After the pandemic: Rebirth Pt 2 (1046 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 2 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kre8rix (View user info) at 2005-03-11 15:03:16 EST
The original idea: http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238
Part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/61490
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Karen awoke in a pool of her own vomit; the copper taste of blood still sticky in her mouth. A slight Velcro sound resounded in her ears as she tried to sit up; her face attached securely to the tile floor by the dried mixture of blood and vomit. She rubbed her cheek and propped herself against the bed, flakes of dark crimson floating gently to the ground as she did. She froze as the vague memory of what had happened flooded back into her mind. Her eyes flicked to where she had dropped the boys body; now just a drying pool of red. She looked around frantically.
"I killed him right? Maybe he didn't die after all." She thought to herself hopefully as she pulled herself up on the bed.
Her eyes caught a series of small bloody footprints leading towards the door as she looked around. Her heart skipped a beat as she stood upright, following the bloody trail.
"He may still need help," She tried to convince herself as she swung the door open; trying hard to push the reality of what she did out of her mind. She was greeted by another pool of blood on the floor of the hallway. She stopped and stared for a moment in disbelief; this wasn't here when she entered the room. She quickly scanned both ends of the hallway before following the boy's footprints again; ignoring the other set that led down the opposite corridor.
Jeffrey. His name was...is...Jeffrey. He needed my help, and I...I
Her stomach disgorged its remaining contents across the hallway floor. Karen tried harder to remember what happened; but the memory was still distorted.
"I couldn't possibly have...I mean...no, it's impossible," Her vocal monologue trailed off as she looked again at the small bloody footprints trailing down the hall and disappearing behind a door. She shambled weakly down the dark hallway, one hand on the wall to steady herself as she went. She tried to focus on the footprints as proof that Jeffrey was alive; proof that she didn't rip out his throat as she drank his blood.
"Stop it," She reprimanded, "That didn't happen; this flu must be making me hallucinate."
She ignored the voice in the back of her mind that reminded her that she didn't feel sick with the flu anymore. She glanced up at the sign above the door where the footprints ended.
'East Wing O.R. 3'
"Great," She muttered to herself as she reached apprehensively for the knob; trying not to look at the small bloody handprints. She slowly pushed the door open; the room silently breathing loose the smell of death. She froze; the smell was similar to that of the strange man in her room. The one that she...
"Stop it!" she yelled at herself; although her disbelief was slowly giving way to acceptance.
She was distracted from her silent musings by a loud crash from the darkness in front of her; a surgeon's mayo tray scattering its contents across the white tile floor. A glint of light caught Karen's eye. Jeffrey's eyes gleamed like a cats as he glared at her hungrily; and she understood instantly. The wound in his throat, now blackened around the edges, heaved rhythmically. Jeffrey's' dead body attempted to mimic the actions of the living, his chest rising and falling as though he was out of breath; although breathing, for this boy, was no longer a necessity. His lips moved silently in an attempt to speak as blood spewed from his trachea. He stepped menacingly towards Karen. She was paralyzed at the sight of this young boy, this dead child. She could almost feel the accusatory look in his dead eyes as he advanced. A single red tear ran down her cheek as he closed the gap between them. Karen remained motionless, listening to the sound of his bare feet slapping the floor; twenty feet, fifteen, ten.
He grinned at her through blood soaked teeth and leapt at her, arms extended toward her throat. She easily, almost instinctively, stepped aside; catching his exposed spine through the hole in his neck. He gnashed his teeth, kicking violently as she held him suspended in midair.
"I'm sorry, Jeffrey," She whispered sorrowfully, looking straight ahead as she snapped his spine with a flick of her wrist. Jeffrey's body hung limply in her grasp, but his mouth kept snapping eagerly at the air; trying to take a bite out of her arm as she held him.
"What the fuck?!" She exclaimed, throwing Jeffrey's semi-animated body to the ground. He landed with a wet thud, his face continuing to move although now held down by the weight of his now lifeless body.
She stumbled backwards out of the O.R. door as his blood covered face began protruding from underneath. Her back hit the wall across the hall from the swinging doors, and she slid to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
She didn't hear the footsteps until they were almost on top of her. She kicked out violently, pushing herself away. She stopped when she realized he wasn't attacking her. The man looked at her blood streaked face briefly before swinging the O.R. door open to look inside.
"You have to destroy the brain," He said indifferently as he pulled a gun from the back of his pants, "They won't stop unless you do,"
She watched him incredulously as he held the weapon through the open door and fired a single shot. The report was deafening. He waited a moment, looking for any signs of movement, before replacing his gun and walking over to where Karen was seated on the floor and held out his hand.
"It's alright," He said, smiling slightly.
She looked into the red eyes of the man standing in front of her, his blood covered hand stretched out for hers.
"Come on," he said, gesturing for her hand, "It's time to go,"
As afraid as she was; there was something about this blonde stranger, something that drew her to him. There was a familiarity in his eyes that told her she would be safe with him. She took his hand apprehensively, noting his bluish skin tone was identical to hers. He smiled again, revealing his elongated incisors. She looked at him curiously as he pulled her to her feet.
"There you go," he soothed, helping her maintain her balance, "Come, we have to meet up with the others."
Karen walked hand in hand with this strange person to the hospital exit. The automatic glass doors of the E.R. were destroyed; smashed beyond repair by what was now the charred carcass of an ambulance. They walked cautiously out through the side of the broken doorway and into the warm night air. She surveyed the street in shock; bodies hung halfway out of smashed vehicles, paper and other debris littered the road. There were several horribly disfigured people shambling between the wreckage. Some were missing limbs; others had huge gaping holes through their torsos. The stranger again pulled his gun and dispatched them quickly. In the distance she could see the smoke from several large fires, illuminated by the light of the moon, wafting into the night sky. She could hear the screams of hundreds of people as well as more gunshots, although she could not tell where they were coming from.
The man squeezed her hand gently.
"Welcome to our world,"
User Reviews
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-07-12 14:09:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-06-21 10:34:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-05-12 17:50:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have just got done reading these all and I have enjoyed them all. Great work everyone, +2's for all!
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-03-15 22:58:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice imagery with the whole snapping the spine thing. Very awesome.
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-14 14:36:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Damn! I didn't even notice my bloodprint in your wonderful story.
I shall sit and glow now!
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-13 13:35:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sneaky.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-11 22:11:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great story bro.
A quick plus two and it's off to the next experiment in liver damage.
Hope your evening kicks ass.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-11 20:18:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-11 17:27:28 (#)
Ranking: 2
He grinned at her through blood soaked teeth and leapt at her, arms extended toward her throat. She easily, almost instinctively, stepped aside; catching his exposed spine through the hole in his neck.
-- whaaaaat?? Is that even possible? This line sort of took me out of the story.
===
Totally possible. If you have vampiric super speed and everything.
Dammit Caes, it worked in my head...why must you mess with my reality?
Would it help if I said 'ducked to the side' instead of stepped aside? Imagine some ducking...it works, I swear.
And to plagiarize myself from Jack's post:
I fully enjoy this colaborative series. Being able to 'work with' other writers in this capacity has proven to be fun as well as a bit challenging at times. Seeing evryone's take on the rough structure is great. It just shows how many different ideas you can have spring from just one base.
I hope that this continues, because, once again, it is truly entertaining to read as well as be a part of.
Thanks again Jack, and everyone else.
I'm having a blast doing this.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-11 19:46:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"She easily, almost instinctively, stepped aside; catching his exposed spine through the hole in his neck. He gnashed his teeth, kicking violently as she held him suspended in midair."
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Gawd fuckin DAMN! What a great image!
Submitted by FuckTheArmy (user info) at 2005-03-11 17:39:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yay! More Everything!
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-11 17:27:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
He grinned at her through blood soaked teeth and leapt at her, arms extended toward her throat. She easily, almost instinctively, stepped aside; catching his exposed spine through the hole in his neck.
-- whaaaaat?? Is that even possible? This line sort of took me out of the story.
Otherwise though, very good story. I like where this is going. Sorry about Vegas, buddy. But their loss is our gain! Moo hoo haa haa!
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:57:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:55:41 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is very good but......
Write more Elemental damnit!
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I am.
Since I ended up being unable to go to Vegas (curse you all)
I'll be drinking and writing all weekend...
I guess it wan't a total loss...
(dammit)
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:55:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's not like you need me to tell you how much you rock. I'm just here to contribute a +2.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:55:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is very good but......
Write more Elemental damnit!
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:18:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
bitchslap that muncher!
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:15:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Marry me and have my children.
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:15:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah? Well take that! +2 to you.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:13:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very Nice
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-03-11 15:11:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good one.