Chapter Two
Separated
v
Day eighty-nine; at approximately 11:08 PM, in Pilot Butte anyways, loud rumbling and blasting sounds came from outside. People around our neighborhood and the world all at the same time, all stepped outside to see what was going on; hundreds, thousands of spaceships crashing into the Earth. Nathan and I were the first ones outside, followed by his parents. Off in the distance, we could see what looked like little rockets blasting off from Earth towards the wall of ships coming for the Earth. When they hit, most people cheered, but I stayed silent, knowing the government nukes didn't do shit. I was right. Through the cloud of black and grey smoke, the ships reemerged and came crashing one by one, dozens and dozens, into our world. We all stared up at the sky in awe and disbelief. The ships looked like falling stars. Armies and soldiers around the world cowered in fear but were still forced out into battle only to be killed almost as quickly as they got out there. We could faintly see what looked like flying beings high up in the sky; bright glowing lights burning around them. A few stopped in the air, way, way above us and began shooting what looked like fireballs of red and purple into the distance, causing massive explosions. The Earth began to shake rapidly. It felt like an Earthquake was happening for the first time ever in Saskatchewan. These beings were powerful, and they were only playing with humans, killing them, watching them suffer, all for their own amusement. They were destroying the Earth, and were surrounding the Earth and its entire people; human beings, running and screaming, children crying and dogs whining and howling from all around within the distance. It was all happening so fast, too fast.
Nathan and I stayed frozen, staring at the sky and the horizon line. Red glows of explosions and fire roamed the distance. The ships began landing throughout the town, smashing through people's houses. Families running through the streets, dodging cars speeding down the road; it was nothing, but complete chaos.
Carole and Brian got into Brian's truck and started it up.
"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!"
Brian screamed out the window over the loud explosions and crashing sounds. They threw everything they could grab in five minutes into the back of the truck and back seat, leaving no room for us. We all had our own cars though… so, I guess it didn't matter. I would've thought they wanted to stay together; especially with the reality of our normal lives were now shattering alongside all of humanity. They drove out of the driveway quickly and flew down the street to round the corner. Little did Nathan and I know that that would be the last time we ever saw Brian and Carole ever again.
Nathan and I were about to leave when a spacecraft began echoing down rapidly in our direction. It flew, burning through the air and smashed into the side of Nathan's parent's house. Nathan quickly grabbed me and pulled me down behind the driver's side of the car and held me tightly in his embrace as we stayed crouched down. Glass and wood went flying everywhere we were crouched down behind his car and slowly stood back up as the side submerged to see what it looked like. Nathan slowly reaching his hand for the handle of the driver's door, preparing to make a break for it if anything was about to happen. The dust began to clear and we could see the top of what looked like a pod-like spaceship, about two meters wide in diameter and was a perfect sphere. It crashed inside where their front door used to be. A light flickered on it and the door to the pod opened. We could see and large being, looked kind of like a human, with thick black spiked hair around his shoulders climb out. It was easily six feet tall; easily! At that very moment, Nathan had just realized that his brother, Brendan was still inside the house.
"No… NO! BRENDAN!"
I quickly grabbed his leg, making him trip and fall.
"Nathan, are you fucking crazy?!"
"I'm not leaving him here!"
He kicked me away, not hurting me, but enough force to let me go. He got to his knees before finding himself freezing to the sight he saw ahead of him. The being that got out of the pod didn't move, but had his head turned, facing us. All we could see was its silhouette and cat-like glowing eyes. It was horrifying. A low pitched growl echoed from where it was and then pure white canine sharp teeth appeared to form a very cruel, unforgiving smile. It then began to climb out and over the rubble and towards us. We quickly scrambled to our feet and got into the car. It was walking slowly, mockingly, almost as if it were trying to give us time to escape. His footsteps were heavy and loud, thumping against the ground. Nathan attempted to start the car, but it wouldn't budge; typical, just like a horror film.
"NOOOO! COME ON, DAMN IT!"
We both looked back out the windows to see it about a foot away from the car; raising a hand out to grab hold of the back passenger side door; I was in the back seat, back to the opposite side, scared shitless. We then heard a loud yell, and then a 'slash' sound. We stayed quiet. I peeked out the window and Nathan slowly stepped back out to look over his car to see; the being stood still with no emotion in its face. Brendan was behind it, holding Nathans black machete dripping with dark blood. It slowly turned around to face Brendan. Brendan showed no fear; only rage. He bent his knees and held the blade out, positioning himself for a fight.
"Come on, you ugly fucker!"
The beast of a man turned around completely, facing Brendan. His smile showed pure evil. He was ready for a fight.
"BRENDAN! NO! RUN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"JUST GET OUT OF HERE! I CAN HANDLE THIS!"
Tears began to appear in Nathan's eyes as he clenched his teeth hard. He didn't want to leave his brother behind.
"NO, BRENDAN I WON'T LEA…"
Brendan cut him off with saying,
"JUST GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!"
Nathan wiped his eyes and slammed his fist against the roof before quickly getting back inside and starting up the car properly. We shot rocks up speeding away. I looked out the back window to see what was going to happen. The last thing I saw was the being raising his hand out as Brendan swung the machete again. The being caught it in his hand and then, we rounded the street corner. We didn't know whether Brendan lived or died.
v
The beast raised his other hand, getting ready to strike Brendan down until another human, a man, from across the street threw a rock at the back of the being's head. The large beast of a man turned and saw an older man across their street, fierce and angry; the beast still holding the machete. Brendan stayed as still as possible.
What the fuck is that guy doing?!
Brendan thought to himself in fear; more for the man than himself. The monster let go of the machete and took a few steps across the lawn towards him.
"LEAVE THAT KID ALONE, YOU BASTARD!"
The man-like monster smiled wickedly, amused at the human's attempt to protect the young man. He released the machete and slowly began to walk away from Brendan. His whole body was numb; what was that man doing?! The beast crossed the lawn towards where my car was sitting and raised it over his head with one arm. He grinned before throwing it towards the man. He flinched and ducked down, covering his head with his arms. (Like that was really going to help). The car went soaring over him into the garage behind him, smashing through it from the brute's strength in that throw. He continued to walk slowly towards the man that threw the rock at him. Growling and grinning still; the man began to back up. He eyed Brendan, signaling him to run or just get out of there. Brendan didn't run away, but instead ran into the ruins of his home and down the stairs, jumping over the rumble and crashed ship just as the brute's hand wrapped around the man's neck across the street. Within an instant he snapped the man's neck, killing him, and dropping him. He looked up and saw others of his species flying over the town towards a huge explosion a few miles northwest of the town; forgetting about Brendan and not caring, the monster knew the boy would die as he grinned back at the house and then took to the air.
Brendan ran into Nathan's old bedroom and went into the closet where the gun cabinet was. He grabbed a rifle and ammunition. He stepped out of the closet and began to load the gun. He managed to load one round into the chamber before the Earth shook with an explosion that happened just outside. He stumbled slightly from the shockwave of the blast before looking up at the crackling ceiling. The roof of the room rumbled and a wooden beam pierced through to tiles coming straight down towards Brendan. He managed to dodge it from striking his head, but it unluckily struck straight through his shoulder. He screamed in agony and fell to the floor from the weight of the beam. Dust and chips fell from the roof as the Earth settled from the nearby explosion.
Brendan gasped for air, struggling to move. He set the gun down at his side and grabbed the split beam trying to lift it up and out of his shoulder. He screamed from the stinging pain of wood chips and splinters piercing through his skin. He finally gave up and let his arm fall to his side. The other that was pinned to the floor was shattered and numb. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes from the excruciating pain flowing through his body. He grabbed hold of the gun again and brought up and laid it over his chest. Breathing heavily, blood began pooling at the back of his throat. He tilted his head to the right, letting the blood drain out. All he could do now was lay there, waiting, praying someone would come. Not one of them; those things, those… monsters! He lay there, closing his eyes. All he thought of was whether his mom, his dad, his brother, his whole family, if everyone was all safe, including me!
He slightly grinned, thinking, knowing that this where he was going to die. In his own home; he accepted that fact, and waited patiently. Blood pooled around him; the scent filling the air. Red, all he saw… was red.
v
We stopped several miles away from Pilot Butte and Nathan shut the car off. He began to cry. Angrily, he slammed his fist into the dashboard.
"DAMN IT! GOD, DAMN IT! GOD, FUCKING DAMN IT!"
I stopped him, by simply placing my hand on his shoulder. He froze, still crying and then collapsed against me.
"We should've gone back! We could've SAVED HIM!"
I didn't say a word. Brendan wouldn't have wanted us to return, he wanted us to get as far away as possible. He was defending us, his home and his own life. He was probably the bravest person I knew, and if he did die, he would've died with honor.
v
Three large beings entered the remains of the crumbling house that was Brian and Carole's. Two of the dogs were still there, hiding among the wreckage, whimpering in pain from cuts and wounds. They were only greeted with a single blast of powerful, bright energy, blowing through the living room wall. The meter wide diameter of the hole left nothing in its path. They walked throughout the wreckage, searching for any other humans.
"Search for any survivors…"
One went downstairs to hear the crumbling sounds of movement in the wreckage of the house. The tallest of the three walked towards Nathans old bedroom. Brendan could hear the large, loud footsteps drawing nearer and nearer. He forced his eyes open and saw its shadow faintly, but looming in the hallway. The beast finally came to the end of the hallway to find Brendan lying on the floor with a gun in his hand, part of a wooden beam from the ceiling broke and fallen to impale him through his left shoulder, wood and glass and crumbling stone shards were shot throughout his torso and legs; bleeding from all different parts of his body. He showed no fear, and neither did the beast.
The beings dark eyes stared down at him. He used all his strength to aim the gun at the beast's head; he weakly wrapped his finger around the trigger, shaking from the loss of strength. He had only managed to load one bullet in the chamber. The being, the… man didn't move. They both grinned evilly at one another; Brendan's teeth terrifyingly painting with his own blood, and just before Brendan pulled the trigger, he stared that monster dead in the eye and spoke,
"Go to Hell, you motherfucker!"
He pulled the trigger and the gun fired loudly.
The two others' heads shot up from the sound upstairs and immediately ran to the stairs and headed down. They rounded the corner and walked down the hallway to see their leader at the end of the hallway with his head turned towards them. Dust slowly vanished from around him. Brendan grinned wider, unknowing of his shot. (He assumed that he hit dead center on his face) The dust began to dissipate for Brendan to find the being turning his head back to face him; no more than a scratch across his right cheek. A faint trickle of almost black colored blood slowly rolled down the far end of the scratch. Brendan felt a slight shock of fear shoot through him; breathing heavily, blood dripping from his nose and the corners of his mouth, his brow lowered as he angrily looked up at the three beast-like men all now standing in front of him in the crumbling room. They all chuckled as the one in front leaned forward slowly, edgily.
"I got to hand it to you, kid. You've got guts."
Brendan smiled wildly at them and dropped the gun to his side.
"So do you…"
The beasts stared down at him amused with curiosity.
"Too bad you're too injured… You could've been a great recruit… You know… bait, a meat shield… whatever you humans want to call it!"
Brendan coughed up blood before he viciously, but gladly answered him through his smiling, clenched teeth,
"Sorry to let you down… but I'd rather burn in Hell than team up with you sadistic fucks!"
He glared at them with no more fear, no more pain, nothing, but pure enjoyment of their faces; pure pride and pure rage. The beast sighed deeply, tilting his head back with his eyes closed and then glanced back up into his eyes. The man in front raised his hand, aiming it at Brendan's face. Energy began forming at the being's hand.
"Any last words… human…?"
Brendan smiled wider, blood running from his lips and down his chin,
"Yeah…"
He paused as he tried adjusting his position, grunting in pain. He spit blood at their feet and looked back up, showing no fear to death.
"I can't wait to see you in Hell, you fucking bastards!"
The man chuckled,
"Likewise…"
Brendan chuckled, and then a bright flash of light shined around him and the surrounding area; a blast of power blew up the last of the house and light filled the horizon where Pilot Butte's ruins now lay.