Rise of Mankind
Chapter 4
A special thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story!!! I hope to post two more chapters over the next few days. Thanks again!!
As John pulled a chair up to him and propped his feet up on the counsel, the words Kate had just spoken to him continued to play over in his head. A smile came to his face and relief flooded his mind as it finally dawned to him that she didn't love Scott. He was glad to know that every time she looked at him, he wasn't going to be a reminder that because of him, she had lost the love of her life. As he closed his eyes he replayed the scene in his head. He could tell from the look in her eyes, that she had wanted him to kiss her. He knew that an intimate relationship with her would be immensely gratifying but he just wasn't sure how much it would complicate things now. Still, he knew the wait would drive him insane by trying to be noble. Over the last few years he had known his share of women, but most of them had been one-night stands that he had met in bars as he traveled across the states. His lifestyle didn't give him the opportunity to get to know people beyond skin. Even if it had, he had never met anyone that held his interest for very long. As he pictured her creamy smooth skin and auburn locks accentuated by soft lips his heart started to flutter. Never in his life had he wanted to kiss someone so much.
As he closed his eyes and folded his arms behind his head, the quiet hiss of static from the radio stopped. The deep silence of the room grabbed his attention as he leaned forward waiting to see what happened. The radio began to make loud clicking noises. After several clicks the static would return. He waited to see if he heard any voices. He was afraid to speak in to the radio, afraid that somehow their location might become known. John waited anxiously hoping for some sign of life beyond their steel doors. After a couple more of disappointing clicks from the radio, the static returned. John leaned back in the chair figuring it was just some type of interference and quickly fell asleep.
Kate glanced down at the diamond ring that was sitting on her finger. While holding the picture of her father in her other hand she thought of how much he would have approved of Scott. Even though she knew that she didn't truly love him, she missed him. She missed the simple smile on his face that greeted her everyday when she came home from the clinic. For that small reason, he would always have a special place in her heart. She removed the ring from her finger and admired the beautiful cut of the stone. She walked into the bathroom and brought the ring to her lips for a soft kiss.
K-I'm so sorry Scott. I'll never forget you.
She dropped the ring into the white porcelain bowl and watched as it splashed when it hit the water. She pushed the handle down on the toilet and watched as the swirling water sucked it down the hole. She knew that the whole idea seemed pretty morbid but it was her simple way of paying her respects to him. Obviously there wouldn't be a funeral, and to continue to wear the ring wouldn't be fair. She probably could have sold it for food and supplies one day in the future, but she owed him more than that and wouldn't mock the love that he felt for her. She turned the light off in the room and walked back into the control center where John was asleep. As she looked around the place trying to find something to keep herself busy with, she noticed several books sitting on the shelf. Happy to see that she found something to take up some time she quickly scanned over the titles. Much to her disappointment, every book before her were manuals on the art of war and how to be prepared. She let out a heavy sigh realizing that they would definitely need those books soon, but she was looking for something not so depressing to start off with.
She was dying to talk to someone but refused to wake John up. As she picked up his empty mug of coffee that sat on the counter before him, she saw his large duffel bag sitting at his feet. She knew it was wrong to look through someone else's personal stuff, but she was hoping that he might have a magazine or comic book in there. After all when he was younger, he would always get into trouble as school with the teachers. When he wasn't ditching class or serving detention, he was always reading comics. She picked up the gray faded sack and unzipped the lining at the top. Just as she suspected, he did have several old Spiderman and Superman comic books. As she pulled more items out of his bag, she came across several road maps for different states and the access code book for the base they were staying in. Lying at the bottom of the bag next to a paint gun and hunting knife was a picture. As she glanced at the old faded picture a smile appeared on her face. Telling by the serious look on her face, she knew the photo had to be a picture of John's mother. She was very young with soft eyes and beautiful skin. She could see some resemblances of her in John, but figured that he had to look more like his father. As she looked at the picture of the woman she had heard so much about, she couldn't but help wonder what she had been thinking of when the photo was snapped. She looked sad but determined at the same time.
J-You would have liked her. She was an amazing person.
Kate jumped at the sound of his voice and was shocked to see John standing over her shoulder admiring the picture of his mother. Her face turned red and she felt embarrassed at the thought of being busted for rummaging through his things.
K-I hope you're not upset. I was looking for something to read and figured you might have a comic book or something.
J-Its ok. I don't mind.
He took the photo of his mother from her and looked at it. Deep down inside, he was glad that she wasn't here and didn't have to experience what had happened to them and the rest of the world. Her dreams had tormented her enough through the years.
J-She was thinking about my father when this photo was taken. She was about eight months pregnant at the time.
K- It must have been very hard for her back then. I highly doubt anyone with a same mind would have believed her.
J-They didn't believe her. Instead they locked her up in a psychiatric ward and they placed me with different foster parents every few years. The last time they sent a terminator after me, my mother and father of the month got caught in the crossfire.
K-I couldn't imagine how life was for you growing up.
J-You get used to it after a while. After time, I guess you just think that it's normal. Especially when you never got to experience it any different.
Looking for a reason to try to change the subject, he reached inside the bag and pulled out a deck of cards.
J-Are you feeling up to a game of poker or spades?
K- I can't believe you actually have a deck of cards in that thing. I haven't played cards in years.
J-When you're a loner and have nothing to do, solitaire is a good way to take up time. Besides, I'm pretty good at poker and I had to try to make a living somehow didn't I?
She let out a soft chuckle as she pulled a chair up next time while he shuffled the cards.
To be continued, please review !!!
Chapter 4
A special thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story!!! I hope to post two more chapters over the next few days. Thanks again!!
As John pulled a chair up to him and propped his feet up on the counsel, the words Kate had just spoken to him continued to play over in his head. A smile came to his face and relief flooded his mind as it finally dawned to him that she didn't love Scott. He was glad to know that every time she looked at him, he wasn't going to be a reminder that because of him, she had lost the love of her life. As he closed his eyes he replayed the scene in his head. He could tell from the look in her eyes, that she had wanted him to kiss her. He knew that an intimate relationship with her would be immensely gratifying but he just wasn't sure how much it would complicate things now. Still, he knew the wait would drive him insane by trying to be noble. Over the last few years he had known his share of women, but most of them had been one-night stands that he had met in bars as he traveled across the states. His lifestyle didn't give him the opportunity to get to know people beyond skin. Even if it had, he had never met anyone that held his interest for very long. As he pictured her creamy smooth skin and auburn locks accentuated by soft lips his heart started to flutter. Never in his life had he wanted to kiss someone so much.
As he closed his eyes and folded his arms behind his head, the quiet hiss of static from the radio stopped. The deep silence of the room grabbed his attention as he leaned forward waiting to see what happened. The radio began to make loud clicking noises. After several clicks the static would return. He waited to see if he heard any voices. He was afraid to speak in to the radio, afraid that somehow their location might become known. John waited anxiously hoping for some sign of life beyond their steel doors. After a couple more of disappointing clicks from the radio, the static returned. John leaned back in the chair figuring it was just some type of interference and quickly fell asleep.
Kate glanced down at the diamond ring that was sitting on her finger. While holding the picture of her father in her other hand she thought of how much he would have approved of Scott. Even though she knew that she didn't truly love him, she missed him. She missed the simple smile on his face that greeted her everyday when she came home from the clinic. For that small reason, he would always have a special place in her heart. She removed the ring from her finger and admired the beautiful cut of the stone. She walked into the bathroom and brought the ring to her lips for a soft kiss.
K-I'm so sorry Scott. I'll never forget you.
She dropped the ring into the white porcelain bowl and watched as it splashed when it hit the water. She pushed the handle down on the toilet and watched as the swirling water sucked it down the hole. She knew that the whole idea seemed pretty morbid but it was her simple way of paying her respects to him. Obviously there wouldn't be a funeral, and to continue to wear the ring wouldn't be fair. She probably could have sold it for food and supplies one day in the future, but she owed him more than that and wouldn't mock the love that he felt for her. She turned the light off in the room and walked back into the control center where John was asleep. As she looked around the place trying to find something to keep herself busy with, she noticed several books sitting on the shelf. Happy to see that she found something to take up some time she quickly scanned over the titles. Much to her disappointment, every book before her were manuals on the art of war and how to be prepared. She let out a heavy sigh realizing that they would definitely need those books soon, but she was looking for something not so depressing to start off with.
She was dying to talk to someone but refused to wake John up. As she picked up his empty mug of coffee that sat on the counter before him, she saw his large duffel bag sitting at his feet. She knew it was wrong to look through someone else's personal stuff, but she was hoping that he might have a magazine or comic book in there. After all when he was younger, he would always get into trouble as school with the teachers. When he wasn't ditching class or serving detention, he was always reading comics. She picked up the gray faded sack and unzipped the lining at the top. Just as she suspected, he did have several old Spiderman and Superman comic books. As she pulled more items out of his bag, she came across several road maps for different states and the access code book for the base they were staying in. Lying at the bottom of the bag next to a paint gun and hunting knife was a picture. As she glanced at the old faded picture a smile appeared on her face. Telling by the serious look on her face, she knew the photo had to be a picture of John's mother. She was very young with soft eyes and beautiful skin. She could see some resemblances of her in John, but figured that he had to look more like his father. As she looked at the picture of the woman she had heard so much about, she couldn't but help wonder what she had been thinking of when the photo was snapped. She looked sad but determined at the same time.
J-You would have liked her. She was an amazing person.
Kate jumped at the sound of his voice and was shocked to see John standing over her shoulder admiring the picture of his mother. Her face turned red and she felt embarrassed at the thought of being busted for rummaging through his things.
K-I hope you're not upset. I was looking for something to read and figured you might have a comic book or something.
J-Its ok. I don't mind.
He took the photo of his mother from her and looked at it. Deep down inside, he was glad that she wasn't here and didn't have to experience what had happened to them and the rest of the world. Her dreams had tormented her enough through the years.
J-She was thinking about my father when this photo was taken. She was about eight months pregnant at the time.
K- It must have been very hard for her back then. I highly doubt anyone with a same mind would have believed her.
J-They didn't believe her. Instead they locked her up in a psychiatric ward and they placed me with different foster parents every few years. The last time they sent a terminator after me, my mother and father of the month got caught in the crossfire.
K-I couldn't imagine how life was for you growing up.
J-You get used to it after a while. After time, I guess you just think that it's normal. Especially when you never got to experience it any different.
Looking for a reason to try to change the subject, he reached inside the bag and pulled out a deck of cards.
J-Are you feeling up to a game of poker or spades?
K- I can't believe you actually have a deck of cards in that thing. I haven't played cards in years.
J-When you're a loner and have nothing to do, solitaire is a good way to take up time. Besides, I'm pretty good at poker and I had to try to make a living somehow didn't I?
She let out a soft chuckle as she pulled a chair up next time while he shuffled the cards.
To be continued, please review !!!
