The Chosen Redeemer

Chapter One: New Victims

Screams came out of the girl as she lay in the hospital bed. As she bore the burden of childbirth, she felt helpless to stop it. The baby peeked out of the womb and its life began. The newborn cried just as any normal infant would. He determined the gender of the baby being female. The warm feeling of a new life being brought into the world quickly faded as the doctor held her. Suddenly, he started choking and gagging, spitting up blood before collapsing onto the cold floor. Darkness spread from the infant, engulfing the medical staff first, then the rest of the hospital and finally the whole town was dressed in blackness.

Cheryl awoke suddenly in a sheet of perspiration. Oddly enough the song You're Not Here played on the radio, her favorite song. Even though she felt extremely tired, Cheryl dragged herself out of bed. From out of her closet, she grabbed a white t-shirt with Japanese symbols running down the back of it and a red smudge on the front. She didn't know what the design of the smudge was nor did she know what the symbols meant. But she thought the shirt looked cool, that's why she bought it. She accessorized the t-shirt with a pair of blue jeans and tennis shoes. Today was her day off from work so she didn't care about dressing nice or professional.

Opening the door, Cheryl made her way to the bathroom still wearing her nightgown, carrying the day's clothing. She reached the bathroom at the end of the hallway just to find that her roommate, Anya beat her to it. Did Anya have to work today? Cheryl wondered. She couldn't remember. It was interesting. While Cheryl had a mediocre job at the mall, Anya had more of a career as a full time nurse. It was 10:30 in the morning. Shouldn't she be at work by now? Cheryl wondered how long that girl would take.

"Come on Anya!" Cheryl groaned. She realized that she didn't have anywhere to go to today, but time wasn't the problem. Anya was notorious for using up the hot water. Cheryl waited for a good few long minutes. Finally, the door opened. Anya came out wrapped in a towel holding her night clothing. Modesty was definitely was not her. Her long raven hair was wet, clinging to her shoulders and part of her face.

"Hey! Good morning sunshine!" Anya beamed.

Cheryl rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. Can I get in there now?" she asked with irritation.

"Oh, of course." Anya hurried out of the room. Cheryl walked into the bathroom to find it a mess. Towels were left carelessly on the floor and her make-up scattered all over the sink counter. Cheryl didn't want to worry about it. She'll clean it up later hopefully. She barely glanced at the mirror to notice how messed up and knotted her short blonde hair looked. Recently, she bleached streaks in her hair to make it look more vibrant. Her usual warm brown eyes looked tired and lifeless.

After Cheryl was ready, she walked into the living room that branched out from the small hallway. The kitchen was set in the corner and across from there was the laundry room. This apartment had its own laundry room which was nice. It was one of the nicer two bedroom apartments South Ashfield Heights offered. On one wall of the living room was the entertainment center with a 28 inch TV and DVD player underneath. It was Anya's; she had it there when Cheryl moved in. On the other side of the room was a sofa with floral design and a matching chair next to it; also Anya's. The ceramic lamp, the pictures of landscapes, the coffee table and the white fluffy rug under it, all belonged to Anya. In fact, the only things Cheryl owned was the clothes in her closet, some stuff animals and a pocket knife and stun gun in her dresser drawer. The dresser was also hers; she had it since she was a child. Cheryl turned towards the kitchen. Deciding she should get something to eat, she walked over and reached for the box of cereal on top of the refrigerator. She pulled out the milk and poured herself a bowl. As she grabbed a spoon she glanced at the cereal box. The memory of eating the brand when she was a child flashed in her head. She was with her father back then… Suddenly, she felt kind of sad. Whenever this feeling came over her, she would quickly do something else so that she wouldn't think of it. Cheryl pushed out the memory and headed towards the couch. She put the bowl on the coffee table and lunged for the controller to turn on the TV. She sat down letting whatever noises coming from that box distract her from her thoughts.

Then Anya came out of her room, walking towards the living room.

"Don't you have to go to work?" Cheryl asked her.

Anis made a big teeth filled grin. "I'm not working today! It's my day off!"

"Oh really? Me too."

Anya's eyes grew really wide. "Oh my gosh! We never get a day off at the same time! We have to do something! Something fun!"

"Like what?" Cheryl asked.

"I know. Let's go to the mall," Anya excitedly suggested.

Cheryl shook her head. "Come on, I work at the mall," she reminded her friend.

"But it's different when you're shopping there. Or we can see a movie." Anya spun around and headed towards her room before Cheryl could respond. "I'll look on-line for the start times." Cheryl didn't have a change to say yes or no. Once Anya makes up her mind, she already is doing what she decided.

After eating, Cheryl went back into her room. Well, if they were going out, she wanted to have her standard defense items. From inside her dresser drawer, Cheryl pulled out her pocket knife and the stun gun. To some it may seem eccentric but she had her reasons for having these items on her person. She returned to the hallway to see Anya in her room on the computer. She turned to Cheryl. "Most of the movies are starting around noon. I'm not sure what I want to see. Is there a particular movie you want to see?"

"No, not really," Cheryl slowly answered.

"We can figure it out when we get there I guess." Anya said. Cheryl shrugged. She felt so melancholy right now. She couldn't explain why.

Anya drove since Cheryl didn't have a car. She always took the subway to work. They were in the mall's parking lot in less than twenty minutes. The sun beamed down on them as they walked across the black top. It was a typical summer day. Anya seemed to enjoy the heat as Cheryl felt like she was wilting away. They entered the building and headed right into the coffee shop. Cheryl was in the mood for a chocolate Mocha. After making her purchase, she chose a seat at one of the tables. Soon, Anya came over with a strawberry banana smoothy.

"This is fun!" she exclaimed. Sometimes this girl was too enthusiastic about things, Cheryl realized. "So, I figured we could go see the movies playing after we're done here," Anya continued. Cheryl nodded.

Afterwards the girls walked towards the theater. Suddenly Anya stopped. "Hey, I need to use the restroom. I think they're this way," she said gesturing down a tiny hallway. Cheryl looked in her direction. There wasn't a sign for the restrooms. It was just a vacant hallway leading to nowhere. It was sort of creeping Cheryl out. Anya started walking in her usual upbeat manner. She seemed so sure of where she was going so Cheryl followed her. As they approached the bathrooms, three guys came out of the men's room. They laughed while playfully shoving each other. They appeared to be teenagers, but they could also be in their early twenties.

"Hey ladies!" One called. "Whatcha doin'?"

Cheryl stopped abruptly. "Um…hi…" Anya tried to be polite. But Cheryl already realized something wasn't right with them.

"Ooh, a blonde and a dark brunette, we need a red-head and we'll be all set," Another guy chimed in.

"Yeah right," Cheryl shot back. "Uh, I think we're a little too old for you high school boys."

"High school?" The one guy said, pushing his overly gelled hair back. "We're college men."

Cheryl rolled her eyes, "Yeah from where? The University of douches? Come on Anya, we LADIES came to use the bathroom." As the girl moved towards the women's bathroom, the one guy in a leather jacket stepped in their path. Why is he wearing that thing? Cheryl wondered. For one, its eighty degrees out and two, it looks stupid.

"Now come on, we're trying to be gentlemen here."

"Oh yeah, well try harder!" Cheryl shot at him. The young man suddenly grabbed Cheryl's face. "You got a sharp tongue, you know that?"

"Let go of me!" Cheryl screamed. She pushed his arm away, then grabbed her pocket knife, hitting the button to make the blade pop out.

"Whoa guys, I think we've gone a little too far," the third guy with them finally spoke.

"Man shut up!" The guy in the leather jacket rebutted. He once again tried to grab Cheryl. She suddenly slashed his arm. "Ow! What the hell? Forget this! Let's get out of here!" The boys left, racing down the hall.

"Cheryl, are you okay?" Anya asked with concern. Cheryl didn't answer. She harshly pushed the door open to the woman's bathroom. "Cheryl?" Anya followed her in. Cheryl didn't answer. She walked into one of the stalls and locked it. "Cheryl, I'm sorry. I didn't know that would happen. Please don't be mad," Anya pleaded.

"I'm not mad at you," Cheryl said from behind the door. "I'm mad that I can't go anywhere without something bad happening!"

"I don't understand," Anya admitted.

"It's nothing. I'll be out of the moment." Anya took the time to use the restroom as well. After, she walked to the sink to wash her hands and wait for Cheryl. She heard the toilet flush and Cheryl came out to wash her hands.

"Do you still want to see a movie?" Anya asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Cheryl responded while looked down at the sink. She looked up at the mirror. There was a time when mirrors bothered her, but she was doing much better now. She checked her hair and eye liner. Anya always wore lots of make-up. She wouldn't leave the apartment without covering every part of her face. Cheryl only wore eye liner and mascara; sometimes she didn't even wear that. It depended on how she felt that day.

"Well, are you ready to go? I'm sure those guys are gone," Anya coaxed. Cheryl still felt uneasy, but she couldn't stay in the bathroom all day.

The girls left the bathroom, heading down the hallway back into the mall. As they walked back into the main entrance way, they were met with absolute silence. Everyone was gone.

"What? Where is everyone?" Anya asked. Cheryl remained quiet. Her eyes darted around the area. Anya glanced at the doors going outside. "Is it…? Is it getting darker outside? It was eleven-o-clock when we got here. She sun was out; it was blazing hot. I…I think it's gotten colder too." She wrapped her bare arms her body. Her white button up sleeveless blouse was good for really warm weather. Her legs were bare too wearing the blue mini skirt. Cheryl turned towards the rest of the mall. No one was around.

"Let's just go," Cheryl said. She walked over to the door, but it wouldn't open. From the look of the doors, they were terribly warped, and thick mold covered the windows. It looked as though no one tended to them in years. Suddenly, the girls heard static behind them. It came from the coffee shop. Cheryl walked over to the table where they sat earlier. There was a red covered radio giving off static. She picked it up. Something about it was familiar. Wasn't she in an elevator the last time she found this thing? Wait, what was she thinking?

There was a repugnant aroma coming from the check-out counter. Something was slouched over the cash register. It suddenly bolted upright causing the girls to jump. The figure wavered on its feet awkwardly. It looked like it had a human body, but it was wrapped up in bandages. There was no face and the arms and legs looked deformed. It stumbled towards them, head twitching as it hobbled along the floor. Anya screamed as she stepped backwards bumping the table. Cheryl was frozen for a moment, but her senses took over. She took out her pocket knife and started slashing at the thing. As she did blood and puss ooze out from the bandages. Cheryl cried out, horrified and disgusted by the display. The creature finally fell to the floor lifeless.

"What the hell is that thing?" Anya cried out. Cheryl stood there in silence staring at it, her expression a cross between confusion and horror. What she saw in front of her was not just a shock. It was painful. What did this mean? Why now? She turned to see Anya with her face contorted in fear. "What do we do now?" Anya asked half panicked. What else could they do? Cheryl attached the radio to the belt loop of her jeans. She drew in all of the feelings of anger, fear and panic, trying to stay in control.

"Come on, we're going to find a way out of here," she said through the trembling voice. She almost wanted to cry.