Outside the city, a safe distance from the radiation-contaminated land, was a vast expanse of rolling green fields. The air was fresh and clean, without even a hint of pollution. Rabbits and deer were grazing peacefully.
Had any humans been present they would have noticed a falcon flying high overhead. What would have astonished them more though was the falcon's companion, a girl in a plain white dress with beautiful white wings. As if that alone wasn't enough, both the bird and the girl were engaged in a truly spectacular display of aerial manoeuvres.
Hope laughed happily as she twisted and turned, easily keeping pace with the winged predator in their game of sky tag. It swooped down at her but she dodged it with a quick sideways roll. It pulled up and turned, giving chase as she sped off.
After a few moments of this they stopped chasing each other and simply hovered in mid-air. These games couldn't last too long due to the falcon's need to conserve energy for hunting prey.
"Thank you, that was fun" said Hope.
The falcon cawed and flew away. She watched it go with a smile before heading off for home.
A little while later she fluttered down and landed on a grassy plain at the top of a high mountain peak. She had chosen this place to live because of its remoteness. Not only was it far from any human city it was also hard to access unless one could fly. She knew all too well how important it was for her to hide from humanity.
Of course not all humans are evil she thought. Aska and Chage are proof of that.
Her smile broadened as she thought about the heroic police officers that had saved her. No doubt they were still helping people and defending the innocent.
Delighted by that thought she lay down on the ground, her wings folding up to shield her from the sun's rays, and closed her eyes to take a nap. In just a few moments she was asleep.
Fear… Madness… Death… A city of horrors… Millions dead or dying…
Hope awoke from the dream with a start. She sat up and looked around, calming down as she realised she was safe. The sun was still shining in a bright blue sky and a breeze was rustling the grass. The familiar, tranquil sight soothed her nerves
But even though the initial panic was gone it left behind a deep sense of dread and a dark feeling of foreboding. She knew that had been no ordinary dream. It was a premonition of what was to come.
Aska and Chage are in terrible danger she thought. And so are countless innocent lives. Some monstrous evil threatens their city
She knew what had to be done. Aska and Chage had risked their lives for her, she would do no less for them.
Standing up she took a deep, centring breath. Then, with an expression of firm resolve, she walked up to the edge and jumped off. Her wings spread, catching the air, and she flew across the sky at full speed, heading for the domed city.
Aska and Chage had just come to an elevator and were about to open it when a faint sound reached their ears.
"Did you hear that?" said Aska.
"Yeah" Chage replied. "It sounds like a lot of people running."
Just then a door burst open at the end of a corridor. A wild-eyed man rushed through and slammed it behind him. He was panting and breathing hard, his eyes filled with overwhelming fear.
"HELP!" He screamed as he pushed against the door. "Barricade the door! They're everywhere!"
Aska and Chage ran towards him. "Hold on we'll help you" Aska called.
The door was flung open again, sending the man to the floor as if he was weightless. The police officers skidded to a halt in shock as something came pouring through.
Years of training to survive dangerous situations allowed both of them to regain their wits and process what they were seeing. Coming through the door was a horde of mutated, diseased-looking, red-eyed men and women, all of whom were growling and snarling, their faces twisted with rage.
The man who had come through first was seized and dragged to his feet. They watched in horror as the same yellowish discolouration spread over his skin like a wave, brown lesions forming instantly. Within seconds the awful transformation was complete and he too was glaring at them with pure fury.
"Run!" Chage yelled.
They raced down the corridors as the mutants came charging after them.
What if people come to check out the commotion? Aska thought in dismay. "Lock your doors!" he yelled as he ran. "Stay inside and lock your doors!"
Even as he said this he could hear frightened screams and more bestial growls coming from up ahead. That could only mean there was another pack of the creatures in front of them.
How bad is this? Is the entire building infested?
Chage drew his pistol. Aska stared at him in disbelief.
"We can't shoot them! They're still innocent people."
"I know. Warning shots only, let's try and slow them down."
With a quick nod Aska pulled his own weapon. They stopped running, turned and fired, taking care to aim at the walls and floors.
BLAM! BLAM! In the confines of the corridor the gunshots were deafening.
Thankfully they seemed to work. The creatures in the lead halted abruptly, causing those behind them to slam right into them and sending them all down in a tangled mess of limbs.
Aska and Chage used the distraction to resume running. Aska took out his radio and thumbed it on.
"This is Officer Aska requesting immediate back-up. Headquarters, do you read me?"
There was no reply, only static. He clenched his teeth as they continued to flee, the creatures already resuming their pursuit.