Disclaimer: I only own a few characters, not all.
Author's Note: This is the sequel to the highly acclaimed story Cry Witch. Now, there will be some questions as to which of Cry Witch's five endings were canonical. The answer to that question is simple, but complex at the same time. The answer is... all five of them. Allow me to explain. What we do not see in Cry Witch, is Micheal's last spell, shortly after the Pulse is triggered. He creates a rift in time and space, forcing multiple worlds to collide into one, essentially seeing that multiple outcomes happen from the same event. The events of the ending will be shown in detail here. They will contain certain elements from each of the 5 possible endings to Cry Witch. This is an event referred to as "Micheal Ross' Time Paradox", an event which will be described in detail in this edition. Okay, enough out of me. On with the story!
Cry Witch II: Revenant Wars
Prologue: "End Game"
It all happened so fast, and by the time I realized how dumb answering his question was, I was already covered head-to-toe in Boomer vomit, the thick, viscous liquid covering every part of my body, even some places I didn't know existed. Shaking my arms, I scowled.
"Gaaaauuuuuggghh! What is this?" I grumbled, words obscured by the goo.
"Your end." Jake responds in this overly dramatic tone. From some distance away, I heard the tell-tale howl of the Infected thrown into a frenzy. God damn him. "The end justifies the means, Micheal!" He held himself like he won. He was far from winning. "Death for the sake of perfection was your means, and the perfect death will be your end!" He cracked a sick, twisted smile. "So beautiful! So poetic!" The Infected began to surround and attack me, hitting and slashing like mad animals. Even past the mass of Infected, I watched Jake and his friends flee for the cover of their APC, their retreat covered by the small Hunter Revenant doing a Rambo impression. Growling and snarling, I tried to shake the Geists off me. I shouted, I commanded the creatures to stop, but nothing I did worked. The APC door slammed shut, and the vehicle drove away. Building up a charge of energy, I released it in all directions, the powerful shock wave sending the Infected off of me, the vomit finally falling from my body.
"You single minded, half-wit FOOLS!" I growled to the Infected, despite knowing they couldn't hear me. "You think you've won, Ballenfield!? DO YOU! MARK MY WORDS! YOU HAVEN'T! I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS INSOLENCE! DO YOU HEAR ME! I WILL KILL YOU!" I shouted at the capacity my lungs could muster. Facing the power station, I pulled my arm before me, palm to the station. At that second, the station belched a electro magnetic shock wave, which caused me to stagger back, while the other Common Infected to drop dead.
Extending an index finger, I drew an arcane rune in the air before me, writing some smaller runes inside. As I continued to draw and chant, the rune glowed an ice blue, a dull hum arising from within, the arcane energy resonating in the magic of the rune.
"You think you've won, Ballenfield? Hardly." I finished. Placing my finger on the northern most extremity of the larger run, I span it like a rota-dial phone. Spinning in mid air, the rune continued to glow, then shattered. All at once, my vision was fogged by images... thousands if not millions of them, then a feeling of self-awareness. I staggered back some, and collapsed as the images stopped. What did I do? I managed to stand back up and regain footing, looking myself over.
I was bleeding. Badly. Raising my hand after the pulse, I felt a calming wave of positive energy wash over me, sealing cuts and mending broken bones. Rolling my neck a few times, I popped my spine, making sure all the wounds were healed. The spell worked, but it wouldn't be enough for me to continue to pursue Ballenfield. I'd have to retreat for proper medical attention. Raising another hand, I drew another rune in the air, and touched the center. Feeling my self pull away from my physical form, I reappeared a few seconds later within a laboratory in California.
"How'd it go, Micheal?" A young woman asked, not in the least bit surprised at my instant appearance.
"About as well as a Sci-Fi Channel movie..." I groaned, limping to, and sitting in a chair. She stood up and stared at me. "Take a picture, it'll last longer." The woman smiled to me and chuckled.
"Here... lemme get some bandages for you." Walking just out of the door, she took a red emergency first aid box from a larger box on the wall. Unclasping the two clips which held it shut, she knelt beside me. "Come on, take it off." I struggled to take the bloodied shirt from my back, the arcane runes covering my body glowing a harsh black. "Wow, they did you in, didn't they?"
"Just... patch me up." I groaned, far too tired for a snarky response. Smirking, she did as I asked, proceeding to clean and dress the wounds.
-APC Crash-
I woke with a throbbing headache, five broken ribs, a cracked skull, a fractured leg or two, a sprained wrist, and a busted shoulder. So, on the whole, I was okay. Pushing myself up with my one good hand, I shook the pain away. But the shaking only succeeded in making the throbbing worse. Much, much, much worse. Grasping my throbbing skull with a hand, I looked around. The APC was trashed, literally trashed, whole sides had been ripped out, judging by the clean breaks, it was probably a result of the crash. My vision swam, making focusing on any one object damn near impossible.
"Emma!" I called out, trying to find anyone. "Bill! Ellis! Anyone!? Mica!"
"Augh... Jake? Is that you?" A younger male voice called. Christian.
"Christian! Are you alright?" I shouted back, making my way over the rubble and rocks to the sound of his voice.
"No... I... I can't see... I think I might be blind..."
"Hang on. Keep talkin', I'll find you." His voice was close. Just a bit farther. Climbing over a rock, I found him. He was sitting against a large boulder, holding his right eye. Dropping to my knees, I looked him over.
"Your left eye's fine. It's just swollen shut. You'll get sight back in that eye in a few days. Now... as for your right..." I stared at the metal shard jutting from his eye socket.
"How bad is it?"
"You want soft or blunt?"
"Hell, Jake... don't beat around the bush, how bad is it?"
"You're going to loose that eye." I told him. "There's a piece of shrapnel in your eye."
"Sssssshit... can you get it out?"
"It's gonna hurt like a bitch, but yea." He took a deep breath in.
"Alright... do it when ready." I looked about, looking for some cloth. I finally found a large scrap of clothing stained in blood. Balling it up, I faced him again, and placed the cloth in one of his hands.
"When that metal thing comes out, that goes right on your eye, got it? Don't want you bleeding out."
"Right."
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever-" I cut him off by yanking the piece out. "JESUS!" He shouted, putting the cloth over his eye. "God, don't give me any warning, why don't you?" He continued to mutter swears under his breath, swears I was pretty sure were directed my way.
"Random is always better." I replied, discarding the bloodied spike. "Christian, do me a favor and sit right here, okay? I need to see if we're the only ones left."
"I heard some groaning a short time back. Sounded female. Maybe Mica, or Emma..." I nodded.
"Alright man. Keep that on your eye. I'll be back." I stood and began to walk around the wreckage looking for any signs of life. The smoke had died down. The fire was out. We must have been out for a while. "If you're alive, sound off!" I called, walking about.
"Ugh... Jake... s'at you?" A woman muttered, the sound of rocks shifting coming from around here somewhere... "Ow..." The voice continued. "Please get off my back..." it continued. Looking down, I saw the mess of white hair, and long claws jutting out of the rocks. Jumping back, I dropped to my knees again, my patellas complaining from the abuse, and started digging Emma out.
When she was free I looked her over. She was in much better shape then Christian was, her eyes all still in tact. Putting my hands under her arms, I hoisted her up, getting her back on her feet.
"Stand up. There you go..." I muttered. "Do you know who you are?"
"Emma Windsor." She responded.
"Good. Count's up to you, Christian, and myself. Christian's blind at the moment, so you and I gotta find more survivors." I surveyed the area, piece of twisted metal scattering the plain, bodies and smoke everywhere, too. We must have hit hard... how far did we fly? Emma was already searching the area.
The next body I came across was Bill. I could tell just by looking at him, he was dead. A metal support had impaled the poor guy, probably killing him instantly.
"Ahh..." I groaned, sighing. "Rest well, old man..." I muttered. Emma was off in the distance, looking on the ground. "Emma." I called, she turned her head to face me. "Found Bill. Dead."
"Yea... and I found Ellis."
"Dead?" She nodded. "Keep looking." I groaned. Three alive, two dead. Not good odds. The next body I came across was Amanda's. Her flesh was too badly burned for her to have survived, and the most acrid stench filled the air. I groaned once more.
"Sorry for dragging you into this, Amanda." I blew her a little kiss. "Three alive, three dead. I found Amanda." I told Emma.
"Same with Mica." Emma came back into my vision, holding a black, scorched box. My laptop. "Looks like she saved this for you. Message on it for you." I opened the laptop lid, notepad opened, some words hastily scrawled on there.
"Dear Jake. If you're reading this, then I'm dead. I want you to know the time I spent with you has been the happiest a girl could ask for. You're nice, funny, and caring. Oblivion called to me, first, but it calls to us all. I'll put a good word in for you, Jake. And you, too, Emma, if you're reading it. Take care in whatever your new life presents. Signed, Mica S." I muttered. I shut the lid. Dammit. This was not a good starting point to our 'new life'.
"HEY!" I heard someone shout from a nearby tree. "SOMEBODY GET ME DOWN!" It was Sarah's voice.
"Sarah! What's hangin' baby?" I smiled, looking up to see the woman hanging by a branch, hardly holding on.
"ME, YOU IDIOT! NOW GET ME DOWN!" I stood under the woman, her bright red panties above me.
"Let go!" I called up.
"ARE YOU NUTS! I'LL DIE!"
"Nah!" I held my arms out. "I'll catch you!" I could hear her swear.
"Jake Ballenfield, if you miss, I'm coming back and haunting your ass!" She called down. Rolling my head, I replied.
"Blah, blah, blah, just fall already!" She let go, tumbling fifty some feet into my arms. "And there you are." I grinned, setting her down.
"Well, stick me in a dress and call me Sally, but I think I found Jarrad." Emma spoke. She was looking under what used to be the driver's compartment of the APC. Judging by the mess of blood and pieces scattered about, I could probably guess what happened.
"Well, that solidifies it, then. Four survivors." I muttered, motioning everyone to follow me back to Christian.
"Jake, that you?"
"It's me. How's your eye?"
"Still hurts. Find anyone else?"
"Yea. Emma and Sarah."
"Just them?" I nodded. Even though he couldn't see, I felt he could sense my response. "Dammit." He sighed, trying not to think about it. "What's the plan? Where do we go from here?"
"Quarantine Zone Omicron needs to know it's safe. We need to send them an all-clear signal before we do diddly. For all they know, they're the last ones left alive. Come on." I set my computer on a rock and opened it. Typing a bit, I brought up a program and pressed send, a slight beep leaving the computer. "That's the all-clear. When QZOm gets the message, they'll open the vault back up." I paused, continuing to type. Staring at the screen, I spoke to the computer. "I don't know if anyone can hear this, and I don't know if those who can hear it, can understand it, so I'll be brief. My name is Jake Allistair Ballenfield of Quarantine Zone Omega. I, along with three of my colleagues are stranded some distance south-south west of Pierre South Dakota. Any help you can render in retrieving us and taking us back to any Quarantine Zone would be greatly appreciated. One of my friends is injured. I'm afraid he may not make it without proper medical care soon. Please, if anyone is out there, I need help. Message repeats." I pushed a button, and the message looped.
"I'm not gonna die."
"Yea, but they don't know that." I muttered with a smirk.
"So... what now?" Sarah asked. I stuck my hands in my pockets.
"Now? We wait." I muttered in response. "If we go too far, we'll not be able to be rescued... but if we stay here... who knows. So here's the plan. Christian, you're no good to me with a bupkist eye. So you're gonna keep the camp safe."
"How am I gonna do that with a bupkist eye?" He asked, putting me into a stupidly obvious logic loop.
"We'll be within earshot. Just yell." I responded, sticking my tongue out at him. "Smart ass." I recollected myself. "Emma, Sarah and I will go out looking for something to eat. Maybe some fresh water, too..." I stopped, looking around, the distinctive sound of helicopter rotors in the distance. "Hey..."
"Yea... I hear it too." Emma muttered, standing and looking about.
"That a helicopter?" Christian piqued, looking about, unable to actually see anything.
"I think so..."
"We're saved!" Sarah smiled. It was at this time, a Helicopter came over the tree line, a fresh coat of black paint on the hull, the letters 'EFH' written in white letters.
"Oh, fuck me up the ass! EFH!" I shouted, snatching up my laptop. "Emma, help Christian. Sarah, take my laptop, and run. Don't look back, just run!" She nodded, snatched the computer from my hands, and darted for the trees. I watched the helicopter slow it's movement, and begin to land, dust and debris being kicked up by it's rotors. Shielding my eyes, I waited, not wanting to jump the gun on anything. The helicopter landed smoothly and the blades slowed to a stop. I watched as the side hatch slid open, a woman in a very clean looking business suit ducking her head and walking towards us. The woman held herself high, strongly. She walked right up to me, and offered me her hand.
"Doctor Ballenfield?" She asked with a smile. Out of the corner of my eyes, I watched soldiers come out of the helicopter, bearing weapons. "Commander Saline Green of the Earth for Humans Organization." I reluctantly shook her hand, my eyes never leaving the soldiers profiles. "You and I have much to discuss, and I would ask you come with us."
"Ms. Green. You do know what I am, yes?"
"Yes, Doctor. I am well aware of your self-injection of the F.E.V. and what it turned you into."
"So you know that your group, and my kind are not the kind to sit down to a friendly chat."
"Ah, yes, this is so very true. But, I would still insist that you come with us, and I would ask that you do so with civility. My... comrades are not known for their pleasantries." I heard one of the soldiers click his safety off.
"Well. Since you asked nicely. It would appear as though I have no choice." I took a step towards the helicopter.
"All four of you, Doctor." Saline muttered.
"Four? There's only three." I responded, looking at her, my heart rate speeding.
"Please, Doctor. Don't be so curt to think I didn't see Ms. Cronson run into the trees. Come to think of it... I think my men should be bringing her out right..." I watched Sarah come from the trees, hands up. My computer was in one of the soldier's hands. "Now." She smiled to me with this bitchy smile. "Now. Into the helicopter, if you would, Doctor. And you too, Ms. Windsor." Emma growled some, but did as she was told, boarding the helicopter.
"Sorry, Jake... there were too many of them..." Sarah sighed as she climbed on with us.
"It's alright, Sarah. I didn't know they had ground troops."
"I swear to god, when I can see again, I'm gonna kill you all."
"Doctor, it is in your best interest to control your comrades. We speak only with the best of intentions."
"I imagine..." I muttered as the helicopter jerked up, pulling free of the earth's gravity and flying.
The flight passed with a thick layer of ice hanging over the helicopter cabin, no one wanting to say anything. Christian had dozed off a bit, and Emma had her arms crossed. I stared at Saline, who didn't even make an attempt to acknowledge my stare. She just kept twiddling her proverbial thumbs, her gloved hands kept firm on her lap. The only thing that kept me sane that entire flight, was the dull 'thubbathubbathubba' of the helicopter blades spinning in the background. Judging by the shadows in the fading evening light, I noted we were flying north-west-north, the general direction of Virginia and D.C.
"So, what's this about, exactly?" I had asked Saline, trying to stop this maddening silence.
"Due time, Doctor." Was all she replied. This didn't make me feel any better, or less angry. It just served to piss me off.
"At least tell me where we're going." I asked. She pulled one hand from her lap, pointed towards me, the direction the copter was flying, smiled, and replied 'that way'. Slapping my face with my hand, I groaned. Thank you, Commander Obvious...
We landed two hours later, just as the sun was starting to go to bed. We landed at a small airstrip some distance inland, there, we were removed from the helicopter and ushered into a medium-sized building that was part of a larger complex. We were separated into singles, Christian and Emma being the exception, as Christian still couldn't see. I was locked in what appeared to be an interrogation chamber. Saline followed me. She turned to the guards, opened her jacket up showing them, what I assumed was, a pistol.
"I'll be fine. Leave." The snapped to a salute and left, locking the door behind them. "Now, Doctor..." She started, walking to the camera in the corner and unplugging it. "Now that we have a little privacy... allow me to bring you up to speed." She faced me, and started unbuttoning her undershirt. "Perhaps you could help me better understand my... condition." Finishing with the buttons, she opened both her jacket and shirt. My first thought was 'what the hell is this crazy bitch doing?' but after seeing what was under her shirt, I ditched that thought in favor of 'what the hell is THAT?'
Beneath her undershirt, fused to her skin, were blotchy patches of a black, organically-designed carapace, like an insect.
"Ms. Green, I can say with all honesty, I have never seen anything like that in my life. It's definitely not human, but I think you figured that part out yourself." I reached a hand out, but stopped. "Uh... may I?" She nodded, giggling a little.
"Yes, Doctor, you can touch it." I poked a spot with a finger, the carapace almost... swimming in response to my stimuli. Placing my palm on her left shoulder side of her chest, I pushed slightly.
"Does this hurt at all? Can you feel it?"
"I feel it alright, Doctor. It's become part of me. I was shot there not too long ago, and the bullet just pancaked. I need your help Doctor, more then you know."
"Oh, I think I have an idea. I have reason to believe, Ms. Green, that you're a-"
"Revenant, I know." She responded, rolling her shoulders some.
"Which is a very interesting predicament you're in, considering your chosen profession."
"Yes, which brings us to a favor I have of you." She buttoned up her shirt, tucking what came out back into her suit pants. She took the pistol from her shoulder holster and pulled the action back, dislodging the safety. She pointed it at me.
Ending Author's Note: So, here it is, all your loyal and new Cry Witch Fans! The sequel to the (totally not tooting my own horn here) smash hit Cry Witch, it's the Revenant Wars. Hope you all will stay buckled in for this ride as well.