Here's the second chapter! Now we get to learn what happened to Zero when he split up with Andrew and Katlin. Happy reading!

~Written by RiftBlade00


September 25, 2186

Vancouver, Canada

9:29 am

Robert Zero

As I ran into the building that surprisingly hadn't collapsed due to the Reapers, I couldn't help but feel a sense of absolute dread. Something bad was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon. As I made my way up the stairwell, I saw things that made me sick to my stomach. Mutilated corpses everywhere. Some without their limbs, some without their heads. I even saw one that looked to be skinned alive. Occasionally I'd come across a dead husk, but those were far and few. It made me sick.

As I moved up the building, the bodies increased. It came to the point where there were so many bodies that I needed to step on them to get to the next set of stairs. After losing count of what floor I was on, I had to lean against the rail on the stairs to catch my breath. After a minute or so of this, I felt my adrenaline wear off. Without a second thought, I leaned over and threw up on the floor. After a few minutes of nothing but vomit, I forced myself to stop.

"Now...is not the time to crack." I told myself softly, and I immediately wished that I hadn't. It seemed that the noise had attracted a husk, and before I knew it I was tumbling down the stairs. I heard my head crack against the floor, and I saw the husk running at me. I sluggishly raised my rifle and fired once. It satisfied me when it's head popped. The back of my head felt like three burning hot metal poles had been jammed into it, but I couldn't stop. I promised them that I would spot for them, and I was intent on keeping that promise. I climbed up the stairs once more and continued down the hall. All of a sudden, the lights in the building shut off.

Fuck. A power outage. Just fantastic.

I turned to the left and walked towards a small-ish window. I gazed out and saw that there was absolute pandemonium. So much gunfire, so many explosions...so many corpses…

I managed to look past them, and I saw Andrew and Kat rushing through the streets, often taking down many enemies with them. I allowed myself a smile.

"Good. Now stay alive, you jerks." I muttered, turning and rushing up yet another flight of stairs. After more time elapsed, I saw a door silhouetted with light seeping through the cracks. I ran faster and smashed through it, collapsing as soon as I went through it. I heard a demonic growl. I looked up slowly, and saw four husks and a distinctly female looking husk with a pointy head looking at me.

"Fuck my life." I muttered, using the last of my strength to jump up and fire my rifle multiple times at them. I hit all of the regular husks, but not the odd looking one. It raised an arm, and I felt myself being lifted up with biotics.

"So, you're a special one, eh?" I shout, feeling blood trailing down my chin. That head wound must have been more serious than I had originally thought. It growled and spat at me in response. I laughed, and managed to wriggle my right arm free. I raised my middle finger.

"Fuck. You." I said, and as soon as I did, I no longer found myself on the building. It took me a moment to realize it had chucked me off the building. I felt my heart beat erratically. So, this is it, then.

I turned in midair and saw I had been thrown straight towards an Alliance building. From the looks of it, I had ten seconds before I crashed.

"So, this is it, it seems." I muttered sullenly.

9…

"I hope they're alright. It'd be a shame if they died."

8…

"Hmm, talking to myself in my final hour. Of course I'd do that." I chuckled, my head pain beginning to fade.

7…

"It was a good life, I suppose."

6…

"Too bad I couldn't get a girlfriend." I said, laughing.

5…

Slowly, tears began to fall down my face.

4…

3…

"He always has had a way with girls." I chuckled, tears still falling. The building was so close now.

2…

"I don't want to go." I muttered.

1…

"Goodbye. Sorry I couldn't make it, friends."

CRACK.

I felt a split second of unimaginable pain, and then darkness consumed me.