Chapter 4: The Flower
Hey there guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Tardispilot297 here, bringing you a brand new chapter of Godzilla: New Dawn. I know compared to my other stories this one is still under the radar a bit. However, that doesn't mean I won't give my all to make it a good one.
That being said, I'll be focusing my time on this one for a bit so please try not to ask or pester me about other projects. Not saying that to mean, it's just I wanna remain focused on one thing at a time. Anyways hope you guys enjoy!
Goji opened up the hood of the truck and started to look at the engine with Jaime standing next to him angling the flashlight so he could see inside. They had been on the road for a few days when the truck suddenly started to make some weird noises and stopped on the side of the road. Goji dug around for a bit until he finally found the source of the problem. He reached in and pulled out a metal box with two wires sticking out of the top.
Jaime: What's wrong?
Goji: The battery's dead.
Jaime: Can you fix it?
Goji: Not unless you can also generate electricity from your hands.
Jaime: Great. So what do we do now?
Goji put the battery back in and closed the hood. He walked over to the back seat and grabbed his and Jaime's packs, tossing the latter over to her for her to catch.
Goji: Now we start walking.
He put his pack on and started walking up the road.
Jaime: You can't be serious?
Goji: You got any better ideas?
Jaime: …. We could try to hitchhike?
Goji stopped and turned around to look at her. Jaime stood there trying not to feel awkward before eventually letting out a long sigh.
Jaime: Ok. Fine.
She starts walking forward and follows Goji up the road. After several hours of walking they come into view of a small town that lies in ruins. Almost every building was burned or reduced to rubble. A few were even covered in an overgrowth of plants as if nature had begun to reclaim the land they were on.
It seemed to continue throughout the entire town. Except for one small house which was damaged and worn but in mostly decent condition. It stood out among its surroundings for being the only structure still intact. The windows were barred and the outer structure fortified with sheet metal and other custom patch-ups. The whole plot was surrounded by a chain-linked fence topped with razor wire.
Goji and Jaime walk up and crouched behind a nearby abandoned car and peek out to get a better look.
Jaime: I don't get it. It looks almost… normal. Like nothing ever happened. How can it still be out here?
Goji: I don't know.
Jaime: Maybe we should look inside. There might be food or even a working car or something in that garage.
Goji considered her suggestion before slowly standing up and unhooked his shotgun.
Goji: Stay behind me.
They approach the house cautiously. Arrive at the perimeter fence. There's a gate held in place by a padlock. Goji pulls a pair of bolt-cutters from his belt and snips the padlock free. The gate swings open with a metallic squeak. They move inside, up the garden path. Though the soil in the yard is dead, it's been carefully raked and tended. Weeds and a number of small flowers arranged in thoughtful patterns, like a real garden.
Jaime: Ok. This is weird.
Goji: Yeah.
Goji steps forward, his foot planting on a cracked paving stone that shifts almost imperceptibly under his feet. Accompanied by a barely audible sound. He looks down.
Goji: Shit.
Jaime: What?
A rope noose suddenly whips around their feet, tightening at their ankles and yanking them upside-down into the air. Goji drops his shotgun to the ground as they hang there for a moment, twisting in the breeze. The front door to the house swings open to reveal… en elderly couple. The woman's gray hair tucked up under a green beanie. The man bald, squinting through wire-frame glasses. They're dressed up in worn out and faded clothes that resemble those of a pair of gardeners. Instead of a pitchfork the man holds a 12-gauge riot shotgun which he keeps trained from the hip on Goji and Jaime. They step outside, regarding their new visitors carefully. The man seems more suspicious than his wife. He drags Goji's shotgun toward him with his foot, and hands it to his wife.
Elderly Man: Who are you?
Goji: My name is Goji. This is Jaime. We're travelers, that's all. We don't mean any harm.
Elderly Man: You cut my padlock. I saw you. Trying to break into our house.
Goji: I'm sorry. We didn't think anybody lived here. We thought it was abandoned, like all the rest.
This seems to annoy the man.
Elderly Man: Take a look around you. Look at this yard. Does it look abandoned to you?
Clearly he's proud of the work he's done with the pitiful means at his disposal.
Goji: No, sir. I... like what you've done with the place.
Elderly Man: What's your business here?
Goji: No business. We're sorry to have troubled you. If you'll let us down we'll happily be on our way.
The wife steps forward, seemingly much warmer and less guarded than her husband.
Elderly Woman: George, look at them! They're not robbers or street vandals! One of them's just a girl!
Her husband just lets out a small scoff.
George: Seen that before. Oldest trick in the book.
Elderly Woman: Oh, stop! It's no trick. Let them down!
The woman glares at him. The husband reluctantly accedes and moves to the concealed trap apparatus behind the birdbath. Soon the rope releases, dropping Goji and Jaime to the ground in a heap. The old woman helps them to their feet as they shake off the noose from their ankles.
Elderly Woman: I'm so sorry about my husband. We so rarely get visitors these days, he's suspicious of everybody. I'm Beverly and this is my husband. George. Would you care for some tea?
Goji and Jaime exchange a look as if they were both thinking the same thought. 'What the hell is this?' The inside of the house is just as confusing. It's like something out of the world before. The interior is almost perfectly preserved. Chintzy couches. A mahogany table. A TV set in the corner. Lace curtains. Even an abundance of living house plants. Everything about this place was to sum up in one word: Unreal. Goji and Jaime sit on the couch, feeling self-conscious and looking entirely out of place in this cozy environment. George sits across from them on the couch in a rocking chair, scowling at them inhospitably. The shotgun resting across his lap. Beverly emerges from the kitchen, carrying a tray laden with a tea pot and old china cups. Cracked and faded, but intact. She places the tray on the coffee table and sits across from them in a small chair.
Beverly: I'm afraid we don't have any cake or biscuits for the tea. They ran out some time ago.
She lifts the tea pot and pours into the cups. But it's not tea, only water. Somewhat murky water with what looks like clumps of moss floating around in it. Goji and Jaime stare at the cups, unsure whether or not it was safe to drink. Beverly gestures toward them.
Beverly: Please.
They raise their cups and take a sip. Both are trying hard not to swallow the bits of moss. Beverly watches eagerly. It's clearly a thrill for her to be doing something as civilized and elegant as serving "tea" to guests.
Beverly: How do you like it?
Goji: It's.. uh…
Jaime: It's very good.
Beverly smiles, delighted. She lifts her own cup to her lips. Her hands start to tremble, the cup rattling against the saucer. Goji takes a careful look around the room without moving his head. He quietly picks up on a strange smell in the air around them. An almost rotting sort of smell.
Goji: Have you always lived here?
Beverly: For almost forty years now. This home is our pride and joy, isn't it, George?
George just grunts. Not interested in conversation.
Beverly: We refused to leave, even during the troubles. We said, didn't we George, we said if we're going to die anywhere, we're going to die right here, in our own home.
Goji: I don't understand how you've survived out here this long.
Beverly: Well, George is something of a handyman, aren't you, dear? He did a lot of work on the place, making it safe. We may be old, but we're resilient. We've had more than a few who've tried to take this place from us. Haven't we, George?
George: Yes. Yes we have.
George stands and moves toward the back door. He opens it up and beckons Goji and Jaime to come look. Goji and Jaime walk up and stand in the doorway, looking out on the yard behind the house. Jaime is horrified by what she sees. The entire backyard is a graveyard almost completely covered in flowers. Goji counted each one in his head. Twenty human graves dug shallow into the earth. Some were dug long ago, others look like they're very recent.
Jaime: Are these... graves?
Beverly: Of course. It would be uncivilized not to bury them. We're not barbarians.
George: Plus, it's good for the soil.
Beverly: Come on back inside. I think I might be able to rustle up some sandwiches.
George and Beverly go back inside, leaving Goji and Jaime gazing at the little graveyard. Suddenly everything started to snap into place inside Goji's head. The reason this elderly couple managed to survive for so long in the middle of nowhere. What it was that kept them alive. And more importantly what explained the rotting smell from earlier.
Goji: We have to get out of here.
Jaime: They look so sweet... I would never have believed they were killers.
Goji: They're worse than that.
Jaime: What?
Goji: They didn't just kill these people. They ate them.
Jaime stood there stunned.
Jaime: They what?
Goji: There's a disease in the outland. Spread by eating human meat. It affects the brain. Dementia, loss of motor function. Did you notice the old woman's hands shaking? She's got it. They've both got it.
Jaime: Oh my God…
Goji: We need to leave. Now!
Goji and Jaime re-enter the house. Jaime looks at George nervously as he's still carrying the shotgun. Beverly's voice drifts in from the nearby kitchen.
Beverly: I found some meat for those sandwiches! Are you hungry?
Jaime: No! Thank you!
Goji: We really must be going.
George: So soon?
With an unnerving glint in his eye, Goji moves toward the door.
Goji: Yes, I'm afraid so.
As he gets to the door, George moves to intercept. It's difficult to tell if he's blocking his path or moving to open the door for him. Beverly emerges from the kitchen wiping her hands with an old bloody rag. Goji slowly gestures to Jaime to get close behind him.
Beverly: Are you sure you won't stay?
Goji: Yes. Thank you again for the tea. Jaime, thank the nice couple for the tea.
Jaime: Thank you very much for the tea.
Goji stares George down, slowly placing his hand onto the handle of his machete over his shoulder as if silently daring him to make a move. After a short minute, George reluctantly steps aside. Goji opens the door and escorts Jaime outside. Gojii and Jaime emerge into the sunlight. They walk down the garden path. As they make it to the gate Goji spots something ahead that causes him to freeze in his tracks. A mile out armed military vehicles are coming, driving toward them out of the horizon in a hazy cloud of dust. Jaime looks up at Goji confused.
Jaime:What's wrong?
Goji: Get back inside.
Jaime: What? Why?
Goji: Back inside!
Goji bundles Jaime back into the house. George stands in the doorway, squinting at the approaching convoy. George follows them back in, furious.
George: What did you bring upon us?
Beverly: George? What's wrong?
George: A whole convoy of armed degenerates, that's what's wrong! Coming here for them! And they led them right to us!
Beverly rushes to the window, pulls aside the lace curtain. Outside she sees the armored vehicles screeching down to a halt. Men dressed up in blue soldier uniforms and wearing gas masks spill out from the vehicles and take cover behind them, locking and loading weapons.
Beverly: Oh no they don't…
She rushes across the room, teeth gritted with determination.
George: Martha, what are you doing?
Beverly: I finally got this house just the way I want it. I'm not going to let anybody tear it apart!
She goes to the couch and yanks off the seat cushions. Underneath is a wooden lid which she throws open to reveal a huge cache of weapons. Automatic rifles. Shotguns. Pistols. Grenades. And enough ammunition for everything. She pulls out an M-60 machine-gun, slings the strap over her shoulder and locks in a chain of bullets. Jaime went from scared to excited at the unexpected arsenal.
Jaime: Where did you get all this stuff?
George pulls out an AK-47 and slots in an ammo magazine.
George: Took `em off them who came looking to take the place from us. Built up quite the stash over the years.
He offers a .44 magnum to Jaime.
George: You know how to fire a gun?
Jaime: My dad showed me once.
George: Just like riding a bike.
Jaime: I never rode a bike.
George sighs and turns instead to Goji.
George: How about you, you know how to-
Goji is already reloading his shotgun and checking the barrel. Readying the weapon in the practiced manner of an expert.
George: Never mind.
Outside the soldiers finish getting into position and stand ready to open fire on command. One of the soldiers goes up to a woman standing next to a jeep dressed in an officer's uniform and wearing a red cap.
Soldier: Lieutenant Himura, Bravo and Echo teams are standing by awaiting your orders mam.
Himura steps forward and raises a bullhorn to her mouth.
Himura: We know you're in there! Come on out with your hands up and your weapons on the deck and nobody needs to get hurt.
Her words are met with only silence. Inside the house Goji takes position next to a window glancing outside. Jaime pokes up from behind the couch still confused.
Jaime: Who's that?
Goji just turns to her and gestures with his hand to stay down. Seeing the serious look on his face Jaime crouches back down without any argument. Himura turns back to look at her men. Some of their hands were clearly trembling. Though nobody said anything, everyone knew full well what it was that they were up against. Himura knew in her head that they didn't sign up for this, and that they weren't ready for what was most likely going to happen. Himura turns back to the house and speaks once again Into the bullhorn.
Himura: All right, look. I'm gonna make it easy on you. Come out slowly with the girl.
Goji crouches down further beneath the window. George and Beverly have taken up positions at other windows, peering out.
Himura: That's all we want. For you to give us the girl safe and unharmed. Once you have, you can go on your way.
Jaime peeks out at Goji with obvious fear.
Jaime: What are we going to do?
Goji starts tapping the trigger guard of his shotgun as he thinks. He looks over at a corner of the room.
Goji: Hand me my pack.
Outside Himura waits with still no sign of a response. Some of her nervous soldiers exchange worried looks.
Soldier 2: They ain't comin' out. They-
Himura raises her hand to silence him. They all look up as an upstairs window slides open. A cloth package is tossed from the window and lands in the dirt outside the perimeter fence a few yards from Himura. Cautiously, she approaches the package which is wrapped in cloth and tied up with twine. She picks it up and tugs at the twine, untying it. Folds away the cloth wrapping. Looks for a moment in puzzlement at the object, as she reads the words written on the front of it. "THIS SIDE TO FACE ENEMY" It takes her a few seconds to realize the object in her hands is a miniature claymore mine. The small red light on top of the unit illuminates with the sound of a beep, signifying that it is armed.
Himura: Holy shi…
She drops the package in the dirt and races for her life back toward the vehicles.
Himura: Get down! Everybody get down!
She dives across the trunk of the jeep into cover as the mine explodes, shattering every window of every vehicle. The lightweight truck takes the main brunt and explodes, cartwheeling through the air, and becoming a burning wreck. Himura looks around and sees three men lying dead already. Flaming wreckage all around him. Suddenly, the quiet abandoned town turns into a war zone. Machine-gun fire erupts from the house, peppering the vehicles' armor. The soldiers cower behind cover.
Himura: Fine. Have it your way you bastard. All of you return fire!
Himura aims her beretta at the house and opens fire. Inspired by her example, the others follow suit. In no time at all a hail of bullets criss-cross back and forth. The house's faded paint facade is shredded. Beverly continues firing wildly with the M-60. Screaming at the top of her lungs, loving every minute of it.
Beverly: Come and get it, you god-damn sons of mother-fucking bitches!
George and Goji also open fire from their windows, periodically ducking to take cover from incoming fire. Jaime sits behind the couch, covering her ears and keeping her eyes closed. Her screaming was drowned out by the loud chaos erupting around her. She was also desperately trying her best not to break out and start crying on the spot. Goji could faintly hear her muffled sniffling and yelled over to her.
Goji: It's all right. We're going to be alright. Trust me.
More gunfire splintered the window frame above his head.
Goji: You remember I promised I'd get you back to your mom right?
Jaime glances over and nods.
Goji peeks out and fires out the window, dropping one of the enemy soldiers with a crack shot. He quickly ducks back down as the return fire impacts around him.
Goji: We're going to get out of this alive. Both of us.
Jaime shouts back to him.
Jaime: How do you know?
Goji: Because I always keep my promises.
Amidst all the chaos and gunfire, George had been listening to their exchange.
George: What about us?
Goji: Not really sure about you.
George chambers a round and resumes firing.
Himura's men continue the hail of gunfire. With six of them dead, six more still standing. No lessening of fire from inside the house. One look and Himura could tell right away. They were losing. Himura races between the vehicles, ducking from gunfire until she makes it to the back of an ammo truck. She reaches in and pulls out an RPG. She sets it on her shoulder, rests on the trunk of another jeep to steady her aim and fires. The rocket screams toward its target, tearing through the chain fence and tearing an entire corner from the house in a fiery explosion. The inside was now filled with smoke. The sounds of coughing filling the room. Dazed, George pushes his way through the smoke, waving his arms to clear it with a bloody gash on his forehead.
George: Beverly? Beverly!
He finds her lying on the tile floor in what remains of the kitchen. Or at least her top half. The rest of her is buried under a pile of rubble. George slumps to his knees with tear-filled eyes. He takes his wife tenderly by the hand for a moment as she continues to lie motionless on the floor. Then the anger returns. He gets up and turns, consumed now by a wild blind fury. Firing with rage over the torn brick wall. He clips another soldier in the head, killing him. George moves back toward the living room, firing as he goes. Himura moves between the vehicles again, staying behind cover. George's hail of gunfire has them pinned down.
Himura: Do we have any more RPGs?
Soldier 3: That was it.
Himura slams her fist against metal as she looks back at the hole in the house.
Himura: Screw this.
She jumps into the driver's seat of the ammo truck and turns the key in the ignition. Jams the accelerator down with the butt of a discarded rifle, then shifts the transmission into drive.
Himura: Get clear!
The soldiers leap clear as the truck hurtles toward the house, engine roaring. It crashes through the chain fence. Goji looks up from cover and sees the van coming right at him. He dives clear as the truck crashes through the wall into the living room. It smashes into the far wall, before finally coming to a stop. More dust fills the air as more debris falls from the ceiling. Goji tries to get up, but winces in pain. He puts his hand to his side, he feels something wet and brings his hand back to see it covered with blood. The sign of a bad wound. He covers it with his coat, stands up and moves through the smoke.
Goji: Jaime?
Jaime: Goji!
He soon finds her in the smoke lying on the floor face down. He reaches over to her and she flinches at his touch. She looks up to see that it's him and embraces him.
Goji: Are you all right?
Jaime: I'm fine.
As the smoke clears, Jaime sees George pinned against the wall by the truck. His body was crushed with bits of his innards hanging out of his mouth and a look of surprise on his dead face and streaks of bloody tears down his cheeks.
Jaime: Oh God…
Goji covers her eyes with his hand to shield her from the gruesome sight in front of them.
Goji: Come on. We're going out the back. We're gonna make a run for it.
As he helps her to her feet, he hears the sound of movement through the rubble. He looks behind him over his shoulder to see the soldiers entering the house, passing through the smoking hole left by the truck. Gojii reaches for his machete only to be met by the sound of multiple guns cocking. Himura steps out from among the soldiers.
Himura: Go ahead and try it, freak. Even you aren't that fast.
Goji and Jaime are shoved out of the house at gunpoint and marched past the torn perimeter fence to the vehicles. Goji has been stripped of his weapons and backpack. Himura walks up to him facing him and points a pistol at his head.
Himura: Remember me?
Goji doesn't answer her. Himura cocks the pistol.
Himura: I've waited a long time for this.
She stares him down. Goji just stares right back, completely unflinching. She pistol whips him in the head in frustration forcing him onto the ground. She presses the muzzle tight against the back of his head. Her finger tightens on the trigger.
Jaime: No!
Jaime breaks from the soldier holding her and rushes toward Himura. She reaches out and grabs her arm to try and pull the gun away from Goji's head.
Jaime: Leave him alone you bitch!
Himura struggles to pull her arm free from her as Jaime furiously continues to get the gun away from her. She bites down on her hand hard causing Himura to shout in pain thus dropping the gun and subconsciously shove Jaime to the ground as she clutches her bleeding hand. Before the other soldiers could grab her Jaime quickly crawls along the dirt and grabs Himura's gun and aims it at everyone.
Jaime: Back off assholes!
Everyone backed up while she waved the gun around. A few soldiers aim their own weapons at her until Himura starts shouting orders at them.
Himura: Stand down. Everyone stand down!
Himura takes a few steps toward Jaime who then aims the gun at her. Himura however can see how the gun is shaking in her hands. She can see the look of fear in her eyes. She starts talking to her in a calming voice.
Himura: It's alright. You're safe now. We're here to help.
Jaime: Help? Two minutes ago you were trying to kill me.
Himura: No Jaime. Our mission is to bring you back safely.
Jaime: How do you know my name? Did my mom send you?
Himura: Your mother? What are you talking about?
Jaime: My mom's waiting for me back at the Monarch lab up north. Did she send you to come look for me?
Himura: You don't know do you?
Jaime: Know what?
Himura took a deep breath before speaking. Her expression filled with a small mix of sadness.
Himura: Jaime, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but… Your mother, she's-
Suddenly the ground started to shake as the house started to creak and fall apart behind Jaime. And in a split second an explosion of vines erupted from the debris and towards Himura and the soldiers. Jaime ducked down and looked back to see Beverly slowly rising up into the air suspended by a large pile of vines seemingly growing out of her body. The top of her head that was once covered up by the beanie was now revealed to resemble that of a crimson red rose growing out of her skull. Beverly's face was twisted up with pain and fury as tears of blood flooded out of her eyes.
She let out a loud shriek like that of a demonic banshee and raised her arms to launch more vines which punctured two more soldiers through the chest. Three more start to shoot at her which prompts Beverly to turn her head to look down at them. Within a few seconds they become impaled on more vines shooting out of the ground beneath them and being torn apart from the inside out by small venus flytraps at the ends.
In the midst of the chaos Goji grabs Jaime and books it to one of the nearby vehicles. Along the way he also grabs his pack and weapons before getting them and Jaime into the nearest truck. Once inside he tells Jaime to stay down as he hits the gas to get the truck moving. Nearby Himura spots them trying to get away and picks up a nearby weapon and aims at Goji hoping to get him in the head. As she's about to pull the trigger a vine wraps around her legs and violently pulls her up into the air. Himura hangs upside down and looks to see Beverly going towards her. Her face then slowly starts to open up and expand to allow a long gator-like mouth to sprout out and open wide to take a bite out of Himura. Just before she's about to get her head bitten off, Himura pulls a grenade from her belt and pulls the pin, tossing it into Beverly's mouth. A few seconds later her head explodes in a mess of blood and moss.
Himura falls to the ground but manages to land on her feet. She stands over the dead KK lying on the ground and looks to where Goji's truck went. Unfortunately for her it was already well out of sight. Himura lets out an annoyed sigh as the last surviving soldier runs up to her.
Soldier 4: Lieutenant. Are you alright?
Himura wipes a bit of moss off her shoulder.
Himura: I'm fine. Casualties?
Soldier 4: I'm afraid we're the only ones left mam.
Himura: Vehicle status?
Soldier 4: We've got one jeep still working but I'm not sure we have enough fuel to continue pursuit.
Himura: I see. In that case we have no choice but to return and report to the major.
Soldier 4: Yes mam.
Himura and the soldier pile into the jeep and drive off into the direction they came from. Himura takes a quick look at the side view mirror at the path behind them. A scowl formed on her face while her fist tightened up on top of her knee. 'Almost got him.'
Meanwhile Goji managed to drive himself and Jaime far enough away to stop and rest for a short while and tend to his wounds. With any luck, his bandaged up side should be healed in a matter of days. He looks over at Jaime sleeping soundly in the passenger seat next to him. At first he was amazed that she was able to sleep after all that, but then he figured he couldn't blame her. All he could really hope for was that she was gonna be ok after today. He can still remember the look of fear she had on her face when he reached over to her and how tight she held onto him back at the house. She may act tough sometimes but at the end of the day she was still just a kid. And kids can only handle so much in this world full of horror and cruelty. Both of which he was already pretty familiar with. In both his travels and in his past. Thinking back on it now, He did remember that woman from before. And most importantly he remembered HIM. And in that moment all he could think about was what that bastard did to him and that he would never go back to that life again. Especially not without a fight.
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT EVERYBODY! WHOO! Man this one was a pain to write, but in the end it was totally worth it. And I hope you all enjoyed reading this and are looking forward to the next chapter.
List of KKs
Goji: Godzilla
Jaime: ?
Beverly: Biollante
Anyway until next time everybody, This is Tardispilot297 saying… ALLONSY!