When fate and worlds collide

01 | The Beginning of the End

I had been sitting at my desk when it happened. When the sky split open like a fissure and reigned down monsters we thought only lived in nightmares or existed in fairy tales. I had been young, working two jobs to support my nine-year-old son, battling with my ex while trying to appear like my life wasn't falling to pieces.

It seemed like a lifetime ago. My everyday problems back then paling in comparison to what life comprised of now.

Sometimes, I found my mind wondering back to those simpler times when the routine of wake up, school run, work, school pickup, eat, sleep, repeat felt almost enticing. A time when I didn't have to have one eye open while I slept.

They called it the fall. The end to our way of life. The fall of humanity. The slaughter of mankind.

No movie, book or computer game could prepare us for the savage slaughter on day one, or the struggles continuing every day after.

We were too arrogant as a species, thinking we could survive anything. We learnt in a day how very wrong, and how very stupid, we humans were. For all our doomsday preppers and apocalyptic genres, you couldn't prepare for something that happens within minutes.

Now, almost four years later I sat atop a half broken building, surveying the dead and decaying city below, watching a couple of survivors race across the street - one wounded and both low on ammo. I had been tracking them for a while, trying to see whether they were part of a larger group, and how dangerous they may be.

This had meant to be a simple scouting mission. An easy run which should of had me back home before nightfall. The routine no different from normal. However, my gut instincts indicated otherwise the moment I left the tower. A pack of ferals were hunting the pair, their razor-sharp claws covered in a toxic poison which slowly paralysed the victim. If the wounded didn't get the antidote soon, the other survivors best chance would be to leave him behind.

A cruel thought, but not uncommon.

It wasn't unusual to see kind of behaviour anymore. Humans had an overriding sense of self-preservation which affected even the most kind-hearted person when in the face of death.

I had three choices; one, I could intervene and help save both men, the wounded posing a danger as he could slow me down before we reached safety. Two, I could save the healthy man and use the wounded as a distraction. Or three, I simply turn away and search the area on my own. If they were part of a larger group, they wouldn't be hard to find.

The bloodcurdling cry of the Ferals drifted from downwind, smelling the fear rolling off the two men. The hunt coming to an end, victory tasting sweet. The beasts were too close to bother with a rescue now, one of our rules in the tower being never risk your life so save another if it can be avoided. Heroes die quicker than survivors, and we were too low on survivors.

I turned to leave when one of the men cried out, his voice gluing me to the spot. I knew his voice. It had been more than three years ago, just after the world had ended. It couldn't be. He couldn't have survived this long on his own, could he?

I crept back to the edge, keeping low to not be seen and drew out my gun. I quickly screwed on the silencer, knowing my shots needed to be close, but guarenteeing the sound would not draw any unnecessary attention. I attempted to focus on the survivors, needing to see his face to be sure it was him, but the hat and mask covering his face proving difficult to be sure. I cursed under my breath.

The building at the end of the street exploded, debris reigning down as the Ferals charged the men, four in total. A tracking pack, but there would be many more on the way. The men had reached an empty parking lot, the wounded falling to the ground and pulling out his gun while the other resumed a defensive stance. I could taste their fear and defeat; they knew they were about to die.

The first few shots felled two of the four Ferals. The remaining two now weary of their aim backing off to circle the pair, teeth gnashing and hackles raised, tasting their preys fear. My ears picked up a faint howl in the distance; the rest of the pack approaching, and the two would be dead before they could kill the remaining scouting pack.

I let out an irritated huff, even if it wasn't the man I thought, a small irritating part of me wouldn't let me sleep peacefully if I left them to die without answers. Placing my gun back in the holster I stood, drawing my sword as I did. This would be a long day.

I pulled the mask sitting around my neck up and over my nose to hide my face, tucking it in securely. If his identity turned out to be who I thought, the best way for us all to survive to see tomorrow consisted of hiding my identity - this needed to go as quickly and smoothly as possible

I jumped.

Adrenaline surged through my body, awakening my senses as the breeze swept past me, this new ability never getting old. I aimed for one of the Ferals, predicting where it would jump, timing it right to use the beast to break my fall. The impact sounding like a boom and metal groaning, echoing through the broken, empty buildings around us. My sword sliced upwards and out, severing the head clean off as both myself and the Feral slid to a halt.

I swiftly dove to the side as the second Feral attacked, its claws sailing through the air where I had been seconds before. I sliced upwards, severing its six deadly toes from its paw, causing a gut-wrenching squeal to emanate from its mouth.

Black goo flung everywhere, sizzling on contact with the ground as the Feral limped away on its remaining uninjured legs. I stood, briefly glancing at the survivors, the uninjured man slumped in relief.

I charged forward, ducking under a swing and bringing my sword down on its neck, severing the head from its body. The Feral fell to the ground with a sickening wet thump, head rolling away while black ooze seeped from the stump. I grabbed out a rag and wiped my blade free from the Ferals blood, turning to leave and throwing the rag away

"Wait!" I half turned back, the survivor tucked his gun in the back of his pants to hold both hands up, showing he meant no harm. My stomach flipped as I tried to recognise him while assessing his body language. Humans were funny creatures. "Please, can you help me with my friend?" I looked down at the man on the ground, his skin now pale and clammy, chest rising and falling rapidly; within two hours he would be fully paralysed, and dead within twenty-four

"Leave him if you want to survive. He's already dead" I answered coldly and walked away. A few seconds later I heard running feet. I spun around, my hunting knife drawn as I rested it against his throat

"please" he begged, indicating back to his friend "why save us, only to leave us to die?" he asked.

"One alive survivor is better than two dead. At least you could still warn your people to hide" he frowned, confused

"How did you kn-"

"Remove your mask" I demanded, cutting him off. Surprise crossed his face for a moment "remove it or I leave you both to die" I added coldly. Reluctantly he complied, reaching up slowly to pull away his mask. I kept my posture neutral but my emotions raged inside when I recognised his face, heart pounding against my chest. He had a full beard now, and a large scar on his cheek, but unmistakeable regardless.

I knew I should have left them to die

"Can you help me?" he asked again. I stood frozen for a moment, weighing up my options and the outcomes. The rules for scouting were simply; finding and gathering any resources and useful material were main priority, but should anyone happen upon survivors, and they were deemed a non-threat, they were to be guided back to the tower for safety. I knew I couldn't go against the rules in place simply because of a personal grudge. I sheathed my knife and stepped back, letting out an irritated huff

"I'll help, but I can't guarantee he'll survive. He's got about twenty-four hours before he's dead"

"We have a medic in our group who has some antidote left" I nodded sharply, relieved I didn't need to try and get them back to the tower instead "Can I see your face?" he asked. I shot him glare

"I'm willing to help you and your friend, but my generosity ends there. Ask again and I'll leave you both" I growled, the man held up his hands in apology.

I marched over to the injured male and checked the wound - barely a scratch, but enough. Hopefully being so small it would give us more time to get him to his group. I looked at the falling sun; being out after dark had become dangerous, the creatures roaming the night more terrifying than a few Ferals.

"There's a safe house a few blocks away, the rest of the Ferals will sniff us out before we get back to your group. We'll hide there 'til tomorrow" he began to protest, only to fall silent as I shot him a glare "Unless you want to become Nightmare fodder I suggest shutting up and doing as I say" I warned - he closed his mouth with a snap. Looping his friends arm around his shoulder, I did the same on the other side. Slowly we made our way through the abandoned streets, the sounds of the Ferals growing closer with each passing moment.

I could feel them closing in, searching for their wounded prey. Their angry screams filling the air as we began to run, the wounded man stumbling along. The light was fading fast, and when the last rays of sun were gone, the real nightmares would emerge to stalk the night. Creatures even the Ferals were afraid of.

I gave the full weight of the injured man to the survivor, rushing forward to open the heavy roller door in front of us. I slowly raised the metal high enough for the men to scrambled under as the smell of the Ferals hit my nose, making me gag. The survivor grabbed the door from the other side, allowing me to slip through and lower it as the Ferals raced past the end of the street.

This didn't mean we were safe. Once again, we grabbed the injured man and stumbled quietly to the back of the abandoned shop where I shoved an old fridge to the side, revealing a small metal trap door. The look of surprise and confusion crossing the mans face before we all quickly, and quietly piled inside.

I closed the trap door, sliding the dead bolts into place and plunging us into darkness. A small sob escaped from the injured man, his fear leaving a rancid taste in my mouth as I tried to focus. I quickly drew on my power, cursing I had to reveal part of myself to these men, but we needed the protection to survive the night.

Once I finished drawing the protection symbol into the metal, I made my way along the wall until I felt the switch to the lights beneath my fingers, the hum from the bulb as they flickered on and the fan making a clicking sound as it circulated the air. A small UV lamp gave off a strange hue in the room, illuminating the small area - I could see the disbelief on the mans face.

Ignoring him I searched the shelves for any possible antidote, cursing when I came up empty; this safe house hadn't been restocked recently. The small room fitting two bunk beds at one end, shelves stocked with non-perishable food, bottled water and supplies against the wall in front of me, and off to the left a small door led to a toilet and sink hooked up to an old generator. Its use being a last resort due to the noise it gave off.

"You're an Aura" I heard him say softly. I ignored the statement. Instead I grabbed a few bars of food and tossed them over, an extra one for his friend. I noticed the beads of sweat lining his forehead and laboured breathing.

"Eat. You will need the strength tomorrow" I instructed. I sat down on one of the bunks, turning away to shove the food under my mask so they wouldn't see my face. The quicker we found their group, the quicker I could return to the tower and my son. I had been away to long already, I should have returned by now and I knew he would be worrying.

"My names Glen" the name stung my chest but I resisted the urge to show it. I half turned back to notice his extended hand "Thank you for helping us, we would be dead twice over if it wasn't for you" his gratitude meant nothing, but from the look in his eyes he had no idea who I was.

Good. I wanted to keep it that way. I quickly looked away without accepting his hand, not returning my name. He cleared his throat nervously

"This is Jax, we were on a scouting run to see where we nee-"

"I don't care"

"-ded to go" he finished, ignoring my rude interjection. He helped his friend Jax lay down on the bed before sitting opposite me, arms resting on his legs as he lent forward "we heard there's a safe haven round here, somewhere the Monsters can't get in" he was talking about the Tower "but there's no map, no directions on how to get there"

"Maybe there's a reason for it" I grunted. I thought he would be offended, but instead he nodded

"We have a terrible track record for letting humanity down. I'm not surprised it's well hidden. There are people out there who would rather destroy something offering peace and protection"

"Why didn't you move with your group?"

"There's too many of us to do safely, and not enough people to protect the weak and children" I glanced over at the mention of children. Anyone under the age of six were rare. Any younger the parents were fools. Most children alive now were the last born before the world ended almost four years ago.

"How many children? What age?" I couldn't help my curiosity, but I needed to know whether this trip would be worth it. He regarded me for a moment

"Seven in total. Sophie and Lanie are two, John is three, Clarice is four, Peter is almost seven and Conner and Felix are eight" three born before, three born after and one born at the time of the Fall. The parents to the three born after were either stupid, or foolish to think it a good idea to procreate now

"How many adults?"

"thirty-one in total, not including myself and Jax" such a big group to have survived for so long "Are you headed to the Haven?" he asked unexpectedly. I glanced at him in surprise before casting my eyes to his friend, chest heaving as he struggled to breath

"I know how to get there"

"Can you get our group there to?" he sounded so hopeful it almost hurt.

"I would need to asses all members of your group first" Glen looked confused "we have rules in place when it comes to finding survivors" I explained

"I can vouch for them all, they are good and hard working people"

"Your words mean nothing stranger" I almost ground the word out before composing myself "I will see for myself"

"So you will help?"

"If everyone is who you say they are, yes. I can't guarantee the safety of everyone in your group, some will die on the way." his face looked pained at the comment "I can, however, promise to keep the kids safe and get them to the safe Haven" he weighed up the options "If you attempt to do it on your own, everyone in your group will die. The Ferals have a frustratingly good nose, and since they lost their prey today, as well as four of their pack they will no doubt trace your scent back to wherever it is they are hiding" the panicked look crossing his face made my stomach swirl

"Oh my god" he breathed.

"They won't risk staying out after dark. It will take time to figure out they've lost you, by then we should be with your group" I lay down, slipping my knife beneath the pillow "get some sleep. We leave at first light" I rolled to face the wall, pulling on a small cord of power and slowing my breathing until I lulled off. After everything I had been through with my son, I learnt quickly how to hold tight to the thread of magic while sleeping, using it as a warning system for danger nearby. I would know if either men tried anything.

I should have left them to die.