This has to do with Five Lives (my story). It shows what this virus does to your head. A common symptom is freakish dreams.
On a side note the characters are just there to show what my virus does to you. They wouldn't come back at all in the story. Why? Because I don't like the family already.
Warning: I was mad while writing this so it's disgusting and quite scary!
-------------------------------------------------------------
“Dadda corin!” Jimmy’s baby voice chimed.
“What? Oh! Corn?” I picked the steaming bowl, but it was cold? It looked to hot, but felt so icy. My stomach twisted, I cringed and crippled over myself.
“Darling what’s wrong?” my concerned wife crying, but it was all going black. No not black, yellowish brown? Thousands of mealworms crawled out the gapping hole in my chest.
I went to scream but they crowed my mouth. I vocals decade and rotted as the mealworms feasted. But my eyes saw it all…
I watched din pure horror as my little boy went from flushed cheeks to green decay, he bones jetted out of his skull. But his voice still worked…
“Dadda! Help! Dadda!” He screamed at his highest voice. With his mouth wide I stared in terror as the vile creatures filed into his mouth.
I tried to move my arms and legs. My son needs me! But I was locked into place. I tried to turn my neck but nothing worked. I stained my eyes to peer on, as my lovely wife became nothing but a disintegrated carcass.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Night's Uncertainties
The Night’s Uncertainties
By: Elena Lee
The light shines so bright in spite, in spite of the night.
I shield my face, my eyes sting and burn.
Why is the night so bright with light tonight?
I feel in flight, I feel my heart yearn.
I see the orb in the sky and it’s lies.
I wonder and wish this dark night would die.
Night seems to loosen all the day’s ties.
But what my heart wants leaves only a sigh.
Dark and deep the night calls upon the forest.
Again and again the twisted night seems to tease.
In this fight of wits I am the poorest.
My heart, the fleeting night has yet to seize.
And perhaps the music of this dreadful night,
Has given my more then a late night fright.
Explanation: The night and day don’t just represent a time but also people, a love triangle. A girl tells her tale at night about her love for the day, but the day rejected her. Yet the night still very much wants her. The girl is fighting having to live in the darkness of the night for life.
The light shines so bright in spite, in spite of the night.
I shield my face, my eyes sting and burn.
Why is the night so bright with light tonight?
I feel in flight, I feel my heart yearn.
I see the orb in the sky and it’s lies.
I wonder and wish this dark night would die.
Night seems to loosen all the day’s ties.
But what my heart wants leaves only a sigh.
Dark and deep the night calls upon the forest.
Again and again the twisted night seems to tease.
In this fight of wits I am the poorest.
My heart, the fleeting night has yet to seize.
And perhaps the music of this dreadful night,
Has given my more then a late night fright.
Explanation: The night and day don’t just represent a time but also people, a love triangle. A girl tells her tale at night about her love for the day, but the day rejected her. Yet the night still very much wants her. The girl is fighting having to live in the darkness of the night for life.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Five Lives- The Night's Slave
I'm writing again! Sorry it takes so long. I try.
This is Five Lives (again). If you don't know it's the book I'm writing, yadda yadda.
Summary of plot to the book: A virus spread through the world.
Summary to this chapter: T.A.K.A is sent on mission to kill a Doctor. Rachel is forced to see something things she'll never forget. Rachel's point of view.
Copyright Elena Lee Twist 2009.
The Night's Slave
“Hey!” The piercing voice scattered my concentration.
“What?” I hissed.
“Oh come on don’t be that way?” Ditto whined and against my liking plopped down beside me. I grunted as if to tip off my anger.
“So I was talking to Doc said that this scab is going to go away. I wish it would scar, because I hear chicks dig scars. But I guess I could just go off of pure good looks.” Ditto blathered into a rush of annoyance. “And then when I was robbing th-“
“Shut up Ditto!” I burst and swung at him. Damn him for being swift.
I didn’t notice the collection of people crowding to the room perfectly on time for my blow up. Flint was booming with laughter and I shot him a deadly glare.
“Better watch yourself Ditto, Dawn ready to kick your ass!” Flint bellowed.
“You shut it too!” I growled menacingly at him, but Flint saw though my act. “Let’s just get this damn day over.” I spoke though my clenched jaw.
“Whatever you say…” Flint chuckled. And once he thought I was out of earshot he added. “Princess.”
“Heard that!” I exclaimed from the street outside the hide out. Enough being bitter Rachel. I took a moment of silence to take in the night. Zero told us to take in every sound of the night and inmate them and the reactions the make.
I strained my ears. I listened to a few late night drinkers fumbling down the sidewalks. I heard a cat prancing on the metal trashcans. I heard sirens, the sound amplified by the lack of nightlife since the virus spread. The scream of an elderly women came next, I didn’t tune into what she was saying for fear of hearing it.
Now I hear vivid footsteps, not hidden steps for sneaking, just everyday walking.
“Sorry-…” The Newbe. “I was-…Uh.” He mumbled. “Never mind.”
I whisked around. “Go on.” I commanded. “Say it.” My words were sweeter then the sharp ones I wanted.
“I was just wondering…Uh.” He stopped and sighed deeply. I giggled, wait I giggled! “Could I you know, help out tonight?”
“Sure kid.” I replied with my unusual smile plastered to my face, god what’s wrong with me?
“But on one condition.” He waited, and took in every word I said, like an audience to a poet. “You’re going to have to be sneakier.”
Newbe laughed, and then realized he had gotten to loud and snapped his mouth shut. And I smirked, holding back a chuckle.
A group of shadows joined Newbe and me. I put on my serious face and thought of the mission at hand. I had reread today’s notice around seven times; the sentences made me more uncomfortable then the last.
I had it to memory…
‘Dear T.A.K.A. Member,
Tonight’s mission will start strictly at midnight, anyone not a counted for will be dealt with and punished at the earliest available. The mission will be one of great interest to the media so don’t get caught. We will be taking out Dr. Ginning; you are not to hurt Dr. McClain or any other nurse or assistant.’
The ending ended the same as the rest…
‘Anyone caught disobeying me at any point in this mission or in daily life will be punished or executed.
Zero.’
We were to kill a Doctor? The ones that were saving the lives of all the dieing people, we were to take that hope away? I feel monstrous. I should ask someone about this Doctor after the mission, I wouldn’t risk getting caught for talking.
“Let’s go team!” Jacob shouted and Flint joined in with whispered shouts and hollers.
“Ready Rales? Shadow?” I asked to be polite to the two mute boys. Shadow didn’t react to the fact that I had even spoken. But Rales smiled and nodded.
The chattering of a nervous jaw was just behind my shoulder. Newbe.
“You ok Newbe?”
“Peachy.” The sarcasm oozed of the words.
“First off I’m the sarcastic one, and second you could back out now.” I challenged his loyalty. I wonder if he has the letter Zero sent about the rules of T.A.K.A yet?
The chattering stopped like a battery out of juice, and his tone was serious and almost dark, “I’m not backing out.”
“Good.” I exclaimed strongly. Maybe he would be a good addition to the team, after a little more training, but there is potential.
“Move out!” Zero hissed from the shadows of the night.
We moved in units of two, Shadow and Rales went first to check for clarity from any type of officials. They make the sound of a cat to signal that it’s clear for us to move into further positions out of the alleyway.
The cat’s cry echoed down the alley passage way and last five seconds before vanishing into the nights uncertainties. I leaped gracefully into the walls brick sidings. The rush of the cold wet brick sent a shiver up my spine. Flint tapped softly on the wall giving the slightest vibration to my ear.
This meant to continue moving, and I did. Once in the main sidewalk I felt exposed, the full moon shinned against my face like the conniving sun itself. I looked suspenseful at the glimmering cement in the moonlight. Flint and I walked like normal teens of the streets, but the once lively bustling road are deserted and filled with abandon cars from the hundred car pile-ups for the first sting of the virus.
I noted that most of the car doors were open. How much hurry or panic would a person have to be to not even have the designees to close a door? I held back tears at the beat up SUV; in the backseat was a car seat, a shadow-hidden child still strapped in. The mother nowhere to be found, just the child, cold and lifeless abandon in the seat of a car; my heart ached for the child that would never live their life. Why would God put a child in this world just to die?
I had slowed to a crawl pace and Flint was seemly the only thing that was dragging me away from the baby. I bit my tongue to hide my distress and listened to the pitter-patter of the rain that had gently started to fall, if you listened very closely you could hear the whimpers of Shark from the icy water.
I followed the trail that Flint was blazing, and watched the darkness dance on the walls from the diligent moon’s glow. The beauty of the night contrasted the haunted streets of this once turbulent city, and the combination created an eerie atmosphere.
After the paced travel we reached the outside of the frantic hospital. Nurses and patents spread out over the lawn. The smell of gasoline reeked in the air and tainted its compounds. I cringed as the door swung open and witnessed the nurse rolling a person’s thrashing body and leaving it buckled to the stretcher on the lawn.
“Go!” Zero growled.
The plan was to pretend I was ill to get inside the building, from what Zero has gathered if you are just coming to the hospital they give you your own room before sending you out to face the wintry night.
Thankfully I was already dizzy and sick to my stomach. I dropped to my knees and Flint scooped me up to his chest like a small child.
“Make it good sis.” He encouraged into my ear.
I nodded and started to cough and gag dramatically; if I was doing this I was doing it right.
“Oh dear not another!” The nurse trotted over to us.
“Please! Help her! Oh God Please!” Flint pled and begged the women. I flickered my eyes to him and saw the tears rolling down his face. I coughed and choked and let the drool dip carelessly like most victims.
The nurse looked tore to give us a room or turn us down to die on the streets. I could see her conscious in her eyes, the battle between the angel on her shoulder and the devil on the other.
With a sigh, “Follow me.”
Flint panicked and crazed followed as I kept up the act.
She led us through the hospital. I quickly closed my eyes once I noted that there were dieing people lining the hallway not just the yard. But I couldn’t close my ears.
The screams and pleas for the pain to stop made a chorus of horrifying voices, and I was to kill one of the only Doctors? I am a monster…
We were stopped by a jerk backwards, I shrieked for the nurse to hear my immanent ‘pain’. It was a hand that was holding us in place, the hand gripped Flint’s grimy pant leg.
The women begged for pity, “I beg, save my child! Save Collin, I don’t care what you have to do, just save him!” She held a toddler in her arms; he stirred at her shouts but then returned to the sweet innocent mind of childhood.
Flint shook the terror-infested woman of. Flint paced more briskly now; to prevent any more stops…I’ll thank him for that later.
The nurse led us to a white door that looked heavily beaten. I shuddered to think of what might have accrued here.
The door relived a once white hospital room, but now it was destroyed and most of the equipment was tipped and thrown about the room. I groaned to queue Flint to set me down, and he obliged.
The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable. I wiggled into a place and chattered my teeth to make the illusion of being cold. The coughing was getting becoming simple through my horse throat.
“I’ll be leaving now.” The nurse made her exit.
I rested my eyes. This bed was slightly nicer then the mat I sleep on the floor with. I smothered my face into the pillow and rested my aching muscles.
“Comfy?” Flint teased.
I sighed and ignored him.
“Well I can’t stay. I better get going now.” Flint explained, and I jumped up in the bed.
“Where? Why? Now?” My words fumbled together in my panic.
He seemed taken back by my worry. “I’ve just got some business to do for the boss.” Flint reassured.
“You’re leaving me here… alone.” I accused him.
He laughed and said, “Oh so you’re scared? Oh poor Princess.”
I sneered at him. “Jerk.”
Still with the smug smile, “And that’s why you love me. See ya.” And without another glance he escaped this hell through a window.
Time crept by so slowly. I checked the clock at least fifteen times in the last seven minutes.
I’ll adventure then. I got on my achy feet and slipped into the hall. The faces stared at me in envy. I wasn’t even ill and I got a room…
I sighed and walked down the hall till the staring stopped. I slid down the wall into a small opening next to a middle aged man and a young teen girl.
A noise made them cringe, all the strangers around me looked scared? Why? The noise was…a voice, no, a scream. It grew and grew till it thrived in the silence.
“No!” The man thrashed and fought the tight deadly grip around his wrists. He screamed and swung his arm to the best of his ability. With a sudden burst of adrenaline to become free, he lunged at the titled floor. The guard lost grip and the man fought back he army crawled but the attempts were futile.
The guard held his ankles, the man was hysterical and cried and begged for the help of the bystanders. The guard began to drag him and he swiftly held on to the leg of a young women. She screamed in shock and shook her head.
“Help me!” The man commanded harshly.
“No, I can’t!” She cried and pushed off the hand. The man clawed helpless at the smooth flooring, the shouts disappeared into the mysterious halls.
“Where are they taking him?” I questioned the thirty or so man next to me. My voice was rough and broke at the end.
“Out back.” The hall nodded as if that was more then enough information, but it left so many unanswered questions.
“What’s out back?”
He looked uncomfortable and he squirmed into the wall. “To be burned.”
“What?!” I was taken back in pure horror.
“We were once here on free will, the thrive to live, but now we are the prisoners.” He said bleakly. Prisoners? This isn’t that once high standard hospital it was.
“Why can’t you leave?” My naïve mind made the others look at me strangely.
“Doctor Ginning is-“ He leading to my ear to whisper as the nurse wondered passed. “Is using us as experiments to cure the disease. Or for his own sick pleasure.”
My words stuck in my throat, I chocked them out to say, “Wha-What?” So that’s why we were told to kill him… The pieces fell into place; I swear the others could almost hear the ‘click’ in my head.
“Get out of here before you really do get sick.” The man instructed sternly.
“How did you know I wasn’t sick?”
“Let’s just say I’m expert on the sick, and you dear are not one.” He trailed off into a far off memory that caused him to cringe.
“I can’t leave…” I paused. “Not without completing my mission…” All the guilt of murdering a Doctor had vanished the same as the victim down the halls.
“Anything I can help with?”
Should I have him help me? I turned to the trustworthy yellow eyes the burned into my irises. He face was a rotten green tinted color. He was sick, very sick, but he seemed fine.
Then it showed more then the color of his skin and eyes combined. He twitched and cringed, and a distorted face. His eyes pinched shut and he gagged up the vomit and blood into the once pearl white floor.
I gasped and reached to comfort him. But he pushed me away; his hand left a bloody vomit mixture on my shirt.
His chokes slowed to silence and panting for air, I realized compared to these people I looked health as ever. I stared thoughtful at the smear on my shirt and softly wiped my hands in the slimy and sticky mess.
“You’ve helped me already…” After scooping more of the floor, I held the revolting substance in my hand, as it’s hot ooze slipped though the cracks in my fingers. I breathed as calmly as possible, I took in the infected air in gasps and I prepared to stop breathing.
The scent burned my eyes but once I stopped breathing the smell decreased. I poured it over my face; my eyes firmly closed mimicking my mouth. I smeared the vomit around my mouth and let it roll naturally down my chin and neck. The scent had me light headed and dizzy. I felt all my insides return to my outsides, the putrid smell got worse.
I rocked and swayed; my dizziness controlled my movements. My eyes flickered shut and my mind slowed to a halt.
Someone is shouting…Loudly…
The man’s voice rang loud and clear though the frosted over subconscious. “You must have some insane death wish…Silly child.
A light shinned through my mind. The sun? A dream? Life? Death?
I laughed with the sun shining on my face; the warmth penetrated my skin. I felt the joy of the moment that put me into a sort of natural high. Derek stole the ball and raced down the poorly made football field.
“Pass it Der!” I shouted over the wind blowing.
He reacted and obliged. My eyes watched diligently as the ball was flying through the air to me. I got into position to catch it. The leather ball was wrapped in the warmth of my body, and once safely at my chest I sprinted to the goal posts.
Tommy wasn’t having this. He got into place to stop me but unexpectedly he dropped to the ground, Derek, the overprotective twit. I laughed at Tommy’s expression and continued my race to the goal.
But with no Derek I was on my own to beat David. Easy. I first tried to out run him, but my muscles were to tired and screaming in distress, so running was out. Then I felt all hundred seventy pounds of David tackle me down. Out of shock I screamed, a girly high-pitched scream.
Once I opened my eyes I saw all the guys crowed around me. Then the chorus of laughs broke out.
“She- she was like AAAAHHH!” The laughter took all the creditability away from the imitation of my girly shriek.
“Shut up!” I said bitterly, the words dripped venom of loathing.
“Hey back off! Or I’ll make you!” Derek commanded in a deep and threatening tone. The laughter stopped dead in its tracks. Derek and me kept up the act of being pissed. Until I could see right behind the mask of anger was a laugh building up.
We gave in and we laughed till it hurt. The other stared at us like we were crazy but that’s fine, because we are better then fine, we’re family.
I woke from the forced slumber to the discomfort of the hospital bed. The dream was still fresh in my mind, but it more then a dream it was a memory. But only a memory now… Now I was back in my assigned room. The light from the digital clock read, “2:21 A.M.” Showtime.
“Ugh, ok… dumb plan.” I muttered.
A man chuckled.
“What?!” I jumped, damn paranoia. It was the shadowy figure of Flint hidden by the burned out lights. He laughed at me, the straightened up.
“Ready?”
“Sure, sure.” I hopped to quickly to my feet and was taken back for a moment. I braced the disheveled sheets till my mind was clearer. “Let’s get this shit over with.” I grumbled miserably.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”
“Shut it!” I threatened, my eyes blazed into his. I’ve seen more then he’ll ever understand. I can’t erase those deathly memories, the tainted proof scared into my retinas. All the sick and dieing men, women and child all had no other options but to die. All is hopeless.
“Fine. Let’s move out.” Flint crouched in front of me protectively. It was to be sneaky, but in the bright, crowed halls it only drew attention. I followed Flint closely, the passing faces changed from sad, to pity, to anger, to grief, to hysteria.
I met gaze with the man from earlier… He told me to escape, but to do that I would have let them all die.
Without uttering a sound he mouthed, “Good Luck and Goodbye.”
I fought the tears and replied, “Be Strong Friend.”
He nodded and averted his stares to the opposite direction. His skin was worse and my intellectual side knew he won’t make it through tonight, but my heart defended his life.
We walked on further till we reached the metal sign reading, ‘Dr. Ginning’. We came to a halt. Flint stared in complete determination; I envied this.
Flint knocked like any other civilized murder. The door cracked ever so slightly. Revealing nothing but a piercing brownish gray eye.
“Get out of here! All patients wait in the hall or designated room!” The raspy voice crowed. The sneer was visible in the words tone.
“Oh we aren’t here to wait Dr. Ginning.” Flint said smugly.
“I said out!” He restated, he began to slam the door, but Flint reacted quickly and placed his foot in the way.
“No.”
The door was flung effortlessly. He asserted himself through, and face to face with the crud and elderly Dr. Ginning. This old man was the death of countless, and caused thousands pain; pain for lost lives and gained infections. He was a demon in an old man’s body.
“I hate you!” I hissed from behind Flint, I didn’t think, the words came like a flash flood of hatred. He killed, and I will to.
Flint gave me a flickering glance, but I was blazing. My anger amplified from the stories in the hall. He hurt all of them, that villainous monster. He will lie in blood tonight, I will make sure of this.
I moved subconsciously next to Flint. Shoulder to shoulder we stood, eyes hungry for blood.
Dr. Ginning reacted by what I except he would do. He stumbled about the room, looking for a weapon or some sort of cover. But Flint and I choose a good stage; the room was bare except the desk with jumbled papers and miscellaneous pictures. The doctor panicked and chose to hide beneath the desk.
Neither Flint nor I chased after him during his panic, mostly because panic was sometimes worse then your own death. He faltered into his current position. Boring for me, I liked a challenge, if I was forced on a murder mission it better be interesting.
The seconds ticked, as the panting of Dr. Ginning got more and more frantic. The emotions bubbled in my stomach was guilt, guilt because I once was hunted such as this? Did that event affect my emotions?
“Your times up Doctor.” Flint chuckled sinisterly. The fully loaded gun made its appearance.
Dr. Ginning was stunned, this eyes wide and the wrinkles stretched. I knew the expression well… He was watching his life flash before his eyes, like a movie, but the movie runs out of film and that’s my job.
The gun locked on his fore head. The shot fired though the room and down the halls. Every voice silenced, everything deadly quiet. It was over. His body twitched and jerked to the tiled floor. The red river drained the body; it seeped to my feet.
I knock rattled against the window. Flint opened to release the noise.
Bomb crept in followed by Shark, Shadow, and Rails. The six of us crowed the room.
“Yeah! How did you like a taste of your own med-“ Ditto howled in victory.
“Quiet!” Bomb hissed. “Do you want to draw more attention?”
“Sorry.” He whispered.
“I’ll check if the coast is clear and make or move one at a time.” Flint ordered.
We nodded to his plan.
“Alright see you back to the hideout.” He swung over the windowsill to the night’s blackness.
One by one they began to leave. But I couldn’t… My heart was telling me I was forgetting something. I just couldn’t leave… I owned a lot to these people and I couldn’t just murder and leave.
The boy. Collin.
“The mother and her child in the hall.” I gasped.
“What?” Bomb gave a strange look.
I ignored his question and raced to the door. I held the handle and did a quick trip though memory lane to remember exactly where I saw them. The second corridor to the left, yes that’s it.
“Dawn we have to get out now!” Bomb demanded.
“I’m just making a little detour… There is something I have to do.” I replied my mind set on my goal. “I promise to be back to the base very soon, I’ll take the rooftops.”
“Fine, but I’m not covering for you.” Which in Bomb talk was ‘I will cover for you don’t worry’. And I didn’t worry; I had a duty to do for myself. I slipped though the door into the main hall and blended into the sick citizens.
I made my way through the unknown hall to the familiar one. The hall where the woman stopped Flint, where this Collin boy is, I won’t let what happened to the child in the car happen to this boy.
I found them… The woman was crippled over and the toddler was shaking her. The mother didn’t react to the baby.
“Momma?” A tiny voice said.
I crouched the level of the broken remains of the family. The mother’s eyes were yellow and the blood had been long since dried. She was died, died for hour by the looks of it.
“Momma?”
I rested my hand on his shoulder. Collin twisted around, and his bloodshot eyes were heartbreaking. The tears steamed down his face.
“Momma’s broken.”
This is Five Lives (again). If you don't know it's the book I'm writing, yadda yadda.
Summary of plot to the book: A virus spread through the world.
Summary to this chapter: T.A.K.A is sent on mission to kill a Doctor. Rachel is forced to see something things she'll never forget. Rachel's point of view.
Copyright Elena Lee Twist 2009.
The Night's Slave
“Hey!” The piercing voice scattered my concentration.
“What?” I hissed.
“Oh come on don’t be that way?” Ditto whined and against my liking plopped down beside me. I grunted as if to tip off my anger.
“So I was talking to Doc said that this scab is going to go away. I wish it would scar, because I hear chicks dig scars. But I guess I could just go off of pure good looks.” Ditto blathered into a rush of annoyance. “And then when I was robbing th-“
“Shut up Ditto!” I burst and swung at him. Damn him for being swift.
I didn’t notice the collection of people crowding to the room perfectly on time for my blow up. Flint was booming with laughter and I shot him a deadly glare.
“Better watch yourself Ditto, Dawn ready to kick your ass!” Flint bellowed.
“You shut it too!” I growled menacingly at him, but Flint saw though my act. “Let’s just get this damn day over.” I spoke though my clenched jaw.
“Whatever you say…” Flint chuckled. And once he thought I was out of earshot he added. “Princess.”
“Heard that!” I exclaimed from the street outside the hide out. Enough being bitter Rachel. I took a moment of silence to take in the night. Zero told us to take in every sound of the night and inmate them and the reactions the make.
I strained my ears. I listened to a few late night drinkers fumbling down the sidewalks. I heard a cat prancing on the metal trashcans. I heard sirens, the sound amplified by the lack of nightlife since the virus spread. The scream of an elderly women came next, I didn’t tune into what she was saying for fear of hearing it.
Now I hear vivid footsteps, not hidden steps for sneaking, just everyday walking.
“Sorry-…” The Newbe. “I was-…Uh.” He mumbled. “Never mind.”
I whisked around. “Go on.” I commanded. “Say it.” My words were sweeter then the sharp ones I wanted.
“I was just wondering…Uh.” He stopped and sighed deeply. I giggled, wait I giggled! “Could I you know, help out tonight?”
“Sure kid.” I replied with my unusual smile plastered to my face, god what’s wrong with me?
“But on one condition.” He waited, and took in every word I said, like an audience to a poet. “You’re going to have to be sneakier.”
Newbe laughed, and then realized he had gotten to loud and snapped his mouth shut. And I smirked, holding back a chuckle.
A group of shadows joined Newbe and me. I put on my serious face and thought of the mission at hand. I had reread today’s notice around seven times; the sentences made me more uncomfortable then the last.
I had it to memory…
‘Dear T.A.K.A. Member,
Tonight’s mission will start strictly at midnight, anyone not a counted for will be dealt with and punished at the earliest available. The mission will be one of great interest to the media so don’t get caught. We will be taking out Dr. Ginning; you are not to hurt Dr. McClain or any other nurse or assistant.’
The ending ended the same as the rest…
‘Anyone caught disobeying me at any point in this mission or in daily life will be punished or executed.
Zero.’
We were to kill a Doctor? The ones that were saving the lives of all the dieing people, we were to take that hope away? I feel monstrous. I should ask someone about this Doctor after the mission, I wouldn’t risk getting caught for talking.
“Let’s go team!” Jacob shouted and Flint joined in with whispered shouts and hollers.
“Ready Rales? Shadow?” I asked to be polite to the two mute boys. Shadow didn’t react to the fact that I had even spoken. But Rales smiled and nodded.
The chattering of a nervous jaw was just behind my shoulder. Newbe.
“You ok Newbe?”
“Peachy.” The sarcasm oozed of the words.
“First off I’m the sarcastic one, and second you could back out now.” I challenged his loyalty. I wonder if he has the letter Zero sent about the rules of T.A.K.A yet?
The chattering stopped like a battery out of juice, and his tone was serious and almost dark, “I’m not backing out.”
“Good.” I exclaimed strongly. Maybe he would be a good addition to the team, after a little more training, but there is potential.
“Move out!” Zero hissed from the shadows of the night.
We moved in units of two, Shadow and Rales went first to check for clarity from any type of officials. They make the sound of a cat to signal that it’s clear for us to move into further positions out of the alleyway.
The cat’s cry echoed down the alley passage way and last five seconds before vanishing into the nights uncertainties. I leaped gracefully into the walls brick sidings. The rush of the cold wet brick sent a shiver up my spine. Flint tapped softly on the wall giving the slightest vibration to my ear.
This meant to continue moving, and I did. Once in the main sidewalk I felt exposed, the full moon shinned against my face like the conniving sun itself. I looked suspenseful at the glimmering cement in the moonlight. Flint and I walked like normal teens of the streets, but the once lively bustling road are deserted and filled with abandon cars from the hundred car pile-ups for the first sting of the virus.
I noted that most of the car doors were open. How much hurry or panic would a person have to be to not even have the designees to close a door? I held back tears at the beat up SUV; in the backseat was a car seat, a shadow-hidden child still strapped in. The mother nowhere to be found, just the child, cold and lifeless abandon in the seat of a car; my heart ached for the child that would never live their life. Why would God put a child in this world just to die?
I had slowed to a crawl pace and Flint was seemly the only thing that was dragging me away from the baby. I bit my tongue to hide my distress and listened to the pitter-patter of the rain that had gently started to fall, if you listened very closely you could hear the whimpers of Shark from the icy water.
I followed the trail that Flint was blazing, and watched the darkness dance on the walls from the diligent moon’s glow. The beauty of the night contrasted the haunted streets of this once turbulent city, and the combination created an eerie atmosphere.
After the paced travel we reached the outside of the frantic hospital. Nurses and patents spread out over the lawn. The smell of gasoline reeked in the air and tainted its compounds. I cringed as the door swung open and witnessed the nurse rolling a person’s thrashing body and leaving it buckled to the stretcher on the lawn.
“Go!” Zero growled.
The plan was to pretend I was ill to get inside the building, from what Zero has gathered if you are just coming to the hospital they give you your own room before sending you out to face the wintry night.
Thankfully I was already dizzy and sick to my stomach. I dropped to my knees and Flint scooped me up to his chest like a small child.
“Make it good sis.” He encouraged into my ear.
I nodded and started to cough and gag dramatically; if I was doing this I was doing it right.
“Oh dear not another!” The nurse trotted over to us.
“Please! Help her! Oh God Please!” Flint pled and begged the women. I flickered my eyes to him and saw the tears rolling down his face. I coughed and choked and let the drool dip carelessly like most victims.
The nurse looked tore to give us a room or turn us down to die on the streets. I could see her conscious in her eyes, the battle between the angel on her shoulder and the devil on the other.
With a sigh, “Follow me.”
Flint panicked and crazed followed as I kept up the act.
She led us through the hospital. I quickly closed my eyes once I noted that there were dieing people lining the hallway not just the yard. But I couldn’t close my ears.
The screams and pleas for the pain to stop made a chorus of horrifying voices, and I was to kill one of the only Doctors? I am a monster…
We were stopped by a jerk backwards, I shrieked for the nurse to hear my immanent ‘pain’. It was a hand that was holding us in place, the hand gripped Flint’s grimy pant leg.
The women begged for pity, “I beg, save my child! Save Collin, I don’t care what you have to do, just save him!” She held a toddler in her arms; he stirred at her shouts but then returned to the sweet innocent mind of childhood.
Flint shook the terror-infested woman of. Flint paced more briskly now; to prevent any more stops…I’ll thank him for that later.
The nurse led us to a white door that looked heavily beaten. I shuddered to think of what might have accrued here.
The door relived a once white hospital room, but now it was destroyed and most of the equipment was tipped and thrown about the room. I groaned to queue Flint to set me down, and he obliged.
The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable. I wiggled into a place and chattered my teeth to make the illusion of being cold. The coughing was getting becoming simple through my horse throat.
“I’ll be leaving now.” The nurse made her exit.
I rested my eyes. This bed was slightly nicer then the mat I sleep on the floor with. I smothered my face into the pillow and rested my aching muscles.
“Comfy?” Flint teased.
I sighed and ignored him.
“Well I can’t stay. I better get going now.” Flint explained, and I jumped up in the bed.
“Where? Why? Now?” My words fumbled together in my panic.
He seemed taken back by my worry. “I’ve just got some business to do for the boss.” Flint reassured.
“You’re leaving me here… alone.” I accused him.
He laughed and said, “Oh so you’re scared? Oh poor Princess.”
I sneered at him. “Jerk.”
Still with the smug smile, “And that’s why you love me. See ya.” And without another glance he escaped this hell through a window.
Time crept by so slowly. I checked the clock at least fifteen times in the last seven minutes.
I’ll adventure then. I got on my achy feet and slipped into the hall. The faces stared at me in envy. I wasn’t even ill and I got a room…
I sighed and walked down the hall till the staring stopped. I slid down the wall into a small opening next to a middle aged man and a young teen girl.
A noise made them cringe, all the strangers around me looked scared? Why? The noise was…a voice, no, a scream. It grew and grew till it thrived in the silence.
“No!” The man thrashed and fought the tight deadly grip around his wrists. He screamed and swung his arm to the best of his ability. With a sudden burst of adrenaline to become free, he lunged at the titled floor. The guard lost grip and the man fought back he army crawled but the attempts were futile.
The guard held his ankles, the man was hysterical and cried and begged for the help of the bystanders. The guard began to drag him and he swiftly held on to the leg of a young women. She screamed in shock and shook her head.
“Help me!” The man commanded harshly.
“No, I can’t!” She cried and pushed off the hand. The man clawed helpless at the smooth flooring, the shouts disappeared into the mysterious halls.
“Where are they taking him?” I questioned the thirty or so man next to me. My voice was rough and broke at the end.
“Out back.” The hall nodded as if that was more then enough information, but it left so many unanswered questions.
“What’s out back?”
He looked uncomfortable and he squirmed into the wall. “To be burned.”
“What?!” I was taken back in pure horror.
“We were once here on free will, the thrive to live, but now we are the prisoners.” He said bleakly. Prisoners? This isn’t that once high standard hospital it was.
“Why can’t you leave?” My naïve mind made the others look at me strangely.
“Doctor Ginning is-“ He leading to my ear to whisper as the nurse wondered passed. “Is using us as experiments to cure the disease. Or for his own sick pleasure.”
My words stuck in my throat, I chocked them out to say, “Wha-What?” So that’s why we were told to kill him… The pieces fell into place; I swear the others could almost hear the ‘click’ in my head.
“Get out of here before you really do get sick.” The man instructed sternly.
“How did you know I wasn’t sick?”
“Let’s just say I’m expert on the sick, and you dear are not one.” He trailed off into a far off memory that caused him to cringe.
“I can’t leave…” I paused. “Not without completing my mission…” All the guilt of murdering a Doctor had vanished the same as the victim down the halls.
“Anything I can help with?”
Should I have him help me? I turned to the trustworthy yellow eyes the burned into my irises. He face was a rotten green tinted color. He was sick, very sick, but he seemed fine.
Then it showed more then the color of his skin and eyes combined. He twitched and cringed, and a distorted face. His eyes pinched shut and he gagged up the vomit and blood into the once pearl white floor.
I gasped and reached to comfort him. But he pushed me away; his hand left a bloody vomit mixture on my shirt.
His chokes slowed to silence and panting for air, I realized compared to these people I looked health as ever. I stared thoughtful at the smear on my shirt and softly wiped my hands in the slimy and sticky mess.
“You’ve helped me already…” After scooping more of the floor, I held the revolting substance in my hand, as it’s hot ooze slipped though the cracks in my fingers. I breathed as calmly as possible, I took in the infected air in gasps and I prepared to stop breathing.
The scent burned my eyes but once I stopped breathing the smell decreased. I poured it over my face; my eyes firmly closed mimicking my mouth. I smeared the vomit around my mouth and let it roll naturally down my chin and neck. The scent had me light headed and dizzy. I felt all my insides return to my outsides, the putrid smell got worse.
I rocked and swayed; my dizziness controlled my movements. My eyes flickered shut and my mind slowed to a halt.
Someone is shouting…Loudly…
The man’s voice rang loud and clear though the frosted over subconscious. “You must have some insane death wish…Silly child.
A light shinned through my mind. The sun? A dream? Life? Death?
I laughed with the sun shining on my face; the warmth penetrated my skin. I felt the joy of the moment that put me into a sort of natural high. Derek stole the ball and raced down the poorly made football field.
“Pass it Der!” I shouted over the wind blowing.
He reacted and obliged. My eyes watched diligently as the ball was flying through the air to me. I got into position to catch it. The leather ball was wrapped in the warmth of my body, and once safely at my chest I sprinted to the goal posts.
Tommy wasn’t having this. He got into place to stop me but unexpectedly he dropped to the ground, Derek, the overprotective twit. I laughed at Tommy’s expression and continued my race to the goal.
But with no Derek I was on my own to beat David. Easy. I first tried to out run him, but my muscles were to tired and screaming in distress, so running was out. Then I felt all hundred seventy pounds of David tackle me down. Out of shock I screamed, a girly high-pitched scream.
Once I opened my eyes I saw all the guys crowed around me. Then the chorus of laughs broke out.
“She- she was like AAAAHHH!” The laughter took all the creditability away from the imitation of my girly shriek.
“Shut up!” I said bitterly, the words dripped venom of loathing.
“Hey back off! Or I’ll make you!” Derek commanded in a deep and threatening tone. The laughter stopped dead in its tracks. Derek and me kept up the act of being pissed. Until I could see right behind the mask of anger was a laugh building up.
We gave in and we laughed till it hurt. The other stared at us like we were crazy but that’s fine, because we are better then fine, we’re family.
I woke from the forced slumber to the discomfort of the hospital bed. The dream was still fresh in my mind, but it more then a dream it was a memory. But only a memory now… Now I was back in my assigned room. The light from the digital clock read, “2:21 A.M.” Showtime.
“Ugh, ok… dumb plan.” I muttered.
A man chuckled.
“What?!” I jumped, damn paranoia. It was the shadowy figure of Flint hidden by the burned out lights. He laughed at me, the straightened up.
“Ready?”
“Sure, sure.” I hopped to quickly to my feet and was taken back for a moment. I braced the disheveled sheets till my mind was clearer. “Let’s get this shit over with.” I grumbled miserably.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”
“Shut it!” I threatened, my eyes blazed into his. I’ve seen more then he’ll ever understand. I can’t erase those deathly memories, the tainted proof scared into my retinas. All the sick and dieing men, women and child all had no other options but to die. All is hopeless.
“Fine. Let’s move out.” Flint crouched in front of me protectively. It was to be sneaky, but in the bright, crowed halls it only drew attention. I followed Flint closely, the passing faces changed from sad, to pity, to anger, to grief, to hysteria.
I met gaze with the man from earlier… He told me to escape, but to do that I would have let them all die.
Without uttering a sound he mouthed, “Good Luck and Goodbye.”
I fought the tears and replied, “Be Strong Friend.”
He nodded and averted his stares to the opposite direction. His skin was worse and my intellectual side knew he won’t make it through tonight, but my heart defended his life.
We walked on further till we reached the metal sign reading, ‘Dr. Ginning’. We came to a halt. Flint stared in complete determination; I envied this.
Flint knocked like any other civilized murder. The door cracked ever so slightly. Revealing nothing but a piercing brownish gray eye.
“Get out of here! All patients wait in the hall or designated room!” The raspy voice crowed. The sneer was visible in the words tone.
“Oh we aren’t here to wait Dr. Ginning.” Flint said smugly.
“I said out!” He restated, he began to slam the door, but Flint reacted quickly and placed his foot in the way.
“No.”
The door was flung effortlessly. He asserted himself through, and face to face with the crud and elderly Dr. Ginning. This old man was the death of countless, and caused thousands pain; pain for lost lives and gained infections. He was a demon in an old man’s body.
“I hate you!” I hissed from behind Flint, I didn’t think, the words came like a flash flood of hatred. He killed, and I will to.
Flint gave me a flickering glance, but I was blazing. My anger amplified from the stories in the hall. He hurt all of them, that villainous monster. He will lie in blood tonight, I will make sure of this.
I moved subconsciously next to Flint. Shoulder to shoulder we stood, eyes hungry for blood.
Dr. Ginning reacted by what I except he would do. He stumbled about the room, looking for a weapon or some sort of cover. But Flint and I choose a good stage; the room was bare except the desk with jumbled papers and miscellaneous pictures. The doctor panicked and chose to hide beneath the desk.
Neither Flint nor I chased after him during his panic, mostly because panic was sometimes worse then your own death. He faltered into his current position. Boring for me, I liked a challenge, if I was forced on a murder mission it better be interesting.
The seconds ticked, as the panting of Dr. Ginning got more and more frantic. The emotions bubbled in my stomach was guilt, guilt because I once was hunted such as this? Did that event affect my emotions?
“Your times up Doctor.” Flint chuckled sinisterly. The fully loaded gun made its appearance.
Dr. Ginning was stunned, this eyes wide and the wrinkles stretched. I knew the expression well… He was watching his life flash before his eyes, like a movie, but the movie runs out of film and that’s my job.
The gun locked on his fore head. The shot fired though the room and down the halls. Every voice silenced, everything deadly quiet. It was over. His body twitched and jerked to the tiled floor. The red river drained the body; it seeped to my feet.
I knock rattled against the window. Flint opened to release the noise.
Bomb crept in followed by Shark, Shadow, and Rails. The six of us crowed the room.
“Yeah! How did you like a taste of your own med-“ Ditto howled in victory.
“Quiet!” Bomb hissed. “Do you want to draw more attention?”
“Sorry.” He whispered.
“I’ll check if the coast is clear and make or move one at a time.” Flint ordered.
We nodded to his plan.
“Alright see you back to the hideout.” He swung over the windowsill to the night’s blackness.
One by one they began to leave. But I couldn’t… My heart was telling me I was forgetting something. I just couldn’t leave… I owned a lot to these people and I couldn’t just murder and leave.
The boy. Collin.
“The mother and her child in the hall.” I gasped.
“What?” Bomb gave a strange look.
I ignored his question and raced to the door. I held the handle and did a quick trip though memory lane to remember exactly where I saw them. The second corridor to the left, yes that’s it.
“Dawn we have to get out now!” Bomb demanded.
“I’m just making a little detour… There is something I have to do.” I replied my mind set on my goal. “I promise to be back to the base very soon, I’ll take the rooftops.”
“Fine, but I’m not covering for you.” Which in Bomb talk was ‘I will cover for you don’t worry’. And I didn’t worry; I had a duty to do for myself. I slipped though the door into the main hall and blended into the sick citizens.
I made my way through the unknown hall to the familiar one. The hall where the woman stopped Flint, where this Collin boy is, I won’t let what happened to the child in the car happen to this boy.
I found them… The woman was crippled over and the toddler was shaking her. The mother didn’t react to the baby.
“Momma?” A tiny voice said.
I crouched the level of the broken remains of the family. The mother’s eyes were yellow and the blood had been long since dried. She was died, died for hour by the looks of it.
“Momma?”
I rested my hand on his shoulder. Collin twisted around, and his bloodshot eyes were heartbreaking. The tears steamed down his face.
“Momma’s broken.”
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Five Lives- Clock Chime
This is from my current book 'Five Lives'. This one goes with the original post on my other blog that is also a chapter of it. Yes I'm aware I made mistakes, sorry.
Summary: The government drilled into the center of the Earth and unleashed toxic gasses that is infecting and killing the world. This is a survival story for five different separate people trying to stay alive.
This portion was told from Bridget's point of view. This how she met Owen and the start of a long journey together.
Copyrights Elena Lee Twist 2009.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Clock Chime
--------------------------------------------------------------
Screams and the screeching of tires were dieing and replaced by the deadly silence. All quiet except for the accursed chiming. The church tower was becoming consist, never stalling, never pausing, ever present.
The chimes represented the dead. With each one I worried if it was family or friends. Had I lost them all? Was I alone?
I trembled at the thought of being utterly alone. Would I live? Would a life after this be worth living? Is it better if I die? I would be with my loved ones.
A single tear escaped my façade of calmness. I brushed it away but it was to late. The boy crept over to my side.
“Are you ok?”
“They’re- “ I gulped down my fear. “dead.” I mumbled about the insist bell. Every chime was like the cough of Amber. The sound made me think of her dieing state.
“I’m so sorry.” The boy said in all sincerity.
I glanced up with my crazed eyes. His dirty blonde hair contrasted his tan skin. His blue eyes pierced mine, burned into my skull.
“I’m Owen.” Not to scare me he slowly lifted his dirt and grime cover hand. I stared absently at the gesture. Owen’s hand dropped and he shrunk into his former position.
I should talk to him. He’s only being friendly. I hid my terror in my voice long enough to reply softly.
“I’m Bridget.”
The smallest crack of a smile touched his lips. Like he has something to smile about?
Then I realized that I’ve known everyone in town since I was a child. Yet I’ve never seen this Owen kid. I would remember the flawless features if I’ve seen them before.
I mustered up the control to say, “You don’t live here do you?”
“No, I don’t” He sighed. And his expression dissipated into a far memory, leaving only an outline of his prior friendliness. “I was evacuated here.” Another pause in the sentence as if he was watching a movie reel in his head and then added. “From London, England.”
I stared blackly.
Owen laughed childlike “But no accent.” The laugh faded into the silence that settled heavy in the air. “It’s ironic.”
“What?” I blurted out before thinking, but what could be the consequence for this?
“I fled to England to escape my life, then I end up right back in America but with a new string of problems. But my safe haven is gone. I’m stuck in hell.” Owen looked grim. What did his past do to him? Would it be better if I didn’t know?
I pondered over the words and a possible reply to them. But no words and replace the people and life everyone has lost to this tragedy.
All I could do was say “Sorry.”
“Yeah well a million sorrys don’t change anything.” Owen spoke quietly. “Words lie. You could tell anyone ‘I love you’ but do you mean it? Words aren’t meant to lie, they are meant to convey a message. But yet we lie daily with those same words.”
I was uttered speechless. It sounded of pure poetry like a symphony of words.
The seconds passed like hours and the hours like days. Pure misery.
“Can I tell you my story?” Owen asked. I was caught off guard. “ Just in case… I- I-…” He chocked back the lump in his throat. “I don’t make it. I don’t want to die around strangers. I want to die around someone that knew my story.”
“That’s a good idea.”
I gasped. I had forgotten the other in the room. Now that all the excitement is over I took count on everyone. Five people sat in the storm shelter.
The old women that had pointed out the ‘good idea’ was tell the others of the plan.
“If you don’t want to die unknown then tell your story.” The elderly women declared. She reminded me of my grandmother. They both are outspoken and independent.
“Will you take part?” Owen tapped my shoulder.
“Uh… sure.” I admit it was a great idea. Scary to think that this might be the last time we tell our lives, and we are telling it to strangers.
“I’ll go first, or do you want to boy?” The old women asked Owen.
“No it’s fine, I’ll listen first.” Owen politely replied.
“Alright then. My name is Millicent Jones. I was born 1934 in Ohio. I grew up with my single mother and two sisters, Jennifer, and Elizabeth. Life was hard for since my mother had her children single, it was considered a scandal. And I met my husband at fifteen. He was the love of my life. But he decided to fight for his country. Before leaving we married.
"I haven’t seen him since the boat drifted off to sea. Maybe I do want to die, just to see the bright face of him, of my love Anthony.” Millicent said ever word filled with so much passion that it almost brought me to tears.
A noise, sharp, but familiar; someone was clapping. No applauding the women. With the echoes of the wall the claps sounded like thousands not just five people.
Millicent giggled, “Thank you, you’ve been great!”
“Whose next?” Owen chimed.
“You!” I smiled and spontaneously shouting. Owen looked surprised as if he didn’t think I was capable of more then saying three words.
“Well if that’s what the lady wants.” He teased.
I was laughing, like really laughing. But it wasn’t even funny, the situation was terrifying but yet everyone laughed to forget worries. A carefree moment, and I embraced it.
“Ok well I’m Owen Moore. I was born in the Amazon in hurricane and while still a baby I fought off three tiger, all at once!”
Again the contagious laughter built and burst into a chorus of different tones. Strangers yet family, bizarre yet comforting all into a mix of emotions, a beautiful combination.
The giggles died down to sweet smiles on the faces of the people, well minus the man in the back. I’ve noticed he didn’t chuckle once, poor man.
“Here’s the real story. My name is in fact Owen Moore. I was born 1992 in Florida. I grew up normal, nothing exciting ever happened to me until this disaster started. You see a week before the crisis; I went to live with my Aunt Sally in London, England.”
England. Amber.
“We all know the horror reports that England sent to America. I was sent to Florida, but when I go there they had been evacuated. The sent me north, here. I just don’t know what to do now. Do I sit and wait to die or do I run till there is nowhere to go?” Owen story made my heart ache, mine wasn’t nearly as dramatic.
Applauds didn’t come, it was more of sending uncomfortable looks to one another.
Owen looked at the faces of everyone and stopped on one. Me. His eyes blazed and I couldn’t resist staring back.
“Your turn.”
“Me?” I played innocent praying I could get out of ‘sharing’.
“Yes you. Come on it’s easy.”
After thinking of a way to escape and failing in my attempt, I surrendered and went to the middle of the tiny boxed in room.
“Uh… My name is Bridget Wilkes. I was born in 1992. I live here, in Lehman. Much like Owen I had normal life until this, whatever this is.” I paused because my voice was getting shaky.
“My dear friend Amber also went to England and came back before this became in epidemic. But she was sick, so sick.” I chocked. I escaped the topic and continued on to my goal, if you could call it that. “My main goal is to find my family, I’ve go to tell them how much I love them.”
I sat, I didn’t look around, I didn’t listen to the mumbles emerging; I just repositioned myself and said nothing more.
Finding it hard to considerate I slid farther down in hopes no one would talk to me. I was taken captive by my thoughts. I couldn’t even listen to the young twenty-year-old woman that was telling of her life.
“Are you alright?” The concerned voice asked. Was imagining it? Am I crazy now? Then I noticed it was Owen.
“As fine as a survivor can be.” I grumbled.
“Ah… so that’s code for my life sucks and I’m horrible thanks for asking.”
I smirked as his sarcastic attitude, he was still happy, like there was something to smile about.
“What was your friends name?” He tone sounded too serious for him.
“Amber, why?” Why did he want to hear about Amber?
“Amber what?” He questioned further.
“Amber Lynn.”
Owen’s face went grim, and his head cushioned on his scummy knee of his jeans. He looked so devastated, like I looked the day I found out about Amber’s death, completely heartbroken.
“I know-“ He made an abrupt stop. “I knew a small red haired American girl named Amber Lynn. At Oxford’s University learning program, my Aunt lived near by and made me go.” He smiled ever so slightly. “There was a girl named Amber. She became my dear friend through the program.” Silence.
“Oh and the stories of her friends back home, her closest friend was a Miss Wilkes. She was very sweet; but the program ended and she was sent home, while I stayed a while longer with my Aunt Sally.”
“You- you knew her…” I stuttered and gasped for a breath.
“Yes.”
That one word opened my eyes to the fact that both Owen and I are connected. We both cared for Amber, but we didn’t even know one another, but now we are sharing most kept secrets.
“Why don’t they then?!” Another conversation held the volume of the room.
“Maybe they can’t!” The voice was soft and gentle compared to the booming loud masculine voice she was talking to.
“The disease is spreading three times as fast with the help of the damn planes!”
“Well what do suppose we, the people trapped in a safe house, do about this?!” The women rose from here seat and inclined tensely over the man. Delilah Michaels, that was her name. And the man was Ronald, but he said his last name was ‘unimportant’. I guess I listened better then I thought.
“They did.” Owen joined. “They closed the airports days ago, once the crisis alert went out all legal flights stopped.”
“What do you mean legal kid?” Donald exclaimed harshly.
“Well how do you think I’m here?” Owen paused for his rhetorical question to sink in. “Pilots took matters into there own hands, they flew away for there own safety, and anyone that paid enough got to go with them. The law can’t stop the will and drive to survive.”
“You little brat are the reason we got the smoke weeks before! I should ring your neck!” Donald bellowed. Owen didn’t even finch as if the threat was a promise he hoped would be carried out.
“Stop!” Millicent pushed Donald back. “This is madness! The boy has done nothing, just try to live like the rest of us!” Millicent’s fragile body didn’t compare to the strength in her voice, she is so powerful with words.
Donald mumbled grunted incoherently under his breath.
Millicent sighed deeply, and this calm mask slipped into place, all the stress vanished leaving nothing but a black slate.
Owen’s face was completely frozen. I was worried, is he all right, is he going into shock?
“Owen?” The whisper caught in my throat. But why was I worried about this boy I just met? Why do I feel I’ve always known him, always needed him?
He turned slowly, and I locked gaze with him. I focused on his deep eyes. Like and ocean, beautiful and blue, what little light the room provided twinkled in his eyes. His beauty consumed me; I was like a lifeless doll that was looking in the eyes of the child, the child with the life and hope a doll would want.
“Anyone have the time?” Millicent broke my trans.
“Twenty minute till midnight.” Delilah replied.
I didn’t notice it was getting so late. But almost on queue my muscles ached from my earlier escape, and my eyelids flickered. I slouched father down the wall.
Owen watched and smiled, “Tired?”
I nodded sleepily, and my vision became distorted. My mind drifted, and my imagination was unleashed. I felt myself being lifted, and then I was settled into comfort. I dreamed. I dreamed of a memory of a past world, one where you didn’t hid in fear of toxic gases, one where I could go to the park and hang with my friends, with Amber. My dream was like a past life, gone, and never returning. This life of fear is becoming all I know.
Summary: The government drilled into the center of the Earth and unleashed toxic gasses that is infecting and killing the world. This is a survival story for five different separate people trying to stay alive.
This portion was told from Bridget's point of view. This how she met Owen and the start of a long journey together.
Copyrights Elena Lee Twist 2009.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Clock Chime
--------------------------------------------------------------
Screams and the screeching of tires were dieing and replaced by the deadly silence. All quiet except for the accursed chiming. The church tower was becoming consist, never stalling, never pausing, ever present.
The chimes represented the dead. With each one I worried if it was family or friends. Had I lost them all? Was I alone?
I trembled at the thought of being utterly alone. Would I live? Would a life after this be worth living? Is it better if I die? I would be with my loved ones.
A single tear escaped my façade of calmness. I brushed it away but it was to late. The boy crept over to my side.
“Are you ok?”
“They’re- “ I gulped down my fear. “dead.” I mumbled about the insist bell. Every chime was like the cough of Amber. The sound made me think of her dieing state.
“I’m so sorry.” The boy said in all sincerity.
I glanced up with my crazed eyes. His dirty blonde hair contrasted his tan skin. His blue eyes pierced mine, burned into my skull.
“I’m Owen.” Not to scare me he slowly lifted his dirt and grime cover hand. I stared absently at the gesture. Owen’s hand dropped and he shrunk into his former position.
I should talk to him. He’s only being friendly. I hid my terror in my voice long enough to reply softly.
“I’m Bridget.”
The smallest crack of a smile touched his lips. Like he has something to smile about?
Then I realized that I’ve known everyone in town since I was a child. Yet I’ve never seen this Owen kid. I would remember the flawless features if I’ve seen them before.
I mustered up the control to say, “You don’t live here do you?”
“No, I don’t” He sighed. And his expression dissipated into a far memory, leaving only an outline of his prior friendliness. “I was evacuated here.” Another pause in the sentence as if he was watching a movie reel in his head and then added. “From London, England.”
I stared blackly.
Owen laughed childlike “But no accent.” The laugh faded into the silence that settled heavy in the air. “It’s ironic.”
“What?” I blurted out before thinking, but what could be the consequence for this?
“I fled to England to escape my life, then I end up right back in America but with a new string of problems. But my safe haven is gone. I’m stuck in hell.” Owen looked grim. What did his past do to him? Would it be better if I didn’t know?
I pondered over the words and a possible reply to them. But no words and replace the people and life everyone has lost to this tragedy.
All I could do was say “Sorry.”
“Yeah well a million sorrys don’t change anything.” Owen spoke quietly. “Words lie. You could tell anyone ‘I love you’ but do you mean it? Words aren’t meant to lie, they are meant to convey a message. But yet we lie daily with those same words.”
I was uttered speechless. It sounded of pure poetry like a symphony of words.
The seconds passed like hours and the hours like days. Pure misery.
“Can I tell you my story?” Owen asked. I was caught off guard. “ Just in case… I- I-…” He chocked back the lump in his throat. “I don’t make it. I don’t want to die around strangers. I want to die around someone that knew my story.”
“That’s a good idea.”
I gasped. I had forgotten the other in the room. Now that all the excitement is over I took count on everyone. Five people sat in the storm shelter.
The old women that had pointed out the ‘good idea’ was tell the others of the plan.
“If you don’t want to die unknown then tell your story.” The elderly women declared. She reminded me of my grandmother. They both are outspoken and independent.
“Will you take part?” Owen tapped my shoulder.
“Uh… sure.” I admit it was a great idea. Scary to think that this might be the last time we tell our lives, and we are telling it to strangers.
“I’ll go first, or do you want to boy?” The old women asked Owen.
“No it’s fine, I’ll listen first.” Owen politely replied.
“Alright then. My name is Millicent Jones. I was born 1934 in Ohio. I grew up with my single mother and two sisters, Jennifer, and Elizabeth. Life was hard for since my mother had her children single, it was considered a scandal. And I met my husband at fifteen. He was the love of my life. But he decided to fight for his country. Before leaving we married.
"I haven’t seen him since the boat drifted off to sea. Maybe I do want to die, just to see the bright face of him, of my love Anthony.” Millicent said ever word filled with so much passion that it almost brought me to tears.
A noise, sharp, but familiar; someone was clapping. No applauding the women. With the echoes of the wall the claps sounded like thousands not just five people.
Millicent giggled, “Thank you, you’ve been great!”
“Whose next?” Owen chimed.
“You!” I smiled and spontaneously shouting. Owen looked surprised as if he didn’t think I was capable of more then saying three words.
“Well if that’s what the lady wants.” He teased.
I was laughing, like really laughing. But it wasn’t even funny, the situation was terrifying but yet everyone laughed to forget worries. A carefree moment, and I embraced it.
“Ok well I’m Owen Moore. I was born in the Amazon in hurricane and while still a baby I fought off three tiger, all at once!”
Again the contagious laughter built and burst into a chorus of different tones. Strangers yet family, bizarre yet comforting all into a mix of emotions, a beautiful combination.
The giggles died down to sweet smiles on the faces of the people, well minus the man in the back. I’ve noticed he didn’t chuckle once, poor man.
“Here’s the real story. My name is in fact Owen Moore. I was born 1992 in Florida. I grew up normal, nothing exciting ever happened to me until this disaster started. You see a week before the crisis; I went to live with my Aunt Sally in London, England.”
England. Amber.
“We all know the horror reports that England sent to America. I was sent to Florida, but when I go there they had been evacuated. The sent me north, here. I just don’t know what to do now. Do I sit and wait to die or do I run till there is nowhere to go?” Owen story made my heart ache, mine wasn’t nearly as dramatic.
Applauds didn’t come, it was more of sending uncomfortable looks to one another.
Owen looked at the faces of everyone and stopped on one. Me. His eyes blazed and I couldn’t resist staring back.
“Your turn.”
“Me?” I played innocent praying I could get out of ‘sharing’.
“Yes you. Come on it’s easy.”
After thinking of a way to escape and failing in my attempt, I surrendered and went to the middle of the tiny boxed in room.
“Uh… My name is Bridget Wilkes. I was born in 1992. I live here, in Lehman. Much like Owen I had normal life until this, whatever this is.” I paused because my voice was getting shaky.
“My dear friend Amber also went to England and came back before this became in epidemic. But she was sick, so sick.” I chocked. I escaped the topic and continued on to my goal, if you could call it that. “My main goal is to find my family, I’ve go to tell them how much I love them.”
I sat, I didn’t look around, I didn’t listen to the mumbles emerging; I just repositioned myself and said nothing more.
Finding it hard to considerate I slid farther down in hopes no one would talk to me. I was taken captive by my thoughts. I couldn’t even listen to the young twenty-year-old woman that was telling of her life.
“Are you alright?” The concerned voice asked. Was imagining it? Am I crazy now? Then I noticed it was Owen.
“As fine as a survivor can be.” I grumbled.
“Ah… so that’s code for my life sucks and I’m horrible thanks for asking.”
I smirked as his sarcastic attitude, he was still happy, like there was something to smile about.
“What was your friends name?” He tone sounded too serious for him.
“Amber, why?” Why did he want to hear about Amber?
“Amber what?” He questioned further.
“Amber Lynn.”
Owen’s face went grim, and his head cushioned on his scummy knee of his jeans. He looked so devastated, like I looked the day I found out about Amber’s death, completely heartbroken.
“I know-“ He made an abrupt stop. “I knew a small red haired American girl named Amber Lynn. At Oxford’s University learning program, my Aunt lived near by and made me go.” He smiled ever so slightly. “There was a girl named Amber. She became my dear friend through the program.” Silence.
“Oh and the stories of her friends back home, her closest friend was a Miss Wilkes. She was very sweet; but the program ended and she was sent home, while I stayed a while longer with my Aunt Sally.”
“You- you knew her…” I stuttered and gasped for a breath.
“Yes.”
That one word opened my eyes to the fact that both Owen and I are connected. We both cared for Amber, but we didn’t even know one another, but now we are sharing most kept secrets.
“Why don’t they then?!” Another conversation held the volume of the room.
“Maybe they can’t!” The voice was soft and gentle compared to the booming loud masculine voice she was talking to.
“The disease is spreading three times as fast with the help of the damn planes!”
“Well what do suppose we, the people trapped in a safe house, do about this?!” The women rose from here seat and inclined tensely over the man. Delilah Michaels, that was her name. And the man was Ronald, but he said his last name was ‘unimportant’. I guess I listened better then I thought.
“They did.” Owen joined. “They closed the airports days ago, once the crisis alert went out all legal flights stopped.”
“What do you mean legal kid?” Donald exclaimed harshly.
“Well how do you think I’m here?” Owen paused for his rhetorical question to sink in. “Pilots took matters into there own hands, they flew away for there own safety, and anyone that paid enough got to go with them. The law can’t stop the will and drive to survive.”
“You little brat are the reason we got the smoke weeks before! I should ring your neck!” Donald bellowed. Owen didn’t even finch as if the threat was a promise he hoped would be carried out.
“Stop!” Millicent pushed Donald back. “This is madness! The boy has done nothing, just try to live like the rest of us!” Millicent’s fragile body didn’t compare to the strength in her voice, she is so powerful with words.
Donald mumbled grunted incoherently under his breath.
Millicent sighed deeply, and this calm mask slipped into place, all the stress vanished leaving nothing but a black slate.
Owen’s face was completely frozen. I was worried, is he all right, is he going into shock?
“Owen?” The whisper caught in my throat. But why was I worried about this boy I just met? Why do I feel I’ve always known him, always needed him?
He turned slowly, and I locked gaze with him. I focused on his deep eyes. Like and ocean, beautiful and blue, what little light the room provided twinkled in his eyes. His beauty consumed me; I was like a lifeless doll that was looking in the eyes of the child, the child with the life and hope a doll would want.
“Anyone have the time?” Millicent broke my trans.
“Twenty minute till midnight.” Delilah replied.
I didn’t notice it was getting so late. But almost on queue my muscles ached from my earlier escape, and my eyelids flickered. I slouched father down the wall.
Owen watched and smiled, “Tired?”
I nodded sleepily, and my vision became distorted. My mind drifted, and my imagination was unleashed. I felt myself being lifted, and then I was settled into comfort. I dreamed. I dreamed of a memory of a past world, one where you didn’t hid in fear of toxic gases, one where I could go to the park and hang with my friends, with Amber. My dream was like a past life, gone, and never returning. This life of fear is becoming all I know.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
New Face
So I don't know why but these words kinda wrote themselves. So as crazy as I sound I don't know much about the characters. This is what I do know...
Rachel was once a drug and alcohol addict. And had a gang of friends, and was closest to Jacob.
Lillian is a mental health doctor with some interesting ways to fix problems.
And that's all I know. Enjoy!
Copyright Elena Lee Twist 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Have you ever thought there was more then one person in your head?”
“Huh?”
“Many people yet only one you.” She continued. He voice trailing, her mind was elsewhere, but yet also alert. “Like a flower. Many petals, but only one flower.” Lillian bent down to the dandelion and stroked its stem.
“I’m not following.” Rachel watched Lillian as if a child to a mother, in pure awe.
Lillian hummed tuneless and stood up again. With a sigh she trotted past Rachel toward the long dirt path. The trail winded and twisted around the trees of the forest. The trees were vibrant oranges and reds. The leaves littered the path and the trees towered like a divider from nature to civilization.
Lillian twirled instead of walking, people avoided her when the came close. They moved away like she was diseased, the disease of caring. Lillian ignored their angry grunts and continued her dance.
Rachel watched as she pranced down the path. Her grace suddenly made Rachel uncomfortable. But the dancing slowed and Lillian was still as the tree she touched. The only movement was the wind though the leaves and the twists of Lillian’s hair.
She turned as slowly, never losing her concentration. Lillian opened her bright green eyes and stared from afar at Rachel. Rachel made no inch of movement.
“Follow.” The gusting breeze amplified Lillian’s whisper.
Rachel obliged and stumbled over the lose rocks, to her embarrassment Lillian stared at her the whole way. Once the two girls were together the walked casually down the path.
The sound of the forest chimed loud and clear. Until they hit the noise the broke the beautiful harmony of nature, the sound of humans, drunk humans non the less.
Rachel swallowed loudly. This was where the gang used to hang. Did they still? Rachel hadn’t seen them for almost a year. Secretly she missed them; they were family. But had that changed since she met Lillian and rebuilt her life?
The noise grew into a roar. Rachel prayed that Lillian would turn around; surely she hears them? But was this what Lillian wanted? Was it a test for Rachel?
Rachel saw them. Ronny was sitting on his normal rock with a bottle in his hand. Derek was sitting on the railing to prevent man from falling of the near cliffs. All of them just there as Rachel once had been.
Someone was missing; a familiar laugh was missing from their chorus. Jacob.
Before thinking Rachel shouted, “Where’s Jacob?”
“Well, well look who’s here. Little Rach.” Ronny draped his arm around her. His breath was making Rachel queasy. “How’s rehab?”
“Shut up, like you care.” Rachel found it a bit to easy to go back to her attitude self, but if it was that easy for attitude how easy would she be able to resist going back to a drunk?
“Oh come on Rach. I was thinking of doing it myself.” The words slurred into an indistinct sentence.
“Right. Asshole.” The words came naturally. Rachel shoots a look at Lillian to see her reaction, but like always she was as unreadable as ever.
“Uuuhh, so where is Jacob?” Rachel said more controlled of her emotions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
And that was Lillian and Rachel's story, maybe one day I'll find how it ends.
Rachel was once a drug and alcohol addict. And had a gang of friends, and was closest to Jacob.
Lillian is a mental health doctor with some interesting ways to fix problems.
And that's all I know. Enjoy!
Copyright Elena Lee Twist 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Have you ever thought there was more then one person in your head?”
“Huh?”
“Many people yet only one you.” She continued. He voice trailing, her mind was elsewhere, but yet also alert. “Like a flower. Many petals, but only one flower.” Lillian bent down to the dandelion and stroked its stem.
“I’m not following.” Rachel watched Lillian as if a child to a mother, in pure awe.
Lillian hummed tuneless and stood up again. With a sigh she trotted past Rachel toward the long dirt path. The trail winded and twisted around the trees of the forest. The trees were vibrant oranges and reds. The leaves littered the path and the trees towered like a divider from nature to civilization.
Lillian twirled instead of walking, people avoided her when the came close. They moved away like she was diseased, the disease of caring. Lillian ignored their angry grunts and continued her dance.
Rachel watched as she pranced down the path. Her grace suddenly made Rachel uncomfortable. But the dancing slowed and Lillian was still as the tree she touched. The only movement was the wind though the leaves and the twists of Lillian’s hair.
She turned as slowly, never losing her concentration. Lillian opened her bright green eyes and stared from afar at Rachel. Rachel made no inch of movement.
“Follow.” The gusting breeze amplified Lillian’s whisper.
Rachel obliged and stumbled over the lose rocks, to her embarrassment Lillian stared at her the whole way. Once the two girls were together the walked casually down the path.
The sound of the forest chimed loud and clear. Until they hit the noise the broke the beautiful harmony of nature, the sound of humans, drunk humans non the less.
Rachel swallowed loudly. This was where the gang used to hang. Did they still? Rachel hadn’t seen them for almost a year. Secretly she missed them; they were family. But had that changed since she met Lillian and rebuilt her life?
The noise grew into a roar. Rachel prayed that Lillian would turn around; surely she hears them? But was this what Lillian wanted? Was it a test for Rachel?
Rachel saw them. Ronny was sitting on his normal rock with a bottle in his hand. Derek was sitting on the railing to prevent man from falling of the near cliffs. All of them just there as Rachel once had been.
Someone was missing; a familiar laugh was missing from their chorus. Jacob.
Before thinking Rachel shouted, “Where’s Jacob?”
“Well, well look who’s here. Little Rach.” Ronny draped his arm around her. His breath was making Rachel queasy. “How’s rehab?”
“Shut up, like you care.” Rachel found it a bit to easy to go back to her attitude self, but if it was that easy for attitude how easy would she be able to resist going back to a drunk?
“Oh come on Rach. I was thinking of doing it myself.” The words slurred into an indistinct sentence.
“Right. Asshole.” The words came naturally. Rachel shoots a look at Lillian to see her reaction, but like always she was as unreadable as ever.
“Uuuhh, so where is Jacob?” Rachel said more controlled of her emotions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
And that was Lillian and Rachel's story, maybe one day I'll find how it ends.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Ian's Hello
Hello Humaniers,
I'm Ian! I think you know something about me, if you don't I'll fill you in. I'm a fish, alright I'm a merman. I've never used a computer before, I like it!
Narrissa wanted me to post about my day, but it's only 1:08 PM.
So I'll tell you what I learned after being in 'New York, New York'.
First, off computers don't like water as much as I do!
Next, human food is much better then merman food. BUT I DON'T LIKE SEAFOOD!
NEXT, I FOUND A BUTTON THAT MAKES LETTERS REALLY BIG!
Don't eat the gum of the bottom of tables, it doesn't taste very good.
If you hand out money to people the like you more, mostly if you give them the ones with the '1', '0', and '0'.
People give you funny looks if you start singing in restaurants.
Oh and last but NOT (I still like that button!) least. If you ever need to talk to someone go to Libby. She never moves, she's always in New York harbor. Tell her Ian sent you.
Well that's all.
IAN! (That never gets old!)
I'm Ian! I think you know something about me, if you don't I'll fill you in. I'm a fish, alright I'm a merman. I've never used a computer before, I like it!
Narrissa wanted me to post about my day, but it's only 1:08 PM.
So I'll tell you what I learned after being in 'New York, New York'.
First, off computers don't like water as much as I do!
Next, human food is much better then merman food. BUT I DON'T LIKE SEAFOOD!
NEXT, I FOUND A BUTTON THAT MAKES LETTERS REALLY BIG!
Don't eat the gum of the bottom of tables, it doesn't taste very good.
If you hand out money to people the like you more, mostly if you give them the ones with the '1', '0', and '0'.
People give you funny looks if you start singing in restaurants.
Oh and last but NOT (I still like that button!) least. If you ever need to talk to someone go to Libby. She never moves, she's always in New York harbor. Tell her Ian sent you.
Well that's all.
IAN! (That never gets old!)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sweet Normalise
Hiya it's Alice!
So I was told to tell ALL about my day! Yay! First off Owen is a meanie face... Yup that sounds good!
Alright I'll be serious before Owen freaks out. My day was COMPLETELY NORMAL. But as I've been informed by a meanie *cough* Owen *cough* you would most likely consider my day abnormal.
Well I still think it's normal, but it started like this...
I woke up and went into the kitchen. (See normal!)Then I kinda remembered that I don't eat so I had no point in being in the kitchen. Owen came down stairs, I gave him a quick kiss them skipped into the basement.
Pause for a minute so I admit our basement it's not normal. But come on we are an original family! Un-pause.
I went down stairs and saw Jack enjoying coffee, which smelled horrid, and Professor Baerh fiddling with his computer.
"Greetings!" I shouted so that they would notice me.
Then I followed Professor Baerh to the examination table. I did my day to day test. boring.
I begged Professor Baerh to not implant 'the chip'. Oh let me explain... Professor Baerh is the great grandson of Doctor Rale. Doctor Rale created us, people like me and Owen, people who live forever. The implant this computer chip in the small slot the made in the back of my neck. The chip is fine to have in and it's what keeps me strong and give my body the nutrients to survive, but on occasion the chip can also manifest itself. Yes like mind control, thus I don't like it in.
So I went about another few hours before I felt the effects of having no chip. My body was weak, and I was have trouble standing, my head hurt. Owen flipped when he found me on the floor, he implanted his chip in me, he overreacts to much. After about twenty minutes I was good as new.
Then I got my own chip and a stern talking to by Owen about the importance of the chip. BLAH!
Well that's my day for you. I still don't know why Professor told me write it. He just told me to write in the blog when I was sad or happy. Oh well.
LOVE YOU ALL!
~Alice Breton
P.S. This is a message from Owen, sorry about Alice's lack of description, today was much more exciting.
So I was told to tell ALL about my day! Yay! First off Owen is a meanie face... Yup that sounds good!
Alright I'll be serious before Owen freaks out. My day was COMPLETELY NORMAL. But as I've been informed by a meanie *cough* Owen *cough* you would most likely consider my day abnormal.
Well I still think it's normal, but it started like this...
I woke up and went into the kitchen. (See normal!)Then I kinda remembered that I don't eat so I had no point in being in the kitchen. Owen came down stairs, I gave him a quick kiss them skipped into the basement.
Pause for a minute so I admit our basement it's not normal. But come on we are an original family! Un-pause.
I went down stairs and saw Jack enjoying coffee, which smelled horrid, and Professor Baerh fiddling with his computer.
"Greetings!" I shouted so that they would notice me.
Then I followed Professor Baerh to the examination table. I did my day to day test. boring.
I begged Professor Baerh to not implant 'the chip'. Oh let me explain... Professor Baerh is the great grandson of Doctor Rale. Doctor Rale created us, people like me and Owen, people who live forever. The implant this computer chip in the small slot the made in the back of my neck. The chip is fine to have in and it's what keeps me strong and give my body the nutrients to survive, but on occasion the chip can also manifest itself. Yes like mind control, thus I don't like it in.
So I went about another few hours before I felt the effects of having no chip. My body was weak, and I was have trouble standing, my head hurt. Owen flipped when he found me on the floor, he implanted his chip in me, he overreacts to much. After about twenty minutes I was good as new.
Then I got my own chip and a stern talking to by Owen about the importance of the chip. BLAH!
Well that's my day for you. I still don't know why Professor told me write it. He just told me to write in the blog when I was sad or happy. Oh well.
LOVE YOU ALL!
~Alice Breton
P.S. This is a message from Owen, sorry about Alice's lack of description, today was much more exciting.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
