The worst day of my life happened when I was sixteen years old. I can remember the day like it happened yesterday…
My father, Jeremy Hawkens, trained my brother and I in everything military since we were old enough to walk. He even taught us mixed martial arts, hoping to turn us into indestructible soldiers who would survive in this harsh world that tried everything to annihilate life itself.
When I was sixteen, I was finally old enough to go on a supply run with my brother and father. I was more than ready to show off the skills I had learned since childhood.
"Are you ready for this?" asked my brother, Jeremy Jr, or JR for short.
"I was born ready!" I exclaimed, excited to finally be able to stand next to my family.
"Then let's go suit up; it's about time to head to the surface," JR says with a crooked smirk as he reaches out to ruffle my platinum blonde hair styled in a pixie cut.
I growled playfully through my teeth as I complained about him ruining my hair as we made our way down the hall. My brother JR had short, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes like our mother, whereas I somehow ended up with Plaitnum blonde hair that was almost solid white with our father's steel-gray eyes and ivory pale skin.
Once in the armory, I spotted our father talking with one of the commanders. My father was what we called our First Commander, the leader of our underground colony, Subterra Nova. At six foot two, he was stocky and muscular, with his dirty blonde hair shaved into a military cut and his steel-gray eyes that seemed to burrow into your soul and see your potential. He was an imposing man who donned attention when he walked into a room, and it didn't help that he was the son of one of the colony's founders, my grandfather Jackson Hawkens.
I am sure you are dying to figure out why we are living in a colony underground and how my grandfather became one of our founders… but I will get to that in time because right now, I'm about to go to the surface for the first time, baby!!
My father nodded at JR and me as we walked in; I smiled and waved as I headed for my locker to pull on my gear. Once I was ready, I grabbed a rifle from the gun rack, a box of ammunition, and my favorite dagger that my father gave me on my sixteenth birthday a few months ago.
When it was time to go, my father clapped his hands as he assessed the room, "Alright, everyone, we are to stay sharp at all times! Keep an eye out for any possible dangers out there. We are to inspect the next city to see if we can find any supplies, medicine, and food that are the most important. Let's move out!"
I hopped up and down with excitement, giggling in glee as everyone started filing out the door. My brother sighed and rolled his eyes as he motioned for me to follow.
"Please remember, Bree, that this isn't a practice run; this is the real deal. It is very dangerous outside, so please always stay vigilant and close to me or Dad."
I sucked in a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves as we trudged down the long tunnel that my grandfather helped dig. I shook my head at the idea of having to dig this tunnel for the sake of humanity itself.
Up ahead, I watched as the soldiers began climbing a ladder that led to a latched door. My father twisted open the latch; when the door clicked, he pushed it open with a loud thud before climbing through the man-sized hole in the ceiling.
I swallowed hard as I followed JR through the line of soldiers as they disappeared through the hole.
"This is your last chance to back out now," says JR as he steps onto the first rung, "Neither father nor I will thank any different of you if you back out."
I sucked in a deep breath, then shook my head, "No, I have trained for this for a long time, I want to help, JR."
JR just shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself… Follow behind me then…"
When JR got high enough on the ladder, I followed right behind him, one rung at a time; when I got to the hole in the floor, my father and JR held out a hand and helped pull me through.
I smiled as Dad gave me a nod and a pat on the shoulder, "You have bigger balls than most of the men out here, slugger."
A girly giggle escaped as the butterflies fluttered in my stomach at my father's sudden praise, "Thanks, Dad."
"Good god, I don't think it was a good idea to inflate her ego anymore, Dad." JR joked with a sigh.
"I guess when Dad said I had bigger balls than most of the men here, he must have been including you also," I joked, sticking my tongue out at JR as I peered around, "Where are we?" I asked as I took in the metal walls lined with guns; two old cots were built into the wall and many other things that I just didn't understand.
"We are in my father's old war bunker; this is where my parents and I hid during the nuclear war with one of our neighbors, you know his daughter Sakura and her son Xavier, who is around your age," Says father as he takes a peer around the bunker.
"Oh, you are talking about Akio Akoi, right? He was a bug scientist who came up with the idea to create the underground colony, like ants do, right?" I asked.
Father nodded, "Yes, that is correct; my father and Akio saved a lot of people when they decided to build the colony."
I stood there, transfixed, marveling over everything I learned from my teacher. To finally see it with my very own eyes was pretty cool.
"Alright, everyone, let's head out; we don't have all day; we don't want to be stuck outside when the sun rises." Says Father as he walks towards the steel door with a wheel latch; when the latch clicks, my father pushes open the door, revealing a barren city that has been reduced to nothing but a graveyard full of dust and rubble that has been reclaimed by the thick forest that surrounded us.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the year 2030, the world that we once knew was destroyed when the nuclear war began, covering the whole world in toxic radiation that slowly killed everything in its wake.
By 2035, the sun's heat became unbearable; a Marine soldier named Jackson Hawkens lived in his underground war bunker that he shared with four other people. His wife, Naiomi Hawkens, their five-year-old son, Jeremy, attached to her hip; their neighbor, Akio Aoki, a brilliant Japanese man studying bugs and insects; and his young daughter, Sakura.
One day, Akio Aoki said, "Why don't we build an underground colony like an ant? We would be safe from the scorching sun, and the soil from the earth would filter the toxins from the radiation."
Liking this idea, Jackson and Akio rounded up anyone they could find to help dig out the colony. With the help of an old architect named Harold, they spent the next few years digging away at the earth.
In 2040, Jackson became the colony's leader, naming him the First Commander and his friend Akio Aoki the second commander and right-hand man. Also, in 2040, the world took a nasty turn when the radiation created a virus. The first stage of the virus is blood-red eyes, then the nasty fever very rapidly cooks you from the inside out, but for some reason, the fever causes you to produce way too much of the hormone ghrelin, causing the humans to crave protein. During the first stage, the human becomes cannibalistic, eating anything from humans and animals. They scream in agony and hunger, resembling a banshee. Soon, the humans learned that any bite of an infection would spread through blood. Can be killed by a gun, but if the brain is still connected to the spine, they will turn into zombies.
When the screamers die from the virus, they become flesh-eating monsters called Zombies with black soulless eyes, greyish skin, and smell like rotten flesh. The only way to kill them is by severing the head from the spine.
After a year, the flesh of the zombies mummifies and becomes nothing but skin and bones, evolving into an evil and nasty creature called a Reaper. The Reapers have no eyes, nose, lips, or ears, but they can sense vibrations and smell blood from up to 3 miles away.
By 2045, half of the human population will be gone, the land was reduced to dust and rubble, and most plants and animals will have died out. The sun is so hot during the day that it will cause blisters in a matter of 5 minutes and will kill you if exposed to it for more than 30 minutes. It is safe to be outside at dawn, dusk, and night.
In the year 2050, most of the colony was built, and everyone got their own apartments with all their basic needs like beds, a bathroom, and a kitchen. There was a canteen where everyone gatherers for daily meals of whatever they could hunt and scavenge. The scientists set up a lab to study ways to help save humanity and possibly find a cure for the undead virus.
By the year 2055, the humans had settled into their new lives within the colony that was called Subterra Nova. Now that the humans were comfortable, they started reproducing. Still, some of them were shocked when some of the babies were born with husky-like white-blue eyes, grayish skin, and slightly pointed ears and did not crave the taste of breast milk; these babies craved the taste of blood and flesh, with more animalistic natures with heightened intelligence and senses. These babies became known as Ghouls.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The world outside the door was washed in a red haze from the setting sun; the safest time to come outside is between dusk and dawn because, during the day, the sun was so hot that it left blisters on your skin if exposed to for over five minutes, that is why we chose now to head out for a supply run.
I followed behind my father and JR as we cautiously made our way through the desolate streets, our weapons held tightly in our hands. The once bustling city now lay silent and decaying, a grim reminder of the world before the virus.
"Stay sharp, Bree," JR whispered, scanning the surrounding buildings. "It's been too quiet."
My heart hammered in my chest as adrenaline coursed through my veins. Despite the danger, something was thrilling about being out here, defying the Undead and scavenging for our survival.
"Over there!" I pointed at an old pharmacy, its windows shattered and interior ransacked. "We might find some medical supplies."
"Alright, but be quick," JR warned as we approached the building. "You know the rules – in and out, no lingering."
"Got it," I replied, immediately slipping inside and heading for the back shelves. My fingers brushed against dusty bottles and tattered boxes, desperately searching for anything useful.
"Come on, come on," I muttered, willing myself to find something valuable. Suddenly, my hand closed around a small plastic container – painkillers, still sealed.
"JR! I found something!" I called out triumphantly, clutching the bottle tightly. But even as the words left my lips, I knew our luck wouldn't last.
The setting sun cast eerie shadows on the cracked pavement, giving the decaying city an even more sinister appearance. I tightened my grip on my weapon, a feeling of unease settling in my chest.
"Stay close, Bree," JR instructed, his voice barely audible as we moved stealthily through the deserted streets. The thrill of finding those painkillers had quickly dissipated, replaced by a gnawing sense of foreboding.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice wavering as I tried to keep my fears at bay.
"Something doesn't feel right," he replied, his eyes scanning our surroundings for any potential threats. "Just be ready."
As if on cue, a chilling chorus of moans and groans echoed through the air. Shadows danced along the walls, revealing the twisted forms of the Undead shambling towards us. My heart raced, and my breath caught in my throat as I struggled to maintain my composure.
We all lifted our guns, taking out as many undead as we could. I jumped in fright, dropping my gun, when screamers ran out of the horde towards us. The screamers aren't dead yet, so they have pale-grayish with red fever blisters covering their mouths and tongues.
"JR, there's so many of them!" I cried out as I fumbled for my gun, my voice cracking in terror.
"Keep it together, Bree!" he shouted back, gripping his own weapon tightly. "Remember your training!"
But as we braced ourselves for the onslaught, something far more terrifying than the zombies emerged from the darkness – ghouls. Their haunting laughs echoed all around us as the zombies and screamers just kept coming; I knew that we were in real danger.
My adrenaline pumped through me as my instincts took over. The screamers snarled and lunged, their speed and agility far surpassing that of the undead.
"Stay away from me!" I screamed, swinging my weapon wildly with every ounce of strength I possessed. But no matter how hard I fought, the zombies seemed to multiply, closing in on me from every angle.
"JR! Dad!" I cried out, panic setting in as I realized I was entirely alone. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath came in ragged gasps as I fought on, desperate to escape the nightmare that had become our supply run.
The stench of decay and blood filled my nostrils, making it even harder to breathe as I desperately fended off the relentless zombies. My arms ached from holding my weapon, but there was no time to rest, not with my life on the line.
"Please, just let me live!" I pleaded though I knew they couldn't understand the human words that tumbled from my lips. They were driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh, and I was their next meal.
The ghouls snickered as they watched me struggle, reveling in my fear. Their eerie laughter sent a shiver down my spine as exhaustion caused my legs to grow weak beneath me. I could feel myself losing hope – how could I possibly survive this?
"Look out!" a voice called out to me, barely audible over the cacophony of snarls and growls. I glanced up just in time to see one of the screamers lunging at me, its clawed hand inches from my face. Panic surged through me as I swung my weapon, knocking it back and sending it sprawling onto the ground.
"Who's there?" I demanded, searching frantically for the source of the voice. And then, I saw him – a ghoul boy standing tall among the sea of undead creatures. He was different somehow; his eyes were covered in a white film and unblinking... he was downright blind... instead of the white-blue irises of the ghouls.
"Over here! Follow me if you want to live!" he shouted, waving me towards him. Uncertain but left with no choice, I sprinted in his direction, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Who are you?" I panted as I reached him, my breath hitching with each word. "Why are you helping me?"
"Questions later. Right now, we need to get out of here," he replied, his voice surprisingly calm and collected. He grabbed my hand, leading me through the swarm of zombies, deftly dodging their snapping jaws and flailing limbs.
As we moved, I couldn't help but marvel at his agility and control over his monstrous instincts. The zombies and screamers gave him a wide berth as we passed. Moreover, he didn't seem to be repulsed by my human scent, nor did he give any indication that he wanted to tear me limb from limb.
"Almost there," he whispered, guiding me around the last few obstacles before we emerged in a relatively quiet alleyway. "You should be safe here... for now."
"Thank you," I murmured, my voice shaking with emotion. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."
"Trust me, you don't want to know," he replied somberly. "But you can't stay here long. Your friends – and your enemies – will come looking for you."
"Right," I nodded, determination settling in as I thought of JR and Jeremy. "I need to find them. And then, I'm going to make those monsters pay."
"Good luck," the ghoul boy said just before melting into the shadows.
"Wait!" I called out, but he was gone. I had no choice but to do as he advised and find my family. The alleyway opened up onto another desolate street, and I broke into a sprint.
"Dad! JR!" I shouted as I rounded another corner, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "Where are you?!"
"Over here!" JR's voice echoed from a nearby alley. I followed it, my heart pounding in my chest, coming to a dead stop as I came upon a horrifying scene.
JR knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face as he clutched our father's lifeless body. My father's eyes stared blankly at the sky, blood oozing from the wounds that marred his once strong and fearless form. My knees buckled beneath me, and I collapsed next to them, grief overwhelming me.
"JR... I'm so sorry," I choked out through sobs. "I tried to get to you both, but there were too many..."
"Shh, Bree," JR murmured, his voice trembling with grief. "It's not your fault. We did what we could, and Dad... he fought to the very end."
I pressed my forehead to Dad's cold hand, my tears mingling with the blood that stained it. In my heart, I vowed that his death would not be in vain. I would find a way to honor his memory – to protect our people and bring an end to the nightmare that had consumed our world.
"Come on," JR whispered, as he slung our father's body over his shoulder, "We need to get back to the colony. They'll need us now more than ever."
Nodding wordlessly, I let him lead me away from the grisly scene. As we made our way through the desolation, I couldn't shake the image of the mysterious ghoul boy who had saved my life. Who was he…and why did he help me? As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows across the ruined cityscape, I couldn't help but wonder if our paths would ever cross again.
The weeks following my father's death had been a blur of grief and determination. I spent every waking hour in the lab, my fingers flying over test tubes and microscopes, my mind racing with formulas and theories. One night, after a particularly grueling day of research, I found myself staring into the mirror above the small sink in my quarters.
"Breelynn Hawkens," I whispered to my reflection, "You're going to find a cure for the Undead Virus… No matter what it takes… for Dad and for Mom…, I can't forget about how Mom died giving birth to Zoey, who also died due to complications at birth…"
It's time I hung up my gun and picked up a microscope; I will do everything possible to find a cure… I will succeed… even if it's the last thing I do…
…. Eleven years later ….