Terminus III: If And When We Rise Again

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Everything had been set in a state of utter darkness. The only light was the sickly and eerie red glow that had settled over the town. Everything was dead, the vegetation was almost all scorched black, the waters tainted with blood. The society had been torn down leaving only a few defiant structures standing among the ruble.

Fierce winds howled through the land quickly picking up a few brittle leaves left on a lone tree. The fall children blew mercilessly around obeying the wind's commands and were soon swept across the ground. They tumbled against a building and the little brown leaves fell backward and wedged themselves in one of the holes in the concrete.

Their rest was disturbed as a combat boot came down upon them and crushed them without a second thought. The owner of the boot stood on the empty street with another standing loyally beside her. She readjusted a strap that went across her tattered and bloody clothes tightly.

The boy beside her used his sleeve to wipe some blood from his glasses. He turned to face the pale girl standing beside him as she adjusted her belt that held an assortment of weapons.

"Did you get word on Jazz?" She asked not looking up from what she was doing. Her face stern and serious.

He shook his head. "No." He replied mournfully. "Sam I don't think she made it."

Sam continued fiddling with the latch on the front then grew frustrated as another wave of harsh reality washed over her. She growled angrily and threw her hands down. "He's going to kill us!" She wailed and began pacing.

This whole thing was just unforgivable. Valerie, the Fentons, her parents, Tucker's parents, kids from school, teachers, and the list went on. They were all gone forever lost to the destruction. Some buried beneath rubble others lying somewhere in the streets and fields motionless and cold. No one was left to lay them to rest, no one was there to mourn for them.

Tucker watched her giving her some space to vent her anger and sorrow. Times were difficult and with Jazz gone they were all that was left of the town. All that stayed had been killed, all that had left were not going to come back. And whose to say that once they were gone that the evil wouldn't attack the rest of the world.

Sam continued to pace and mutter curses under her breath and Tucker stood there watching. He was still in shock that everything had gone so wrong so fast. It was still so sudden too, everyone was living their lives in content. Then that strange darkness fell over them all, the evacuation alarms sounded people panicked and attempted to leave, but not all made it. Others fought but no one had triumphed.

Sam and Tucker only had each other now as they stood in the streets of the desolate town. How could everyone just be wiped out so quickly, how could so much damaged be caused in practically no time?

Sam let out a screech of rage and began pounding at one of the few buildings left standing. Her fists made hard banging sounds as she beat on the bricks for her own therapy. Tucker ran over to her and calmed her grabbing her hands and holding them in his as she crumpled defeated to her knees.

"Sam, please try to get a hold of yourself." He soothed in any attempt to get the teenager to her feet.

"Why Tuck why?" She shouted tears falling from her eyes. "Everyone is gone and no one can save us. No one will. And this is all my fault they're dead because of me!"

"No!" He growled pulling her back up and firmly grasping her shoulders. "It was never you're fault you did nothing wrong. I promise you, you had nothing to do with this Sam."

Sam let her head hang she wouldn't believe him. There was no other explanation for what had happened except that she had been stupid. Stupid enough to come up with crazy ideas and stupid enough to turn away from someone who needed her.

"Sam." Tucker called lightly lifting her chin upward and forcing eye contact. "You didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes things just happen that we can't control."

"Oh Tucker." Sam gasped and threw herself into his arms. "Why is it so unfair?" She cried seeking comfort from her friend.

Tucker ran his hand through her dusty black hair to soothe her. He hushed her and soon she calmed down and stayed in his arms. At this moment he was grateful for the contact. They were hurt in every possible and they needed each other. Through the devastation they couldn't forget that they had their needs.

"Well isn't this touching?" A dark voice mocked.

Sam and Tucker broke apart instantly forgetting their pain and went to battle position. But within a matter of seconds, before anything could be done, Tucker was blasted backwards. She only managed a small screech as her best friend was pushed away, leaving her standing alone.

"You can forget about Tucker, he's gone." He confirmed casually watching Sam back step in a poor attempt to get to him. It couldn't be true, it couldn't be. Her fear was melting away and being replaced by a cold dark feeling.

"You always did the right thing!" She shouted looking him in the eye. "Why this? Everyone who believed in you, you destroyed. What the hell Danny what happened to you! What!" She was letting tears slide down her face, how could she be the last one standing? Why her?

She fingered the ecto-gun on her belt her face set in a deep scowl as she glared up at the bright green eyes. He glared down at her a vicious smirk on his face. She loved him once, but now she had nothing but hate for him. Killing him though, it would take every fiber of her being to bring herself to that. But he did it somehow, she had to for them, for Tucker.

"Oh Sammy, you aren't going to hurt me are you?" He asked innocently floating closer to her until he was in front of her face. He enjoyed the few moments he had gazing into her amethyst eyes with her warm breath playing against his lips.

"I swear." She shuddered as he touched her face gently smoothing his gloved fingers over her skin.

"Poor Sammy, she never knew I was always saving her for last. Always." He explained lovingly floating slowly behind her. She gasped at a sudden realization of his words her mind was reeling as he continued to caress her.

Her eyes widened and she whipped around to face him once more. "You..."

"It's over Sam!" He shouted raising his glowing fists.

Sam screamed as her world faded to darkness. She briefly caught sight of Tucker lying beside her and all she could mull over in her few seconds of life was how this could've happened. Then finally the darkness took her away from the world.

Yes...I bet you're like...wait I didn't read Terminus I or II, why is there a III? Well I wanted to work backwards, cause I can. So this is more of the you-know-the-ending-but-not-the-begining thing. I told you I wouldn't abandon At Random, heh heh...