldier she quickly took the needle and filled it with the drug. Grabbing the soldier by the arm she injected him with the needle and jammed her thumb on the plunger. After that she cleaned off the needle and filled it with sedative and did the same thing, this time though causing the man to calm down and slowly fall unconscious.

All I did that entire time was stand back and watch, like I usually do, watching Sarah save life after life. Sarah sighed and sat back in the stool right beside the soldier’s cot, gently dabbing his forehead with a cool rag. She looked up at me and smiled.

“So, how’s your throat holding up?” she asked, checking over another soldier in the cot to her left. He was another who also seemed to be suffering from the same problem as the previous one, bite wounds. But not no ordinary bite wounds though, these ones seem to be infecting dozens of soldiers who come here. Rabies, but again, this was no ordinary case of rabies, men come in with foam spewing out of the corners of their mouths like a rabid dog. They would thrash around violently, just a day ago I saw Dr. Reynolds get bashed over the head by a delirious soldier who was screaming hysterically. Took three other Marines to contain the poor bastard so Sarah could give him a sedative. Dr. Reynolds also needed to get stitches.

After we were able to calm the poor lad down after he awoke, we began questioning him on what happened down in the subways. The man began shaking like a leaf on a tree, his voice trembling with every word, all he told us was, “I-I-I d-d-don’t know... P-p-pitch B-b-black!”

I smiled and looked down at Sarah, walking over to the water dispenser I answered while pouring myself a cup, “Still a little scratchy, but it’s holding up, how about that head of yours?” I gestured my cup towards the bandages on her head.

She grinned and gently rubbed it. “A headache or two, but with a few tablets of aspirin I’m usually fine.” I pulled up a chair and sat down.

“You know, I don’t think I ever thanked you for helping my brother and I back at the hospital.” I said, crossing my arms. Sarah smiled, and I could swear I saw a hint of a blush rise on her cheeks.

“You’re welcome Isaac, it’s been a pleasure helping you,” she said. Grabbing a hold of a clipboard Sarah began jotting down words.

“What are you writing down?” I asked out of a healthy sense of curiosity.

“Nothing important really, just the daily reports,” she said with a few taps of pen on paper. I nodded, knowing that these military boys wanted everything recorded, from stitches sewn to bullets fired.

“I take it not much happened before I got here?”

Sarah nodded, never looking up from her latest patient report. “It’s been quiet lately, don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I want for there to be more action,” she said, glancing at the cots full of wounded soldiers out of the corner of her eye. “I like this job, but I feel like I could be doing more for more people if they’ll re-assign me somewhere else, somewhere like Trenton or even farther out west. But they just say I’m the best they got.” Sarah finished jotting down her reports and looked up at me.

“So Isaac, what’s your outlook on what’s been going on?” she asked, I recoiled back at the question. All at once, the night of the Surge leapt to the forefront of my thoughts, and of the simple life that had been torn from my hands when the lights went out and when the animals learned to speak.

“Eh... Well I-I don’t know... I want to say that I’m taking it all in stride. But I... I don’t like it. I hate it.” The nurse seemed honestly intrigued, and she continued to press down this path.

“What do you mean by ‘you don’t like it’?” she asked me gently. I began to grow confused; first she asks me on what I think of this whole prison break, and now she’s asking me to clarify? What is this, some type of therapy session?

“Well it’s just that, these creatures are attacking us. They hurt and almost killed my brother, and you! Even myself! Every day since the goddamned Surge, we’ve been hunted and attacked from every side! If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been trapped in that godforsaken hotel! If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have almost lost my brother!” I began to grow angry, “If it wasn’t for them I would still be in fucking work right now, getting bitched at by my boss and being annoyed by my co-workers! I would’ve been able to visit my parents last weekend in Bluffton! I would been able to see my dog again, my Mom, my Dad. We could’ve had a cookout!” I got up from my chair and ran a hand through my hair. “I would’ve been able to say, ‘I love you’ to them...” I whispered, the thoughts of my parents coming into play, “I don’t know if they’re alive or dead... I don’t know if they’re safe or in danger... I don’t even know if I’ll be able to see them again...” I sat down and rested my head in the palm of my hands. Taking a deep breath I ran my hands down my face and looked up at Sarah who seemed to be shocked by my outburst.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, looking away. “Just... just a little stressed out, that’s all.” Sarah shook herself out of her stupor and gently laid a hand on my shoulder, trying to console me.

“It’s alright, it’s okay, you’re among friends here. You’re in a safe place here. It’s good to let out your emotions. It’s good to let them out. It’s a terrible thing to just bottle them up and let them fester, because if you did at some point you’d snap. It’s not good to keep your emotions bundled up.” I stared at Sarah, bewildered and distraught. My emotions threatened to boil over, and I wanted nothing more than to just go out, grab a gun from the military’s armory and hunt down the monsters that had ruined my life and threatened everyone I cared for.

But the sight of Sarah’s caring and concerned eyes tamed the rage, and I slowly sank back into my seat.

“Why are you asking me this?” I asked. Sarah shifted her chair closer to mine, and slowly explained it to me.

“Well, before I became a nurse, back in college I was minoring in psychology. It was my contingency plan, to be a psychotherapist if things didn’t pan out in medicine. I knew I wanted to help people, that it was my life’s work to make other people’s lives better and happier,” she said.

“But doesn’t a therapist get paid more than a nurse? I mean, any other person would have just gone for the higher salary,” I said with a small chuckle. I didn’t know what it was, but something in her voice just seemed to drive away my anger against the Surgelings. Maybe it was the calming feeling of having another person who could understand my troubles and make them seem small, maybe it was just the way she said it. But whatever it was, I thought for a moment that maybe Sarah should really have being being a psychiatrist another thought or two. But the nurse just shrugged.

“I don’t know, but what I do know is I prefer being a nurse,” she said with a laugh, I nodded and leaned closer, waiting to hear her story. “Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a doctor, to make my mom and dad proud by saving lives and making sure that no family would be separated by tragedy and be hurt.”

And what I said next had to be said, I had to ask. “What about you? How are you holding up in a world that’s trying to kill us?”

The nurse’s eyes drifted to the floor, and I could tell that she felt as much pain by looking out at the city that had been her home, being bombed by her own government to destroy the swarms of creatures that had been thoughtless animals days before.

“I... I try not to think about it like that. I hear so much from those soldiers about how they think this is the first sign of the apocalypse, that what we’ve seen is only the first taste of things to come. To be honest, I think they’re right. I worked the night shift at a hospital, and all the crazy stuff happens after the sun goes down. I know that things can only get worse right as they seem to get better. How a patient on the recovery from a major surgery will always throw a clot, or when a man with fading chest pain suddenly gets a myocardial infarction. When a newborn baby suddenly turns bright orange because of kidney failure.”

“Wow,” I murmured in disbelief. At this point, I didn’t know what job would have been more merciful to the poor woman. As a nurse, she had to see the physical pains of the world, and as a psychiatrist, she would be charged with stitching the mental scars that the darker parts of society had rent.

“But,” she continued, her voice gaining in strength. “I know that this isn’t all bad. If this is anything, it’s a wake up call. All through my career I’ve seen men and women hit the absolute bottom. Drug addicts who OD, obese people who’ve just had a heart attack, people with a strange lump that turns out to be cancer, I’ve seen them all crash. And when they’re lying there in that bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering where it all went wrong, they all have the same look on their faces. It’s a mix of resignation, a little confusion, maybe just a bit of fear. And when I walk through Hooverville on the way to my tent, I see that look on every downcast face of every refugee. And whenever the person who hit rock bottom looks up, they see the light. Every time, they look up, and see that their future can be brighter. They realize the error of what led them down so far, and they get a new lease on life. Maybe after this is all over, maybe everyone out there in Hooverville will look back and realize how lucky and precious their life really is.”

“Wow,” I murmured again. “That was... deep. Almost kind of beautiful.”

Sarah smiled meekly at my comment. “My grandmother was a nurse too, and when I was a little girl she would tell me all the stories of the ER that she had lived through. She was a very devout woman, and she told me that God looks down on humanity with regret, because He made humanity with a wound in their souls that could only be overcome through trial. And I look out there, and I see impossible things like a horse that talks like you or me and a gorilla wielding a parking meter like a club, I’m starting to think that my grandma was on to something. Something like that could never come about naturally; something bigger, smarter, and a hell of a lot stronger than us has to be at the reigns of it all. Maybe God really is testing us, pushing us down to rock bottom so that we can look up to see hope again.”

Maybe God just got tired of all our shit, I thought to myself.

A silence came over the medical tent, one that was only broken by the moans of deliriously fevered soldiers in their cots. And as I considered that statement, that perhaps it was all some kind of divine test, it chilled me with how much it made sense. “If you don’t mind I’m going to go use the restroom.” The nurse gently chuckled under her breath.

“You go do that, I need to check up on Jacob anyways. Again, thanks for the help,” she said, standing up and walking over to another marine in the back. I nodded and began heading towards the out house.

:[-]:

Fumbling with the lock on the outhouse door, I cursed to myself. “You gotta be fucking kidding me,” I muttered while ramming it with my shoulder. The door didn’t budge an inch. “Oh come on!” I growled, after giving it one more slam the door flew open and I stumbled out falling into a mud puddle. “Fuck!” I shouted, hastily climbing to my feet.

I heard a distinctive familiar laugh coming from behind me, and instantly my face grew red in humiliation. “Oh the look on your face!” I got up and turned towards Kyle who was holding a video camera.

“Real mature Kyle, real mature. How old are you? Five?” I asked almost slipping in the mud again.

“Twenty-eight,” he chuckled sarcastically. “Come on, the camera loves you! Give us a smile, baby!” I scowled at his shenanigans. “Oh! Bingo, that’s the look! You’re a star! Once the internet comes back, you’ll be the biggest thing since lolcats!”

“Smart ass.” I said trying to swat the mud off my pant legs. After a few smacks I gave up, looking up at the camera Kyle was carrying I raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the camera?” I asked, straightening out my back.

“You mean this old thing? You don’t remember this?” he asked, closing the the flip out screen he unslung his bag and gently stuffed the camera inside. “It’s my old camera I got back when I first started doing journalism, just think about how much money I’m going to earn for covering all of this.” A smug grin crossed his lips as he walked towards me and planted a hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to be rich, Ike.”

I smacked his hand off my shoulder and scowled. “We’re going through a crisis situation, and all you can think about is money?” I shook my head and turned away from Kyle. “People are dying out there! New York is a goddamned war zone!” I said gesturing my arm out towards the city, Kyle sighed and looked out towards the city. “These people are scared and confused, and all you can think about is how to exploit that?!”

“I know Isaac,” He said growing quiet. “But you heard Lieutenant Bell, we’re winning this battle. He even said it himself that all of this is going to be over in a week.” Images from my nightmares instantly began flooding back into my mind. The face of the Polish girl, the Nazis,the dying oak over the field of battle, and finally that mare...

On the tenth day on the first day of Spring, they shall take to the skies.

I grasped my head, a migraine raging in the back of my head. “Shit Isaac are you okay!?” Kyle shouted, dropping his camera bag to come to my aid. I stumbled back, my back hitting the outhouse. Images of war, destruction, fires, rape, all the horrors humanity has ever committed began flooding my mind like strobe light at a nightclub.

“NO! Get out of my head!” I screamed, voices of all languages began shouting out my name. “NO! Shut up! Leave me alone!” I slammed my elbow into the outhouse, flailing about as the visions of the dark past assaulted me. Kyle raised his hands while he approached me.

“Isaac you’re scaring me man, what the fuck is going on?” I dropped to my knees, cradling my head. My skull felt as though a hundred hammers pounded a hundred nails into my very bones. My temples throbbed, as if every vein in my head was pulsed with liquid fire. I writhed on the ground, screaming at the pain. But the pain was only momentary, it was the images of horror that came with them that forced the tears from my eyes, and would haunt me to the end of my days.

“Why are you doing this! Why do you torment me with these images!” I screamed to the force that plagued my mind with such visions of monstrosity and terror.

“What are you talking about Isaac? What images?” Kyle got to his knees right next to me.

I am only doing this to show you the truth, son of man. I do not wish to harm you in anyway.

I stopped, it was that voice... The one in my nightmares, the one I heard at the hospital. “What do you want to show me?” I asked out loud, Kyle stared at me confused.

“Ike, you’re scaring me. Please man, just tell me what’s wrong!” he pleaded.

I wish to show you the horrible deeds your race has committed.

“Why?” I asked. “Why are you doing this to me then?”

The only way you can complete your task, you must know the truth first. Know that you are not alone in this task, that there are others across this world charged with the same mission.

“What task? What do I need to do to end these horrible images?” I asked.

Light, Equality, and Happiness...

With that the voice faded away, “Ike w-who the f-f-fuck were you t-t-talking to?”

:[-]:

Kyle sat the tripod on the ground and mounted his camera to it. He stepped behind the camera, fiddling around with the focus, debating whether to use an auxiliary light source or not. He opted to just use the light on the camera to avoid aggravating my migraine. “I’m telling you Kyle, I’m all right. It was just another episode.”

“Another episode? Jesus Christ Isaac, are you telling me this is an ongoing thing?” he asked punching in the settings on the camera. I sat back in my chair, looking around our tent and searching for the right way on how to explain this.

“Not like that, that was the first time it happened like that. It happens usually in my dreams,” I explained, Kyle raised an eyebrow and looked over at me.

“Ike, I need you to explain to me from the beginning. I need you to be clear, and I need you to give me all the details that you can. Now, what happened on the night of the Surge?” Kyle clicked the record button on the camera and a red light began flashing on the corner of it above the lens.

I sighed, nervously running a hand through my hair. “Kyle, you were there. Why do I need to-”

My brother rolled his eyes in exasperation. “I was practically dying, remember? I was unconscious half of the time. The only thing I remember is locking myself in the bathroom. Now start talking.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. I felt like I was in an episode of CSI, and the good-cop-bad-cop routine was going to start at any moment.

“Fine, I’ll talk. But do you really need to record everything?” I waved my hand towards the camera. Kyle nodded once.

“Yeah. The world is going to want to know what happened here. This is for future generations, for posterity. Now, what happened on the night of the Surge?” Again images of the wars and battles flooded back into my mind, my migraine slowly began to return. I clutched my head and quickly began to stomp the thoughts away.

“Please... Kyle... if the world is going to see this... I don’t want them to see me as a goddamned schizophrenic maniac,” I begged through the splitting headache and the torrent of evil visions. Kyle shook his head again.

“I’m not turning off the camera, Ike.”

“Turn off the fucking camera, Kyle!” I shouted, a random burst of anger lashing out of my body.

“No! Isaac, please stop trying to stall for time! I need you to work with me here, now please start talking.” Anger began surging throughout my body, though I didn’t know why I was so angry. It was as if my emotions were being toyed with, I don’t know what but I know one thing for sure. I did not want that camera trained on me. “Isaac, I need you to just calm down, I know things are not going good. Shit, nothing’s going good for any of us. But when my brother starts yelling hysterically and then stops suddenly, and starts speaking to absolutely nothing... I know something is wrong. Now please just calm down, I’m worried about you. You’re scared because of what’s happening, that’s all this is. And I’m scared because my little brother is in pain and he won’t talk to me about it. Ike, it’s me, it’s your big brother Kyle. Now I need you to cooperate with me here. Now tell me when it all started, when did this voice start speaking to you?”

I wanted to say it. I wanted to tell him that it all started that night in the hospital, but somehow I knew that he would not believe me. He would think that I had some kind of post traumatic stress or a psychotic breakdown. And I was in no condition to tell him otherwise. “I’m sorry Kyle, but I can’t talk right now.” Kyle looked at me wide eyed.

“What the fuck, you just said you’d speak!” But I ignored him, standing from my seat I made my way towards the flaps on the tent, before opening them I looked back at him.

“I’m sorry Kyle, but... I just can’t,” I said stepping out, I heard Kyle curse in anger while walking away.

I wasn’t trying to be dick or anything to him, but I was scared, scared beyond anything. What was that flash of anger back there? I had never lashed out at Kyle like that before, yes we had our little disputes, we’d roughhoused as kids. But this... this was something else, that wasn’t me back there... That... That was something else.

:[-]:

I stumbled over a large stick in the dark, cursing under my breath I kept on moving. Heading farther and farther away from Hooverville, I needed to clear my thoughts away to calm down this unknown anger. I was walking aimlessly through the darkened streets, not paying attention to where I was going.

Seconds later I felt my foot scrape across concrete, and I stopped. I finally looked up at my surroundings. My vision adjusted to the dark, and I saw a large fountain with a statue of an angle in the center. I must be in the Mall, I approached Bethesda fountain slowly, my shoes clicking every time I made contact with the concrete.

Despite these dark times, the sight of the fountain seemed quite comforting. Reaching the fountain I placed my hands along the cement walls outlining the fountain that formed the fountain’s pool. Looking at the fountain I noticed the water had stopped pouring out of it, probably after the Surge had knocked out power. I sighed and stared down at the water.

The reflection of the moon bouncing off its surface, the stars twinkling high above the world. Looking at myself I noticed how much of a wreck I looked, and how much work it would take me to look decent enough to go to work again. A scruffy beard outlined my considerably narrower jaw. My hair had grown out a bit, I was originally going to get it cut, the night that this all started. It hung low, just long enough to rest on my eyebrows. I sighed and brushed it back. I hated it when my hair grew out, I just flat out didn’t like looking dirty honestly.

Looking in the water I saw my blue eyes reflecting back the light from the stars, reaching my hand out I dipped it in the water and splashed it back in my face. The water that fell from my skin was not the pure, crystalline water that I splashed on there. Bringing my hand back I noticed it was caked in dirt and dried blood. Taking more water I began splashing the muck off my face.

I washed myself in the cold water of that fountain, scrubbing away the blood, scouring away my anger and my pain. I baptized myself in the water of that fountain, there under the witness of the moon and the stars. I washed away my anger at Kyle, and then lost myself in the dazzling dance of the stars in the ripples of the glistening pool.

“What the Hell do you think you’re doing?” I jolted at the sound of the mysterious man behind me. I turned quickly not knowing if the person or thing was human or not, behind me stood three soldiers fully outfitted for combat. But with a bit of closer scrutiny, I noticed that only two of the fireteam were outfitted to kill, the one in the back bore a red cross on his shoulder as well as a larger pack for his medical supplies.

The two in front bore long assault rifles, while the medic in the back bore a shorter carbine rifle, all of which were trained on me. “Uh... I thought I needed to go for a midnight walk, that’s all.” I grinned, one of the soldiers pulled out a flashlight and shined it on me.

“Identify yourself!” barked a heavily built hispanic man, his voice deep, gruff, and very commanding. I guarded my eyes with my arm, shielding myself from the bright light coming from the small flashlight.

“I-Isaac Ridgewood,” I said. “Could you please not shine that in my face?” I asked.

“What are you doing out past curfew, Isaac Ridgewood? And why aren’t you in within the safe perimeter?” asked the large marine, completely ignoring my request and continuing his assault on my retinas.

“I told you, I’m just taking a midnight stroll.”

“Do you know how dangerous it is out here after curfew?” asked the young marine on the right. I could only assume that he was the rookie of the three or something. The marines began approaching me.

“Come on we’re taking you back to base, Rooker! Radio back to HQ and tell them we found a civilian out here.” The medic to my right nodded and pulled out a personal radio and began speaking into it.

I stood there for a second thinking... Rooker... I had heard that name before... Rooker, oh shit! That’s the medic who saved me! “I know you!” I blurted out pointing a finger at Nigel, he looked over at me while putting away his walkie talkie. “You’re Nigel Rooker! The medic who saved me and Nurse Cares from the hospital.”

Nigel squinted through the blinding light of his comrade’s flashlight. And after he sorted through my mildly changed features for a moment, he smiled. “Isaac? God damn, it is you! I knew that name sounded familiar! I thought you were dogmeat after that bomb hit the hospital! I’m surprised you made it out!” Nigel stuck out his right hand towards me, which I kindly took. “We gotta catch up sometime man, but not right now we gotta get back and-”

Frantic beeping came from the rookie’s right leg, pulling out a small device out of his pocket which looked like something from a science fiction movie, the rookie looked at us face stricken with fear. Ruffling noises from the bushes came to our right.

“Omega signature! CONTACT!” The larger marine hoisted his rifle and began firing off shots towards the bushes.

“Come on Isaac we gotta get out of here right now!” Nigel said running back towards Hooverville, instinctively I reached for my M9, I cursed myself for forgetting it back at my tent. I ran trying to keep up with Private Rooker, despite how much gear he had on his the man could run fast. Fast enough to possibly challenge Usain Bolt in a hundred meter dash, behind me I heard the sounds of more machine gun fire.

“Shit, I can’t see a fucking thing!” Nigel said stopping in a opening between a few trees. A scream of soldier caught our ears, and Rooker raised his flashlight to try and identify whatever was behind us.

“Fuck they got Alan!” The large hispanic marine came up behind us, he was panting heavily, and his face was paler than a ghost’s. His sleeve was torn, and a thick stream of blood trickled down from a large gash on his right arm. “They came out and tackled him! I couldn’t see what they looked like but... Shit we gotta go now!”

The three of us slowly turned towards the sounds of demonic creatures, “Those aren’t the surgelings I’m use to hearing.” Nigel said a bit of fear etched in his voice.

“Those aren’t surgelings,” I said taking a few steps back. “Those are monsters!” Out from the trees came three dark masses, landing on the ground they began moving with immense speed. Large marine to my right raised his carbine and fired a few bullets at the on coming creatures, the muzzle flash lighting the area only for a split second. I only saw minor details of the dark monsters, but they looked to me like four foot tall rodent like creatures charging us.

“Don’t waste your ammo just fucking run!” Nigel grabbed the larger marine by his shoulder and tugged him away. “I said run!” The marine turned away from the rodents and began running as fast as he could, Nigel and I followed behind.

Slowly I began to lag behind the two marines my right leg aching with every step, ever since I got wounded back at the hospital I never been able to move that fast. Large needle like objects jabbed their way into the back of my foot lucky though they didn’t puncture my shoes. I let out yelp and tumbled to the ground, spinning around I saw the dark figure above quickly trying to bite it’s way into my leg. Lifting my foot I slammed my size eleven into it’s face, the creature yelped in pain and stumbled back. climbing to my feet the two others jumped out and latched onto my legs knocking me back to the ground they began dragging me away.

“Shit! Let me go!” I shouted thrashing around wildly, even with my acts of protest the creatures would not let me go. Instead they only seemed to squeeze tighter and began dragging me even faster “Nigel!” I shouted, not knowing if he could even hear me anymore. The creatures dragged me through the bushes, branches scraping my back. My jacket caught onto nearby branch ripping a large hole in it’s side.

I fought with all my strength trying to get the creatures to let go, in the distance I heard more gunfire and screams.

The creatures dragged me out into an opening heading towards Sleep Meadow, out of the corner of my eye I saw more distant creatures dragging more humans away, What the fuck is going on!? I thought. In the distance the sounds of gunfire and screams began to pick up and grow louder and more consistent. Right away I feared the worst,

Hooverville was under siege....

Him...

Chapter 6: Him...

I honestly had no idea what happened after I was dragged away, everything was dark. I couldn’t see anything, all I could hear was the sounds of crying people and growls and shrieks coming from our kidnappers. Where are they taking us? Why are they taking us? And the question that plagued me the most, why haven’t they killed us?

I remember being lifted up off the ground by something and carried down somewhere, into a place where the foul stench of waste filled the too-moist air. I still couldn’t see where we are, I remember them placing something on my head and tying it. The metallic scent of blood caught in my nose as I could hear the pleas of soldiers and other men and women around me. I heard the sound of a sobbing man, his whimpers being punctuated by the a dull thud every few moments and a groan of pain from the man.

I felt myself get dropped onto the ground, I gasped in pain and let out a moan. “Quiet!” said a deep, rasping voice of a Surgeling. A sharp pain erupted from my gut, as the leg of some creature collided into me.

“Go to Hell!” I snarled through clenched teeth, trying to catch my breath,

“I said quiet!” the creature snarled. This time my back exploded as a heavy object slammed into me, I clenched my teeth trying to stop myself from crying out.

“Enough!” another of the creatures shouted to my captor, and the flurry of painful blows stopped. Something grabbed hold of the back of my neck hoisting me off the ground and forcing me to my feet. Whatever it was took a hold of both my arms and forced them to my back.

I felt what I assume to be wires wrap around my arms as they bounded them to my back, “Now,” the voice whispered to me, its hot and stinking breath bombarding my senses. “I need you to listen carefully, when Commander Kuntchra asks you a question, I expect you to answer it. Do we have a deal?” I could feel his smug grin through the fabric of my mask looking down on me.

I tilted my head towards the voice. “And what do I get out of this if I answer all questions?” I asked. I heard the creature let out a chuckling snort, the chilling laugh coming from between pointed teeth.

“That is for the Commander to decide.” It ended with a hiss and a chuckle, as if it expected this interview to be my bitter last. I felt its paws clutch the back of my neck as it violently shoved me forward, I stumbled over my feet and fell over landing on a metal object. I let out a cry of pain, behind me I heard the snarl of the creatures as they hauled me back to my feet.

“Look at the little demon,” one of them said to its fellows. “So caught in its own pride that it cannot even walk without us to pick it up.”

Feeling humiliated, I slowly attempted to climb back onto my feet. “I think this would be easier if I could see...” I growled.

“Keep your mouth shut and keep on walking,” my snarling captor commanded, I felt the paws of something grab a hold of my back and guide me forward into the darkness.

:[-]:

The mask was ripped off my head violently and I was blinded by the bright lights that surrounded me. The sounds of voices of various creatures and animals filed in around me, as my eyes slowly adjusted. I found myself in a large room that looked to me like the sewer water treatment they have in the subways scattered around New York.

Yet this one seemed to be edited, the ground was covered in wooden boards and grass. Candles and torches left a flickering luminescence that feebly illuminated the room, and what was in that room left me as stunned as ever. Animals of all kinds, most of them being ponies, stood on the catwalks above, looking down at me with a mixture of fear and scorn. Lions, tigers and other felines prowled in the shadows that lay mostly untouched by the incomplete lighting. But three stood out. Facing me, mere feet away from my bound and beaten body, stood three creatures. A large silverback gorilla, wearing whatever could be scavenged from cars and buildings as armor stood as the centerpoint, and to his right stood a simple pony, one with a green pelt and eyes that looked at me with more curiosity than anything else. My eyes widened in horror when I recognized her, she was the same pony that plagued all my nightmares!

I quickly looked away from the pony, not wanting to provoke any of the creatures by looking them in the eye. Peeking over, I saw the third of their number; a large grey wolf. The three creatures stood in front of me, two of them stared at me with pure hatred except for the pony. Instead she looked at me with pity, and I could see something in her eyes, something that seemed closest to recognition than anything else.

With a huff, the gorilla dropped down to his knuckles, ambling closer to me. He stayed back at arm’s reach, turning up his nose and scowling as my heart pounded in my chest. A thick finger pushed against my forehead, forcing my head up to look the ape leader in the eyes. He pressed my head to the left, and I knew that if I fought against him, he could snap my neck with little more than the single finger he had pressed against my head.

He turned my head again, seeming to inspect me. And when his inspection was finished, the powerful gorilla shoved me back.

“Weaklings,” he snarled under his breath. “An entire race of weaklings.” The gorilla stared me right in the eye, knowing with certainty that I was afraid of him, knowing that I stood no chance against him here, while he held every advantage. “How can it be that a race with no strength, no swiftness, no fangs, no claws, can do so little, and destroy so much?” All around him the creatures snarled and nodded their agreement. The ape bared his fangs at me in a frightening grin. “They say that I am your relative, that apes and man share blood. I am no kin of yours, weakling. I have had sons and daughters, mere babes who were stronger than this pitiful creature.” The gorilla leaned down into my face, and his hot breath poured over me in angry waves. “Sons and daughters that your kind stole away, to be entertainment in your zoos! Sons and daughters that I will never know!”

I trembled, waiting for him to snap my neck with one jerk of his powerful wrist, or for him to rip my still beating heart out. But the blow of death never came, and the gorilla spun around, ambling back to sit amongst the other leaders of the creature army. I gave a sigh of momentary relief, and I peeked over to the pony, who had stood silent the entire time. She wasn’t looking at me, instead she looked disapprovingly at the gorilla, who stewed in his anger for all things human.

“Demon!” the gorilla snapped, “What is your name!” Quickly the voices in the room grew quiet at the gorilla’s loud booming voice. I glared up at the ape furrowing my brow.

“My name is Isaac, Isaac A. Ridgewood.” Murmurs rose up in the catwalks as animals leaned over and whispered into each others ears. I glanced up at the crowds above me, out of the corner of my eye I noticed something behind me.

Other humans just like me sat back on their knees bags over their heads and hands tied behind their backs. Anger began boiling in the pit of my stomach, I needed to get out of here, I need to save the others and get the fuck out of New York as fast as I can.

“Human! Answer my second question!” My vision quickly snapped back to the gorilla. “Why do you humans press the attack against us? Why do you seek and destroy my people?” This question threw me over the edge.

“Really?.... R-really? You’re asking me why we were attacking you? Excuse me, but I think you got the wrong idea. Why were you attacking us!? That’s the question that should be going around here!” What type of idiotic question was that! That made no fucking sense!

The gorilla snorted. “Oh really now... Human, last I remember when I was freed from my prison. I was getting chased by my captors and attacked by your police force.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I think I would shoot at a fucking six hundred pound gorilla that just broke out of its cage too, and began running around attacking zoo keepers,” I remarked.

“Hiding behind words,” snarled the grey wolf. “I can smell your fear, human. I can hear you heart pounding, your pulse racing. Every last one of the humans I have met on the field of battle has been the same. So afraid, so pitiful. There’s not a shred of courage in your misbegotten blood.”

“Really now! I had to fight fucking three wolves a week back on my own! That takes fucking courage if you don’t ask me,” I snapped, the wolf furrowed its brow and snarled.

“What if I had your bonds cut, what if I even gave you a weapon, where would your courage stand then? Fight me, human, and I’ll show you what courage really is.” I glared at the wolf.

"All of you enough!” ordered the pony on the right. “We brought them here for answers, not to bring the fight to the ones we are meant to leave be!” The pony snapped, “By the looks of it no one knows who started what, the reason why we're here is to figure out how to stop this God forsaken fight before it turns into a war!” The pony took a deep breath, glaring at the other leaders of the creature revolt, as if her pleas for non-violence came from a greater command.

“Don’t you see, Harmony! It is too late to try for peace now! The Demons have already killed our beloved leader Greymane!” The Gorilla pounded his fist into the concrete,

The pony glared at the Gorilla, “That’s not what Patrem would say! It is never too late to lay down our arms!”

“You would place your trust in the word of one who is too afraid to take the field of battle? Who cares what that stone-brained fool thinks!” The wolf barked in response to the mare.

I stared at the three creatures while they bickered back and forth,

So much for being organized, I thought, they can’t even stop fighting amongst themselves.

Oh, ho ho ho, yes. This is what I like...

I jolted at the sound of the voice, it was nothing like what I heard before. This one sounded more masculine, like a man. Yet at the same time it had a deep raspy touch to it and sounded heavy, like a...

What, a monster? Haha! You could say so pal.

What the Hell!

What, surprised that I can read your thoughts?

I began looking around the room searching for the creature who supposedly could read my thoughts.

Hahaha! the voice chortled, It’s going to be awhile till you can find me if you keep searching like that, boy.

“NO!” I yelled finally realizing it, “Get out of my head!”

I would be quiet if I were you, boy! Ha! You know what, keep talking out loud to yourself, look like a crazy fool!

I quickly closed my mouth and looked up at the creatures who all stared at me as if I was insane. “Human?” said the pony named Harmony. “Who are you talking to?” she asked. My eyes quickly snapped towards her. She stepped forward cautiously, and I could see it in the light behind her eyes that something was wrong.

Go ahead, tell her, chuckled the voice. Tell her you’re talking to a voice in your head, come on. Tell her just like you told your poor brother. And look at what happened there, you ran away like a pitiful coward, and left him there by himself. He’s probably dead now, all because you wanted to talk about the voices in your head.

Please, I spoke to the voice through my thoughts, just shut up.

Oh come on now, don’t be a downer. You know what? Let’s start over! Hello, I’m-

God dammit please just shut the fuck up! Don’t you see I’m in a life or death situation!

The voice went silent for a few moments, looking back over the creatures I saw that the gorilla and the wolf were having what seemed to me like a pretty humorous chat. The pony though, she just stood there, looking at me with a concerned yet intrigued look.

Ahem, hellllo! Earth to Isaac! Damn it’s like talking to a brick wall. I rolled my eyes at the voice.

Fine, what do you want!?

Whoa! Don’t take that attitude up with me mister, the voice scolded. Well anyways as I was saying, I think I can help you...

I frowned. Okay, I’m listening. How exactly can you help me? Instantly I felt a pleased feeling at the back of my mind, as if the voice was smiling.

Right as we speak a group of soldiers are making their way down here to get you out. But the thing is, they’re in a bit of trouble and you’re the only one that can help them.

How the Hell do you know all of this? I asked, the voice chuckled.

Trust me when I tell you this, Isaac, I know many things.

Well, how can I help these soldiers, as you can see I have my hands tied behind my back!

Well that’s easy.... FIGHT! the voice roared.

H-how!? I can’t fight with my hands behind my back!

Of course you can! Use your legs, stupid! the voice snapped.

I would be crushed, beaten and brutally murdered if I try and fight them! I retorted.

“Human!” shouted the gorilla, “Stop ignoring us and answer our questions or we’ll have you killed!”

Just warning you here pal, they ain’t joking about the killing part.

“S-sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” I stammered, and the wolf snorted in derision.

“Typical.” I shot the wolf an irritated glare.

Alright pal, you’re going to need to listen to me here. If you want to get out alive you see. Of course, there’s no guarantee that you’ll leave here whole.

Alright I’m listening, I said ignoring the Gorilla’s third question anyways.

Over on your right is a guard that’s not paying attention, in fact he is lost in his dreams. Glancing to my right I saw a nasty looking rodent guard glancing up at the ceiling daydreaming. Right below him is a gun that one of the human soldiers had, before Commander Cunt-Face ordered his guards to take him away.

How the Hell do you know all this?, I asked. The voice groaned in frustration.

Like I said before kid, “I know a lot of things.” Now in a few seconds before the dumb ape orders for you to put to death, I need you to make a dive for the gun. And with that the voice left.

Wait! How the Hell am I supposed to know when they’re going to K-

“Human! Forget it, this one’s mind is lost! Guards!” Shouted Kuntchra. “The demon isn’t cooperating! Take him away!” My heart skipped a beat, my eyes snapped to my right. Acting on instinct I lunged at the guard, the rodent guard who sat there daydreaming finally snapped back into reality. With me ramming my shoulder into him, the guard stumbled and fell back on his ass.

“The human is resisting! Kill him, kill him now before he escapes!” Shouted a pony on one of the upper balconies. I fell to my knees quickly climbing back up I looked around every animal in my vicinity was now coming at me. Sweat began to pour down my face, my heart racing faster than ever. Why the fuck am I standing here doing nothing! I turned back around the guard I knocked over began climbing back onto his paws. I then hopped over the guard kicking him in the gut in the process which sent him tumbling over.

You idiot! I told you to grab the gun that was right by him! shouted the voice,

“I’m sorry but there isn’t enough time!” I shouted over the riled up surgelings, I swiftly maneuvered my way passed a few guards and kicked open a door that was already partially opened.

I quickly slammed the door behind, loud clangs of metal could be heard off the doors surface. And just an inch away from my face, the tip of a sharp blade punched through the thick metal of the door. I yelped in fear and stumbled away from the door. The animals rammed at the door forming large indents, looking back at the blade tip I grinned.

turning my back towards it I raised my arms as high as I could. Gently positioning my bonds over it, once I felt the thin wire touch the blade tip. I began sawing through my bonds, seconds later a large dent formed in the door a few inches to my right.

You better hurry up pal, that door won’t save you for long.

“Would you just shut up and let me work!” I snarled. After a few more tugs I felt the bonds give way and my hands swing back to my sides. “Ah, finally!” I said excitedly, “Alright how the Hell do I-” A large spear punctured through one of the indents on the door, just barely grazing my side. “Oh, Shit!” I swore, clutching at the slight flesh wound.

I stumbled back away from the door, looking around for any kind of escape route. Just like the rest of the sewer way, the little service room was darkened, and I had trouble seeing anything at all.

Right behind me I heard another loud bang erupt from behind the door as a large axe like object tore a large hole in the door. Seconds later the axe retreated back, causing small amounts of light to seep through the open hole.

Following the light I saw that it landed on something peculiar, a small metal ventilation shaft. This might be my only chance of escape, I thought. Making a dash towards the the shaft, I grasped my fingers around the metal counterparts. Using all my strength I tugged on it, to no luck nothing happened. Another bang followed by the sound of screeching metal roared behind me, glancing back I saw the door was about to give way.

“God dammit!” I shouted, pushing myself away from the wall I raised my leg and began kicking it. Upon impact the thin metal caved in on itself, allowing me access to the vents, getting back onto my knees I began trying to push myself through.

It was a tight squeeze, but after a few pushes I was able to get in. Inside I was greeted by intense heat and a terrible smell. Ignoring the uncomfortable feelings I made my way through, crawling through the vents.

Behind me I heard the roar of frustrated creatures, inside the vents was like a maze, countless lefts and rights turned, guided me to my unknown location. After what felt like an hour, I came across another opening that led down into a barely lit room. Taking a deep breath I began kicking the vent trying to get out.

:[-]:

I landed onto the hard pavement with a thud, gasping in pain I slowly made myself climb to my feet. Looking around my barely lit environment, I realized where I was. The New York City subways, I remember all the countless tales back in Hooverville about how dangerous it was down here. Not wanting to stay around for too long I began to make my move.

The farther I began to head down the tunnel, the sounds of gunshots could be heard. Instantly I remember the voice telling me about a group of soldiers who were in danger and needed my assistance. While walking through the almost pitch blackness I felt my right foot catch something causing me to stumble forward. Looking back I found a dead Marine, my stomach cringed at the sight of his wounds.

The whole right side of his face seemed to have been eaten away, large gash marks outlined his body. But he seemed to have been clutching something close to his chest, bending down I found he was clutching onto a handheld radio and a Carbine. Bending down I snatched the soldiers carbine and his radio.

Examining the weapon, the man only had half a magazine left. Taking the carbine I strapped it to my back. Next I moved onto the radio, after a few seconds I found the power turning it on I was startled by the sounds of gunshots and soldier yelling into the radio.

“This Captain Steward from Giant Squad. I repeat this is Captain Steward from Giant Squad. We’re by 5 Av/59 St. I repeat we’re by 5 Av/59 St and we are in a need of some back up! This area is crawling with Surgeling activity and we need an immediate Valkyrie strike!” After that gunshots took over followed by static,

“Roger that Captain Steward, I’m afraid we cannot do that.” Came another voice,

“What! Why! I’ve already lost two Marines to the goddamn bastards!” Steward shouted. Quickly I began heading in the direction, while listening to the two men argue.

“With the amount of civilian refugees in the area we cannot risk harming them.”

“What are you talking about there’s no goddamn civilians!” Another round of gunfire filled in drawing out the other speaker, “You can’t just leave us here to die like this!” He shouted, no response came from the other end, “Goddammit!” With that there was silence, save for the distant sound of gunfire coming from further down the metro tunnel. Turning the radio off I stuffed it in the pocket of my jacket and decided to push further, towards the sound of gunfire.

:[-]:

The sounds of gunfire gradually grew louder and louder as I traversed my way through the tunnel. The cries of the soldiers growing louder with every second, my heart pounding in my chest. How am I possibly going to overcome these creatures and save these men!?

Behind me I heard a growl of a creature, spinning around in the darkness, I couldn’t see anything. Except for a dark tunnel that stretched on for miles and miles upon end, I slowly began to step back.

“Where’s a flashlight when you really need one?” I asked myself, I gasped while stumbling over one of the rails. “Shit!” I panicked, a loud screech echoed off the walls. Looking up I saw a dark mass tackle me to the ground. I screamed out in terror, landing on the ground with a grunt. I raised my new gun up trying to defend myself from my mysterious attacker.

The creature swung at me with sharp nasty claws, barely scratching my face, it tried leaning forward trying to bite at my face. Its foul breath making me want to puke, the strength of this hideous monster was almost unbelievable. Every second it slowly began to overpower me, getting closer with every push.

The sound it made every time it got closer taunted me, as if it was laughing at me. Finally the creature broke through my defense, its right paw lashed out at me . Slicing through my jacket, it dug it’s nasty sharp claws into my flesh. My own blood gushed from my open wound, drenching my cloths with it’s crimson color. I cried out in agony, my flesh burned as if someone took a small cup of battery acid and drenched my wound in it.

The surgeling roared in apparent victory, lunging back down for another attack. I raised my carbine and jammed it in it’s chest. Pulling the trigger a loud shot rang throughout the tunnel, blood sprayed all across my face. The surgeling cried out in pain before falling back on the floor it began convulsing. The recoil from the gun threw my arm back causing the gun to fly out of my hand and land on the floor.

I sat there for a few seconds, trying to get the pain in my right shoulder to wear off. But it wouldn’t it only continued to scream in agony, causing waves of pain to surge through my body. I began to feel sick, I wanted to puke my vision began to blur. What the fuck is happening to me!? Why, why can’t I see straight?

I flipped onto my side, climbing to my feet. I instantly felt woozy, I needed to sit down, but I couldn’t. What if those creatures came back? I needed to get somewhere safe. I couldn’t fight, whatever that creature did to me is not good. Not good at all, I need to find someplace to rest.

Taking my first step I instantly collapsed, landing on the ground my right shoulder landed on one of the rails. And instantly I heard a loud crack! Pain surged through my body,

“Fuuuccckkk!” I cried out, I gasped in pain. Trying with all my might to hold back the tears that were billowing up at the corners of my eyes. I sat there on the floor of the subway tunnel biting back the tears.

In the distance behind me I could hear the sounds of the surgelings coming my way. Ahead of me I couldn’t hear the battle anymore. I moaned and began trying to move my body, only to be denied by a wave of excruciating pain.

Well this is it, I thought, I’m going to die in a subway full of mutant rats... Heh, what a fucked up way to go isn’t it? All I need now is a-

My thoughts were interrupted by sounds of footsteps, the heel of shoes clicking on the concrete caught my ears. Glancing up I saw a sight that I thought I would never see, out of the inky darkness came a figure. A man shrouded in patches of darkness, that flowed off his body like a cloud of blood underwater. He had a smug grin on his face, he wore a tuxedo and had long ragged hair and a scruffy beard.

As the man got closer I gasped... It was me.

:[-]:

My doppelganger approached me, the look on its face was a smug grin that sent chills down my spine. You know like those kind of looks that practically slaps the “Hey I’m evil, or I’m about to do something bad” type of title on you.

“Well, look at what we got here,” said my doppelganger. I glanced up at him, confused terrified, what the Hell happened to me when that damn creature scratched me!? My doppelganger came down onto one knee in front of me, stretching out his right hand. “Here, take my hand.” He says, I cried out in pain when I attempted to move my right arm, “With your left arm you moron.” He snarled,

“Who are you?” I panted while taking his hand, the figure smirked.

“Isn’t it obvious Isaac? I’m you. At least, I’m the darker side of you. I’m a part of everyone.” He chuckled, “Now get up, we have things to do.”

“What about the soldiers?” I asked, my doppelganger snorted.

“Forget about them, they were able to escape but since your slow ass took so long they lost most of their forces and had to retreat. You failed them, my dear boy.” My doppelganger pulled me to my feet, every step causing me to take a ragged breath.

“So, what now then? What can I do, what can we do!?” My doppelganger’s smile grew bigger taking his hand he placed it on my left shoulder.

“You’re running out of time Isaac, you must warn the human forces before it’s too late. They must rally their armies before the second wave, they need to prepare. New York Isaac cannot fall, if New York is lost, They might as well call checkmate.” I clutched my right shoulder and raised an eyebrow at myself,

“What are you talking about?” I asked,

“Judgement Day is coming Isaac, today when the sun is at it’s highest well you know what I’m talking about. You must warn them Isaac before it’s too late! And remember, you are not alone in this, my agents enact my will all across the world. But do not forget, so do Hers,” he hissed. “She’s been trying to convert you and thousands of other humans to their side, whispering to you in your dreams, showing Her lies. She’s the one who is behind the entire war. If she comes to you again, don’t listen,” he said before turning away from and heading back into the darkness

“What do I do after I warn them?” I asked, he stopped and glanced back me

“For in which the second wave

Go down below to find the way

Stay away from the wretched bay

For deep below the Kraken lays

But remember to stay within the light

Or you will become prey for the dwellers of the night.”

I stared at my doppelganger, “Who are you?” I asked again bewildered on how he knew that poem. My doppelganger grinned and straightened his tie.

“Everybody has their own name for me. You can call me Lucifer, the Catalyst of Fear..."

Authors Message

Sorry that this chapter took so long to come out. I mostly had family issues and freaking writers block, but the issues have been resolved and the wall has been broken. So expect another chapter later this month or next month.

Darkened Skies

Chapter 7: Darkened Skies

Images of fire and death flashed before my eyes, like a thousand scenes of human suffering and insanity were all playing on a hundred times normal speed through my mind. Images of war, depression, and death flew at me from all angles. I could hear the sounds of shouting people all around me, the feeling of some type of anger that wasn’t even my own burrowed deep in the back of my mind. Every image that flashed in front of me made me cringe and cower away; pictures of mutilated bodies of children began scarring their way into my mind. I brought my arm up trying to shield my eyes, but some force wouldn’t allow me. “No! Stop! Please just make it stop!” I cried out. My stomach churned and I felt nauseous.

You will not speak to him again! Said the same voice, the one I had heard in my previous dreams.

Images of my doppelganger self appeared, the way he looked at me with that smug look, it just made me want to hurt someone. “What, what are you talking about? Did I do something wrong!?” More images began to flash before my eyes and before I knew it I was propelled back, I landed on the ground. Opening my eyes I discovered I was somewhere new, I stood up. I saw more images of destruction, yet some were different.

Not all of the images were of people, ponies and other animals that just recently been killed flew passed me. Forcing myself to look away from the images I began observing my surroundings. It looked as if I was in some type of void, a dimension made up of darkness save for the flooding images of recent events. In front of me I saw what I assumed to be a corridor outlined by the images of war and destruction. They somewhat reminded me of those rooms you see in movies that are outlined with hundreds of TVs broadcasting events that are happening all around the world.

Trying to ignore the floating screens as best I could, I began making my way down the corridor. I was in a world of darkness by the looks of it, I couldn’t tell if I was walking on ground or not. If it wasn’t for the images I wouldn’t even think I was moving at all, I don’t even know if I’m dead or just having another fucked up nightmare. Observing one of the images; I could see visuals of other cities scattered across the globe. Most being major cities, such as Tokyo which seemed to be having the same problem as New York, then the image flashed again and began showing Beijing, all of which seemed to be having the same problem.

Next came Rome, then Moscow, London, Paris, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Cairo, and finally Washington D.C.

“It’s everywhere. It’s happening all over the goddamn world...” I muttered to myself.

“Yes, it is happening all over my world.” I spun around away from the visuals, trying to find the person who spoke to me. My eyes scanned left and right, turning my head I began searching for whoever spoke to me.

“Show yourself!” I shouted into the dark void. “Enough I am tired of this bullshit! Stop the images and memories! I’m tired of your games, now show yourself!” I took a few steps forward, clenching my fists. I gritted my teeth, scanning for the person that had tormented me through my dreams with visions of the bloodied past. I knew it was the person that my doppelganger had warned me about, the one who was waging a war on my people even as I stood here. “I said, ‘Show yourself!’” I roared, taking a few more steps forward I glanced upwards looking around. But as my eyes slowly drifted back down to what I assume was ground level. I was blinded by a massive wall of light.

“Do not allow your fears and your anger to conquer your heart and mind, my son.”

Bringing my arm up I shielded my eyes from the blinding rays, within the light came the silhouette of a person. As the lights began to dim I brought my arm down away from my face, slowly my vision began to adjust as the world was once again shrouded in darkness. Once my vision fully adjusted and the rest of the light went away I gasped, “No...”

In front of me stood a tall, slender woman who seemed to be in her mid-fifties. Her long blond hair cascaded down to her shoulders, she wore a gentle smile and I swam in a gentle sea of her soft blue eyes. She wore a red Indians jersey that was obviously too big for her, a pair of crisp blue jeans that hung loosely on her body, and a set of shining diamond earrings was set into the lobe of each ear.

Taking a few steps back I raised an accusing finger. “No... That’s impossible. It couldn’t have been you! You can’t be the one who has been speaking to me this entire time!” I stumbled over my own legs, falling onto the ground I stared into the eyes of the woman. I stared into the eyes of my own mother. The dear sweet mother from my childhood, the one who would wake me up every Sunday morning with the smell of French toast, the woman who would chastise me for leaving my muddy shoes on the carpet, the fan who would scream louder than any man when her team made the winning touchdown. Even the scent of her favorite shampoo gently wafted into my nose.

The woman shook her head, approaching me she gently grabbed me by a wrists and pulled me up off the ground and back onto my feet. “No, my son, I am not the Mother you are used to seeing. I am simply an image taken from your memories; an image that I knew would not frighten you.” I took a step back.

“You’re not really my Mom. You’re just some kind of... shell.” I said, slowly regaining my composure. I reached out with my hand, cautiously inching closer to the entity that had chosen the form of my dearly beloved mom. To my surprise, she did not flinch as I touched the fabric of her jersey, but I leapt back when it rippled outwards like water. It was as if the perfect vision of my mom was being projected onto a liquid screen in front of me.

“What the fuck are you!” I shouted. “What is all this!” My hand waved back towards the ethereal plane of screens filled with images of wars both past and present, only to find that it had vanished. I wanted to cry out, to fall to my knees and just scream. “Am I going mad? Is any of this shit real or not?”

The entity did not change her expression in any way as she explained, “What I am would be too difficult to explain. And there are many words to describe me that simply do not exist within any human languages. But I say this to you in absolute assurance: you are not losing your mind. What is happening is all very real, but only in a way that your body and mind cannot sense without the aid of something that your race has lacked since their birth.” I glanced at the woman in front of me confused.

“If this is real,” I said, “How am I here, and not back in the Metro tunnels in New York?” I asked. The entity nodded; taking a few steps passed me she raised her right hand gently guiding it through the air. In front of her one of the images appeared, showing an image of a group of five soldiers sprinting through the tunnels. Occasionally glancing back only to fire a few rounds into the dark abyss; constantly screaming orders at each other while they ran, the one in front was screaming into a handheld radio. I couldn’t make out what he was saying but it didn’t seem too good. On the back of one of the soldiers, I saw him carrying something, a body to be exact my body which hung limply on the back of one of the soldiers.

“What the fuck?” I stared at the image stunned by what I was seeing. “Am I dead!?” I snapped back towards the woman who was looking over at me. And for the first time, the stranger in the guise of my mother chuckled to herself.

"Hardly,” she said, “But my son, now is not your time.” She turned and began heading towards something within the dark, ethereal void. But what happened next amazed me, the pitch black void began to change. Somehow, in some magical way, the ground underneath me was no longer an infinite depth or expanse of emptiness, firm and solid soil seemed to materialize from the ether. Grass began to sprout out of the rich, dark soil wherever she stepped, stretching up to brush against her fingers, as if the plants themselves craved her approving touch. But the creation before me was not finished, the world began to ripple and bulge, landscapes and horizons forming from the once featureless plain. A large hill bulged out from the ground in front of us, and the dark sky began to change from black to a sea of twilight purples and blues, the barest hints of a star-filled night sky holding on through the daybreak. Behind the large hill came the orange tint of a rising sun, I sat there stunned by the changing environment.

“You see, Isaac,” she said while bending over to pick a small daisy which just sprouted out of the ground, “Dark times are coming. Something evil is lurking within the shadows of the night. Hiding within the dark places of your own heart; searching, hunting, trying to find the right host; a suitable being that it can manipulate and use to accomplish its own foul goals.” Looking over at me she gestured for me to come over to her. I wanted to say no, but I felt myself walking in her footsteps with hardly any rebellious thought up the hill. As I began making my way up the hill I noticed a small sapling sprout out of the ground.

The farther we went up the hill, the more it began to grow into a large luscious oak tree. With each step, the tree would stretch closer to the sky, sprout a new branch, and curtain the hill with a canopy of leaves, the same oak tree from my past nightmares. Once we reached the top of the hill, I was amazed by the view of the valley. It was a lush place, lined with flowers, cloaked in grass, and other beautiful creatures and plants. “Wh-what is this place?”

“This is the Garden of Life.” She smiled upon her creation. “The crucible of all living things; where the cycle of life is set in motion. Without this garden, there can be no life, and if there is no life there is only darkness.” I looked at the woman with confusion.

Once again I looked out over the valley, a place that burgeoned with all living things. “Eden,” I whispered to myself.

The strange woman chuckled to herself once again. “This is not the Garden,” She said while looking at me with a comfortable smile, “This is your personal Eden. We dwell not within the confines of my own creation, but within a place that is your creation. Each blade of grass, every waft of the breeze, and each little ray of light is a fragment of your mind and a reflection of your memories.”

I considered her words, and I looked up to the oak tree, proud and strong, standing tall. What was that meant to symbolize in me? I was no strong soldier or proud man, all my life I’d bent to other people’s wills, slaving for my paycheck and never making a single wave.

“Why are you telling me all this,” I asked her.

“Because Isaac, the Earth needs you. Your people, the human race, they need you.” Snapping my gaze back to her I stood back, stunned.

“What? Why me! What are you even talking about?” I took a step back,

“Isaac, you are one of the few amongst humanity that can truly bring peace to this world and end this wretched war before it’s too late. A war that has been forced upon your people, but is not truly meant for your people, but rather for the one who speaks lies into your mind,” she explained.

“Me, bring peace? Lady, if there’s one thing people know about me, it’s that I’m not Mahatma freaking Gandhi. Back in the first grade I cracked Andrew Wilkins over the head with a rock because he was teasing me on the playground. And in fourth grade I beat the snot out of-”

“Michael Watson,” she said calmly, looking off towards the rising sun, “because he was trying to steal your lunch money. And I remember your mother grounding you for two months with no television because of it.” I sat there stunned; I didn’t know what to say. What could I even say? How could she possibly know that? There was no way she could’ve known that. “And how did you resolve those incidents after you did such foul acts,” She asked taking her gaze off the sun and looking back at me, “you became friends with Andrew Wilkins after you apologized, you and Michael Watson became good friends during your High School years. You learned to set aside your differences and accept peace, not many people can do that Isaac; at least not for a long time.”

I sat down onto the ground, not knowing what to think. Cradling my head I let out a shaky breath. “How, How can I bring peace to a dark world,” I asked, the entity made her way over to me, crouching down she took my hand and said.

“The path has been laid before you, and you must walk that path, no matter the cost. Many trials and obstacles will be laid before you, and you must overcome them. Your whole race must overcome these trials in order to earn that which has been deprived from you for too long.”

I shook my head, looking out over the rising sun and the slowly waking world of my mind. What did it all mean? I thought back, back to what seemed like years ago, but had only been moments in the true line of time. The words of the dark one, the cruel and sinister man who had hidden behind a mask of my own mirror image, rang clearly through my mind. Had he been lying? But, he knew about her, this woman who held my hand so comfortingly in her own. He knew that she was speaking to me, and he told me to be wary of her words.

“Why?” I asked. “I know it’s you. I know that everything that’s happening out there is because of you. Somehow, in some way, you’re the one in control. Why are you doing this to us?”

The woman sighed, and the sorrow in her eyes made my soul want to weep with some kind of foolish sympathy. She looked up and into my eyes, her own eyes seeming to flash gold for a moment before reverting back to my mother’s natural blue.

“To you, the actions of man are commonplace. War, poverty, famine, sickness, and even death; they are all just meaningless words that are spoken on the evening news, events that are far away and can never touch you. You believe yourselves masters over the world that created you, and yet you act as uncaring stewards. Your morals cannot keep up with your knowledge and your power. But, there is good in the hearts of humanity. Charity and kindness are among your loftiest virtues, art and music flow freely through your ever-dreaming minds. Yours is a race who does not believe in impossibility, Isaac.”

“Then why? Why did you do this?”

Again she sighed. “There are a million reasons why I should have stayed my hand and let mankind choose their own course, even if it imminently led to their own destruction. But, there were a million and one reasons why I should have stepped in centuries ago. It is the apathy that your race shows to one another that has broken my heart, and forced my hand. Man does not care about his fellow enough for my brethren and I to allow you to follow the course that you had laid out for yourselves.”

I didn’t know what to think. I had seen those images, the ones within the endless hallway, each one blasting me with the sorrow and pain of my own people’s history. The man within me wanted to stand up for humanity, to launch myself at this creature masquerading as my mom and lock my fingers around her throat until she stopped squirming. That part of me wanted vengeance, to end this whole damned war and humiliate the arrogant bitch that had dared to think she could make humankind change.

But a small, almost inconceivable part of my subconscious told me otherwise. Some part of me, something that touched on the back of my mind, agreed with her.

The stranger stood from her seat, looking one more time at the sunrise before turning back to me.

“Follow your heart, and you will find the way.” I looked at the woman who has taken the form of my mother. In the distance I noticed something, something evil. A large dark cloud began to cascade over the land like a thick blanket. Shrouding the garden in darkness, animals scurried away in fear. Trees and plants began to die, all around me the world began to fade turning my attention back to the woman I shouted,

“Wait! Don’t go!” climbing back to my feet I felt something grab hold of me. My vision shot to my right, dark disembodied arms lurched out of the darkness and latched onto my body. Turning back towards the entity I shouted, “What do you mean follow my heart?” I had so many questions, but none of them were being answered. I heard the sound of a laughing man, as more of those demonic hands lurched out and grabbed me pulling me back to the dark realm of reality...

:[-]:

“Keep moving!” shouted a voice, the sounds of screeching creatures caused my ears to bleed.

“They’re right behind us,” said a distinctly familiar voice.

“They’re on the goddamn ceiling!” My ears screamed at the sound of machine gun fire.

“Don’t stop! Whatever you do; don’t stop!” I heard the sound of door opening, “Go! Go! Go!” Moments later I felt my body jerk forward as I was slammed onto a metal object,

“Dammit, Jenkins, be gentle with the poor man!” Somebody hissed. I let off a groan, shifting my body I winced at the pain in my right shoulder.

“Shit, I think he’s waking up!” said someone else.

“Move over Jenkins let me take a look at him.” Again, there’s that familiar voice. I felt something, or somebody place their hand to my forehead. “Thank God, it feels like the fever is beginning to subside.” The voice said, “He has dislocated shoulder though, that may prove to be a problem in the long run though. But don’t worry this may be a quick fix.” I winced when the man placed his hands on my shoulder. Within seconds I felt an intense amount of pain which caused me to groan, but as quick as the pain came, it vanished. Only to be replaced by a wave of relief that washed over me. I heard the man chuckle, “Don’t worry Isaac we’ll get you out of here.” A few minutes passed and I slowly began to open my eyes, which didn’t really help. Everything around me (or us in this case) was dark.

To my left came a dim light, looking over. I saw five men gathered around each other it looked as if they were discussing something. “Wh-where are we?” I mumbled. The hushed whispers ceased instantly and the five men turned to face me, I could hardly make out the details of any of them. One of them began to approach me,

“Isaac you’re awake.” The soldier whispered, leaning over he took off his bag. Reaching in he began to rifle through his possessions,

“Who are you?” I asked my mind was foggy, and my body ached all over. All I wanted to do was lie down and fall asleep, but something deep in the back of my mind kept telling me I couldn’t do that. That I needed to move now before it was too late,

“Isaac it’s me, Nigel.” Letting out a dry chuckle, I said,

“What a small world.” Nigel snickered, finally finding what he was searching for. Nigel pulled out a small canteen,

“Yeah I know, right?” He said handing me the canteen, “Here sip from this slowly.” He said. Taking it I gave him thankful nod, after taking a few quiet sips. I sighed with relief as the slightly cool water made it’s way down my throat, silence fell over the room. Seconds later I decided to break it,

“What happened after I was captured?” I asked Nigel, looking over at him, I couldn’t see his face due to the almost pitch black room. But telling by his sigh I could tell it wasn’t good,

“It happened so fast,” He said. “Somehow they were able to slip past the omega detectors. They began by taking out the patrols one by one they picked off our men, after most of the patrols were taken down. A large Surgeling force attacked the main gates; General Leiter was the first to act. Disobeying orders he was able to wake most of the men in the camp, and I’m not talking about the soldiers I mean every man. When the Surgelings broke through the gates, most of them consisted of those ugly fucking rat things. But Leiter figured out a way to counter attack those fuckers, it turns out they're sensitive to light. So he orders the town's Militia to make Molotov Cocktails, after that he ordered us to make a stand at the Metropolitan Museum. In the end we were able to fend them off... Barely,” He snorted at the end. “They got us when we weren’t looking.” He sighed.

“Hey, Rooker, can the civie walk yet or not?” One of the soldiers asked, Nigel looked over at the other soldier.

“I dunno Captain,” Looking back at me he asked, “Can you walk?” I took a deep breath, pushing myself up onto my elbows I winced at the pain in my shoulder from where I was scratched. It seems Nigel was able to patch me up, but it still hurt like a mother fucker,

“I’ll try,” I said through clenched teeth, flinging my legs over the side of the table. I slowly placed each foot on the ground. Lifting myself up off of it, my vision began to blur and I stumbled a bit. Grabbing me by the shoulders Nigel said,

“Whoa take it easy, there’s no need to push yourself. Here, place your arm around my neck.” Taking my left arm Nigel wrapped it around the back of his neck. Up above I heard the rumble from a distant explosion, the vibrations caused specs of dust to sprinkle down from the concrete ceiling.

“We need to hurry.” I mumble.

Glancing over at me Nigel raised an eyebrow, “What was that?” He asked.

“We need to hurry it’s only a matter of time before the second wave comes.” I said,

“Isaac, what do you mean there’s a second wave com-” Nigel was cut off by the sound of Marine chambering a round into his gun. Looking up I could see the other four soldiers loading their weapons and getting ready.

“Alright boys,” Said the Captain in the middle. Right away I recognized his voice from the radio. It was Captain Steward, “We don’t know what the surface is going to be like. Behind that door right there,” He said pointing towards a door to his left, “Leads to the nearest plaza that will take us back up to the streets of New York. So I need all of you to be on your toes, we can’t risk losing anyone else.”

“Yes Sir!” Nigel and the other Marines saluted.

“Alright then, let’s move out!”

:[-]:

Despite the sounds of war above us, the dark corridors that we maneuvered through; were plagued with this eerie silence. Looking up front I saw Captain Steward messing with the radio I found before I was attacked in the metro tunnels. Every now and again he would mutter a curse word and smack the side of it.

“Is something wrong, Cap?” The marine to my left asked,

“I dunno,” Steward said, “It was working fine back in the tunnels. Now it just seemed to have-” The radio began to static uncontrollably occasionally a voice would seep through, holding his right hand up into the air. Steward halted us, “Wait a second marines, I think I got something.” Captain Steward began pushing a few buttons cycling through the frequencies,

“We... Losing... Communications... Omega... Haywire...” The deep voice of the man faded in and out due to the static. The marines began sharing confused looks,

“I think that’s General Leiter speaking,” Nigel said, “But it sounds like he’s on the battlefield-”

“What would General Leiter be doing on the battlefield, he’s not in charge of the cleanup operation.” said a young Marine upfront right next to Captain Steward. Nigel shrugged and looked at him,

“I don’t know, maybe he was called out into the field or something.”

“Why,” Said the large African Marine standing right beside me, “why would HQ send him out-”

“Quiet! All of you!” Captain Steward snapped, “I’m starting to get a little more reception.” Pushing a few more buttons, General Leiter’s words slightly became clearer.

“We... The horses... Were victorious... Communications are... Disabled,” Captain Steward growled in frustration.

“I can hardly make out a damn thing he’s saying!” Steward smacked the side of the radio, shaking my head I knew hitting the damn thing wasn’t going to make it work. Sticking out my free hand I said,

“Here let me see it I might be able to make it work.” Steward looked at me and furrowed his brow,

“What makes you think you can fix this, civi?” He snarled,

“I don’t think I can fix it.” I said in all honesty, “But by the looks of what you’re doing I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere,” I said gesturing for him to hand it to me, “Now can I please see it.” Steward glanced at my hand then back at the radio. Letting out an aggravated sigh he handed it to me, taking the radio in hand. I squinted my eyes and got to work, pushing the buttons I began scrolling through frequencies.

“This... Gen-... Requesting... Air...” I gritted my teeth; I seemed to have only made it worse than it was before.

“ Goddammit, civi, now we aren’t getting any reception,” said the young Marine. Letting out a sigh I handed it over to him.

“Here you try.” I said the Marine shrugged slinging his gun over his shoulders he took it.

“Animals... Overwhelm...” The Marine bit the bottom of his lip,

“Come on almost got it,” He said after a short minute the static instantly cleared away. Allowing the sounds of voices and gunshots to flood in, Steward laughed and patted the Marine on the back.

“This is General Kopf Leiter calling in from Regiment Twenty Three, we’re located just outside Freedom Tower! I repeat we’re just outside Freedom Tower!” Steward looked to the young Marine,

“Jenkins, get your map out!” He ordered in a hushed voice, handing the radio over to the large Marine standing next to me I continued to listen,

“We’re requesting back up! I repeat we’re requesting back up! We are having trouble establishing the uplink and we need ariel support. We are under attack by a large Surgeling ground force that is coming from the north and we need air support... Goddammit why is nobody responding?” The large Marine next to me looked to Captain Steward with a questioning look.

“Captain should we answer?” He asked, Captain Steward nodded,

“I’ll answer it.” Steward said while taking the radio.

“This General Kopf Leiter calling for-” Captain Steward pushed the talk button.

“This is Captain Steward of Giant Squadron, do you copy?” We heard a sigh of relief come from the other side of the radio.

“Thank God I thought we were stranded out here.” Steward chuckled,

“Don’t worry, sir, we thought we were too.” There was a moments of silence before the General responded,

“You’re telling me you can't reach HQ either?” Steward took a deep breath,

“No, you’re the first regiment we’ve been able to contact since at least four to five hours ago. It appears something is interfering with our communications.” Kopf Leiter let out an annoyed sigh. After a few more moments he finally replied,

“Well alright, marine, we can play catch up later. Where are you and your men located?” Steward looked to Jenkins who was reading a map for an answer. Releasing the talk button he asked,

“You heard the man, Jenkins, where are we located?” Jenkins looked up from the map, looking up at Captain Steward he said,

“We’re right below them, sir.”

:[-]:

The sounds of gunshots and distant explosions began to gradually grow louder while we ran up the steps leading out of the plaza and back into the streets.

“Alright, Marines,” The radio bleeped, “It appears that you guys will be arriving on Chambers Street am I correct?” General Leiter asked climbing up the last step I was hit by a wave of fresh air. I was blinded by the bright rays of the sun, despite our desperate time I was relieved that we were back on the surface. The thought that I might be able to return to Kyle again made me smile.

Alright men, we move in five!” Steward said, raising the radio back up Captain Steward pressed the talk button and responded,

“Yes sir, just outside of Bogardus Plaza.”

“Perfect now I need...” My attention was taken away from the radio due to something poking me in the back. Turning around I saw the large African American Marine poking me in the back with a pure black U.S. Military assault rifle. Once he noticed he had my attention he twirled the gun in the air and dropped it, only to grab it by the barrel and hand it to me.

“Here you go, little dude.” He said in a deep whisper.

“Jesus Christ, Deshaun, you can’t just go around giving civilians weapons!” Jenkins hissed, Deshaun rolled his eyes and glared at Jenkins.

“Like Hell I can, we need all the manpower we can get if we want to survive this.” Jenkins shook his head and sighed,

“Well it’s your fault if he ends up shooting himself in the foot.”

Reaching out I took the gun, once Deshaun let go of it I almost dropped it once I felt the full weight of the weapon. Deshaun chuckled, “Easy now don’t wanna drop it.” Raising the gun up I rested it on my right shoulder, looking at Nigel I said,

“I think I’m able to walk on my own now.” Nigel raised an eyebrow,

“Are you sure?” He asked I nodded my head, “Alright just take it easy will ya.” Taking my arm off the back of his neck I took a step back. Regaining my balance I brought the gun down and rested the barrel on my left palm.

“What type of assault rifle is this?” I asked,

“It’s a Colt M16A4,” Said Deshaun who was using his glove to wipe down his Light Machinegun. “It’s the standard U.S. Military weapon.” I stood there examining my new weapon slightly confused on how to use it.

“Do you need help on using it?” Nigel asked resting his gun on his shoulder, which seemed to be the same gun but slightly smaller.

“Well I know how to point and shoot it.” I said, “I shot one earlier and killed one of them rat things.” Nigel shrugged,

“Sounds good enough for me... Hey do you still have that Beretta I gave you?” I sighed,

“Well its back at Hooverville sitting on my desk.” Nigel smirked,

“Well at least we didn’t lose it. Say did you ever find your brother?” He asked,

“Well you’re just full of questions aren’t ya?” I chuckled; Nigel laughed and scratched the back of his head just under his helmet. “But yeah, I did find him thanks for asking.” Nigel made his way over to me. Looking back I noticed the fifth Marine, the one who’s been silent this whole time. Tapping Nigel on the shoulder I gestured towards the solemn looking soldier who had a large sniper rifle on his back and was holding a handgun in his right hand, “Who’s that?” I asked.

“Him, oh that’s Pvt. Charlie Reaver. Poor lad just recently lost his brother down in the Metro Tunnels.” I glanced over at Nigel; the thought of me losing Kyle scared the living shit out of me.

“Jesus that must have been hard for him,” Nigel nodded,

“Charlie went fucking berserk down there. He started shooting at every single Surgeling he saw, he had to at least drop like ten of those mother fuckers with one handgun magazine.”

“Alright, ladies,” shouted Captain Steward who was now placing the radio in his jacket. “I just got done talking to General Leiter.”

“What did he say?” Asked Jenkins,

“He said get your shit ready, we’re going into battle.”

I stood there stunned, battle? We’re going to fucking battle!? I can’t go to war! I’m not a soldier I’m a fucking car insurance agent! What about Kyle, I can’t just leave him back at Hooverville what if I get killed in action. Jesus I don’t want to die on the battlefield, I’d rather die with my family then go out and die by the hands of the brutish ape or by the hooves of a pastel colored horse!

Nigel poked me with the butt of his gun, “Whoa man are you okay?” He asked, “You look a little pale.” Shaking my head I glanced over at Nigel, the thing though that got me was that Nigel didn’t even look scared or terrified. It’s as if the thought of marching into battle didn’t even faze the man. Yet here I am practically pissing myself, I never even knew how to fire a gun until what, a week ago? And here I am now getting ready to get thrown into the midst of battle alongside other men. Fuck man I didn’t volunteer for this!

“Alright, men, General Leiter has just informed me that us right now are behind enemy lines right as we speak. The thing is though all of the Surgeling resistance forces are over there at the One World Trade Center.” Captain Steward said pointing to the freakishly tall skyscraper that could easily be seen perfectly from where we stood. “Now right as we speak there is another large Surgeling force coming from the north down West Street,” Captain Steward brushed past us and made his way up Chambers street. The rest of us shared a glance with each other and shrugged, following Captain Steward he continued, “Further up this road we’re going to be taking a left,” We reached the end of the road glancing to the left Captain Steward pointed towards a large black building which I assume is at least forty to forty-five stories. “We are then going to Chase Bank.”

“Why are we going to Chase Bank?” Deshaun asked Captain Steward smirked.

“That’s where we’re going to establish an ambush, Pvt. Glass.”

:[-]:

My legs burned and my right shoulder flared with pain from the slash wound; we were sprinting down Greewhich St. towards the large chase bank. Every now and again Captain Steward would stop us and take cover behind a vehicle. After a few seconds he would motion for us to move on ahead, the weapon I was carrying didn’t help much with running at all either. The damn thing felt like it weighed a freaking ton after my arms grew sore. That’s probably what I get for quitting the gym a few years back.

The sounds of urban warfare began to grow unbelievably loud, the sounds of machineguns and the pounding of cannons made my ears bleed. Nigel pointed out to me that the battle was literally happening just over those buildings to my left.

While we sprinted down the middle of the road, I heard the sound of helicopter rotors. Memories of the helicopter crashing into the hotel brought back my inner fears; just above our heads came three black military transport helicopters. Despite seeing a crashing helicopter coming right at me, this was the lowest I ever seen a helicopter fly. It looked as if I could just reach out with my hand and touch it. I wasn’t going to try because I’d look like a fucking fool in front of the other soldiers.

While gazing at the helicopters I didn’t notice the body of the dead Surgeling on the ground and I tripped. I cursed out loud and landed on the ground with thud, fuck how many times can I trip in one day?

The soldiers in front of me stopped for a brief second, “Goddammit, civi,” Jenkins hissed, “We can’t have you fucking us up!” I glared at Jenkins; I could tell already I wasn’t going to like this man. Right as we speak this marine reminds me of my stuck up boss Mr. Preston, except for the fact he wasn’t English but still.

Nigel ran towards me and took me by the wrist pulling me up; I decided to take a glance back at what I tripped on. As I turned to look I instantly regretted it, a small female pony laid on her side. She was fitted with what looked like parts of trash cans and some other items; on the side of her head was a large bullet hole. All the gore made me wanted to vomit; the look on her face was the worst of it.

Shock...? Fear...? Could it even be both?

For some odd reason it made me sick, sick to the core. This was the enemy for God’s sake! Yet why do I feel sympathy for this poor creature, was it because this creature probably had dreams and a life of her own? If none of this ever happened and I were to find this same pony on a farm or ranch dead. I probably wouldn’t feel anything for it, yet now... These things can talk and think, they’re not some dumb animal as we Humans made them out to be but-

Nigel tugged on my shoulder, “Come on, rookie, we have a mission we need to carry out.” Looking into Nigel’s eyes I saw that he too felt sympathy for the pony.

Closing my eyes I took a deep breath, “Yeah, I know come on.” We continued down the road, the sounds of warfare began to grow even more hectic. For once ever since the starting of this animal rebellion I was actually hoping that the eerie silence would return.

Inside me I could feel my anxiety growing, the sounds of gunfire and screams of soldiers or even the Surgelings reached my ears. I felt as if I was back in that dark ethereal void and all those images of death and destruction were flying at me. Yet this time I was there, I was in one of those images, seeing all this death and destruction first hand. This wasn’t something that I could close my eyes and look away from, but instead this is something I could actually reach out and touch. I could feel everything I could hear everything; every shot that is fired, every command that is given, the pain from every bullet that hits flesh. This was Hell, this was no longer my home, instead this was a battlefield. I now realize that I’m no longer a car insurance agent, instead I’m a man who was plucked from his everyday life of filling out papers and placed behind enemy lines with his fellow comrades. Living out the rest of his life in fear that everyday could be his last; I’ll no longer be returning home and sitting down to watch T.V. Instead I’ll be returning back to my tent and eating M.R.Es and possibly talking about how I killed my first Surgeling.

I was ripped out of my thoughts due to an explosion, “Incoming!” Shouted Deshaun who dove behind a car; above me came helicopter which was spiraling out of control. I felt somebody grab me by the shoulders and yank me back behind a wall of an alleyway.

“Goddammit, Civi, this is no time to stand around!” Jenkins growled into my ear, across the street I could see Captain Steward yelling into the radio. Jenkins stuck his head around the corner to get a better look. I felt the ground shutter and loud explosion rocked my ears. “Jesus Christ!” Jenkins shouted, bringing his head back from around the corner he looked to me.

“Fuck!” My heart raced and I felt my hairs stand on all ends. “What’s going on out there?”

Jenkins chambered around in his gun and he took it off safety, “Fucking Surgelings that’s what’s going on! We must’ve been spotted or something,” Glancing back around the corner he quickly spun back around, “Shit!” Looking back at me he looked at the gun I was holding in my hand, “Have you ever fired one of those before?” He asked.

Looking down at the gun in my hands, I looked back at Jenkins and shrugged, “I killed a Surgeling in the metro with a Carbine.”

Rolling his eyes Jenkins shook his head, “As long as you know how to fucking use it we’re fine.” After taking another peek around the corner Jenkins turned to face me, “Alright, civi-”

“I have a name you know-”

Grabbing me by the shirt Jenkins pulled me in, “Does it really fucking matter right now, now what I need you to do is you see Captain Steward over there?” He said pointing his finger at large white truck across the street over there was Captain Steward and Nigel. I nodded my head, “Well I need you to run over there and help them lay down suppressing fire.”

I looked at Jenkins as if he was mad man, “What if I get attacked?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about I’ll cover you now when I count to three, I want you to run as fast as you fucking can.” Down the street I could hear the sounds of the Surgelings advancing in on us. “Hey,” Jenkins smacked me on the side of the head I flinched, “do you understand?”

Placing a hand on the side of my head I nodded, “Y-yes.”

“Alright, before we start I need to tell you this.” Jenkins looked me dead in the eyes, leaning in close he cracked a grin, “Don’t fuck up,” I smiled nervously not knowing what to expect. Right now even if Jenkins did cover me and I were to get caught, I would either end up back underground. Or be killed, it was still a likely chance I would live yet there is always that chance that I could fuck up and get myself killed.

Jenkins raised an eyebrow, “You okay, man? You look a little pale.”

I shook my head. “I’m fine,” I lied.

“Alright,” Jenkins said, “I’m going to take one more peek, and when I count to three go,” I nodded my head, “Okay then, see you in Hell then.” Jenkins made his way back towards the corner of the wall. Raising his weapon slowly, he tilted his body around the corner. Looking down the sights he stood silent for a few moments, soon those moments turned to a minute.

With my anxiety growing rapidly I couldn’t help myself but ask, “Is everything alright, Jenkins?”

“I don’t know. They’re just kind of... standing there, like they’re waitin’ for something to happen.” He looked back towards me. “Come here. You gotta check this out,” he said.

I took a deep breath and slowly made my way up to him, peeking around the corner I saw a large group of animals scattered about down the street. All of them just standing there, some looked up at the sky others just sat down and did nothing. As if they were waiting for something. Curious I took a glance at the sky to see what they’re looking at. But there was nothing just a blank, empty sky, not a single cloud to be seen.

I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it, but I knew something wasn’t right, the sounds of war on the other side of the buildings began to die down. The only thing that could be heard now was the quiet breaths coming from myself and Pvt. Jenkins.

On the tenth day, on the first day of spring, they shall take to the skies.

My eyes widened in fear as the realization has finally dawned on me, looking over at Captain Steward I saw that he was still talking into the radio. Looking back over at the ponies I got an idea, pushing off the wall I began sprinting across the road.

“Jesus, Civi, you’re going to expose us!” Jenkins hissed,

“Captain Steward!” I shouted.

“I’m telling you, Sir, we’re cut off by a large group of them we can’t m-” Snatching the radio out of his hand I turned it off, “What the fuck are you doing, Civi.”

“First off stop calling me civi I have a fucking name, secondly something big is about to fucking happen in... What time is it?”

I looked over at Nigel who was staring at me with a confused expression, shaking his head he pulled back his sleeves so he could check his watch. “Eleven fifty-five,” he said.

I shook my head. “Fuck! That means we have less than five minutes.”

Captain Steward tore the radio out of my hand, “Civi-”

“My name is Isaac,” I said getting frustrated, “we need to get off the streets right now. Call that General guy up and tell him to get his men inside right now!” I said running towards the nearest building.

“Isaac, what the fuck are you talking about,” asked Nigel.

“On the tenth day, on the first day of spring when the sun is at its highest, they will take to the skies!” I recited while I ran into an apartment complex.

Nigel glanced around confused; getting up he followed me into the buildings, “Pvt. Rooker, get your ass back here right now that’s an order!”

“With all due respect, Sir, I think we should listen to him!”

:[-]:

I honestly didn’t believe they would follow me in here, and honestly I could care less. As long as I live through this I’m okay with that, I know it sounds heartless but I need to find my brother and get the Hell out of here. After about a minute I found the stairwell leading up to the roof which was about twenty stories up. Pushing open the door I began making my way up the flight of seemingly endless stairs.

Behind me I heard someone push open the door and follow me up, “Isaac! What the fuck were you doing back there you almost exposed us!” Shouted Pvt. Rooker.

“Hey what time is it?” I shouted back down to him while I hopped up the steps by twos, I need to get a clear view on what the fuck is going to happen.

“What?” Nigel asked.

“I said, ‘what time is it?’”

“Eleven fifty-eight? Why do you need to know?”

I cursed under my breath and ignored Nigel’s question; I quickened my pace. I was fifteen stories when a large explosion caught my ears. The entire building shook when a pure green wave energy surged throughout the entire city. I stumbled over my footing and tripped up the stairs, I lunged out and grasped onto the railing preventing myself from falling.

“What the fuck was that!?” Nigel gasped.

“It’s starting, that’s what that was!” I said regaining my balance and began running up the steps. “Don’t you remember?! That’s the same light that came the first night!”

I busted through the door that led to the roof, cool air brushing past me causing my hair and jacket to sway. I could hear the cries of not men but ponies, I ran to the edge of the building, looking down into the streets I saw some ponies on the ground crying out in agony.

Nigel ran up behind me and peered over the edge to see what I was looking at, “What in God’s name is happening to them?”

“They’re changing,” I muttered. I could see appendages began to sprout out of the backs of the poor creatures; feathers began to form along their newly developed limb. I stood there stunned by what I was looking at; I didn’t know what to say, “They’re getting stronger.”

Right before me I was seeing evolution take its course, I don’t know if it was beautiful or downright disturbing. I couldn’t help myself but I actually cracked a smile, but as quickly as the smile came it left and was replaced by a frown.

In the distance I heard a bestial roar, turning I could see the Hudson River. In the afternoon sun it was a beautiful sight, the way the river glistened in the light of the afternoon sun. Everything seemed to be at peace besides the black sky above it, massive beasts that were assumed to be of myth flew down onto the city.

Large looming reptiles that could breathe fire torched the skyscrapers, gryphons, and I mean actual gryphons, flew down into the streets and began attacking soldiers. Machine gun fire erupted all around us, I could see tracer rounds and rockets fire up into the air only to explode. The once peaceful silence was once again replaced with the sounds of war, soldiers ran aimlessly in the streets below. Firing at anything that didn’t walk on two legs, others aimed upwards and fired without an official target.

Behind Nigel and I we heard the door open and the rest of the marines came to join us, “Is it just me or are those fucking dinosaurs flying around out there!?” Shaun said.

“Those aren’t dinosaurs,” I said, “Those are their reinforcements.”

Steward came up next to me, looking out over the ruined city he muttered, “God help us all.”