Chapter 19 …a simple life?

Chapter 19
…simple life?

Liza’s diary: “In the world, everything broke. The chaos in which the government and police and all civilian life disappeared forever… Because I always lived in a basement, I knew nothing of the outside… What I know now is… this catastrophe didn’t start in 1995… but much earlier, not exactly sure, but it is said it started in 1947… at a time when the Second World War wasn’t that long ago… speculation… the Black Eyes caused it, but this was never proven. Some say aliens… and the reality is simply… a virus spread.”

Liza: “…Hahh”
Sophie: “…(silent)”
Liza: “Sophie… what’s going on with you lately?”
Sophie: “…hmm?”
Liza: “You look exhausted… tired… you hardly speak… no jokes… even your smile and energy are gone… what’s wrong…”
Sophie: “…I don’t know…”
Liza: “Is it because you still feel guilty?”
Sophie: “…(silent)”
Liza: “I can understand… especially now that we found out someone apparently has something to do with Ashley… but it wasn’t you, Sophie, it was Heinrich…”
Sophie: “Still…”
Liza: “You don’t need to feel guilty… think about the people you wanted to talk to… you played the role of the Black Eyes to reduce the damage…”
Sophie: “…(silent)”

Sophie walked away for a moment. They were cleaning clothes; everyone on the farm had to work.

Sophie: “hmmm.”
Liza: “…don’t beat yourself up…”
Sophie: “But…”
Liza: “…go rest, I’ll finish the rest.”
Sophie: “…but…”
Liza: “It’s ok…”

She put her hand on her cheek.

Liza: “Rest… you look exhausted… it’s ok… Sophie…”
Sophie: “…hmmm… ok…”

She let the clothes drop quietly and walked on.
Sophie: “hmmm.”
Kenn: “hmm?”

Kenn noticed Sophie and wanted to follow, but Liza stopped him.
Kenn: “hmm?”
Liza: “…She needs time…”
Kenn: “hmmm.”

Patch

Dante: “…What’s wrong… isn’t Sophie feeling well?”
Liza: “No… apparently not.”
Kenn: “She’s acting strange…”
Dante: “Understandable… that means she feels guilty… Normally people forget quickly when it comes to guilt.”
Kenn: “But not her… she looks exhausted, can’t sleep.”
Dante: “…Kenn… I understand… but you have to understand Sophie… when a person makes mistakes it’s normal… some forget quickly, some need time… above all… it’s good that Sophie feels guilty… it means she knows it wasn’t right… it’s ok for people to make mistakes… and want to improve… but many lose their guilt quickly with the excuse that they’ve become better… Sophie knows it’s not enough… to become a better person… but that now you must live with the guilt.”
Kenn: “hmmm.”
Liza: “…hahhh…”

A few hours later

Jessica: “…and… we have a request for you… Dante yes.”
Dante: “What would that be?”
Jason: “Can you come with me… we’ll hunt animals and also get supplies… we’re running out of food… the cows and sheep… we need them mostly for milk and the sheep for fur… winter is coming…”
Dante: “Fair point.”
Sophie: “I’m coming.”
Dante: “hmm?”
Liza: “Sophie…”
Sophie: “…may I?”
Jason: “For such a beauty… why would I say no… hehe… of course you can come…”
Sophie: “Thanks.”
Kenn: “Wait… I’m coming too!”
Jason: “Oh… woohoo… the more the better… what about you Dante… you coming?”
Dante: “Sure.”
Liza: “I want to come too.”
Dante: “…hmmm.”
Jason: “…hey… don’t be a spoilsport… more people, more prey…”
Dante: “ok…”

They left the farm.

Dante: “hmmm.”
Jason: “Don’t leave the walls… right…”
Dante: “How long have they existed?”
Jason: “hmm… good question… I think since years… when the apocalypse started…”
Dante: “So… more than 40 years.”
Jason: “Yep… Mother Patrica says… they started when she was young… she’s now 80…”
Dante: “Doesn’t look like it.”
Sophie: “hmmm.”
Kenn: “So you’ve lived here that long?”
Jason: “Yep… oh by the way Dante… Jessica apparently likes you… she talked about you all night.”
Dante: “Please?”
Liza: “hmm?”
Sophie: “…(silent!)”
Jason: “hehe… she said… he’s really funny and cool… could carry me with just one arm…”
Dante: “She wants…?”
Jason: “Watch out… my sister looks nice… but she’s very perverse…”
Dante: “uh?”
Jason: “Hey… she’s a virgin and 25… so she’s slowly fed up… plus no toys… well… you know.”
Dante: “oh… yeah.”
Sophie: “oh je.”
Liza: “what… what does he mean…”
Sophie: “Better not know.”
Kenn: “Yep… not worth it… unless you want to be traumatized.”
Liza: “oh ok…”

They kept walking. Suddenly Jason made a signal.

Jason: “Wait… look… over there…”

He pointed at a deer.
Jason: “…perfect… wow… haven’t seen such a big deer in a while.”
Dante: “mhm.”
Sophie: “…hmm.”
Kenn: “…good… who kills it?”
Jason: “…here… take the gun.”

He aimed with the gun Dante had.
Jason: “uh… damn… it’s… too tight… a tree’s in the way.”
Sophie: “I’ll do it… give it to me.”
Jason: “hmm?”

Sophie took the gun, aimed, and shot it in the head.
(Splach!)
Sophie: “hahh…”
Jason: “…wow… damn… you’re really cool!”
Kenn: “…wow…”
Liza: “Cool…”

They stood up and took the prey.

Jason: “Wow… Sophie… you’re amazing.”
Sophie: “…(silent!)… hmm.”

She said nothing… just walked on.

Jason: “What’s wrong with her?”

Sophie, as always, cold when it comes to feelings.

Dante: “…well… not a good time for her.”
Jason: “oh… mhm…”
Dante: “She’s actually a funny girl.”
Jason: “…hmm… as long as she feeds us… then hey…”

He walked on.
Jason: “…oh… I feel like ice cream… it’s been so long since we had ice cream… I think… 25 years.”
Kenn: “huh?… you’re not even 30.”
Jason: “oh… hehe… just a joke… it was 10 years ago… when we last ate it… we found an old ice cream cart… so the cooler still worked… we ate it… buhh… Jessica got a headache after about 10 scoops… we were still so young… damn… anyone here miss ice cream?”
Liza: “uh… I’ve never eaten it…”

(Seriously) Jason thought.
Jason: “Really?… where did you live then?”
Liza: “…(smiles)… in a basement… with a violent stepfather and a violent stepbrother… they… did whatever they wanted with me depending on their mood… thanks for asking.”
Sophie: “hmm.”

She looked at Jason angrily.
Jason: “hmmm… oops… I may have poked a hornet’s nest there… sorry… really.”
Sophie: “…hmm.”
Kenn: “Calm down… ok…”

He whispered to Sophie.
Sophie: “I don’t like him…”
Kenn: “I know… but he saved our asses…”
Liza: “It’s fine… Sophie…”
Sophie: “If you say so.”

They walked further… then they found something…

Liza: “huh?”

Liza was the first to see it.
Liza: “hmm.”
Dante: “ugh..”
Jason: “ghhh…”

It was a mysterious corpse… of an animal.
Jason: “Must be a bear.”
Sophie: “A bear?… forget it… a bear doesn’t do this… it’s a bloodthirsty creature…”
Jason: “It’s almost winter… they’re aggressive then…”
Sophie: “hmm.”
Kenn: “hmm… there’s something…”

They kept walking.

Jason: “…hmmm…”
Kenn: “Hey, how’s Marlon?”
Sophie: “hmm…”
Jason: “As I said, we had to amputate his foot… he’s unconscious, resting.”
Liza: “Is he okay?”
Jason: “Sure… for now… he’ll be shocked when he sees it.”
Liza: “hmm.”
Sophie: “…was his wound that bad?”

She whispered to Dante.
Dante: “…actually… no…”
Sophie: “hmm.”

Sophie looked at Jason seriously.
Sophie (thinking): “…he’s hiding something… something’s wrong with them… not just him… but the whole village… if they think of hurting Kenn or Liza… or anyone in the group… I’ll kill them.”

Jason: “That guy with the mask… what was his name?”
Sophie: “The Poison…”
Jason: “Yeah… he just disappeared…”
Sophie: “He’ll come back soon…”
Jason: “How do you know that?”
Sophie: “I think so…”
Jason: “Oh…”

A few hours earlier

The Poison: “Hey… Sophie…”
Sophie: “hmmm?”
The Poison: “Something’s wrong with this village.”
Sophie: “No shit Sherlock? I noticed that too.”
The Poison: “But we must be careful…”
Sophie: “We have no proof… that anything’s wrong… I think we should stay calm…”
The Poison: “Hmm…”
Sophie: “Not entirely… at least… you could look for evidence… something to show it’s wrong…”

He smiled lightly.

The Poison: “…hmmm… what about the others?”
Sophie: “The others are resting… no need to worry them… especially without proof…”
The Poison: “Mhm… you’re right.”
Sophie: “Take care… okay?”
The Poison: “I will…”
Sophie: “…good… see you later… Poison…”

He walked on and looked at her.
The Poison: “…Michael… call me Michael…”
Sophie: “…huh?… Michael… please don’t tell me your last name is Jackson…”
The Poison: “No… Martin.”
Sophie: “Good… no creepy noises at night then…”
The Poison: “Hehe… don’t you like Michael Jackson?”
Sophie: “Yes… but not during the apocalypse…”
The Poison: “Ok… anyway… I’m leaving now… see you, Sophie…”
Sophie: “mhm…”

Sophie kept walking… The Poison kept watching her.
The Poison: “hmmm…”

Sophie still doesn’t know that The Poison, Sir Eisenberg, betrayed her… because she reminds him of the calm times with her humor and jokes.

The Poison: “hahh… anyway…”

He walked on…

Back to the present

Kenn: “hmm.”
Sophie: “puhh…”
Kenn: “You okay?”
Sophie: “…yes… just need rest…”
Jason: “Not a bad idea… let’s rest a bit…”
Dante: “mhm.”
Liza: “hmm.”

They sat down.
Sophie: “hhh…”
Jason: “Here… take this.”

He threw a snack to everyone.
Dante: “Hmm?”
Sophie: “Meat sausage?”
Jason: “hmmm.”
Sophie: “…you really like meat… no wonder you hunt so often…”
Jason: “Hehe… village people, huh.”
Sophie: “hmmm.”
Liza: “What animal is it from?”
Jason: “Hmm… the meat is from a… chicken.”
Sophie: “(Why did he hesitate…?)”

Everyone started eating. Except Sophie, she whispered to Kenn.
Sophie: “Don’t eat it.”
Kenn: “Why?”
Sophie: “I don’t know… something’s off…”
Kenn: “hmm?”
Sophie: “…ah… just forget it…”
Kenn: “…ok…”

They started eating.
Jason: “Boom… that thing only goes wuhu…”
Dante: “…sweat…”
Sophie: “…ugh… his jokes are worse than mine…”
Kenn: “Yours are at least funny…”
Liza: “mhm…”
Sophie: “oh… ok…”

They kept walking.

Jason: “Wait… I forgot something over there.”

He walked off.
Sophie: “…huh?”
Kenn: “uhm…”

He returned to the spot.
Jason: “…hey…”

Grrrr

Suddenly a figure came from the forest.

Jason: “What the hell… what are you doing here… you… were supposed… behind the other side… the forest side…”
Creature: “Hunger!”
Jason: “I know… it… I know… but I can only give you one… I have… the dark-skinned one… what more do you want?”
Creature: “…meat…”
Jason: “Give me time… please… ok… Mother Patrica and I… we’ll handle it… we also need meat… ok… we have to show them we have enough… otherwise it’ll get weird… that’s why we hunt… they don’t know what’s going on…”
Creature: “hhrrrr..”

He went back.

Jason: “Hah.”

He returned to them.
Jason: “…uh… didn’t forget anything after all… hehe… it’s embarrassing… it was in my other pocket.”
Sophie: “…(silent!)”
Kenn: “…hmm.”

They kept walking.

Meanwhile

(Splop… Splop!)

Marlon: “hahhh… Dante!… …Dantee!… …Zoe!… Sophie…! Kenn!… Liza…someone!”

Door opened

Jessica: “oh je…oh je… what happened… 2”
Marlon: “ahh… please… please…”
Jessica: “…hungry?”
Marlon: “ughaaaaaarghhh!”

Both his legs… were gone!
Jessica: “oh… you could have some if you want… your flesh… hey… your friends already enjoyed it…”
Marlon: “…what… you gave them my flesh… you… sick bastards!”
Jessica: “…hey… they didn’t know… soon… very soon… we’ll try them too…”
Marlon: “oh… please… stop…”
Jessica: “Ah… it won’t take long…”

She went to the chainsaw…

(Bzzzzz)
Jessica: “…let’s see… how your muscles taste… Jeffrey Dahmer said they’re hard to cook… let’s see if that’s true!”

Meanwhile

Back to Liza, Sophie, Kenn, and Dante. Jason said he knew a place… with lots of medicine.

Jason: “There… see… let’s go there… we’ll find a pharmacy… with… well… a lot of medicine… we have many sick people sometimes…”
Dante: “ok…”
Jason: “Winter is coming… flu and stuff could happen often… you know…”

They walked on… then they saw it… a lot of Sirus…

(grrrr)
(hrrrrr)

Jason: “damn… since when are there so many…”
Dante: “hmmm:”
Sophie: “oh je…”
Liza: “We can defeat them…”
Sophie: “hmm… with our powers… already.”
Jason: “What?.. what do you mean…”
Liza: “hmm.”
Sophie: “Let’s show it…”

They transformed. Sophie’s skin turned gray like stone, her eyes yellow, roots everywhere.

Jason: “ugh… damn it!”

Liza transformed too… a large flower appeared on her back… roots and plants everywhere.

Liza: “Alright…”

Liza’s roots attacked the creatures… destroying and consuming them. Sophie’s ability cut through them.

(Splach)…(Splach!)

Sophie: “…come on… keep going.”
Jason: “What…”
Dante: “We’ll explain later… let’s go!”

They continued.
Liza: “Ready?”
Sophie: “You bet, Liza…”

Meanwhile
Jason: “Can you explain what… damn just happened.”
Dante: “Well… they have powers from… Sirus…”
Jason: “What?… How?”
Dante: “Blood from Human Sirus got into them and developed… that’s how it is… sounds crazy… but it’s true.”
Jason: “…uh.”
Kenn: “…Hmm.”
Dante: “We don’t have time, hold them briefly, take what we need and go… fast.”

They took the necessary items: medicine, drinks, bandages, and so on.

Kenn: “Convenient that they also sell normal drinks…”
Dante: “Yes… also take the sweet snacks… Liza and Sophie like them…”

They took the sweet snacks too and ran.

Dante: “Hey… Sophie… and Liza!”
Liza: “Hmm.”
Sophie: “Apparently it’s time… hurry!”

They ran toward them.
Jason: “Wuhu… you’re… cool!”
Sophie: “…hmm.”
Liza: “Thanks… hehe…”

They ran further and further, but the creatures were still behind them…
Jason: “…uh… they’re still following us…”
Liza: “I have an idea…”

Liza turned around, stretched her arms forward, and large roots appeared, blocking the way.

(Roarrrr)
(Grrrrrrr)

Liza: “We can go.”
Sophie: “…wait…!”

She struck the ground with her hand, forming several stones in the path.
Sophie: “…stones are my thing.”

They ran further.

Jason: “I don’t know what the hell is happening… but hey… keep going… especially now that I see how cool it looks!”
Sophie: “…how old are you… 12?”
Jason: “I’m 25… but if you think it’s childish… hey… I’ll gladly be!”

They said while running.

Jason: “There’s the farm!”
Dante: “Finally.”
Kenn: “Hahh…”
Sophie: “…let’s go faster…”

(Pump!..pumpt!)
Liza: “huh.”
Sophie: “urk!”

Sophie fell to the ground.
Kenn: “Sophie!”
Liza: “ghhh!”

She held her head.

Liza: “ghhhh…”
Jason: “Huh?”
Kenn: “Ugh.”

They noticed loud chainsaw noises.
Kenn: “The noise… it’s their fault…”

Kenn ran to Sophie and carried her. Dante went to Liza to help her stand.

Kenn: “Come on.”
Jason: “Open the door… come on…”

No answer.

Jason: “Hey… are you stupid!?”
Kenn: “Out of the way!”

He kicked the door several times.
Dante: “Ok!”

He did the same.
Jason: “I’ll help!”

They kicked the door until someone actually noticed and opened it.

Jason: “About time!”

It was Mother Patrica. They quickly went inside and closed the door.

Jason: “Mother Patrica… what was that… where is James… he should be on duty.”
Mother Patrica: “No idea…”
Jason: “I’ll kill him…”
Kenn: “Hah… hey… Sophie.”
Jason: “Mother Patrica… quickly… the loud noises hurt… stop it… please stop the loud noises.”
Mother Patrica: “Ok… ok.”

She ran to the others, and it stopped.

Jason: “hmm.”
Sophie: “ghh…”

Sophie opened her eyes and looked at Kenn.
Sophie: “ghhhh… damn…”
Kenn: “Are you okay?”
Dante: “Hey Liza…”
Liza: “I’m fine…”
Dante: “…Liza… your… eyes.”
Liza: “What?”

She touched her own eyes… looked at her hand… it was blood.

Liza: “…why are my eyes bleeding?”
Kenn: “Sophie… yours too.”
Sophie: “…ghhh… it’s normal…”
Kenn: “What are you talking about?”
Sophie: “hahh… if you use the Human Sirus ability too long… the body gets overwhelmed…”
Kenn: “…Hmm.”
Sophie: “hahhh… can you put me down?”
Kenn: “Forget it… otherwise you’ll fall again…”
Sophie: “…hahh…”

He carried her to a bench and laid her down.
Sophie: “ghh… I’m… unbelievably thirsty…”
Jason: “I’ll… uh… get water quickly.”

He ran, got water from the well, and gave it to Sophie.
Sophie: “Thanks.”
Jason: “You’re welcome…”

She drank quickly.
Jason: “hmmm… seems not so… cool to get Sirus powers.”
Sophie: “It isn’t.”
Jason: “hmmm.”

They looked at the animals they had hunted.
Jason: “Hey… we have a deer and a lot of medicine and drinks… uuunnd!”

He took something out… it was ice cream.
Jason: “Here… for you Liza.”

He threw it to her; she caught it.

Liza: “…for… me?”
Jason: “mhm…”
Liza: “mmm.”
Jason: “You’ve never eaten ice cream… right… that’s hard… lucky there was some… though it’s slightly melted… eat quickly.”

She opened it and started trying it.

Liza: “oh… wow… here, Sophie, try it.”
Sophie: “It’s fine… keep it for yourself… mm!”

She put the lollipop in Sophie’s mouth.
Sophie: “mmm… yes… it’s delicious…”
Liza: “hehe…”
Sophie: “hehe…”

When Liza smiles, Sophie smiles too. When Liza is happy, Sophie is happy… Sophie is truly a good friend to Liza…
Kenn: “hmm.”

And for Kenn, when both smile… he’s happy… a really good buddy, a good friend for Sophie and Liza.

Sophie: “hey… hey don’t shove it in my mouth… I can use the lollipop without your help… hehe.”
Jason: “hmmm.”
Kenn: “Thanks.”
Jason: “hmm?”
Kenn: “They haven’t smiled much lately… so thanks…”
Jason: “…hmmm… they’re 18 and 19 years old, Liza 18 and Sophie 19… but they have a childish behavior due to their pasts, so I wanted them to try something every human wants… I think ice cream makes everyone happy… right?”
Kenn: “mhm.”

A few hours later

Jessica: “hahhhh… finally over…”

(Splop!)…(Splop!)

Jessica: “Finally… now we can continue feeding them… they want the brain… and the liver and stomach… hahhh… we have no organs left for ourselves… that’s unfair… but well… better something than nothing…”

Marlon is dead, his corpse open, organs removed.

Jessica: “(licks)… mmm… your eye is delicious… though nothing will taste as good as your friends… especially Liza… I think she’ll taste very good.”

(Door opens)

Jessica: “oh… you’re back…”

(No answer)

Jessica: “I’m done… Do you really think… they will eat him?… I mean… his flesh isn’t particularly tasty… I don’t know if they’ll like it… what do you think… Jason?”
Jason: “…hmmmmm… I’d say… hurry up… they’re losing patience… got it?”
Jessica: “hahhh.”

She took the bucket with organs inside.
Jessica: “Here… got it…”
Jason: “hmmm… his organs… don’t look that good.”
Jessica: “He apparently drinks a lot… so his kidneys aren’t good… also smokes… lungs… well… not fresh…”
Jason: “Damn… that would only feed them for a few days… what about the other visitors… when did they come…?”
Jessica: “…we still have 3 more that would fit… Melinda’s people… there are many… when should we eliminate Melinda’s and Dante’s group?”
Jason: “…you eliminate them eventually… just… hands off… the blonde… and the white-haired girl.”
Jessica: “With blonde you mean Liza and with white-haired Sophie, right?”
Jason: “mhm.”
Jessica: “Why… did you fall for them?”
Jason: “Don’t be ridiculous… I want to kill them… I… will kill them… not feed them to those monsters… they belong to me… I’ll kill them.”
Jessica: “You’re a necrophilist…”
Jason: “Corpses… make no unnecessary noise… and the inner part of a female human… stays in contact for a long time…”

(Bam!)

Jessica: “What was that?”
Jason: “Check immediately!”

They hurried… there was nobody… just a bucket.

Jason: “hmm.”
Jessica: “Just a bucket…”
Jason: “hmmm.”

They went back…
(But what they didn’t know, someone was watching them)

(Hahh!)… hahh!)
Jill: “…hahhh… hahhh… hahhh… hahhh… that was close!”