Apocalypse: Zombies...?
Chapter One
A cold wind blew across the balcony, drawing a smile to the woman's face. The weather was her mastery so she always loved its comforting embrace. A light sprinkle fell from the sky, cool against her skin in the crisp fall air. She trailed her hand across the stone railing as she turned around, finally returning her mind to the world around her. The T.V. that was on in her room was displaying a most unsettling report. Footage that had been retrieved from a city in the west was playing across the screen, abandoned streets seeming devoid of life were being walked by a man, his frantic rambling audible from her spot at the door.
He was speaking in a hushed whisper, casting the camera about as he looked, as if expecting something to jump out. The news channel had a date underneath him, reading out December 13th, 2002. That must be the day this had been taken... She thought silently to herself. The man turned a corner into an alley, pointing the Camera down at a large patch of blood that trailed off into the dark, as if someone had been dragged. A cold chill ran down the African American woman's back and she held her hand up to her mouth in shock. He ventured into the alley, calling out to anyone... That is when she heard it. A low moan emitted from the dark of the alley and the man took an unsure step back.
Like a bullet from a gun, what looked like a rotting corpse shot out from the shadows, lunging toward the camera, for the man. He screamed in fear, dropping the camera as he fell to the ground, the zombie on top of him as he screamed in pain. Storm closed her eyes as the camera caught the whole ordeal, blood running fresh against the pavement as the mans screams died down, his fingers clawing uselessly against the hell sent creature. The video ended and a grim looking newswoman appeared, speaking of how tragic times have become, and the need to defend and stay calm was at its most. Storm walked into the flower packed room, retrieving the remote from her bed stand and flicking the T.V. off. She tossed the remote onto her neatly made bed and paced about her room, her mind mulling over this apocalyptic event. She jumped as there was a slight tap against her door, scolding herself for her edgy nerves.
"Who is there?" She called, walking to the door and prying it open. The young mutant Jubilee stood there, a bubble of gum expanding from her lips. It popped noisily and Storm waited for Jubilee to speak.
"Hey Orrorro. I was wondering if you had a minute..." She said between chews of her Bubblegum. Adjusting her pink tinged sunglasses on her head.
"Of course child, what is it?" Storm moved aside to let the young woman into her room, Jubilee took the gesture in stride and entered into the room, babbling.
"Well... With everything how it is... I was wondering, because you know, the news, if we are gonna... You know... Die..." She ended her sentence, the room becoming dead silent as Storm looked at this Teen, the appearance of a sleep deprived days about her.
"Child you are in good care here. Do not fret about such things, all will turn out okay. You will see." She tried assuaging her fellow mutants fears, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. Eyes full of sadness looked up into Storm's own, looking as if tears were about to spill over.
"What about my adoptive parents... They could be in danger. I want to go back; protect them." The surety of her decision reflected within her eyes.
"That choice is completely up to you." Storm replied, smiling at the courage of her pupil, "But be ready... We are in for some rough times. I will speak with the Professor, see if we couldn't shelter them here." Storm thought out loud, her feet carrying her toward the open door, "I will go speak with him now. If you wish you can wait here, or I will go to your room once I have an answer." She called over her shoulder as she brusquely made her way down the hall, her snow white hair waving from the air she stirred up. Jubilee sat herself at the end of Storm's bed, her feet dangling from the floor. She seems to be so distracted lately... Images of the frown creases that adorned Orrorro's face etched in the troubled teens minds eye.
Storm walked the halls, her feet leading her down the paths she has walked hundreds of times. The T.V. in the den was displaying a news report, the packed room was hushed as the attention was drawn to what chaos had befallen some town. No one looked up at the door as she carried onward, stopping at the old wooden door that housed the office of Charles Xavier on the other side. She raised her hand to knock, not even knowing why seeing as she was expecting the voice that spoke from the other side.
"Come on in Storm." She pushed open the door, the Professor sat behind a large elegant desk, hands folded on its surface. He gestured to one of the empty chairs, "Have a seat. What is troubling you Orrorro?" He pondered, having felt her emotions float into the room with her.
"Jubilee wishes to go back home, to protect her parents. Now before we think of this I would like to put my thoughts about this forward. I suggest that we send a squad of three out to the Suburbs that her parents reside in, we secure the location and bring her parents here to stay; thus keeping all safe and sound here."
"I am glad you have put thought into this situation such as you have, it will be good practice for when you have to take my place." Storm winced, never enjoying when he brought up such a subject. Charles was the figurehead to Mutant Freedom Movements. She can't imagine taking such a place, "And I agree on your reasoning. It would be best to keep Jubilee here, and that means her family too. Alone she could easily be harmed in these chaotic times." He finished, smiling at how well Storm had handled this.
"Who do you suggest should go?" He surprised her with this question, her eyebrows arching up. She stared at him, wondering if he would call a bluff. Silence enveloped the room, the air felt heavy as she waited. Then she finally spoke up, "Well I am assuming Jubilee would not just sit around, so she will be one. And Rogue would be a great addition, along with either Logan or Kurt." She decided, looking at the Professor all the time, watching his reaction as she listed off the names.
He nodded at this, "Contact them then. They must leave with haste for I fear trouble lays ahead." He addressed her curtly. She nodded briefly, leaving her leader to mull over his thoughts. He rubbed his temples, glad that he had his second in command here to help him. These times were far to trying on his mind. Using the Cerebro was watching the death of the the Earth itself.
The X-Jet glided above the tattered world, Kitty having hidden in the back storage was hanging out the bottom of the Jet, watching the cities below, flaming skyscrapers, some cities blissfully intact. All those people, all those mutants needing help. She thought, a tear of sadness escaping her eye and falling down to the demolished city they now flew over. She took in a shaky breath, phasing back up to the storage room and sliding down the wall into a sitting position. She surveyed the dimly lit room, not even sure why she had hidden herself here. She just had that urge. Why she even follows them she didn't know. But now here she sat, getting closer the the Suburb in which the X-Jet and its occupants were bound.
The jet set down in a small park, leaves of autumn tossed around by the stabilizing thrusters. The Jets ramp opened, a group of three stepping out, onto the grassy clearing that had become over grown with weeds. Jubilee looked across this park, memories that had taken place here just last year surfacing. Her sitting on the swing late one night after she had run away. The reason for that due to her new found mutant powers. She pulled her yellow jacket tighter to her, looking back at her two friends staring at her back. "You're the one in charge Sugah." Rogue called, the wind carrying her voice away from Jubilee, making her sound a world away, "You lead the way." Rogue's southern twang concluded, her and Nightcrawler stepping right up beside their leader. Kitty phased through the front of the Jet, landing with a light thud on the grassy clearing. Fallen leaves rustled beneath her feet, but howling winds hid her advance on the group of three.
"Hey guys!" She called, knowing that now they were here then they could not send her back, "So, like, where we off to first?" The group spun in surprise at the teens sudden appearance and just stood there, dumb struck.
"Kitty what are you doing here...?" Jubilee ran her hand through her short black hair. She can be a handful at times. "Well seeing as you're already here then just follow us." She decided, turning and walking across the park. Their small group of four walked across the eerily abandoned park, some toys laying near the old Jungle Gym, abandoned in a hurry to escape. They followed a path that Jubilee knew well out of the park, turning down an equally empty street, cars littering the streets. Some cars were crashed into one another and Jubilee shivered at the silhouettes of people in some of the crashed cars. Kurt made his way toward one of the cars but Jubilee stopped him with a hand on his chest.
"There is no use. They are already gone..." She whispered, sadness griping her heart in a vice grip. The group wandered through this scene from hell, picking their way across littered streets, getting closer to the house Jubilee had lived in.
Some people peeked out of windows of apartments on higher floors, quickly drawing back into their own world. A man walked by them once, a shotgun in hand, giving them suspicious glances.
"I do not like this. It feels as if death is clinging to all that walk here." Kurt muttered, giving a rotting corpse on the ground a second glance. Jubilee just trudged forward, hoping that her parents were still here. She did not want to have come to this place for nothing. Her street came into view and she broke into a faster pace, a slight wind pushing against her, sending with it a smell that made her gag. She walked up the front steps to her door, holding back a wave of tears, her finger hovering over the doorbell. She finally pushed down, the electronic ring echoing on the other side of the door. She stood there for what felt like forever, staring at the peeling pain of the wood. Finally the door knob turned, her heart pounding up in her skull. The person on the other side of the door flew out, embracing Jubilee in a enthusiastic hug.
"Oh my god. I can't believe it. We were so worried... Hurry come in, it is not safe out here." The older woman ushered the four into the house, closing and locking the door, "Jubilee it is so nice to see you again. We have been wondering if you would come. That is one of the reason we have not left yet, there have been outbreaks around here." Jubilee's adoptive mother rambled on, taking coats from the teens and hanging them in a small closet.
"Mom, you guys are okay right? The streets are like a hell out there." Jubilee looked around the house, noting the candles and battery powered lamps littered on shelves. She gestured her friends into the living room she knew so well, only a few things out of place since she had last been there. Her mother poked her head out of the kitchen.
"We are getting by dear. Did you four kids walk here from somewhere?" She frowned, motherly worry written on her face.
"We landed our Jet at the park. It was only a short walk." Rogue cut in as Jubilee went to answer.
"Yeah... Jet." The motherly woman replied, looking baffled as she disappeared back into the kitchen. The four sat there, Jubilee scurrying about, tidying things up. After a couple minutes the woman appeared again, carrying a tray of cookies, only to disappear and bring out some milk.
"I have to keep the milk cool by sticking it in the tub. I filled it with ice." She said proudly, gesturing to the tray, welcoming them to eat. There was footsteps on the stairs in the other room and a voice familiar to Jubilee called out, "You down here talking to yourself again hun?" A fairly tall man, Caucasian in color peeked into the living room, his eyes dilating at what he saw, "Jubilee? Is that really you?" He blinked a couple times, making his way into the room and embracing the girl.
"Hi dad." She lightly hugged him, looking up at his face. He looked so much older then he had the last time she had seen him. Far to much stress on us all in these days. She thought to herself, casting a look at her Mother, she too bore the signs of over aging.
"Mom, I want you guys to come to the Mansion with us. Please." She looked the woman who had raised her for the last three years of her life, hoping she could see the unspoken plea in her eyes. Her parents exchanged a look, speaking sentences with that one glance. Her mother gave her a long look, creases showing on her forehead, a sweet smile upon her face.
"Of course we will come; can we pack a few things first?" She added, already on her way out the living room and up the stairs. Jubilee's father just laughed, shaking his head as he followed her up the stairs. Kitty suddenly stood, walking absentmindedly to the living room window, looking down on the disheveled city street. The broken skeletons of cars were sitting discarded in the street lane, news papers long forgotten blowing around in the wind.
"This place is so creepy..." She muttered silently to herself, folding her arms against her chest; a comforting stance of hers.
"Yeah, tell me about it. It's like a hellish version of my memories here." Jubilee walked up next to Kitty, fighting back a pang of sadness as she looked out on the scene. All these memories destroyed... But why? What is happening...? The question never ceased swirling around her thoughts, every time she saw footage of other cities, some filled with these newly rising undead creatures. The footage of that city, Raccoon City, being bombed to try and stop the outbreak. Well that clearly didn't work. She thought bitterly. But what were they do do? You can't stop an enemy if you don't know where to strike out at. I guess that is how things are in this world... Nothing ever as easy as you would think... "You guys ready? It's time to go home." She yelled up the familiar stairs.