Diary in The Apokalypse Chapter 2 – Damned in the Ruined World

Kapitel 2

Chapter 2
Damned in the Destroyed World
(Warning: This story contains sensitive topics — violence, sexual abuse, suicide. If you are sensitive to such themes, do not read. If you feel lonely, you are not alone — call 0800 40 40 020)

Dante, Zoe, Mia, and Kenn had just finished off the mutating deer.

Zoe: “Hahh… that’s probably it…”
Dante: “You okay?”
Zoe: “I’m fine.”
Dante: “I was asking Liza.”
Zoe: “Oh, sorry.”
Liza: “Yeah… I’m… fine…”
Mia: “That was a hell of a lot of them.”
Kenn: “It’s only getting worse…”
Dante: “I think we should head back, get in the car.”

They got into the car. Mia sat next to Dante, who was driving, while Zoe and Kenn sat beside Liza, who was in the middle.

Zoe: “…So… how old are you?”

She asked as the car started moving.

Liza: “Eighteen.”
Zoe: “Sh… it… you’re still almost a kid.”
Kenn: “…No wonder you’re overwhelmed…”
Mia: “Must be awful…”
Liza: “…Uh… well… as long as… Dad… isn’t here… I’m… not scared… not like before.”
Zoe: “…Ugh… yeah… right…”
Mia: “…Ugh… For you… maybe this world’s even better than the old one…”

Suddenly, Zoe put her hand on Liza’s forehead.

Zoe: “Hmm… damn, I knew it…”
Dante: “What?”
Zoe: “Dante… she’s got a fever… that explains why she’s sweating so much. What do we do now?”
Dante: “…We don’t have any medicine…”
Mia: “…We can’t just leave her like this.”
Liza: “I’m fine… I just haven’t slept in a week…”
Zoe: “…Hahh… once we get there… you’re sleeping in my bed, got it? I’ll keep watch over you, so don’t worry.”
Dante: “What’s with the sudden change of heart?”
Zoe: “…I didn’t know she was that young… I’m not completely heartless. I had a sister about her age… so I know how to take care of younger ones.”
Dante: “Mhm.”
Zoe: “Hahh… we’re almost at the city.”

They left the forest… and saw the world… now lying in chaos. Destroyed buildings, empty streets, wrecked cars everywhere… nothing left of civilization.

Zoe: “This is the world… really shitty, huh? Hah… wait, yours was probably even shittier… you didn’t even know the old one.”

(A few minutes later)

They arrived.

Zoe: “Alright… we’re here. There’s my tent… lie down.”
Liza: “…But…”
Zoe: “Lie the hell down and be quiet.”
Liza: “What about… you…”
Zoe: “…Doesn’t matter, just lie down… rest… yeah…”
Liza: “Okay…”

She lay down on the bed.

Zoe: “Finally… my god… screw this situation…”
Dante: “Language…”
Zoe: “Shut up, Dante.”
Mia: “Why are you so angry?”
Kenn: “Let me guess… you’re mad because you treated the girl badly?”
Zoe: “Not true, I still don’t like her… but she’s here… so she’s here, and I have to accept that.”

(One hour later)

Zoe: “Hahh…”

Zoe was keeping watch… when she suddenly heard something.

Zoe: “Huh?…”

It was Liza… while sleeping, she was making noises like she was scared.

Liza: “Ghh… ghh…”
Zoe: “…Hahhh…”
Liza: “Ugh.”

She woke up in shock.

Liza: “Hahh… hhahhh… gahhh…”
Zoe: “Here…”

It was a bottle of water.

Zoe: “Good for calming you down after a scare.”

She took it and drank.

Liza: “Hahh… thanks.”
Zoe: “Anytime…”

Liza: “Oh… sorry, I drank from the mouth of the bottle.”
Zoe: “Doesn’t matter, water’s water… better than spilling it… your hands are shaking.”
Liza: “…Hahh…”
Zoe: “…So, what do you think of this new, messed-up world?”
Liza: “Sorry… I really don’t… know… what it’s like…”
Zoe: “Yeah, yeah… at least mutants can’t abuse their own daughters…”

Zoe suddenly took a wine bottle and drank from it. Liza flinched.

Liza: “Ghhh…”
Zoe: “What?… Huh?”

Zoe realized it had something to do with the alcohol bottle.

Zoe: “Ahh… I see… your father was an alcoholic… and you’re traumatized… hmm…”

She drank anyway, taking another swig.

Zoe: “Don’t worry, I’m a woman… so I don’t have a dick… penis… call it what you want…”
Liza: “…Uh…”
Zoe: “Hahhh…”

Her stomach growled.

Liza: “Ugh… (blushing)…”
Zoe: “…Hahh… here, take this.”

It was a cookie.

Zoe: “Of course you’re hungry in this world… probably haven’t had anything sweet in a long time, huh?”
Liza: “Mhm.”

She ate it quickly.

Zoe: “…Hehe…”

Zoe tossed her another cookie.

Liza: “Uh…”

She ate that one quickly too.

Zoe: “My god, is it really so unusual for you to eat sweets?”
Liza: “Mmm.”
Zoe: “I have to say, you’re cute when you eat like that… crouched… small… eating like a kid… even have a childish face…”
Liza: “…Uh…”
Zoe: “It’s a compliment.”
Liza: “Thanks…”
Zoe: “Alright… now lie down. Tomorrow we have to keep moving.”

Liza: “Where to?”
Zoe: “To Georgia… it’s not far… maybe we’ll find a town… that’s still safe… so rest.”

She lay down again.

(Next morning)

Roaaaaaaaaaaarrr!

(Bam… Bam!)

Zoe: “Ghhh…”
Dante: “…Hahhh… not again…”
Zoe: “These mutants keep getting worse in this forest… it’s really not safe anymore.”

They drove on.

Dante: “Hmm…”
Zoe: “Hey… Dante, look.”

She gave Liza something sweet. She quickly grabbed it and began eating like before.

Liza: “Mmmm.”
Zoe: “Hehehe… isn’t that cute… like a kid.”
Dante: “Not funny, Zoe… for her, this is something new.”
Zoe: “Oh… sorry… you’re right…”
Dante: “Hahh…”
Mia: “…Look over there…”
Dante: “Ugh…”
Zoe: “Ugh… stop the car, Dante!”

They stopped.

In front of them… a horde of human-like mutants.

Dante: “…Where did so many come from?”
Zoe: “Doesn’t matter… we need to get out of here fast.”

They attacked.

Zoe: “What are you waiting for?…”
Dante: “I’m trying, damn it!”
Zoe: “Gghh.”

She grabbed her weapon, Kenn did too, and they started shooting.

Zoe: “Come here, you bastards!”
Kenn: “Ghh.”

(Bang!) (Bang!)

Zoe: “Huh?”
Kenn: “What…”

They looked ahead… and saw it — a mutant… wearing armor… and carrying a weapon.

Zoe: “You’ve gotta be kidding me!”
Kenn: “Back inside, quick.”

They got back in.

Dante: “Ghh… I’ve got an idea, hold on.”
Zoe: “Ugh…”

Zoe pulled Liza close, holding her tight. The car sped forward, running over the mutants.

Dante: “…Eat that, you son of a bitch!”

(Splat!)

The car jolted from the impact but kept going.

Dante: “Wooooo!”
Zoe: “Hoho… you crazy bastard.”
Dante: “We made it.”
Mia: “Hahhh…”
Kenn: “Oh man…”

They kept driving.

Zoe: “You okay?”
Liza: “Yeah…”
Zoe: “Good…”
Kenn: “Oh… wait, you’ve got a cut on your cheek.”
Liza: “Must’ve been from the glass earlier.”
Zoe: “Oh… jeez… that looks bad… why didn’t you say anything?”
Liza: “It doesn’t hurt… not really.”
Kenn: “Your forehead’s split too… that must hurt.”
Zoe: “As soon as we find somewhere safe… we’ll have to stitch it.”
Mia: “I can do it… I used to be… uh… a pediatrician… I know you’re not a kid… but kids get these wounds too.”
Dante: “Ugh… hey, guys, look…”

There it was… Georgia… but… not as they’d hoped…

Dante: “…Damn… this is… even worse than Miami…”
Zoe: “…Ugh…”
Liza: “…Huh.”
Kenn: “This… can’t be real.”
Mia: “…Oh no…”

Everything was destroyed… highways, buildings… corpses and skeletons everywhere.

Zoe: “…Hahh…”
Dante: “…Huh.”

Suddenly something slammed into the window.

Zoe: “Huh!”

A mutant.

Dante: “Just one.”
Zoe: “I’ll take care of him…”
Kenn: “No, wait… guys… look… there’s more…”

More of them were coming.

Dante: “Can’t a guy rest his ass for five minutes?!”
Zoe: “Drive, we can rest our asses later!”

He tried to keep going… but…

Dante: “What the…”
Zoe: “What?!”
Dante: “It’s… it’s broken…”
Zoe: “What?!”

As the mutants closed in, they readied their weapons… but suddenly, someone shot at the creatures… and a large vehicle pulled up.

(Bang) (Bang!)

Dante: “Ugh…”
Liza: “Huh?”
Zoe: “…Ugh…”

(Splat… Splat!)
(Aaaaaargh!)

Voices from the vehicle: “You all okay? Get in, quick!”

They got out of their car and into the other one.

“Marlon’s my name.”
“Henry…”
Dante: “Thanks… for the help.”
Marlon: “No problem… come with us… we’ve got a camp… with other people…”
Zoe: “Other people? How many?”
Marlon: “About twelve… you’re not alone anymore.”