Chapter 3 - Flashback
My mind drifts back to Earth 8 as my body slumbers. My dreams were of past events. Not of good times before this epidemic changed my life and the world as we know it, but back to my 1st encounter with Edward of Earth 8. My dream was as vivid and real as the soft pedals of a orange summer flower. It's pedals rich with orange as it fades to white just at the tips. I could smell the smoke, feel the fear, remember the horror, and at any minute it could be my last..
I wake up in ruin. It was day break and my senses were trying to adjust to my surroundings. The rays from the sun bathe me in it's resplendent glory. I slowly stand to my feet, still a little wobbly from the quantum jump. I bend over and throw up the little that was in my stomach. I look over to my side and see what use to be or should I say, what was left of, the Forks, Timber Muesum. I grab my bag of supplies, my M-16, and the Navis. The Navis connects me to the interface back on base, that allowed me to travel to this alternate dimension. My mission was to find this man. I pull the Navis in front of me, and the functionality switches to database, where a picture of a man named Edward pops above the screen in a miniature hologram. He was pulchritudinous to say the least. Amazing how I never saw this man before, but he looked so familiar. As if i have met him in my dreams on numerous occasions.
The Navis maps out the location to Edward and I head towards my mission to find, rescue and bring back Edward to my Earth, Earth 4. I pull my long, chestnut brown hair to the side, ready my rifle and start walking. Debris was flying around, accompanied by the fresh, smouldering smell of death. I had to look out for the "Others". To explain them in simplier terms. They were cannibals, monsters, your brother, your sister, your mom, now nothing left but killing machines whose only desire in life was to eat you. Sweat started rolling down my partially exposed breast. My inner thighs tingling with anticipation and fear. I quietly jog to my destination, using what concealment could be found on the streets of Forks. Forks, Washington looked like something from a nightmare. Everything was laid to waste. No sign of life, no sign of hope. The buildings laid blighted, no resemblance of what they use to be. The city streets that use to be jam packed with mini vans and pick ups, was now filled with decayed bodies and turned over cars.
I wanted to throw up and probably would if I hadn't already thrown up what was left in my stomach. I was all alone here, which wasn't to different from back home, with my family gone. I was a member of the Authority now. The 1st woman volunteer ever selected for this mission. I thought of my immense responsibility and the drive may me run faster. supposedly these things came out more at night. Typical right! Just like in every horror movie, the fiend attacks it's prey at night! In a perfect world, I would find Edward before the sun went down, avoid any hostile activity, and be home before noon. Of course that wasn't going to happen. I look over at a abandoned clothing store and catch a reflection of myself. Even under this dark military outfit, bags under my eyes, no makeup and hair that looked like it belonged on a scarecrow, I still looked...like my mom, she was so beautiful. Ok Bella, no emotions, if you succeed you will see your parents again, and they will be cured and not like these things that were once human.
The Navis leads me to a High School. Forks High School. This was the same school I attended in my universe. It pointed to Edward position on the top floor of the school. I hope he was still alive. How anyone could survive in a world like this is mind blowing. This place made Earth 4 look like paradise and Earth 4 to me is what hell would look like. I cautiously approach the doors and peer into the darken space. I gather up my courage and push open the doors. They opened easily. Rifle in my arm, finger on the trigger, I approach my destination. The hallways of the school were littered with papers and graffiti. I peer over at one of the showings with the glass shattered and catch a photo from the class of 2013. The year I would of graduated. I wonder the fate of the Bella of this world. I shake off complacency and continue on. Use the flashlight attached to my rifle. I knew the direction the Navis would point me even before the commands reached the screen. Ever since I was injected with the nanobots, I felt different. It almost feels like me and the Navis were one.
I here a loud crash from the top floor and jump. The hairs on my arm stood up as I prepared for my 1st taste of action. My foot reaches the stairs. Step after step I get closer to the unknown. The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in. I was alone, afraid and it was up to me to save, everybody, including myself. If I don't die here, I would surely prefer to die still a human then transform into one of these things at age 21. I reach the second floor and survey my surroundings. I could hear something walking towards me. I aim my rifle, slightly bend my knees and prepare myself. My eyes burned with the sweat that traveled from my forehead to my eyes to meet. I steady my rifle. Steady, steady and from the shadows a malnourished German Shepherd steps out. At 1st he was calm, and then his mouth cures and he shows his teeth. I pull my weapon again after allowing myself to relax. The dog must be rabid.
"Settle down pooch! I don't wanna hurt you! But I will! I'll blow you into doggy heaven"! The dog jumps to attack! But not me, he attacks what lurks behind me. Lurking behind me in the shadows was one of them. My 1st contact with one of the "Others". He seemed massive compared to me. He was almost completely nude. I couldn't see his eyes and didn't want to or I may lose whatever courage I have and run screaming out of here. His skin looked the color of death. The dog lunges at him and bites at his leg. As if he tasted something foul, the dog repels back and whimpers a little. The Other switches position with the dog and leaps on him. Plunging his teeth and claws into that dog's side. The whimpering of the dog grows louder and yes I could of used this opportunity to escape, but fuck it!
I fire at the Other, releasing at least a round into his torso and neck area. The thing leaps at me propelling me backwards and causing me to hit the floor pretty hard. Dazed from the fall my rifle drops out of my hand and slides across the floor. Before I'm able to retrieve it, the massive strength of the Other holds me down, a long strand of saliva hitting my chin. He leans down and licks the saliva off my chin causing me to gasp. I try reaching for my side arm but I couldn't move my arm. This couldn't be my fate! Not now, not this soon! As the thing opens it's mouth and his fangs propel, preparing to bite into me, a bullet flies straight through his left eye and the thing starts to twitch before eventually falling over motionless. I pull my semi automatic pistol as if awaiting the next threat to strike.
"It's ok. Your safe! At least for now." A voice said from within the darkness.
Whomever the voice comes from, kicks the rifle over to me. I nippily pick it up and aim it in the direction of the voice. But even before the voice revealed who it was, I already knew. "Don't be afraid, I'm Edward"! He steps out of the shadows, and at first glance, as if he was moving in slow motion, his bronze hair brushes back so gracefully. The whiteness of his teeth were akin to linen, to the buds of white roses. His stance was full of eroticism, as he held up his semi automatic rifle. Standing there, in a black camouflage pants and a dark, tight tee shirt that pressed against his muscles like a corset, wishing to free itself and reveal the sure goodness that laid underneath the mask of his shirt. He extends his hand to help me up. I accept and he easily pulls me up face to face with the boy in my dreams. I look deep into his green eyes and he looks back at mine. Almost as if he recognized me as well. "I am Bella! You may have a hard time believing this and honestly, I don't care, cause your coming with me if you like it or not! But I am from a parallel universe. Earth 4. You are on Earth 8. I came here to rescue you because you are the only one who can save mankind!" "Wait! Parallel universe!? Wow! Give me a minute to digest that! I mean I've been alone for months and then a beautiful girl, you, show up and tell me that not only is she from another dimension, but me, me of all people is suppose to be some sort of savior! Please if you can just give me a minute to collect my thoughts"! I blush as he calls me beautiful, but turn my head so he wouldn't see. Even though I doubt he would in the dark. "We don't have a min! We have to go now! Those things are gonna be out in full force by night fall! Which, shit! I look out the window and notice the sun going down. Night and day on Earth 4 was different, irregular. "We have to go now! Lock and load pretty boy! We have a fight on our hands. I pull out the Navis and Edward looks in almost disbelief at the technology that his Earth had yet to possess. "What the hell is that"! "It's how we are going to get to my home and off this death trap"! "Are you from the future"? "No. Just somewhere different. Where we are slightly more advance"! I fill my rifle with ammo and prepare for battle. I look out the window and can already see the Others lurking. They were coming out the buildings in bunches. I look over my shoulder at Edward and he was preparing his rifle as well. He pulls out what looks like a ipod, puts his headphones on and looks up at me as if he is ready. I can hear the bass from the music he was playing. "Are you gonna be able to hear me? Your gonna have to follow my commands precisely if we are going to live through this"! " I can hear you clearly beautiful"! I ignore that last part and head out of the school and to the open streets. The fun was just about to start!