Sjin,
You're probably going to wake up with no clue of where you are. That's fine. This is a secret place. You and Xephos have been in a coma for...well, when I'm writing this, about two years. Don't worry, you've been kept alive by the tubes Ridge and I put you in. You could survive for hundreds of years in them. I've been by your side each day for those two years, as Ridge had been with Xephos. I couldn't just leave you now, right? But something's wrong. We thought that when we found you two, we had destroyed all the taint. We were wrong. It's come back, but not how you probably remember. Instead of wanting to control people, there are CREATURES we've never seen before. Ranging from large to small, they're coming to get everyone. Ridge and I had to escape. We knew you two would be safe, seeing as they wouldn't realise you were alive. I wished I could have stayed to see you wake up, but it wasn't safe. If I had stayed...you would also be dead. I'm sorry for abandoning you, Sjin, but I promise we'll find each other. Even if it takes you forever to wake up, I will find you. We'll be together again. I'd better go. Ridge is calling. So...see you when you wake up.
-Lalna. Date: 1st June, 2016
"So...I guess the taint threat is still out there."
"Yeah, but we'll stop it. I've done it before. It's not that hard to stop an apocalypse."
In nine days, the apocalypse started, terrorized the world, and ended. Well, at least I THOUGHT it was the apocalypse. Turns out that was only the beginning. Five years on, and the REAL apocalypse is here. Creatures you have never even thought of prowl the land, all with the same purpose. To eliminate all life and replace it with itself – taint. Taint...that is what started the 9 day apocalypse and this war. I call it that since we are fighting back. Not just me, like last time. No, the people are gathering whatever they can to stop the taint. The cure we previously had isn't enough. This time we need proper weapons to fight it. Having a physical form has its disadvantages too. Scientists, probably including my lover, are working together to create a new cure. Though, I think this time, brute force will be what is needed. I cross the land with my friend, Xephos, as we were both in a coma for the five years between the first apocalypse and now. We search for our lovers as we learn our way through this new world. The world we awoke to. The tainted world.
1st June, 2019. That's the date we woke up. Five years from when the first apocalypse ended. Apocalypse...if I say that word enough I guess it'll not seem as threatening. But, we lost three people to that first event. One was coldblooded, one was in battle, and the last...I'd rather forget. Though, if I cast aside my demons they will come back to haunt me. I killed her. That was the final death. I killed one of my closest friends because I was provoked and twisted from the inside. I won't make that mistake again. I can't. If I do...let's just leave it.
Working along side Xephos has been fun. Just like old times on the farm, and those occasions in the Jaffa Factory and Baked Bean Fort. We could keep each other upbeat most of the time...unless we both went silent. I guessed he was thinking about what he had done back then. He was the leader, after all. The main part of the taint. I haven't truly worked out how much he remembers – whether it is all or none of it. I doubt it's none, however. Those looks he has from time to time...no, he remembers SOMETHING. Whether it was at the beginning of his transformation, snippets in the whole time, or the end, I don't know. If it's everything...Notch help him. He must feel so guilty. But we carry on. We HAVE to. To find Lalna, to find Ridgedog, to find Lomadia, to find Sips...to find everyone. We all need each other so we must find each other in this new world.
The new world...of taint. Or...flux, as some call it.
"Are you just going to sit there all day, Sjin?" Yawning, I glanced over at my companion. He was packed up already, though he didn't get much out. Beside my hand I could feel soft fur slip between my fingers. "Look, I know you tamed that wolf, but you can't just lounge around with it all day." I slowly sat up, bringing the dog close. On our journey we had found an injured wolf left to die, so I decided to adopt it and look after it. Xephos had minor disapprovals, but I think he was more envious than concerned. I stood up, the goggles dangling around my neck. I clenched my gloved hand around them, nodding. After digging around more in the chest Lalna and Ridge had left for us, we had found new clothes. Instead of my farming gear, I wore mostly white leather, apart from the loose black short-sleeved t-shirt under my leather body warmer. It was surprisingly comfortable. There were even matching white leather gloves. A white vambrace covered the bottom of my left arm. Xephos had similar attire but it was black instead of white, while his t-shirt had long sleeves and was white. He simply had leather shoulder pads and a rerebrace on his right arm. Light and darkness...it was appropriate. Though, we couldn't really work out what the symbol embroidered onto the back was. It didn't matter – one day we would find out, and until that day we would wear it with honour.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming." I stood up, slipping my glove on as I helped the dog stand. We hadn't really decided on a name, so we just called him Wolfie. Well, I did. A silly name, yes, but did it really matter at the end of the world? "We've got plenty of daylight left though, Xephos." I pointed at the sky. "It's not even midday yet!" Xephos rolled his eyes, slinging his diamond sword onto his back.
"We need all the light we can get. We need to keep moving. Those testificates said that they saw a flying man, didn't they?" He replied. He was already a few metres ahead of me before I ran to catch up. "I only know one flying man, so I assume it's Ridge. And where Ridge is, Lalna and Lom should be." Xephos explained. I nodded, walking beside the spaceman. I often wondered what his home was like, whether it was as hectic as this. I doubt he remembered much, though, or he would have mentioned it more. Or maybe he wanted to forget. It didn't matter to me, not anymore. Not at a time like this. Wolfie kept close to my side, occasionally bumping into my leg. It seemed his eyesight was hindered from before we found him. It's a shame. But life goes on.
"What if Lomadia and Nilesy went a different way to Lalna and Ridge? I mean, they had their own stuff to sort out, and there were two years before anything happened." I pointed out. From the note Lalna left, it sounded like there were two years of peace before the taint returned. Or flux. I've heard some people using the term 'flux' to describe the new threat. Name didn't really matter. It was how powerful it was that determined how dangerous it could be. "Maybe they couldn't find each other, so now they're just travelling alone. If they're even travelling. They could be safe at home." I shrugged. Xephos didn't reply. "...S-Sorry...I'm sure they're fine!" I quickly added.
"No, it's not you." He shook his head. "Something's...been bothering me." He started. I looked directly at him, noticing his eyes were slightly duller than usual. This was odd. Had this thing been bothering him for a while? He looked exhausted by it.
"Really? What's up?" I stopped as he stopped, the two of us standing in the plains. Wolfie sat at our feet, scratching behind his ear with his paw. "What's been bothering you, Xephos?" I asked again with a little more persistence. Xephos sighed, glancing at the sky.
"Well...I killed Rythian, right?" He murmured. I nodded painfully. "But...that was just my figure. I can remember...telling Alsmiffy to kill...Djh3max. I ordered Nano to taunt you so she would end up dead..." He explained. "I...I infected everything. Me. I did that. I caused everything." Xephos held his head. I blinked, quickly taking his hands.
"That's enough, Xephos." I replied firmly. "Don't become all guilty. You DID NOT do that! You did not do any of those things! You were NOT the taint! IT was controlling YOU, not the other way around." This fierceness was not the anger I used to feel. No, instead it was determination and strength through willpower acquired through hardships. "Now snap out of this, Xephos! We need to focus if we want to find Ridge and Lalna!" The back of my hand collided with Xephos' cheek roughly, causing him to wince. He caressed his own cheek, blinking. His eyes had gained part of the glow back as he nodded slowly. I smiled, taking his hand. "It's time to run." I whispered, as we took off. The small smile on his face gave me hope again.
A/N: The sequel is here. Let's do this. Also, vambrace and rerebrace are actual things. If you search them into Google then it comes up with stuff about them.