(It's been quite a while hasn't it, my fellow chipmunks and chipettes! At last, I've finished writing and proof reading the eighth chapter of The Cataclysm! This one took a while due to difficulties properly writing scenes and several revisions, but I managed to get past these setbacks. I hope you enjoy, and remember to leave a review!)
General POV
0300 hours
New York
Brooklyn Bridge Road Block
It's early in the morning on Brooklyn Bridge, and sleep deprivation is starting to set in upon the soldiers posted at the road block. Dug in with portable steel walls, several armored jeeps, and high caliber rifles loaded with armor piercing rounds, the platoon of twenty feels prepared for anything, but nonetheless, its security does little to ward off the fear of the unsettling screams and cries that emanate from the distant darkness.
A caucasian militant, PFC Kelly, aims down the sights of his weapon over a short barrier as he has done for the past dragging hour, visibly shaking all the while, "Oh God, of God, oh god...", he whispers repeatedly.
"Shut up the Hell up, K! You're not helping!", another soldier hisses at him from behind.
"This ain't right, man. It never ends. That...fucking screaming!"
"Quiet! Both of you!", says their commander, SGT James, a black man armed with a holstered pistol and a pair of thermal binoculars, "I...I think something's coming...these damn thermals don't work for shit!"
As silence falls upon the soldiers again, they notice that the screaming has at last begun to die down. A piercing wind brushes over them and the bridge, and they begin to prepare themselves for whatever is to come, checking equipment, turning off safeties, and aiming into the black oblivion that is the road beyond. Silence pursues, muffling every uneasy shift and every pneumonia induced cough.
The soldiers tense up as hasty foot steps approach them. As the running becomes louder, a pale, heavily panting man comes into view.
Kelly suddenly stands up and aims directly at the man, "STOP, ASSHOLE!", he screams, still shaking in fear.
The man stops short, but frantically shuffles and looks back and forth, clearly out of extreme anxiety, "Don't shoot! Please...l-let me through!"
"Put the gun down, Kelly! He's not armed.", their Sergeant yells.
Beneath the bridge, pitch black shadows slink along the darkness, slowly making their way behind the road block.
"Please! I'm begging you! Don't let them kill me!", the man cries.
The dark patches slither up the shadows on the vertical beams of the bridge and then onto the road before moving under the jeeps. One seeps into each vehicle, and the rest move forward, using the shadows of each soldier as cover.
"Alright, cadets. Stand down. Loriette, Davis, go help him.", says the Sergeant.
Just as the two specified soldiers begin to move, the dark patches in the soldiers' shadows come to life. Corruptions rise out of the ground and quickly attack, brutally killing them. Soldiers fall with their hands feebly pawing at rapidly gushing slashes in their throats, and others collapse only as the corruptions behind them pull their spear-morph arms out their flesh. Screams emanate from the jeeps and the cracking of bones and sloshing of guts and gore fill the night air.
The man on the street ahead watches in horror, but is suddenly brought to his hands and knees screaming as a jagged object finds its way deep into his lower back. Someone kicks him, pushing him onto his side as the object is torn from his flesh.
A strange, blue furred corrupted, far unlike any other, comes into view and kneels down and stares at him...and then reveals a horrendous mechanical arm, tipped with terribly long claws bearing jagged edges on the underside of each silver finger. The corrupted smirks, then plunges its arm into the man's throat before violently jerking it back out, spraying dark blood onto the pavement.
More corrupteds materialize from the shadowy embrace of the darkness beyond and the corruptions vacate their gory masterpiece that was once a formidable road block.
A corruption approaches the cyborg chipmunk, "BLITZ. WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN TAKING THE BRIDGE. THIS MEAGER TASK WAS ELEMENTARY, AND WE REQUEST PERMISSION TO TERRORIZE THE CITY ON OUR OWN ACCORD AS COMPENSATION."
The corrupted called Blitz simply nods, and the corruptions disappear in orbs of darkness.
Blitz turns about towards the army of corrupteds that has now developed behind him. His voice lets out as more of a grating, synthetic screech than an actual voice, but is nonetheless decipherable, "This...is but the beginning! These puny...humans...must be slaughtered! These inferior...creatures...are to be shown no mercy! Put them down without pity, without remorse; relish in their screams! Because...we are children of The Cataclysm! And we shall be the harbingers of his wrath!"
The corrupteds scream out and throw their fists into the air. Blitz's mechanical voice screams out in unison, "Let's wipe these worms off the face of the world!"
The corrupteds charge forward, ready to wreck havoc on the city, all the while the tiresome denizens remain dormant; unaware of the horror about to befall them.
*SCENE TRANSITION*
The radiant, orange glow of the rising sun cascades through the crack of the barn door and gently flows over Simon and Theodore's faces, warming their fur. Simon begins to stir, and his eyes flutter open to the bright light. The blue-clad chipmunk sits up from the hay and rubs the sleep from his eyes, then blinks a few times to adjust. He bats off a few blades of hay caught in his fur and stretches out with an euphoric moan, then looks about at his surroundings; his ears twitching this way and that for any sounds
Everything is as it was the night before. The girls remain asleep in the stall opposite of him, while Dave and Alvin sleep sitting up against the same stall's doors. Simon smiles for the first time in a while, and turns to the back to check on Bloodnick and Gutdrench...just as he's stopped short by a loud creek behind him.
Light floods the entire barn as Simon darts for his stall and quickly pulls Theodore in with him, harshly waking him as he does so. Simon holds his paw over his now squirming youngest brother's mouth and quietly hushes him as heavy footfalls enter the barn. A blood curdling metallic click emits outside the stall, making Simon and Theodore's eyes widen in fear...
The chipmunks' ears nearly explode as a terribly loud bang reverberates through the barn, immediately waking everyone.
"GET ON THE GROUND! NOW!", a male voice screams out at a disoriented Dave.
When Dave fails to comply, the man points his shotgun directly at him, "I'm not going to say it again! Get down on your belly and place your hands behind your head!"
Dave can barely hear him but does the first thing that comes to mind and simply raises his open hands with a terrified expression. The man growls in annoyance and kicks Dave in the chest, sending him back into the stall. He aims again, and pulls the trigger.
Fire explodes from the barrel of the gun as it expels the powerful payload of an 8-gauge shotgun shell, right into Alvin.
The man steps back in shock as a large, russet-furred chipmunk remains standing between him and Dave, completely unharmed, "Drop...your...weapon...now. We are not your enemy.", Alvin states with unwavering authority.
The man drops his shotgun and bolts for the door, only to find two more huge chipmunks standing in the way, "Y-you! You're those creatures!", he exclaims and turns back to Alvin, assuming he's the leader, "You're going to kill me, aren't you!"
Several nearly deaf chipmunks and chipettes come out to see the commotion, which earns a confused look from the man, "W-what? Aren't...aren't you Simon and Theodore? And the chipettes too? I-I heard terrible rumors about you; that you'd been kidnapped, or killed."
"Actually, we were in fact kidnapped.", answers Simon, "We managed to escape just yesterday."
"Thank goodness you did, then! I love your music...er, but why are you with these, um...big chipmunks. I saw them on the news attacking people.", the man looks back at Bloodnick and Gutdrench with a nervous expression.
Brittany, holding onto her sisters' shoulders for support, speaks up, "They're the reason why we made it out; why I'm alive."
"Damn, you look like you've all been through Hell. Come back to my house. I'll make you something to eat."
The chipmunks' eyes all light up at this, and they happily follow the hospitable man out the barn and into the warm embrace of the sun. Alvin hoists Brittany into his arms once again and follows, along with the rest of them.
As they follow the man, Simon walks up beside Alvin and Brittany, "Hey Britt. H-how are you feeling?", Simon asks.
Brittany shows obvious discomfort at this question, "Not very good.", she says.
"W-well don't worry, we'll figure out what to do soon enough. Maybe this guy can help."
Upon entering the man's white, two story house, the group is greeted by cherry wood floors and a hallway that splits into three corridors, one going straight and the others going left and right. Beside the frontal hallway is a large staircase coated in dark green carpeting and lined with wooden rails, also made of cherry wood. Great paintings embedded in beautiful frames line the walls, as do various cupboards topped with random miscellaneous items, flowers and photos of game and unfamiliar faces.
The man leads the group down the left hallway and through a room donned with brown leather chairs and a fireplace, and then into the kitchen, which is surprisingly clean. On the left wall, over the sink between the fridge and the pantry, a window baths the marble counter opposite of it in yellow light, where the man places several sandwich ingredients he quickly gathered from the fridge.
"By the way, the name's Jay. You know, like a blue jay? So, what do you like in your sandwich?"
"Everything!", the chipmunks and Dave all say in unison.
Jay smiles and proceeds to toast a whole loaf of 9-grain wheat bread, four slices at a time, whilst his guests make their way into the dining room adjacent to the kitchen.
"So, given who your friends are here, I'm guessing you're Dave.", Jay states as he works.
"That I am.", Dave replies as he looks around, admiring the house.
"Sorry about trying to shoot you...some people came here before you just yesterday and tried to take the place for themselves. I had to shoot two of 'em, and the rest fled."
"Y-you couldn't have reasoned with them?", Dave questions, a little unsettled.
"Problem with that is that they broke in. As soon as I found them, they attacked me. So no, I couldn't have."
Dave stops the conversation at that point with a sense of unease.
As Jay finishes the third sandwich, "So, which one of you big, furry fella's was the one that stopped that gun shot?"
Gutdrench speaks up, "Aah, that would be our oh so powerful red-clad friend right here! He just so happens to be a corruptor, like me."
Jay looks over at Alvin, "A corruptor, huh? Is that what you creatures are called?"
"Um, well, three of us, yes. The commons are known as corrupteds, which are created via fusion between a corruption and a host. And the corruptions are created by the corruptors."
"You mean...you made these creatures?", Jay shifts his attention to Gutdrench and Alvin.
"Me and Alvin are indeed capable of doing so, but it is the third of us that is the culprit of the destruction you know us for. The Cataclysm, the original Corruptor, is the ruler of our world, as is he the most powerful."
"Oh...", Jay responds and turns back to the sandwiches. A moment of silence passes, with not even a single breath taken, "...Wha- Alvin?"
"Yes?", said chipmunk replies.
"W-w-w-wha-...how-...a-are you ok? What happened to you?!", Jay stutters in astonishment.
"I'm fine...for the most part.", says Alvin.
"The worst of his side affects we've seen thus far seem to be a drastic change in personality.", Simon explains.
"Well of course his personality's changed.", Gutdrench confirms, "When a host is infected with a corruption via ritual, the corruption first completely nullifies any and all emotions, then attempts to take over the host's mind by infecting it with its, shall we say, seeds of evil. Luckily though, Alvin is a corruptor, and therefore the corruption simply trapped itself in him, and Alvin can now siphon its power for his own use."
"What's the ritual?", asks Theodore.
"I'm not sure I should say that in front of you, young one."
"Oh...", Theodore squeaks.
Suddenly, Brittany blurts out, "Alright! Enough talking already! I'm starving here!"
"Worry not, Britt! I just finished the last sandwich.", says Jay, who then hoists fours plates off the counter, two at a time in either hand by overlapping the edges, and carries them to the table.
Jay repeats this a second time, then brings the last two plates and sets one before Bloodnick before sitting down with him and the rest.
Jay watches with satisfaction as his guests devour the meal he's prepared.
"Jay?", says Brittany between mouth fulls, "Do you have any drinks?"
"Oh, of course.", Jay replies with a smile then heads back to the fridge.
Bloodnick quietly stares down at his untouched plate, analyzing its contents with unexpressed discontent. He grumbles in disappointment and shoves the plate away from him, just as Jay returns.
"H-hey, I didn't make that for nothing. Eat it. Even if you don't like it, you'll need the energy.", says Jay in a slightly exasperated tone.
Bloodnick considers his response, then gives up and pulls his discarded meal back again. Jay sits down as he places a twelve pack of Zevia at the center of the table and hands one to Brittany, who turns the can to look at the label.
"What is this?", she questions, unfamiliar with the brand.
"It's called Zevia. It's a soda, but 100% healthy, and it still tastes good!"
"Ha ha! I can imagine what Alvin would say if he weren't like this. 'What?! You mean no sugar?! What is this poison?!'", says Simon, laughing.
Everyone laughs, but stop suddenly at the distress of choking. Bloodnick quickly jumps up onto the table and dashes into the kitchen, where he jumps to the sink, barely making it in his distressed state, and vomits. Bloodnick heaves into the sink repeatedly, discharging the single bite he'd taken, along with thick strings of bile, blood, various sloppy chunks of flesh, and sticky clumps of fur.
Bloodnick breathes heavily with his head over the gore that now covers the few dirty dishes.
"My God, are you allergic to something?", says Jay, oblivious of the nature of regurgitated contents.
Bloodnick doesn't answer and simply begins cleaning up, rinsing his mouth and retrieving a nearby bag for his stomach contents.
"He...can't eat that...or anything consisting of any sort of fruit, grain, or vegetable for that matter.", says Gutdrench.
"Ah, what? How come?", Jay questions, confused.
"He's a ca-", Simon begins to say, but stops himself, "He's purely carnivore."
"Oh...I see. Sorry, Nick! You shoulda told me!", Jay half yells back at Bloodnick as said chipmunk hops down from the counter with the bag and heads for the door.
"He'll be fine.", says Simon, "In the short time I've known him, I've learned that much."
Jay stares at the door for a time. The chipmunks and Dave all finish their meals and disperse to the living room, wondering amongst themselves what their next move should be. Jay sighs and stands up to collect the dishes, then brings them to the sink.
Bloodnick slinks behind the barn and into a crevice in the rotting wood just above the concrete foundation. He tosses the bag aside and falls to his knees before the fly infested carcass, then plunges his maw into it, tearing a thick hunk of flesh from its hide. Bloodnick moans in delight as he devours the dripping morsel and dives in again, rooting into the creature's gut and gnawing on its organs.
It has been far too long since he'd last had a proper meal, and having been robbed of his first reunion with the bitter sweet, metallic taste of blood, he's infuriated for regurgitating it.
"Stupid herboshit trash. I never should have even considered it!", he hisses through a mouth full of meat.
The ravenous chipmunk swallows a stringy strip of fur covered flesh, relishing in the flavor and the feeling of the hairs that tickle his esophagus, then leans in and laps up blood from the pool that forms in the dead body to wash it down. Bloodnick licks his lips and sighs in relief, happy to have sated his craving. His stomach churns as it works to break down and digest the raw meat, inciting a smile from Bloodnick as he leans back against the old supports and rubs his belly. He inhales deeply, feeling at home with the gloomy darkness and the horrid scent of rotting flesh. Home...
"I...I don't belong here...I'll never belong here...", Bloodnick whispers to himself, suddenly feeling empty.
*SCENE TRANSITION*
8:46 p.m.
Dave drowsily gets up from the couch and yawns as he acquires the TV remotes and taps the power button, drowning the room in darkness, save for the faint moon light that shines in through the windows. He gently rocks Simon, Theodore, and the girls to wake them, and once they all sit up, blinking with tiredness, he ushers them to follow up stairs to the guest room Jay had shown him. Alvin and Gutdrench remain asleep on the adjacent, sideways sofa.
Dave tucks the five of them in a large bed centered against the wall, being extra careful with Brittany, and whispers goodnight to them before he leaves and shuts the door.
*SCENE TRANSITION*
"Aaaah!", Theodore yelps as he wakes with a start. Panting with fear, the little chipmunk quickly crawls out of bed and scurries to the bathroom.
Theodore stumbles onto the tile floor and begins scratching at his cheek feverishly, igniting the fiery relief that beckons him to just keep scratching and scratching! Theodore forces himself to stop and hops up to the toilet seat, then the counter top.
He stops...unease settles over Theodore as he stares into two bright orange luminescent eyes. He crawls closer to the mirror, notices his pupils. No irises. Just pitch black orbs, from which tiny black veins like parasites protrude to form overlapping triangles. He turns his face and gasps at the sight of his cheek.
A black, inflamed streak carves across Theodore's face from his ear to just above the corner of his lip. He touches it, feeling a cold substance make contact with his paw, which he pulls away to find covered in a black tar.
Theodore shakes his head in disgust at the revolting substance and turns on the faucet to wash himself. He steps into the sink and places his paws under the running water, rinsing the tar away into the depths of the drain. He then places his cheek under the faucet and sighs in relief at the cool water, which soothes his raw skin whilst cleaning the wound of the tar.
Half a minute into washing himself, Theodore gingerly brings him paw up to his cheek and massages the wound, coaxing out thick gushes of the black substance. As more and more of the tar is removed, the swelling and itching lessens, bringing more and more relief to the frightened chipmunk.
Eventually, Theodore turns the faucet off as no more tar is finding itself caught in the running water, then hops out and dries off using a small towel hanging from a hook. Theodore pads over to the mirror to adjust his fur, but...
As he once again finds himself staring into those glowing, haunting eyes, he can't help but think that the ruffled fur looks good. Theodore quietly lets out a short giggle and hops down to the tile, rubbing his tummy as he leaves the bathroom.
"Hm...hmhm", he giggles again, "I could really go for a mid-night snack right now.", he whispers as he makes his way to the stairs.
Brittany's eyes flash open to the clang of metal, forcing her up to look around. Scanning the room, she sees nothing. The alarmed chipette gingerly crawls to the side of the bed, being careful not to move her ruined leg too much or to put too much strain on her abdomen. Looking over the edge, still, she sees nothing.
"I...could've sworn I...", she whispers.
Just then, another clang.
"I-I guess it's coming from somewhere else. Hm, probably Theodore getting a snack."
With some effort, Brittany manages to drag herself downstairs. She walks on her good leg and both front paws to make better time, as she is very tired, but anxiety refuses to let her sleep without locating the source of the clangs. As the golden furred chipette approaches the kitchen, she stops short as a pressure induced hiss marks the break of a light that spreads across the kitchen and the top half of the living room. Someone's getting a snack after all.
Brittany sighs in relief and makes her way through the dining room and into the kitchen to find little Theodore, rooting through the contents of the open fridge.
"Hi, Theo. Getting a snack, huh?", says Brittany with a smile.
She receives no answer.
"Um, Theo? A-are you alright?"
What happens next...leaves Brittany wide eyed with a sense of fear she hadn't felt since her time in the world of The Cataclysm, as Theodore slowly turns to face her and seems to peer into her soul with two bright orange eyes while he sinks his teeth into a paw full of raw, unground meat. Blood drips from his maw, as does black, thick tar from his cheek. As Theodore tears away flesh and muscle from the bone, he swallows it whole and gazes up with an almost lustful expression.
Every breath Theodore takes shudders like that of a rabid canine, "B-Brit, come here.", the thing resembling Theodore moans, "I'm so hungry, and this meat's yumelicious! I-It's so cold. I-I need you-ugh, warm...MEAT!"
Theodore's eyes suddenly lock on Brittany's as he dashes for her, abandoning the meat he'd been eating. Brittany shrieks and bolts away, completely forgetting about the condition of her leg. As her injured leg collides with the tile, the bone utterly fails to support her...and snaps in two.
The terrified chipette collapses with a blood curdling scream, but receives not a shred of mercy as a set of blunt teeth lock onto her arm before tearing away violently. Theodore quickly swallows the chunk of flesh and attacks again, sinking his teeth into her shoulder.
As Theodore is about to tear away yet another strip of flesh, he is hit with tremendous force, instantly shattering every rib and rupturing his heart as he slams into the cupboard.
Light floods the kitchen and living room as Jay flips the switch on and finds himself standing before the gory scene, along with Gutdrench and Dave, while Simon and the rest of the girls rush down the stairs to join them. Alvin kneels down to help Brittany up from the small puddle of blood she sits in, inciting a sharp cry of pain from her.
"AAAAGH! Stop! It's broken!", she screams, but Alvin ignores her, knowing there's nothing better to do.
As Alvin moves, the horrid scene of Theodore is revealed.
"THEODORE! NO!", Dave screams and rushes to his dead son.
Jay remains speechless, unable to react to the unspeakable sight before him.
Gutdrench moves over to Dave, who carefully holds the gory remains of his beloved youngest son, "H-H-How?", the sobbing father barely makes out through his tears.
"If I may, Dave.", says Gutdrench, gesturing to see Theodore.
"NO!", Dave yells with sorrow fed anger, "GO...AWAY!"
Simon, Jeanette and Eleanor rush in beside Dave, and seeing the furry body and green fabric in Dave's hands tells them the tale, quickly bringing them to terms.
"Th-Theo!", Simon yells, "Theodore! Look at me!"
Tears materialize in Simon's eyes, "No...he's alive! He can't be gone!"
Eleanor, unable to look at the sight, hugs Jeanette, who gets down on her knees by Simon to comfort him as she lets out tears of her own.
"I'm sorry, Simon. I had to do it. He was going to kill Brittany.", Alvin explains.
"Speaking of which, ", says Jay, "We need to get her to a hospital. She's already horribly injured, and now it's even worse."
"You are correct.", Gutdrench confirms, "We must leave immediately!"
*SCENE TRANSITION*
The next few mind racking hours take place in Jay's truck, where Alvin carefully does his best to seal and bandage Brittany's bleeding wounds, all the while forcing the rest to endure her screams of pain as he works to keep her from bleeding to death. Bloodnick had joined them in their rush to leave, and having missed the incident, is rather clueless as to what occurred.
The sun is slowly rising over the horizon now, and Brittany is unconscious due to all the trauma. As Jay pulls out onto a paved road, he is suddenly stopped.
A grave yard of cars, burned, battered, and abandoned. For miles it stretches out endlessly, where in the distance, ominous black and red clouds swallow the sky and depress those below. Jay turns and heads the other way as a sense of hopelessness begins to set in, knowing there isn't another city or town for about a hundred miles.
Another dreadful hour passes. Dave stares down into his empty hands, all tears having long dried up, leaving him with puffy eyes and a broken spirit.
"How much longer?", asks Jeanette, who has been sitting within Alvin's arms alongside her eldest sister ever since she passed out.
"I...I don't know.", Jay answers hesitantly.
Jeanette's ears fall and she looks back down at Brittany with worried eyes.
"Hey...", says Simon, looking out the window, "What's that over there?"
Simon points to a distant, fenced in encampment. As Jay drives closer, large trucks become visible, which drive into the camp as a convoy, accompanied by several soldiers.
"That's perfect! I think we've found our silver lining!", Jay exclaims and speeds up a little.
As they approach the camp, the troops open the rolling gate, where they're then stopped at a second gate as the first is closed behind them.
A soldier kitted up with full body armor, various clip and grenade holders, and a typical M4A1 walks up to Jay's side, "How many?", the soldier asks.
Jay chooses his words very carefully, "Two adults, four chipmunks, and three defecting creatures."
The soldier's body language shows surprise, "Defectors? Captain Myers will want to see them. And...chipmunks?"
"I'm escorting Simon and the chipettes here. Brittany is very badly injured."
"Hm. Well you're in luck, cause it sounds like we have just enough room for you all.", he turns to look up and wave at a tower at one of the check point corners, "Let 'em in!"
The soldier pats the side of the truck and points forward as the second gate rolls open.
Two troops flag Jay down as he drives in and guide him through the camp, passing various tents, work stations, medical centers, and other set ups, until they stop near the entrance of a small compound, where they signal for him to park against the compound wall. As Jay exits the truck, the soldiers briefly search him, as do they Dave right after. The troops then tell them and the rest to follow as they lead them into the compound.
The building, judging by the smell, was very recently built. Wide, incandescent lights bath the stone halls in blue, and an emergency light stands ready above each iron door that lines the hallway, which is substituted every other door for a bulletproof glass window.
The troops guide the group down the left hall and then right, eventually making yet another right before shortly turning left and into a conference room, where at the far end of its center piece, an elongated steel table covered in various maps and documents, stands a large man in a dark blue uniform decorated by at least half a hundred ribbons and medals.
The two soldiers line up side by side at the entry side of the table into the position of attention. They salute him as they speak, "Captain! We've reached our support cap."
"At ease, men.", Captain Myers says in a gruff voice.
The soldiers assume a more casual but clearly disciplined stance, "Captain. Among the new arrivals, three of them are defecting creatures."
Myers' expression hardens, "Bring them here immediately."
"Present.", answers Alvin.
The two soldiers walk off to either side of the room as Gutdrench, Alvin, and Bloodnick step forward. Captain Myers carefully walks about the steel table, never taking his eyes off the large chipmunks now accompanying him.
"So...you all want to help us."
"Yes, but that can wait. We need medical assistance for Brittany here as soon as possible.", Alvin replies.
"Hm...I see. Jackson!", The soldier on the right immediately moves to attention, "Take Brittany here to the veterinarian."
"Yes, captain!", the soldier responds and moves to collect the injured chipette from Alvin.
"Come on! You should have been back already!", Myers yells at the soldier, who then walks out with Brittany.
"There. Now we can talk. The rest of you head off with Raul here. He will show you around and get you situated."
Said remaining soldier escorts Dave, Jay, Simon, Jeanette and Eleanor out, leaving the Bloodnick and the two corruptors with Captain Myers.
Gutdrench wanders off to the table and examines the papers, "You certainly are quite the organized lot. Your precision impresses me."
"We have to be to get anything done. Now please, step away from the table. I can't exactly trust you yet."
Gutdrench nods understandingly and backs up beside Alvin.
"So, ", Captain Myers begins, "...why are you green?"
"I am a corruptor. Because of this, I have a unique appearance. As does Alvin here.", Gutdrench answers.
Myers shows little surprise at Alvin, "Hm, I see you are one of them now."
"Only in a tangible sense. I do not serve them.", Alvin replies.
"Well. Follow me, gentlemen."
Captain Myers leads the three chipmunks out of the conference room and down the hall to the left, bringing them to two adjacent doors on the right. He opens the right door, allowing for Alvin, Bloodnick and Gutdrench to enter, and closes the door behind himself as he follows.
They now find themselves in a white room devoid of furnishings of any kind, save for a single chair and a large mirror stretching across the face of the left wall. The only living thing besides them in the room is a corrupted, tied down to the chair with cuffs, ropes, and a heavy, steel vest, who is staring down at the floor.
The corrupted lifts only its eyes to the group as it notices them, "Welcome, brothers.", it greets in a foreboding, sinister tone.
The captain strides up to the prisoner and brings his fist crashing into its head, siphoning a short yelp of pain from the dark creature. In return, the corrupted begins laughing hysterically.
Myers grunts in frustration, "Can you three get this damn madman to talk? We've tried everything!"
The corrupted suddenly stops his maniacal laughter and returns to silence as he understands why his "brothers" are here.
Gutdrench gestures for Myers to leave. Hesitantly, he complies and vacates the room, "I'll be in the observatory room.", the captain says as he leaves.
As the door slams shut, it echoes through the room, until it too leaves them alone with the corrupted.
As the three of them approach the prisoner, he speaks once again, "Eergh...I never would've expected you of all corrupteds to betray The Cataclysm, and especially not you...Gutdrench.", he spits the name out as though the very word were diseased.
"Where is it?", Alvin calmly demands.
"Where's what, newbie? I know who you are...Alvin. You barely made it to the alter atop Mt. Oblivion. You're the least qualified here to be asking the questions, weakling. I would tear you apart limb from limb if it weren't for these...binds!", the corrupted begins to thrash about and grunt in frustration. Eventually, he settles down.
"Perhaps you need not know who I am, but what I am.", Alvin states and raises his right arm before him in a diagonal so that his paw is beside his left shoulder.
Red claws ignite into existence from his paw, and he dashes forward to the corrupted, wrapping his normal paw around its throat. The corrupted's eyes widen with shock, and it tries desperately to pull away from the powerful claws that pose ready for the kill mere nanometers away from its neck.
"Y-you're a corruptor?!"
"That's correct, weakling. Not tell me, where is The Cataclysm?"
The corrupted's eyes suddenly brighten a little, and it slowly turns to face Alvin, "You want to face The Cataclysm?"
"What else?", Alvin confirms.
"Hm. I find it amusing that you are interested in challenging our master...but I refuse. You will not face The Cataclysm. I will not reveal its whereabouts."
Alvin's expression becomes a little more fierce, "Don't try my patience. You WILL tell me, right now...unless you would rather serve me."
The corrupted bursts out into laughter, "Hahahaha ha ha! Serve you?! In perhaps a thousand millenia I would, but certainly not so long as The Cataclysm still lives! What could possibly give you even the slightest idea that I would choose to serve the likes of you?"
"I suppose you are assuming I don't know how to remove your corruption."
The corrupted's face changes the that of anger, "Oh, burn why don't you! Again, I will not tell you where our master is...never."
It is at that point that the corrupted lets out a blood curdling scream, forcing everyone to the ground with their paws to their ears. The corrupted screams and screams, putting every ounce of its strength into each excruciating cry.
Bloodnick cringes as he takes his paws away from the sides of his head, "What in death is he doing?!"
"Hey! Shut up!", Alvin yells at the corrupted, but it refuses to let up, "Gah, stop!"
"Alvin, just let him throw his little tantrum. We'll come back when he gets tired.", says Gutdrench as he retreats to the door.
"Ugh, fine!", Alvin agrees, "But I will get him to tell us what we need."
As they close the door behind them, it cuts off the persistent screaming coming from the deranged lunatic of a chipmunk.
"Ooh! Sweet silence!", says Gutdrench, "Never before has a simple scream annoyed me so much...phew...so, what's for lunch?"
"Seriously? We just got done with a rather unsuccessful interrogation and the first thing you think of is your stomach?", Alvin comments.
They begin their walk out the compound, "Well I wouldn't say unsuccessful. You got him talking at least. He apparently wasn't before, but now we know he'll speak to us. Plus, you have a little bit of leverage with that threat of yours.", says Gutdrench.
"Hm, I'm kinda with Alvin here. I wouldn't call that successful either.", says Bloodnick, "Not only that, what if he does indeed agree to talk later on, but it's just a bunch of lies?
"He won't lie. He'll either refuse to talk altogether, or he will provide the requested information on The Cataclysm's behalf.", says Gutdrench, "The reason I say it like that is because his disclosing The Cataclysm's location would be considered an acknowledgment that The Cataclysm will always accept a challenge of his rule."
"A challenge?", Alvin questions.
"Mmhmm. You see, The cataclysm didn't exactly inherit his position as our master. It didn't earn it, take it, or buy it. The Cataclysm has always been the master. Ever since the very beginning. And indeed, there have been some who have tried to take its leadership, but no one's ever come the slightest bit close to realizing such an impossible goal. In other words, The Cataclysm is extremely powerful. A mighty force you'd best fear."
The three of them pass through the entrance and into the blistering day light and are immediately confronted by Jay.
"Hey guys. How'd it go?", asks Jay.
"The captain had us assist in interrogating a corrupted they managed to capture. Alvin tried to get The Cataclysm's location out of him, but least to say, it didn't go over well.", Bloodnick says, filling him in.
"You guys are gonna hunt him down?"
"Ye-"
"No! Of course not!"
Alvin looks over at Gutdrench in confusion at his outburst, "What?", Alvin responds.
Everyone stares at the green-furred corruptor in anticipation of his answer, "We...we can't fight it. It is out of the question."
"But why?", asks Bloodnick, "I'm sick of that freak! Let's kill it already! I mean, come on, we have two corruptors! I know The Cataclysm's strong, but there's no way it could fare against both of you!"
"You just don't understand. Alvin's hidden powers have only been active for a mere few days. I've had three centuries to master and strengthen my powers, but The Cataclysm, the original corruptor, is five millenia old! Its unwavering superior abilities are incomprehensible! It belittles my power as though I were but a weak insect to its super nova!"
"Gutdrench, calm down. I'm sure there's a way to beat this thing. We'll just have to work together to do it once the time comes.", says Alvin, "Now, Jay, where's everyone else?"
"They're in a big medical tent over by supplies. I'll show you.", Jay answers before he turns and begins heading down the dirt road.
The three chipmunks follow Jay, and passing the many cabin tents, supply tents, and other tent variations along the way, they begin to get a good look at the place for the first time. Despite consisting of flimsy, short notice buildings atop an inhospitable plain, the camp seems to be thriving. They see children playing in the dirt roads and among small gardens beside the ration tents. In the cabin tents, they see families talking amongst themselves, people indulging in board games, and a women sitting up in her bunk with a book and a cup of coffee. They see civilians helping the soldiers unload trucks filled with supplies, and others doing push ups with the soldiers. They see hope.
"It's amazing how much this camp has grown in such a short time. A few days past and it's already built, full, and thriving!", Jay comments as he notices the chipmunks looking around.
"I must admit, it is impressive.", says Gutdrench, "We're quite powerful, but this kind of organization and response punctuality could give you the upper hand."
"I hope so...ah, here we are!"
Jay brings the chipmunks into a considerably larger cabin tent. Inside, they find themselves among three rows of medical tables, one on either side and the third in the middle. Many people, including several clad in white suits and surgeon masks, crowd multiple tables, on which lie injured soldiers and civilians. At the second table of the left row stands Dave, and the rest of the chipmunks stand on the table, gathered around Brittany.
"There they are.", Jay says in a sad tone.
Alvin joins his brothers and Brittany's sisters.
"Hi Alvin. Wha'd the captain want?", asks Simon as he notices his brother.
"That's not important now. How's Brit?", Alvin responds.
"The doctor said that she's in very bad condition, but she should be fine, so long as she doesn't go into shock."
"When can the doctor help her?"
"He said he'd be back in a few minutes. He's gone to get help from a veterinarian."
"Good...", says Alvin, "She's been through enough. Now, she can finally rest."
*SCENE TRANSITION*
Many hours pass. Brittany sits up against a plump, white pillow, tired and numb from the anesthetics she's been given, and is now covered in a bandage wrapped about her body from her hips to her armpits and a pink cast that covers her entire right leg down to her ankle.
"Open up."
She opens her mouth obediently as the doctor slips in a spoonful of applesauce mixed with special vitamin granules. The veterinarian walks over to them with a small syringe and a sterile wet cloth.
"How are you feeling right now?", the vet asks as he begins to wipe Brittany's arm with the cloth.
"Weak...I'm so tired...", she answers pathetically.
"You'll get to sleep all you want soon. We just need you awake for a little longer. Now, this will pinch a little.", the vet carefully prods Brittany's shoulder with the needle until it breaks the skin, causing her to wince slightly, then presses the plunger down, injecting its contents into her bloodstream, "That should help fight the infection you've got."
"Thanks...", says Brittany before taking another mouthful of applesauce.
"It's a good think you got here when you did.", the doctor comments, "What with your severely damaged leg; the infection; the blood loss. You'd not have lasted much longer without treatment."
"Can I sleep now?"
"Yes, you can. Just one more bite.", the doctor responds as he scoops up the last bit of applesauce.
The vet exits the tent and into the night air, where Dave and Alvin stand just outside, waiting for news of Brittany's condition.
"How is she? Will she make it?", Dave inquires insistently.
"Yes, absolutely, she will! The worst of her condition was blood loss and an infection that has developed in her tail. We've already ensured that the latter will be taken care of, and now, it's only a matter of time for her body to generate the blood she's missing.", says the vet, inciting a sigh of relief from the exasperated father.
"Oh, thank God!
The vet assumes a more uneasy expression, "There is something you should know about, though"
"What? I thought you said she's going to be fine!"
"She is. It's just that...she's pregnant."
The color drains from Dave's face. He quickly turns to Alvin, "Please tell me it's you!"
Alvin simply shakes his head, a gesture that immediately begins to siphon tears from Dave as he begins to sob, "No...NO!"
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Seville."
"Come on, Da-...dad. Let's go back to our tent. There's nothing we can do.", says Alvin, placing a paw on Dave's arm.
Looking down at Alvin, "Huh? But...alright...", Dave agrees reluctantly.
"Please don't fret, Mr. Seville, ", says the vet as he starts to head back into the medical tent, "We'll take care of her."
Alvin and Dave set off onto the dirt path towards the compound, near where their living quarters are. By now, other denizens are now gathered by various fire pits as though they were out camping, and laughter and conversation emits from them, as does the aroma of slowly cooking burgers and hotdogs.
Alvin gazes up into the sky, "Our world is very beautiful, you know. I never appreciated it before."
Dave doesn't respond.
"I won't let The Cataclysm take this away...and I especially will not allow it to hurt Brittany any more."
As Dave and Alvin approach their tent, they suddenly notice quite a clamor coming from inside. Dave pulls away the tarp at the entry way, revealing a small crowd gathered around the others in their group.
"I told you all already! We can't and will not perform!", yells an exasperated Simon.
"Oh, come on! Why not?"
"We're stuck here together and you refuse to lighten the mood?"
"Please! Sing something!"
Dave pushes through the crowd to get between them and Simon, "ENOUGH! He said he's not performing and that's final!"
"Now hold on, guys. This could be our last performance."
Everyone in the crowd turns to Alvin, who walks through them to join his brother. Seeing him in his new form, his appearance incites several quiet exclamations.
"As the leader of Alvin and the Chipmunks, I declare that in precisely thirty minutes, we will perform for you one last time...before disbanding forever."
"Alvin?! I didn't mean ne-", Simon exclaims.
"Simon, we're finished! With Theo gone, and me like...this, "Alvin gestures to himself, "we will never be the same band, or the same family."
"But Alvin...w-we should keep going in Theo's name."
Alvin turns and says one last thing before leaving, "I'm sorry, Si. This is it. Our last stand."
*SCENE TRANSITION*
Alvin managed to find a fellow music group while searching for instruments he could use, and they happily agreed to lend him their equipment. Soon after, having heard what Alvin was trying to do, the captain had a piano hauled to Alvin's tent on a truck, on which it is to be kept for the performance, so as not to ruin the legs.
Like Alvin said, it has nearly been thirty minutes, and he, with the other band helping, is almost finished setting up. Two large amplifiers sit on either side of their set up atop tarps. Between them are the drums, and in front of the drums are two side by side spots for guitarists, and a middle spot for a singer.
Alvin looks at the whole makeshift stage and nods in approval. Simon, holding a blue guitar that lucky for him was being carried by Dave, takes a spot, as does two members of the other band, one guitarist, one drummer.
"Alright, guys.", Alvin starts, "Before we begin, I will play a duo. I'd be a solo but I can't play the piano. I sing, Dave..."
Dave, staring down at the ground in thought, looks up at Alvin.
"You're the only one I'd ever allow to play the piano for me. We'd never have existed without you and the first song you ever made for us."
Dave swallows a lump in his throat and nods in understanding.
As Dave climbs up into the back of the truck with the piano, Alvin announces the song, "Everyone...Hurt."
(Gonna be two songs this time. The first is called 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash, covered by Nine Inch Nails. Either use the following url, " watch?v=YeM6N7cEJls", or search for "Johnny Cash-Hurt (Chipmunks Version)". You know how this goes. Read at a moderate pace where there is no singing in order to keep pace with the song. Begin reading as soon as the song starts.)
The crowd quiets down as Dave begins to play the piano. Alvin wonders silently to himself if he can even sing anymore. He closes his eyes as he exhales, and begins.
(Alvin) I hurt myself today...to see if I still feel. I focus on the pain...the only thing that's real. The needle tears a hole...the old familiar sting. Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything.
(Alvin) What have I become...my sweetest friend. Everyone I know...goes away...in the end. And you could have it all...my empire of dirt. I will let you down. I will make you...hurt.
Dave continues playing, his expression a little despondent as he now knows why Alvin chose this song. He can feel every powerful note like a heavy beat in his heart.
(Alvin) I wear this crown...of thorns...upon my liar's chair...full of broken thoughts...I cannot repair. Beneath the stains of time...the feelings disappear. You are someone else. I am still right here.
(Alvin) What have I become...my sweetest friend. Everyone I know...goes away...in the end. You could have it all...my empire of dirt. I will let you down. I will let you hurt. If I could start again...a million miles away...I would keep myself. I would find...a way.
"Thank you.", says Alvin, concluding the first song.
The crowd claps, but does not cheer. The sorrow deep in Alvin that fails to show is expressed on each of their faces; the feelings that mourn for what they know not, yet can sense the horrible loss.
"Now...the last song.", this incites several confused expressions and quiet murmuring, "It is all that is necessary. When you think that all hope is lost...when there's no strength left...that is the moment to push yourself past the limit. That is when it is time to give your all into one more try. Never give up. Not until there is simply nothing left to fight for...and your last breath has gone away with you to the ground. That...is what this song is about."
Alvin hands some note and lyrics sheets to Simon and the band members that he managed to print out earlier. After a moment, they all nod to show they know what to do.
"I present...Get Up."
(This song is meant to have two singers, but Simon obviously isn't up to singing this kind of genre. Unfortunately, I have yet to upload the video for this song, so, you will have to read it without music until then, which should be in a few days. Or, you may want to skip the song, since it's pretty awesome, and personally I wouldn't want to read it unless I could do so with the song. Whatever you choose to do, this is actually the end of the chapter, so I hope you've enjoyed it!)
Simon and the other guitar player start off the song with an electrifying strum that reverberates through the crowd's ears like a current of lightning. The first drum beats strike...and the song begins. The heavy drum beats ensue, the guitars rift down, and Alvin begins singing.
(Alvin) Brothers in arms, are you ready for a stand. Blood on the ground and mud on your hands. Take another breath and make another try. You think you're gonna break and you think you're gonna die. Get off the dirt and listen to the crowd...screamin' your name, scream it out loud. I know you think you can't. I know you think you're done, but we can't stop until we've won. You're not alooooone! We're not afraaaiiid! This is our moment, it won't come again. So lean on meeeee! And find you feeeeet! We will not accept defeat.
(Alvin) GET UP! When your pride is screamin' out, GET UP! And your hope is fading out, GET UP! When the lights are dimming down, GET UP! And your strength is waning, lift your eyes! Tell your miiind to lift yourseeelf one more tiiiime. Gotta get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! GET UUUUUP!
The guitarist from the other band plays low, guttural notes while Simon follows up with rapid high notes, rising and falling repeatedly to the beat of the drums before both fading down as Alvin continues.
(Alvin) The battle soon begiiins...you've come this far to win. Source the power withiiin...unleash it all again. Returning to the fiiight...victory in siiight. The crown will soon ignite...so liiight up the niiight! GET UP!
(Alvin) Get up...
(Alvin) Get up!
(Alvin) GET UUUUUUUUP! YEAH!
Simon's paws ripple up and down his guitar rift after rift, each finger rising and falling with flawless precision on the metal strings. He stops and scales up with the drums.
(Alvin)Your hands are weak; they're barely hangin' oooon. But your body stiiill wants moooooore. Where is your eyes...your mind sharp as knives! You're built to carry ooon. This battle will be wooooooon!
Simon and the other guitarist return to swapping solo turns, Simon playing the high notes and the other guitarist playing heavier low notes. They repeat this several times for a bit before dying down again, leaving Simon playing a single, continuous, wavering note.
(Alvin) GET UP! When your pride is screamin' out, GET UP! And your hope is fading out, GET UP! When the lights are dimming down, GET UP! And your strength is waning, raise your eyyyyes! One more tiiiiiime! Gotta get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up! GET UUUUUP!
(Alvin) GET UP! When your pride is screamin' out, GET UP! And your hope is fading out, GET UP! When the lights are dimming down, GET UP! And your strength is waning, raise your eyyyyyes! One more tiiiiime! Gotta get up! Get up! Get uuuuuuuuuuooooooohhhhhhhp...
The final note reverberates across the whole camp before at last cutting off as the song ends.
(And that officially marks the end of chapter 8. Please review! Also, I just want to let you know...chapter 9 has already begun...hype!)