Chapter 9
In this grim world, despair finds its home
The words of advice from Mark cut through the chaotic din surrounding them, his voice
steady despite the mounting tension. "Load your weapons with live ammunition," he warned
as he quickly inserted a cartridge into his AR-15 with a swift, practiced motion. In a stark
contrast to the usual practice rounds, the sound of the live bullets entering the weapons
created a chilling sense of reality.
Eric frantically rummaged through his pockets for any ammunition he could find, his eyes
wide as they darted around, searching for the source of the commotion. "What the hell is
going on?" he asked no one in particular as he finally retrieved a couple of cartridges and
quickly loaded them into his pistol. His heart pounded in his chest as the confusion and fear
gripped him tightly.
Eric froze in his tracks as his eyes caught sight of a familiar figure hurtling towards them in
the distance. His neighbor's little girl, the daughter of the abusive man, was running
frantically towards them, her screams and cries piercing through the skies above. Eric's
heart sank as he saw her missing arm, and tears streamed down her face. He couldn't just
run away and ignore her pain. Eric quickly looked back at Mark and Joshua, who were
continuing towards the source of the commotion. The sight of the little girl filled him with a
mix of concern and anger. The girl stopped and fell as she looked at Eric. Blood pouring out
from where her appendage attached to the torso painting the snow crimson. The sight of
broken, torn off bone sticking out from the wound made eric dizzy, he was not accustomed to
seeing such a terrific sight. Eric tried to regain his composure as he helped the girl by
stopping the girl's bleeding with gauze and bandages while the child kept screaming in pain.
The sight of the young girl writhing in pain and losing blood left Eric feeling nauseous. His
hands shook as he tried to stop the bleeding covering the open pool, but the girl's screams
echoed through the air, piercing through Eric's soul. He tried his best to comfort her, but his
own fear and panic were making his knees weak. However, he knew he had to stay strong
and take care of the girl.
Eric: "Shhhhh, it's going to be okay. Just hold on, alright?"
Eric tried to steel himself as he helped the girl stop her bleeding, his thoughts racing a
million miles an hour. He felt a pang of pain in his heart as he thought about his own
daughter, Ellie. He knew he had to keep running and find out what was causing the
commotion, but he couldn't just leave the girl alone.
Finally, he managed to stop her bleeding, and he looked at her with a mixture of sadness and
determination.
Eric: "Run to the main building. Tell everyone to lock the gates, okay?" The little girl nodded,
tears streaming down her face, and began a slow, shaky run towards the main building. Eric
watched her go, hoping she would be safe, before turning back around and continuing his
own sprint towards the commotion.
As Eric ran towards the gate, his heart pounded louder with every step. The otherworldly
wails confirmed his worst fears - angels had somehow found their way into their town.
Anger surged through him as he clutched his weapon tightly, eager to make them pay for the
pain and suffering they had inflicted upon him and his family.
His thoughts raced to the day when it all began, how he was woken by the loud, almost
chant-like wails, how his daughter had come up to him crying, how they went out and saw
the abominations they mockingly named angels, how her his daughter was attacked and his
thoughts ending with her calm face as she passed away in his arms from her wounds.
Eric's anger was a living, breathing entity as he thought about all the pain and suffering
these beings had caused. As he approached the commotion, he saw Mark, Josh, and James
shouting desperately, trying to get people to flee the scene. The sight that greeted his eyes
sent a chill down his spine. Six angels were moving with cold efficiency through the crowd,
mercilessly killing everyone in sight without discrimination of gender or age. eric even saw
as a lifeless head of an infant rolled over where one of the angels was. the thin brown hair
on its head curling and sticking to the ground with its own blood as one of the eyeballs was
hanging by the chord.
Mark's voice rang through the chaos, shouting out. "Guns don't affect them!" But his words
were lost on Eric, whose mind was completely overpowered by his anger. He didn't even
notice as one of the angels jumped on top of Mark, his eyes focused solely on the creature.
Frustration built up inside him as he heard three shots fired in quick succession from his
pistol, landing on the angel in front of him, causing it to drop to the ground, its body lifeless.
Eric tried to catch his breath, his eyes still wide with shock, only to turn his gaze towards
Mark. But it was already too late - The sight of Mark's lifeless body sent a wave of grief and
anger through Eric. He felt his heart shatter as he saw the slender yet muscular frame of his
friend hanging limply from the branches of the angel's arm, its sharp, otherworldly
appendage piercing through several parts of mark's body, including his chest.
Eric sank to his knees, his mind reeling as he watched the angel he had shot only moments
earlier begin to rise again. New appendages sprouted from its body, and it started to stand
up, ready to continue its rampage.
Emma rushed over to Eric and yanked him to his feet. "Snap out of it!" she shouted, shaking
him. "You need to focus!"
Emma slapped Eric across the face, jolting him out of his daze. Without wasting a moment,
she quickly picked up Mark's rifle and fired at the angel that was lunging towards them. The
shot found its mark, and the angel fell to the ground, momentarily incapacitated.
Eric snapped out of his stupor and hurried after Emma as they both dashed towards the main
building, their hearts pounding in their chests. The chaos and destruction surrounding them
served as a stark reminder of the dire circumstances they were in.
Eric's ears were filled with the sound of rapid gunfire and agonizing screams as he and
Emma ran through the chaos. His heart sank as he heard the terrified shouts of their fellow
community members, including Joshua.
Emma's voice rang out, choked with tears. "No point in looking back now," she said, her voice
raspy and filled with sorrow. "There's nothing we can do."
Eric felt a pang of helplessness as he ran alongside her, his own cheeks wet with tears. They
both knew that looking back would only bring more pain and suffering, so they pushed
forward, their eyes fixed ahead on their destination - the main building.
The sound of gunshots and screams continued to fill the air as they ran, their hearts heavy
with worry and grief for their friends who were still fighting. Every step felt like an eternity,
their lungs burning, their legs aching, but they knew they had to keep going. They finally
reached the main building, panting and gasping for breath. The sight that greeted them was
a blur of chaos and confusion as people rushed around, their faces filled with fear and
despair.
As Eric stepped into the main building, his gaze was drawn to the young girl whose bleeding
he had helped stop earlier. She now looked pale and weak, but she was still alive, being
supported by her father. The atmosphere inside the building was chaotic, with people rushing
about in a state of panic. Everyone hurried through the gates before they were quickly
closed, shutting out the voices of the people still screaming for help outside.
Emma collapsed onto the ground, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. She shakily
handed Mark's gun over to Eric, her entire body trembling from exhaustion and shock. Eric
was taken aback by Emma's unexpected action. She reached out, taking his hand and placing
the ring in his palm, telling him to take care of it. Then, she clutched her chest tightly, her
expression serious. "If something happens to me..." she whispered, her voice barely above a
whisper. Mama Luna hurried over to Emma, her face etched with concern. "Don't talk like
that," she said firmly. "We'll get you the medicine. Just hold on a little longer."
Emma shook her head weakly, her eyes distant. "It doesn't matter," she whispered, her voice
laced with resignation. "We're all already dead anyway. I'd rather die from this than be torn
to pieces by those...things."
Eric clenched the ring tightly in his hand, his mind racing. "What the fuck is going on?" he
asked, his voice shaking with disbelief.
Emma's reply came quietly, her words carrying an air of finality. "Heart disease," she
whispered. "I know it's been getting worse. I just need some time...if my heart doesn't stop
beating now."
Eric's voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. "Alright, take your time," he said, his heart
pounding in his chest. "Just don't...don't fucking die, okay?"
Emma's eyes closed as her breathing grew shallower, each breath more labored than the
last. The room was filled with an ominous silence, the only sound being the occasional gasp
or cough from Emma. Mama Luna sank down beside Eric, her shoulders shaking with silent
sobs as she rested her head on his shoulder. Eric looked around the room, taking in the
fearful and despairing faces of the other survivors.
Eric's eyes scanned the room, taking in the horror of the scene. Some survivors were missing
limbs, their bloodied bandages and gauze, testament to the severity of their injuries. Others
were holding onto each other, their bodies still as their eyes stared blankly into the distance.
Eric could smell the metallic tang of blood and the sickly-sweet scent of disinfectants in the
air. And yet amidst the chaos, there were no cries of pain, only the ragged breaths and quiet
sobs of the survivors who had found solace in the building's walls.
Eric's gaze fell upon the small girl he had helped earlier. She was now resting in her father's
arms, taking small sips of water from a cup held up to her lips. Despite her weakened state,
a hint of relief washed over her face as the cool liquid refreshed her parched throat.
Eric stood up abruptly, startling Mama Luna. Filled with anger and frustration, he approached
the man, his hands curled into tight fists. Without any warning, Eric lashed out, delivering a
hard slap across the man's face. The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room,
causing everyone to momentarily stop and stare. He remembered how all those times he had
heard the cries of his family begging the father for mercy were heard from their room and
being overcome with even more anger went to hit him again but was stopped by the little
girl who was in her father's arms.
The small girl, through her tears and her weak voice, said, "Please stop." Her big, childlike
eyes pleaded with Eric to release his anger. It was a simple plea, but it was enough to make
Eric pause and take a step back from the man.
Eric took a step back and let out a deep breath, trying to control his anger. He nodded at the
small girl, his expression filled with a mix of regret and resignation. Without a word, he
returned to where Mama Luna and Emma sat, the room filled with an uncomfortable silence.
James suddenly approached Eric, hesitated for a moment when he saw Mark's gun by Eric's
side, and then spoke up. "Eric, what happened to Mark?" he asked tentatively. Eric looked up
at James, his expression one of raw pain and grief. "Mark didn't make it," he said quietly, the
words barely a whisper. James's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he processed Eric's
words.
"And neither might Emma" said eric as he pointed towards the woman laying beside him. her
breaths were now shallow. James followed Eric's gaze to where Emma lay struggling for
breath. her eyes fluttering open briefly. "What do you mean?" he asked urgently. "She's
dying" Eric replied curtly, his irritation showing through his voice. He clenched his fists
tighter, conflicted between frustration and helplessness.
The atmosphere in the room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional gasp or breath as
people struggled to hold on to life or lay still, having already given up. The once vibrant
space was now filled with sorrow and despair, the hope that once filled the air now replaced
with a heavy sense of loss.
Eric, Mama Luna, and James sat by Emma's side, their eyes fixed on her weakening form.
They watched as she fought against her illness, but her body was slowly giving in. The room
was filled with an agonizing silence, each labored breath from Emma breaking their hearts.
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