Why won’t you answer?
“Sensei!!” she literally shouted at the other girl who was only inches away. Her brown eyes filled to the brim with putrefied tears as she watched her teachers’ daunt expression. “Sorry! I-I don’t know…” was all the older teen could sputter out before turning away again. Her student didn’t know how to respond. She was scared, her teacher always new what to do; she always was able to pull them out of the worst situations imaginable. It was clear that this time…it would be different.
“Quick! This way!” finally her mentor spoke up and pushed away the deadly silence that had taken over the time between them. Promptly she followed her down a side street that soon forced them out into their schools open courtyard.
“They’re not here…” They youngest gazed around their surroundings heaving deep breaths as quietly as she could. Everything there looked… untouched, but how? Everything else had already been destroyed.
Suddenly, the other growled loudly. “There.” she said in a menacing snarl while un-holstering her infamous revolver, Ketsueki. Her disciple stared at her with new found confidence emitting from her blue crystals. Her sensei was back in action and she needed to be there to back her up.
With weapons drawn and stances held tight the two watched as a glowing white creature moved along the shadows near the north side dorms. Its golden eyes watched back and soon it erupted into a skirling cry that echoed in the yard. Its unwavering gaze continued as it marched toward them, revealing its own weapons of choice; the fiends’ fangs were bared and its serrated fingernails were exposed.
Its mission was clear. It was out to kill them.
The monsters golden eyes narrowed and it seemed ready to engage in warfare, but when it hesitated it alarmed the two women. “I think its waiting for something. A cue maybe…” her mentor trailed off into the nights murky abyss, her gun still at her side. Unexpectedly, the creature began into a laughing fit, almost like it had already claimed the battle as a victory. It wasn’t until the glare of more golden hues began to appear behind the being did either realize why it had burst into laughter.
There were hundreds. Too many to count in a single glance and all were hungry for blood. The first fiend finally composed itself enough to cease its giggle fit and slowly its mouth curled into a smirk as it stared the two humans down with its impenetrable gaze.
Bang
A bullet escaped from the teachers’ revolver and embedded itself into the front creature’s forehead, permanently wiping the smile from its hollow face. She frowned in disgust. There were more than just this one to worry about now and her rash strike caused the brigade to wail in anger. Their monstrous figures began to emerge from the shadows as their howls and shrieks seemed to become more and more boisterous. “Keep alert. Keep southwest and do not- DO NOT wonder more than a few yards away from me.” said the educator in a booming voice. She didn’t dare take her eyes away from her targets as they began to advance toward them in a sickening pace. “They will want to separate us so we’ll be easier to kill. Keep your head up and shoot the first ones in the rows. Don’t let them get any closer than ten yards!” As she gave her orders, she raised her gun yet again and began to empty round after round into the beasts that persistent to stand before them. The bodies were dropping like flies now.
Her student didn’t hesitate and followed the directions without a second thought. She was trained this way- to do as told and to ask questions later. She had improved so much under her teachers lessons and grown into an outstanding markswoman and even a better person. She owed everything to her.
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted with a devastating yowl. Eyes darted from side to side trying to locate the source of the sorrow moan. Finally, when she turned to confront her advisor about the noise she nearly screamed herself. The oldest girl was kneeled on the ground with one hand holding a deep gouge on her midsection while she continued to shoot with her free hand.
“Sensei!” crystal blue eyes were engulfed in fear, she ran to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. The gesture was brushed off, she didn’t seem to notice as she reached for another round in her jacket. After a few seconds of rummaging through the bullet pouch, she stopped.
“Sen…sei?” Like an owl she snapped her head up at the younger girl. Pain was held in her eyes but her pride dismissed the actually sensation.
“Rounds? Do you have anymore?” she managed to whisper over the cries of the hellions that were coming closer and closer to the duo. In a frantic manor, the student felt for more ammunition and was able to come up with only one roll.
“I…I have one left! Take it, I just refilled.” She nodded and took the box and emptied it into her revolver. On unstable legs, she stood and glanced around at the many that were still left.
“Retreat.”
Her disciples eyes widen but she only nodded in reply. As graceful as they could, they fled the scene. They needed to get some where safe and quickly. The monsters weren’t done with them and would stop at nothing to tear their hungry jowls into their flesh. With swift feet they changed course and rushed into a moist alleyway between the southeast and east buildings. It looked as if they were going to make it to safety, except there was a problem in their fleeting escape, a dead end to be precise. This was a fatal mistake. Quickly, they turned to face the gluttons that had already gathered to block their only chance out.
Then, they stopped. They stood where they were and did not advance any farther. There didn’t seem to be a reason why until a shadow arose behind them. They tore their eyes away to face what lay behind them only to come across a pale girl with long silver hair. She looked rather normal non-the-less, not like the other beasts.
What came next was shocking. She drew a small caliber gun and fired it before either the student or teacher could react. The bullet tore through the young apprentices’ chest cavity and exited out the back. It pierced her heart but didn’t kill her immediately. She caved to the wet, soggy, ground, her eyes were still ajar.
“Sen…sei…” was all she managed to say before falling into nothingness.
It had been three months since that happened. Twelve long, antagonizing, weeks in complete solitary confinement. I had promised that girl her safety and I failed to hold to my own words. Still, after so long, I couldn’t shake those haunting last moments from my minds eye. I had the same nightmares every night and with nobody left to talk to, I felt more and more like I was going insane.
That night I had escaped with my life, but that was it. Even with the severity of my wounds I had managed to slip away unnoticed. I stumbled to the schools auditorium to check on the rest of the schools students and the staff only to find them all slaughtered. The image was devastating. I couldn’t believe it, but it was true.
Now, I sat on an old couch, that I managed to scavenge from a dorm room, inside the principals old office. It was bigger than a dorm room and it even had a small kitchen. What the best part about it was its unseen iron walls that were the only things that kept the creatures at bay. However, it did nothing for my peace of mind. These demons were so close to taking over the world. I was sure that only a cup full of people were left alive in the world by now and I’m sure most were far, far away from my position.
This was like a nightmare. A terrifying, exhausting, nightmare, except I couldn’t wake up from it. I shook myself out of my thoughts and turned on the tv and popped in an old tape of Scooby-doo that I found lying around. I had watched it a million times, but it was the only thing I could possible do at the moment since the sun would be soon disappearing under the horizon line.
“Rits’ another mran in a rask?”
“No…not this time Scooby…This time its for real…” I mumbled at the tv. Moaning, I laid my head back and let out a deep sigh. Everything was so messed up now. “I wish I could just…go back in time.” I whispered.“Is that truly what you wish?” I snapped my eyes open and hastily looked around to find the owner of the voice. My eyes stopped when they came across a familiar figure perched on my television set. Shocked by the intruders presence, I shook my head and went for my gun that was lying on the table. Only… it was no longer there. Cautiously, I began to turn around to the being that was now standing only a few feet away, twirling my gun.
At that moment, I remembered where I had seen this girl before. She was the one- the one who took away my partners life. Would she take mine now as well?
“How did you get in here?” I snarled under my breath as she nonchalantly gazed around my living quarters. It was strange talking to this creature. It almost felt like I was talking to myself.
“You want everything to go back to the way it was? Before we came here? Right?” Her golden hues finally found their way to my own browns. “You wish to see that other girl again? Your friends? Your family? Right?” she continued her one worded questions with no flicker of emotion in her gaunt features just as her fangs glinted in the dim light of the tv.
“Does it matter? Does it matter what I want anymore?” I stopped her before she could say anymore. I had questions of my own and I would not let them go unanswered. Slowly, her eyes looked away and she began walking a small circle around me. She didn’t look at me when she began to speak once again.
“You’re very important. You’re the last human left on Earth. My first generation minions got out of hand and now the whole world is being over run by mutants of my own kind.” She frowned and glanced at my frozen body.
“So, you’re saying you’re the leader of all these monsters?!” I lost control over the volume of my voice now and my hate toward this girl was growing more and more; if that’s even possible. There was a silence and then she sighed.
“Yes. But they’ve covered many regions and I can’t control them all. And I’m the only one they’ll listen to. You were lucky though. I stopped them from killing you. You should be thankful to me.” Upon turning to face me, I spit at her. With ease she dodge the flying saliva.
“Why should I be thankful to you!? You killed my student! Why didn’t you spare her if you were going to spare me?!” I yelled as loud as I could, all my anger was spilling out and I wasn’t planning on stopping.
“Because you’re not a normal human!” Her calm demeanor vanished and she stared at me hard. “You’ve freed souls. Each time you killed one of my minions, you freed the hundreds of souls they had consumed. Hundreds of pure innocent souls that were almost un able to ascend to heaven. I could never have done it. My hands are too dirty to free such pure things. For that…I thank you.” She stopped her pacing and knelt before me. I ceased breathing for a moment and looked on in disbelief.
“Is…Is this what you came here to do? Apologize for the worlds destruction and thank me for knocking off a few of your creations?” I asked with suspicion held tight in my voice. She stood and nodded solemnly. “Then why?…Why my understudy?”
“It was necessary…“ I couldn’t help but feel insane once again.
“I want to offer a deal. I can change everything. Everything back to the point where I made the mistake of creating these ones. I’ve learned my lesson. If you accept this deal, you will have to pay with your life though. I knew this would happen and I wanted to spare your partner her life. One life was enough to take, so why take away two lives when I could just take the one?” I stared hard. My eyes felt like they were burning and I finally tore my orbs away.
“So, you’re saying that you can bring everyone back to life by sacrificing me? You killed her so she could have the second chance?” My mumbles sounded so absurd out loud and I chuckled at myself. “If you take my life…and everyone is brought back to life…will it be like I never existed?” The silver haired girl shook her head.
“No, you will live just as you would without the evasion of my species up until the point, if you decide, I sacrifice your soul and being.” The creature stared at me blankly. Biting my bottom lip, I thought of everything I had gone through. If I didn’t accept this deal, I would die a lone death. The worst imaginable. Then again, if she was telling the truth, I would die but time would be reversed and I still would be able to live a happy life, even if only for a short while. I made my decision.
“I’ll accept.” my tone was strong and confident. This was worth the risk. The girl walked toward me, approaching my figure closely.
“You trust me?” asked the creature slowly. My eyes darted away.
“No. But either way. I’m going to die. You get sick of fighting for your own life after a while.”
The child took her hand and placed it on my forehead. As I let my eyes close shut.
“This will hurt…”
I never thought my nightmare would end. I guess I was wrong. Not everything is meant to happen but I never thought such a tragedy could be reversible.
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