ʜᴇʏ #1 ᴅᴏɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴍʏ sʜɪᴛ, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs

#2 ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ

#3 ᴜᴍ. ᴀʟʟ ᴀɢᴇs ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʙʜ, ɪғ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ɢᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʜᴀɴᴅ ɪ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ғᴏᴏᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.

#4 ʜᴇʏ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴅᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ʟᴍᴀᴏ. (ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴡɪsᴇ) ᴅᴇᴀᴅᴀss. ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴇᴛᴄ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ sᴇᴛᴛʟᴇᴅ. ɢᴏᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ? ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋ ᴜʀsᴇʟғ ʟᴏᴏsᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴇsᴛsᴇʟʟᴇʀ. xᴏxᴏ
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ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ sᴏʀʀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ᴀʟsᴏ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴ

- ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ

ɪᴛ's ғɪɴɴᴀ ɢᴇᴛ sᴛᴇᴀᴍʏ.
ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴇx ᴅᴇʙᴏʀᴀʜ

- ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ

- ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ/ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏʀᴇ?

- sᴡᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ

- ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ sᴛᴜғғ

ʙᴇɢɪɴ:  ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 16. 2018

ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs
ᴀᴠɪʟᴀ

The clouds swarmed above us like a storm was brewing, the air begins to gain a chill, and the group of people we are with begin putting on their jackets.

The closer we get to the inner city, the more danger we put ourselves in getting caught. Cameras hide in the walls of ruined buildings, and sensors aren't visible to our eyes. It's not just the armed troops protecting their area to fear, the creatures of infernum stalk their prey.

Ever since the world was destroyed by a virus, groups of people banded together for survival and greed. They create their own militias and seek out what they want. Some seek to kill, eat, and humor themselves with kidnapping and torture.

Deorum Mortem created a city, a safe haven. Where you are safe from the psychopathic groups, and wretched creatures. The city is known as Haven, it's surrounded by giant walls.

That's where we're going. Usually the people that make their way over to the wall- just disappear. We never know if they made it in, or died on the way there. It's dangerous in these ruins. Anything can go wrong.

Deorum Mortem is the only known saviors, they are a group of people from all over the world creating a cure. They're behind the walls.

They are the stories we tell each other to gain hope. Their name symbolizes everyone's guilt. God's Death. They symbolize rebirth.

The sky darkens the more we walk the deranged streets, as minutes pass we come to a halt.

"Hood yourselves." Our leader Jeremiah says, "I think we are getting closer to the cameras."

I pull my black hood over my head, covering the majority of my face, I look over at Azrael who is holding his rifle close to him. He glances over at me, his face too is concealed.

"You okay?" Azrael asks.

"Yea why wouldn't I be?" I softly chuckle.

Azrael continues, "Vila you've been hesitant on going there."

I nod, "yeah. Because what if we got our hopes up, what if there is nothing there."

"I'm sure there is a good life there," Azrael reassures me.

Someone from behind me grabs my shoulder shaking me, I stiffen and look back it's Devon. "No need to be so worried! Whose worried to go to Haven?!" He shouts.

Devon answers himself, "No one, me and my girl Vanessa just want to live in peace!"

"Mhm!" Vanessa says aloud. He cuts between us and runs up ahead to her.

"We are turning here!" Jeremiah yells. He points at a building, the door hangs off its hinges, the windows are boarded up. Many of the buildings have boarded windows and doors, and inside are human remains. They died trapped in their own fear.

They were protecting themselves from the creatures. Though some of the doors and windows boarded up have only pieces of wood and sheet metal left, the creatures ripped straight through it.

We all enter the building keeping watch on everything around us, we turn the rifles flashlights on. The light shines across vines growing through the cracks of cement.

Dust floats in the air lifeless like butterflies, I've never seen butterflies.
But the way they were explained from stories being passed down, sounded magical.

"Unbelievable!" Someone shouts.

"Shhh." Jeremiah responds with, "them motherfuckers might be in here."

I look over, it's Sasha her curly hair bounces as she hops in excitement, she points at an empty room, "but Jeremiah you have to check this shit out!"

Jeremiah gives up and walks back, we stay by the stairs of the building. "Guys over here." He says.

Azrael let's go of his rifle and lets it hang, I follow behind him as we turn in. There is a pile of water bottles still in its plastic wrapping.

"That's weird," I say.

"Or God is giving us a chance!" Devon yells. Like always he is against what I say.

"No, she is right, who would just leave that behind. It can be poisoned? A trap?" Azrael says.

"Shut the hell up man, you're just mad Jeremiah won't let you lead," Devon says. Devon always had a problem with us since we joined them. Before us, he was in the group for a year and acted like he was born into it.

Jeremiah is the oldest of us, he is 24? Or something. The rest of us are 19- 23.

I shake my head, "Go and drink it then Devon."

"Don't mind if I do!" Devon shouts and does a little dance. As he bends down to unwrap it his girlfriend Vanessa grabs his arm.

"Hey Dev, don't do it... they're right it can be a trap," Vanessa says leaning down.

Devon chuckles, "those creatures ain't that smart."

Azrael shakes his head and laughs, "the creatures aren't the only enemy."

"Azrael right now you're my enemy!" Devon shouts standing up.

Azrael rushes forward and steps to Devon.

"Rael oh my god stop," I said pulling his arm back.

"Both of you fucking stop. We-" Before Jeremiah finishes speaking something loud crashes.

Everyone turns around quickly to the sound and aims their gun.

"Shit," I say under my breath.

"What the fuck was that?" Jeremiah asks.

"A trap?" A voice murmurs.

A shadow slowly grows out the door we all back up and take the position, I look over at Devon who is obviously scared shitless. I want to laugh out loud, but we may be mauled to death right now.

Then a screeching growl echoes, the creature crawls/ walks sloppily through the doorway. It's long giant arms hang close to the floor, it's skin always disgusts me. Looks like it's melting off it. It growls again and in that moment bullets begin firing, the large creature begins moving forward. It winces in pain and falls back. But the constant bullets don't stop him.

"Shit it's one of those invincible bitches!" Devon yells. Sometimes it takes a few more rounds to get the creatures down. They really are straight from hell.

It lashes it's arm out at a guy in front, completely cutting his head off. A scream escapes my body and I quickly turn around.

"Oh, shit run!" Jeremiah yells! He turns to a window and jumps out, everyone follows. "Oh shit." They say amongst themselves slowly trekking away. "That was Kyle!" I hear someone say lowly.

Azrael pushes me out. I look back he puts a bullet straight through its head and it slides down. It may or may not stop it, but it's the thought that counts.

"Azrael!" I shout, he looks at me and begins smiling, his smirk always gets me frustrated. It's that know it all smirk. He climbs out the window and grabs my hand.

"I won't die that easily. When I go the world will explode." He kisses my forehead and runs up ahead.

I follow behind him and begin laughing.

An hour went by and the sky darkened completely, Devon constantly started with Azrael, Vanessa begged for a rest. And Jeremiah skipped buildings.

But thank goodness we didn't stop because we came across a small sanctuary.

In the parking lots of giant supermarkets there are these handmade shelters, and in order to stay for a while- or forever you need to make a trade.

Jeremiah always traded bullets, because he swears a time will come where he will use his dagger.

We don't hope on that.

Torches align the wall of the supermarket, a few kids scream and giggle as we walk by through the crowds of families.

"You're staying?" An old woman with long grey hair asks. She must be in charge.

"Yes, we are," Jeremiah says.

"What're you trading?" She asks leading us into the supermarket. As we enter there are cages in the back with people in them, must be jails. There are also a few things on a wall behind a desk, guns, knives, and supplies.

Jeremiah unzips his bag.

Devon already had his ready to offer up, "here!"

The lady accepts them both. She looks at the rest of us. Of course. I hate giving up the things that we need.

We hand her everything and she leads us to the second floor of the market. "Rooms. The ones with the doors open are yours. Not enough? Share. Food is downstairs as well, but that's another trade."

"Greedy." Vanessa's friend whispers, her name is Delilah and let's say Delilah has a smart mouth and a black eye to prove it.

"What is that?" The lady says approaching her.

"Nothing. Nothing." Delilah says.

"No funny business." The lady says pointing at me and Azrael. Oh, she is seeing this wrong.

"I'll cover her mouth then," Azrael says winking.

"Rael! No, we-" She shakes her head dismissing me. She heads off.

"Delilah didn't you learn from last time, do you want another black eye?" Devon says joking. He pulls Vanessa into a room. Everyone breaks apart into the rooms.

Azrael and I walk to a room at the end of the hall, there are 2 small beds, they look like they've been worn out. The room is dim, only accepting the light from outside and the hall.

"I swear I can't stand Devon," Azrael says placing the gun on the bed. "When did I ever make it seem like I wanna lead?" He pulls off his jacket.

I hang the rifle on a pole, I smirk at what Azrael said. I pull my jacket off and look at him, "Rael..."

He looks over and laughs, "no. I never make it seem like so."

"Sometimes. We all can tell you hate how Jeremiah leads."

"Jeremiah is an idiot at times that's why," Azrael says chuckling.

I lay in the bed and look over at Azrael, "so you're not gonna sleep with me?" I ask.

Azrael smirks, "You want me to sleep with you? Not like that of course- but if you wanted me to I won't say no."

"Rael," I say and chuckle. Reminds me of the girl crushing so obviously on him.

He lays down facing me, his smile looks harmless now, it's become a habit laying beside each other out of comfort.

His freckles across his cheeks remind me of what constellations should look like. I heard you supposedly could see them in areas outside with a dark clear sky.  It must be beautiful.

His dark eyes like an abyss of sorrow. I know he's been through pain. He basically witnessed his family get torn apart by one of those creatures.

I'm sure that's why earlier he went back to shoot it in the head, all the creatures are guilty.

"What are you going to do when we get to the city?" I ask him.

He smiles like there is an entire plan already settled.

"First I want to take a proper shower, you can join in as well. And then I'm going to sleep in an actual comfortable bed, you're invited for that too." He begins strumming his hands on his chest in a rhythm.

"Interesting can I RSVP?" I joke.

"Wow Vila, yes you can. You?" He asks.

"I want to-" I don't finish the sentence. I don't know what I want. I feel like it's such false hope.

I make up something random, "I want to live in peace, be normal."

"Yea same," Azrael says.

Moments pass and we both drift off to sleep, that is until blaring sirens wake both Azrael and me up.

"I think it's the offering?" I say.

I rush off to a small door in the room, there is a sink and a toilet. Azrael and I begin to freshen up we then head downstairs.

"Please take him. Take my baby." A woman says.

"Have her, she is healthy, she has never been sick! Please have her." A couple shouts. Both the moms hold their child up.

3 giant white pristine vans are parked beside the tents, guards dressed in white and black carrying loaded guns approach the families offering their kids. The parents hand them over, the guards take the babies, toddlers, and kids into the van.

The guards always come by, we aren't sure if they are from Haven or from a safety zone giving care and safety to the kids. They take who aren't offered too, as long as they're young.

"More kids are gone. Shame." Devon whispers into my ear.

I push him off me, "back up Devon."

"Would you rather have them die out here?" Azrael asks.

"Oh like what our parents left us to do," Devon says laughing.

Azrael looks to the floor and back at the vans, he sees so much hope.

The kids scream and cry for their families, as the guards finish, they push back the angry parents. Sometimes they even beat them to prove a point. They head back into their cars and drive away.

Parents tried following them, but it's tough without cars or a way to drive through these ruins.

There is still a storm brewing, the clouds swarm and darken as thunder ruptures across the ruined city. The sky opens up and begins pouring.

A day awaits.

ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟs ᴏғ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ
ᴅᴇᴏʀᴜᴍ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴇᴍ ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀ. ʜǫ

sɪᴏʙʜᴀɴ

I pull on my white lab coat, I adjust the name tag.

sɪᴏʙʜᴀɴ
sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀ

"Are the other kids on their way?" I ask the woman holding an electronic tablet outside my door. She checks something and nods.

"Yes ma'am, they are. The flushing for group 3 can begin now, do you accept?" She asks me.

"Yes, I do," I say. She hands me her tablet and I sign different sections.

"Eyes on our target?" I ask her.

She comes up beside me and shows me live video feed of the ruins, a young girl stands outside a disgusting sanctuary surrounded by those sad lived people. "Her name is Avila right?" I ask.

"Yes ma'am, whenever you're ready a team can head out." The woman says.

"No, not yet. Let's begin the flushing." I say, my heels echo down the hallway leaving everyone aware that I'm here. And it's time to respect their leader.

ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ!
ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ sᴏ ғᴀʀ, sᴏʀʀʏ ғᴏʀ ʜᴏᴡ ʟᴏɴɢ ɪᴛ ɪs, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴏʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴘᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴛʜ ғᴏʀ ɪᴛ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ.

ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴏʀᴜᴍ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴇᴍ ɪs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴀ ʙɪᴛᴄʜ.

ᴅᴏɴᴛ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ & ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ :)