Day 2: Night: History's Haunting
"Oh you are pathetic!" Dark Tom shouted as he jerked a limp Tom off the ground.
"You are so god damned fucking pathetic!" he cried. Tom gasped for air as Dark Tom's hands clamped around his throat.
Tom kicked his counterpart in the stomach, causing Tom to be released and making the other stumble back. Tom lunged forward and landed a powerful hook across the side of Dark Tom's face making him spin around and Tom followed thorugh by tackling him from behind. Dark Tom's neck began to crack and began to completely rotate so that he was looking right at Tom although his head was 'backwards'. Tom was shocked.
"You insolent little shit!" Dark Tom spat as he began to melt into the floor.
"You're in my world. Here you have no power", the evil voice echoed throughout the room. Tom spun around looking for any sign of his dark side.
"Show yourself!" Tom hollered. Suddenly, a dark shadow began to wrap around Tom's body like a snake. Dark Tom materialized out of the shadow and proceeded to strangle the life out of Tom. Dark Tom rested his head on Tom's shoulder.
"Go to sleep child", Dark Tom whispered in Tom's ear. Tom then lost all feeling in his body and faded into darkness as the other began to assume control.
Meanwhile, back in the real world; the large zombie held Tom's limp body up high and it snarled. Footsteps echoed through the plaza along with the female voice crying out. Zach and Sarah were slowly collecting themselves after having been thrown into each other and into the wall. Andrew slowly sat up in the bushes clutching at his side where the sledge hammer had collided.
Zach and Sarah looked up. Both of them stared in horror at the zombie wielding the battle axe who was holding Tom up by his head. Sarah rolled off Zach who was attempting to push himself up. Sarah struggled even harder than he was.
"Shit. I feel like a damn bus just hit me", Zach groaned.
"O-o-oow", Sarah whimpered, "I think something's up with my ankle." Zach got to one knee, then stood up and held his hand out.
"Come on. We got to help him", he said. Sarah nodded.
"Tom! TOM!" she cried as she ran across Wonderland Plaza towards where she heard his voice and where the super zombies had gone towards. She ran across the corpse littered plaza with a shotgun trembling in her delicate hands. Blood decorated her clothing and was caked in her hair. She ran down the stairs into the play park, ignoring the stirring figure in the bushes.
"Unh. That hurts like hell", Andrew said as he sat up and gathered his thoughts. A brunette girl ran across the plaza right past him, toting a shotgun, towards where Tom, Zach, and Sarah were. Andrew watched her run past him. A few moments passed before he snapped to his senses and stood up quickly and took off after the girl.
'Is that her?' he asked himself, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey! Hold up!" he called out after the girl. She glanced back, waved, but continued running. Andrew grumbled and followed.
Tom twitched slightly as he hung from the giant hand of the axe zombie. The zombie moaned and raised its axe, poised to cleave Tom in two. Tom's arm reached out grasping the forearm of his captor. The zombie paused for a moment. Suddenly, Tom drove his katana upwards through the middle of the zombie's forearm, through the bone and muscle.
The zombie's pitch black eyes widened and its vice grip on Tom loosened somewhat. Tom's open arm snaked around the forearm while the other kept a firm grip on the katana. He swung his legs forward and twisted, wrenching his head free from the huge zombie's grasp, as well as kicking the zombie in the chin with his right leg, following with a kick across the cheek with the left leg.
The zombie roared in pain as Tom hung upside down from its bleeding arm. Tom stared at his opponent; his hollow empty eyes boring into the solid black spheres of the monster's. The zombie flailed its arm out trying to dispose of Tom. It slammed him against the wall causing Tom to wince and snarl. The boy started to pull out the katana as the zombie whirled around, swinging its arm wildly. Tom was thrown across the plaza. He twisted in the air and landed on his feet, sliding backwards a few yards. The zombie clutched at its wounded arm as it stared at its foe.
Zach and Sarah skidded to a halt as the scene unfolded before them. A sudden maniacal laughter and the revving of a chainsaw began to reverberate through the plaza as well. Zach looked around for the noise disturbance when he glimpsed the brunette girl coming through the play park with Andrew on her heels. He watched the two run up the stairs to their side of the plaza and also stop running as they watched Tom square off against the hulking monstrosity.
"You're in my way", Tom growled. The zombie growled back.
Andrew looked back and forth between Tom and the zombie, to the girl, to Zach and Sarah, and back again. He saw the girl who was trembling.
"Uh. Excuse me. You wouldn't happen to be-" Andrew started. The girl shrieked loudly, cutting him off, as she watched Tom rush forward. The zombie raised the axe overhead and brought it down at Tom, who rolled aside.
The zombie gripped the axe with both hands and swung it horizontally at Tom's head. Tom ducked and thrust his katana at the zombie, driving it through a shin. The zombie buckled and collapsed to one knee. Tom threw an uppercut while he ripped out his weapon at the same time. The zombie stumbled back, off balance, and Tom jumped at it.
The zombie flung its large arm out, catching Tom in the shoulder and batting him away. Tom howled in anger.
Zach and Sarah ran over to Andrew and the girl. Sarah wrapped her arms around Andrew's waist and hugged him tightly, which caused him to groan from the injury. Zach looked at the girl who was horrified by what was going on.
"I'll kill you!" Tom roared. The zombie slammed its fist into the ground and bellowed at Tom. The two charged at each other. The zombie started to throw a punch, but Tom crouched under and sliced through the knee, cutting off part of the left leg. The zombie tumbled to the ground. Tom walked up to the crippled monster, muttered something inaudible, and then drove the katana through the back of its head, withdrew it, and then decapitated the monster. Blood and other gore began to spill out from the wound.
Sarah buried her head in Andrew's chest as he too looked away. Zach's jaw dropped. The girl turned ghostly pale, dropping her gun, and then dropping to her knees. The zombie's head rolled slowly towards them, coming to a rest at Zach's feet, the solid black eyes staring right at him. Zach kicked the head away quickly.
"T-T-Tom? I-I-Is that y-you?" the girl whimpered. Tom stood there blank.
"Hey…girl", Zach said, "You wouldn't happen to be Sam by any chance?" She looked up and nodded although a little taken aback at the question.
"Well that's ironic. We were looking for you", he said.
"Wha-? Me? Who are you?" Sam asked dumbfounded.
"Sam…it's me. Zach. That is Sarah and Andrew", Zach said cooly. It took a moment for Zach's words to register with the girl, who then jumped up, color returning to her face.
"Oh! God! Thank god! I thought I was alone!" Sam exclaimed. Zach shrugged. Andrew and Sarah were locked in an embrace, though a smirk could be seen on Andrew's face.
"That IS Tom then?" Sam asked excitedly. Zach nodded.
Sam ran up to Tom who had turned away and was looking at something up on the second level. She ran up and wrapped her arms around his body, hugging him heavily. Sam started to whimper and sob and thus buried her head in Tom's back.
"I thought I was all alone. Oh thank goodness I'm not!", came her muffled voice. Tom mumbled something.
"I'm so glad to see you. I really am!" she cried. Tom repeated what he said, but she didn't acknowledge it.
"Are you alright Tom?" Sam asked worriedly. Tom mumbled again, but a little louder, which sounded like 'Get off of me'.
Sam asked, "What did you say? You've got to stop mumbling Tommy. Oh have by the way have you seen Zack or John. I was here with them. Do you know if they are okay?"
Zach, Andrew, and Sarah's eyes all widened as they approached. Sarah clasped her hands over her mouth.
"Uh oh..." Zach whispered. The other two nodded.
Tom shifted his head sideways and looked down at her with one hollow eye. A malicious smile worked its way across his face. Sam still had her head buried in his back and sobbed. Tom stood there indifferently as Sam cried into his back, until movement and noise that came from the top of the stairs caught the teens' attention. They looked up and saw two people coming down the stairs; one looked like a security guard, and the other was Frank. Zach, Andrew, and Sarah walked past Tom and Sam to go meet Frank and the security guard coming down the stairs.
"Hey there Frank. How's it going?" Zach asked as Frank and the other person jogged over towards the trio.
"Just another day in paradise", Frank replied sarcastically. "What happened here?" he then asked.
"Eh...nothing much. Just a few super zombies trying to kill us. Nope. Nothing out of the ordinary happening here", Andrew chuckled slightly with Sarah still clinging to his arm, breathing heavily.
"What's up with them? Oh the name's Greg by the way", the security guard said nodding towards Tom and Sam.
"Uh...nothing? Anyway, you know how to get into the secret passage from the bathroom don't you Greg?" Zach asked. Greg was taken aback, but nodded.
"Yeah. I was going to take Frank to it in thanks for saving me from-", he started.
"The clown with the chainsaws. Adam wasn't it?" Zach and Andrew finished in unison. The two adults raised their eyebrows, but shrugged it off, thinking it wasn't too odd for kids to know the name of a clown who worked at Williamette Mall all the time.
"Well. Shall we go then?" Frank inquired. The others nodded. Andrew called out for Tom and Sam to catch up. The two did so, and the group entered the bathroom where Greg then revealed the secret passage to Paradise Plaza. Despite some minor disconcerting looks and grumbles from Sarah and Sam, the group made it back to the plaza, and proceeded back to the security room without much difficulty. Tom was on a rampage, killing zombies, wailing like a madman. By the time they reached the room, it was just turning 7p.m. The teens walked into a room together, but each sat in their own respective part of the room. Sarah and Andrew sat together. Zach sprawled out on the floor. Sam sat in a corner looking at Tom who sat by the door.
Sam opened her mouth to speak, when Zach waved his arm to catch her attention. She looked at him confusedly as he shook his head, implying to not say anything to Tom in his present state. Sarah and Andrew fell asleep resting against each other. Tom sat lazily covered in blood as he became lost in his thoughts. Sam shrank into herself, wrapping her arms around her legs, and silently sobbed. She heard a rustling sound as Zach drug himself near to her. Sam looked at him through tear-filled eyes. Zach put his hand on her knee and smiled comfortingly at her.
"Talk to me. I know you're worried about him. He's my best friend after all", Zach whispered. A hazy eye drifted over Zach and Sam. A smirk slightly developed across his face, as he observed quietly.
"I-I-I just don't know anymore. The whole world has gone to hell, and Tom...Tom is just not himself. It's so scary. He's changed again, like after he found out about John. Why is it everytime I do something, I seem to end up sacrificing a close friend. I never thought Tom would change like this. He was always so nice to me", Sam replied.
"Well, pardon my language, but you've been a real bitch to him. He really cares about you, and yet you break his heart all the time. Backstabbing him and whatnot", Zach said coldly.
"I don't try to!" Sam said defensively, "I didn't ask for him to like me so much. I think he's a great guy, don't get me wrong, and he's one of my best friends!"
"More like you like the attention he gave you. You seem like a nice girl. You're attractive. And according to him, you're quite open and funny. I think you're heart is in the right place, but your actions beg to differ", Zach countered. Sam's cheeks flushed.
Sam was about to reply when Tom stirred. He stood up and then walked out of the room. Sam watched him go. Zach looked the girl up and down. No words were exchanged afterward.
'You hear that? She doesn't even want you to like her! Why should you keep caring?' jeered the evil side of Tom's personality. Tom was suspended in the room by darkness. He hung their as if crucified on a cross, his arms outstretched and his legs all bound and immobile. Tom's head hung low and he sobbed quietly.
'Impudent weakling! Answer!' Dark Tom shouted. Tom remained sobbing, but otherwise silent. Dark Tom walked up an invisible ramp, and stood level with Tom. He reached out and gently caressed Tom's wet cheek.
'I'm sorry for your loss Tommy. Perhaps my method isn't the answer. Talk to me. Let us be civilized', Dark Tom said soothingly. Tom pulled his head away.
'Bastard. Haven't you caused me enough grief!? Now what do you intend to do? Kill my friends?' Tom snarled back.
'My, my, my! Such hostility. And here I thought I was the violent one. Truth be told, I never did anything to you. You did it all to yourself', Dark Tom replied, 'You built up all the hatred and rage and hurt, and crammed it all into one little ball inside your heart. Now it's a stain forever imprinted on your so-called good nature. You are actually worse than me. I never really had anything to do with your life up until now.'
'Liar! You're lying!' Tom cried out. Dark Tom's arm blackened and he thrust it forward through Tom's chest. Though no blood was drawn, Tom felt the insane amount of pain shoot through him and he coughed harshly. The other hand roughly grabbed Tom's cheeks and lifted Tom to eye level.
'Shut your trap. If I ever had anything to do with your past life, don't you think you would've been a little more aggressive and all? Fighting people. Breaking rules. The fun stuff?' Dark Tom said bearing his fangs. Tom's eyes widened, and then started to fill with tears. Tom began to sob, but soon started crying heavily.
'Oh come now. Are you that much of a wimp?' sighed Dark Tom. He turned and walked away, fading into the darkness as he scratched the back of his head.
'When you feel like being a man, just give me a shout' the voice of Tom's dark side echoed.
Tom sat on one of the cushioned benches, and began to space out when he heard muffled voices coming from the monitor room. Tom crept up and placed his head against the door to eavesdrop.
"Doctor, please. We need you're assistance" Jessie said.
"Have you any idea WHAT your are doing?" the Doctor Barnaby growled.
"Well...no. That's why I'm here. To figure out what in the hell is going on. And I'm sure that's why Brad and Jessie are here too! So if you don't mind...spill it doc!" Frank growled back. A thump was then heard.
"Frank let go of him!" Jessie cried. "Let go of me you brat!" the doctor yelled.
"Not unless you promise to tell me just what the hell is going on in this crazy ass place! What's up with these zombies? Tell me damn it! Give me the information I need!" Frank shouted. The seemingly stubborn doctor must've grumbled compliance, as the noise decreased back to normal conversation.
"Ahem...", the doctor started, "Well...this city was actually a secret biological testing station. Recently I was head of a special operation in genetic enhancement research. It was founded by a secret organization, which I will not name, that desired to create a serum or pill or virus for lack of a better term, that would create superior genetically enhanced soldiers. Super soldiers if you will. Unfortunately the only breakthrough we had was when a bee got into the serum we were making, and then stung one of the scientists. The man definitely became genetically superior, whilst all our other experiments with direct injections only resulted in the subject going into a comatose state, before dying. Occasionally there was some reanimation, thus you have your zombies. The infected scientist had to be quickly disposed of, because he went into a bloodthirsty, destructive rampage."
"Wait", Frank interjected, "You said a bee got into the stuff and that's what created the zombies?"
"Yes"
"But didn't you say that the bee sting was successful? The subject wasn't killed by it?" Jessie asked.
"Well he wasn't. We continued experimentation with the bee stings. Some subjects died. Others zombified. A couple succeeded, but still went into a rampage. Our efforts seemed to be fruitless", the doctor replied.
"Hey. Does this bee", Frank said followed by a faint clank of a glass jar meeting wood desk, "look like one of yours?" A shocked gasp followed. Curiosity consumed Tom and he peered through the window into the monitor room. Frank stood leaning on the desk on one arm with a smug grin on his face. Jessie sat in the chair crosslegged adjusting her glasses. Dr. Barnaby's jaw hung open as he stared at the jar on the desk. Inside the jar, a large bee was contained, buzzing furiously. Tom watched and listened carefully.
"H-how did you come across one of them?" the doctor asked excitedly.
"Well, I killed some zombies that were holding their arms in the air, and the bee burst out from the head", Frank replied. Jessie studied the genetically enhanced bee through the glass.
"Funny thing is...if I kill the bee near a bunch of zombies, they all start thrashing around before their head exploding. Got any ideas doc?", Frank asked. The doctor tilted his head.
"U-u-unfortunately...I am not going to disclose any more information to you. You could ruin everything!" Barnaby exclaimed. Frank made a motion to grab the doctor again when Jessie intervened.
"Thank you doctor. You've provided more than enough information for now. Go and get some rest." The doctor nodded and walked through one of the other doors. Frank glared at Jessie before storming off towards the vents. Tom took one last glance at the bee before walking back towards the room where the others were resting.
Tom's hand grasped the icy doorknob of the door, but whispering stopped him from opening the door. Instead, he crept to the window and peered into the room. Andrew and Sarah were sound asleep in the same corner. He scanned the rest of the empty room, and caught Zach and Sam sitting in the far corner. Not much light reached that corner, but enough to get the image. Zach and Sam were cuddled against each other locked in a deep kiss. Tom's heart started pounding furiously and his fists clenched. Tom bit his lower lip, puncturing it, blood oozing. Tom took a couple of steps back and dropped down on the cushioned bench.
'N-No! No! No! No!' Tom cried out from his imprisonment. Dark Tom stood on the floor having crossed his arms. Tom started to thrash about in his imprisonment.
'That bitch! Where does she get off? H-how could she? HOW COULD HE?!' Tom screamed. Dark Tom stroked his chin, a slight smirk sneaking its way across his face. Tom continued you shout out curses when Dark Tom lashed out with a tentacle-like appendage, slapping Tom across his face.
'Shut the hell up. I am trying to think in case you haven't noticed' he snarled.
'Let me down from here so I can tear you into tiny little pieces you little bastard!' Tom bellowed in rebuttal. The evil version started to float off the ground up to Tom.
'Now just calm do-' 'Bite me!' Tom interjected. Dark Tom frowned.
'So be it' Dark Tom mumbled. He waved his hand and the darkness binding Tom disappated, releasing him. Tom fell rapidly to the floor, landing with a loud thump. Dark Tom gently floated to the floor, landing without a sound.
Tom knelt, cradling his wrists. Dark Tom stood some feet away watching. Tom slowly stood up brushing himself off. Suddenly, Tom rushed forward at his evil doppleganger and began to throw vicious blows. Dark Tom grinned as he simply dodged and evaded all the attacks. Tom attacked with inhuman speed fueled by rage, but still Dark Tom was faster. Dark Tom thrust his hand out in an instant, clamping around Tom's throat, and then slamming him to the ground.
'It's futile Tom. You're rage only feeds my power. You can't win.' he taunted. Tom began to writhe and thrash in attempt to get free. The other continued to gloat.
'Why are you wasting your efforts on me. There is so many more productive things you could be doing right about now, such as killing those backstabbers.'
Tom abruptly stopped moving. His hair concealed his eyes, and Dark Tom felt immense hatred emanate from Tom's body. Tom began to smile revealing teeth that had become fangs. Dark Tom's smug grin slowly twisted into an expression of fear. Tom began to laugh. He planted his knees in Dark Tom's chest before thrusting upwards, and throwing Dark Tom off of him. The two stared each other down.
'What's going on?', Dark Tom growled, 'Answer me!'
'Nothing. I've just let myself loose. I have no need for you. Begone!' Tom roared. His right arm grew black and rapidly extended outward, breaking into multiple tentacle-like appendages, and piercing through Dark Tom. Dark Tom shrieked as the appendages ripped him apart.
'W-w-what are you g-going to d-do w-without m-me? You are w-weak without me!' Dark Tom managed to cry out before he disappated into darkness. Tom laughed.
'As I said. I have no need for you. This is my body, and I shall do with it, whatever I damn well please. And now...'
Author's Note: Sorry about taking so long to update. I hope that though this was sort of 'filler', it will help tie up some loose ends.
