Raising Sera- Lineage

by Andre Ellison

  "Stay alert...” he warned Marco. “Don't pull out the good mugs just yet."

  He pointed to a trail of blood just beneath the water's surface.

  "Someone been here," he added.

  A cough was heard. Everyone raised their weapon. Ethan shined his flashlights at the location of the sound and a shadowy figure bolted away.

  "Hold up!" Hunter exclaimed.

  The team pursued a short distance through the cavern until finally a small boy was cornered.

  Ethan lowered his weapon.

  "Whoa...” he directed the team. “Don't shoot!"

  Ethan reached out his hand to the boy.

  "You’re safe now son... It's ok!”

  The young boy faced the cavern wall. He stood motionless, refusing to turn around.

  “What’s your name?" Ethan asked.

  The boy whispered incoherently as he twitched in response. Hunter flanked the boy’s left side. He shined his flashlight on the kids face while the rest of the team beamed their flashlights at the surrounding area. Huge statues of archaic warriors lined the cavern walls like ancient carvings. Hunter drew his weapon.

  "I don't have time for this,” he uttered. “Answer the damn question!"

  Hunter put his shotgun in the kid's mouth. Out of the shadows, a hooded man and a small group of boys emerged from deep within the cavern.

  "Release him," the man demanded.

  Alpha team banded together as they aimed their weapons at the hooded man. More boys emerged from the shadows, circling the Apex soldiers. The hooded man walked closer to Hunter and the captured boy.

  Hunter shoved the gun further down the young boy's mouth.

  "Either you have a death wish or you're just really stupid,” he uttered. “Either way, it doesn't matter to me."

  The hooded man approached Hunter. He placed his hand on the barrel of the shotgun. Hunter peeked up beneath the hooded man’s garment. He cringed at the sight of his face. Removed from their sockets, his eyeballs were missing.

  "The fuck?" Hunter exclaimed.

  "Everything...” The man uttered. ”...will be told to you. Everything you need to know will be revealed... But first..."

  The man paused.

  "The boy must not be harmed."

  Ethan lowered the barrel of Hunter's shotgun. The captain stared at his lieutenant.

  "My name is not of importance," he continued, “...and neither is the boy’s. To know the Awoken is to know us."

  Ethan looked around the cavern. All the boys appeared young in age to late adolescent.

  "Listen up!” Ethan shouted. “Apex Delta is here to bring you all home! You will return to Central District where you'll be processed accordingly-"

  "Processed?” the hooded man spoke. “That militia crap."

  He pointed to the boys in the cave.

  "Look around you...” he uttered. “What do you see?"

  "A bunch of dumb kids," Gabriel mumbled.

  "Freed minds!" the hooded man answered. "Congratulations to you soldiers of Apex. You who have beaten the system of poverty. You... the intelligent most, you... the resourceful most. The brutes, the shameless, the ones who were chosen...”

  The hooded man paused.

  “And at what price did you pay to be free from your hardships?"

  The man opened his arms and the young boy returned to him.

  "These boys are missing...” Ethan urged. “They have families. They belong to New Gate. Stand down. They're coming with us."

  "Take ‘em then,” the man assured. “Unlike you, they are free to go if they choose.”

  Ethan looked at the boys faces. They didn’t move, let alone blink. The hooded man parted through the Alpha Team. He walked past the squadron and headed towards the reservoir.

  "As an Awoken, I remember the planet when it was still Gaia’s. In the age of the Protogenoi things were much simpler... then she gave her life, so that she could save ours."

  "What's a Gaia?" Gabe interrupted.

  The man in the hood picked up the dirt.

  "Here,” he answered. “This is Gaia. She is everywhere. She surrounds you."

  He held the dirt above his head.

  "The planet was hers and hers alone... but now she's dead. It was the Great War that took her away. But at last, a new moon has arrived and life will be spoken back into her existence.

  "What are you rambling about... New Moon?" Ethan asked.

  "She has many names," the hooded man explained.

  Hunter picked up his shotgun. "This is insane. You are ordered to stand down."

  The hooded man gestured a hand to one of the boys. A young kid nodded in response.

  "None of us is going anywhere. I must ensure the terrors are well fed and satisfied."

  He put his hand down deep in the reservoir, he picked up his arm and pulled up a woman.

  "Angela?" Ethan muttered.

  The man laid the woman down on the ground beside him.

  Hunter grabbed the nearest boy to him.

  "The fuck is going on here?” he screamed. “Why do you have my wife?"

  A small boy picked up a flower. He ran towards the hooded man and gave it to him.

  The hood man pulled back his overcoat. Unsheathing a blade from his right thigh, he grabbed Angela's arm and swiped the knife across her wrist. Blood poured down her hand as it trickled on the white flower's petals.

  "Animabus mortuorum, novasque vitas," whispered the hooded man.

  Hunter fired his shotgun at him. The man fell backwards into the water.

  “Hunter!” Ethan shouted. “Wait!”

  Ethan ran over to Angela's side. He checked her neck for a pulse. She produced a heartbeat although she was unconscious. He compressed her chest and blew air into her lungs.

  "Stay with me, Angela."

  The rest of the squad had their guns trained on the surrounding kids. Hunter marched over to Ethan. He lifted him up and pushed him off of Angela. Ethan pushed him back. Hunter punched him in the face.

  "This is on you, McCall! She would have never been down here-"

  Ethan staggered to his feet and tackled Hunter.

  "Fuck you!” he disputed. “She reached out to me!"

  He swung his arm in a failed punch. Hunter locked around Ethan’s arm and swept his foot. Tossing him over his hip, Hunter put Ethan on the cold wet ground. Both men continued their struggle until Jameson fired his sidearm in the air.

  "Break it up!" he yelled.

  "Hey, Capt..." Gabe shouted. “That guy... he took off!”

  "I’m over here," a voice boomed.

  Within the crowd of boys, the hooded man emerged. He carried in his arms the body of a dead child. Shotgun pellets seared into the boy’s flesh.

  "He took your assault...” the man continued. "...and now an offering has been given. The spirit mother is grateful."

  "These boys are not yours to negotiate with,” Gabe held up his gun. “Asshole!"

  "You dare insult an immortal with threats."

  Hunter cleared the chamber of his shotgun, "I don't care what you think you are-"

  Ethan reached for Hunter's gun. The two of them scrambled to their feet. Pulling a grenade from his belt, Hunter tossed it at the crowd of boys. Ethan deflected it and it smacked into the reservoir nearby.

  Water exploded throughout the cavern.

  The boys scrambled about and the Alpha Team Six huddled up as a group. Tremors shook the cave forcing ceiling rocks to fall.

  "What did you do?" the hooded man shrieked.

  "Tell us what is happening?" Ethan demanded.

  The hooded man hesitated.

  "She's angry!" he replied.

  Gabe picked up Angela and put her arm around his neck. The hooded man reached for her shoulder.

  "She must not leave!" he groaned. "They haven't begun there feeding."

  The reservoir stirred as a fleet of shadows lurked beneath the watery depths. The shadows emerged and leaped throughout the cavern. Alpha Team Six held there posit
ion as they unloaded their ordnance. As a horde of demonic spawn swirled over their heads, Ethan looked down at his wrist monitor. Six more hours remained on his timer. He grabbed Angela with Gabe and together they ran out the grotto.

  "How long 'til we're topside," Ethan shouted.

  "Four klicks," Jameson replied.

  "We need to get as close to the LZ as possible."

  Screams echoed throughout the corridors of the cavern. The dark figures dispelled a black mist as they savagely attacked the boys. The mist dissipated, creeping into their noses and mouths, the demons gained possession of the children. The boys attacked one another and the group of infected multiplied.

  "Ethan..." Gabe cried out. "Marco's down!"

  Gabe dropped Angela's arm and left her with Ethan.

  Marco fired his sidearm as a group of kids swarmed over him. Gabe reached out his arm to Marco. He fired his weapon with franctic quick burst. He stretched out his hand, but struggled as he pulled at Marco’s wrist. The horde of kids ripped through Marco’s uniform savagely tearing his flesh. Gabe looked down at Marco, he noticed his face was gray and his eyes were black. Marco reached out to Gabe. He brought his hand close to his mouth. Biting down on Gabe’s hand, Marco fell on his bottom. Gabe cried out as his legs began to shake. The ravenous horde fed on his torso and chest.

  "Don't stop, McCall!" Hunter yelled.

  Butch caught up to Jameson. He continued to fire as the horde closed in on them. He pulled out a grenade and threw it backwards. Rocks crumbled from the explosion as the horde receded.

  "GO!" Jameson yelled. "I'll cover you!"

  Butch continued to run. He caught up to Ethan and Hunter.

  Hunter looked over his shoulder. "You've ever been to the Bog, Butch"

  "What?" he replied.

  Butch dropped to the ground as he held his knee.

  “Dammit Hunter, you shot me!”

  Jameson looked at him. He watched as Butch laid on the ground while Hunter held his shotgun over him. He ran to them but Hunter took off.

  Jameson looked at Butch then the possessed horde. It was closing in on the both of them.

  “I’m sorry!” Jameson shouted as he left Butch behind.

  Gabe emerged from the horde and leaped on to the ceiling. He gave chase to the remaining Alpha team as Ethan, Hunter, and Jameson continued their escape through the murky cavern.

  "So that's your plan!” Ethan sneered. “Kill us all!"

  "Be grateful you're carrying Angela," Hunter warned him as he tapped his hand on his headset.

  “Carrier Delta...” he uttered, “Delta... do you read?”

  “Ugh!” Hunter groaned, throwing his headset on the ground. "Jameson, you call in that bird yet?"

  Jameson plugged in the coordinates on his wrist, sending a beacon to the transport.

  Ethan staggered as Angela planted her feet suddenly.

  "Let me die," she moaned.

  "Hold on, sweetheart, we're not that far out now!"

  The Apex Carrier thundered in the distance. As it descended inside the canyon, two massive turbines propelled the airship up as it hovered in front of the alpha team.

  Gabe continued his pursuit with Marco alongside him. They raced upside down on the ceiling and leaped towards the transport. Hunter shot Marco, exploding his head. Gabe landed on Jameson, knocking him down. The horde of terrors advanced towards them both.

  "Hunter...” Ethan shouted. “I’m getting him!”

  With Angela held at his side, Ethan turned around and fired a repelling line at Gabriel’s leg.

  Hunter stopped. He watched as Ethan dragged the creature from off of Jameson.

  "You’re stupid, McCall!"

  Ethan struggled as Gabe resisted. Jameson leaped to his feet and raced towards the hovercraft. Ethan ejected his cord to a nearby stone and Gabe was repelled to it.

  The Apex Carrier landed and the back hatch opened to retrieve the team. As Ethan and Hunter jumped on the transport, a crew member was there to escort Angela.

  "Captain...” he uttered. ”...communications from Apex Control has come in. There has been an explosion at the executive building. President Mason is under attack."

  The soldier handed Hunter an earpeiece. The captain tapped the young soldier on his back.

  "Bring us back there, Sonny!”

  The soldier looked down at Angela.

  "Is that the President's-"

  "Yes, Sonny! Now let's move," Hunter interupted.

  Ethan examined Gabe from the rear hatch.

  I am sorry, my friend.

  He lined up a shot at Gabe's head. As the aircraft ascended, Ethan fired his pistol missing the shot. He looked towards Jameson and watched as he fell from the hatch. Ethan tapped his earpiece and connected to the pilot.

  "Do not ascend... I repeat, do not ascend!”

  Ethan fired at the horde.

  "Jameson is out... I repeat... Jameson is out. Provide cover fire."

  Hunter grabbed the control stick and pulled up on the handle. The carrier gained altitude.

  Jameson leaped in the air and reached out to the boarding deck. Ethan reached out his hand to pull the corporal up. Jameson hung in the air as the horde accumulated below.

  Flesh ripped from Gabe’s body as he pulled himself free of his restraint. He ran towards the hovercraft but was trampled by the horde, crushing his body as he fell to the ground. The dark mist left his body. It flew up towards Jameson.

  "Look at me," Ethan directed him.

  The dark mist entered into Jameson’s nose as he peered at the horde below him. Ethan reached out his other hand.

  "Jameson...” he repeated. “Look at me!"

  ***

  Hunter got up from the cockpit and returned to the rear dock. He readied his shotgun and cocked the chamber.

  ***

  Jameson looked up at Ethan. His eyes turned black and his skin was gray. He leaped up and lunge towards Ethan.

  Hunter fired his shotgun. Expelling the shell casing, he fired again, this time hitting his target in the face. Jameson fell towards the chasm below. The terror within Jameson shrieked as it left his body.

  "Your cover fire...” Hunter scoffed. “You satisfied, McCall.”

  Hunter acknowledged his earpeice and directed the aircraft to ascend. The horde accumulated in numbers, scaling the walls of the canyon as the Apex Carrier climbed towards the wasteland.

  "Fire," Hunter directed.

  A barrage of missiles were unleashed from the airship and the walls of the Abyss caved in.

  RETURN TO CHAOS

  WAR

  "Seconds are the difference between life and death. You're either amongst the living, Ethan, or you're not."

  Hunter took a swallow from a metal flask.

  "It's the price we pay. Marco, Butch, Jameson...even Gabe, they all knew the risk. The moment you start to remember that, the easier it is to move forward."

  He took another sip from his flask.

  "Just like once you get past the odor, that crap water back there is actually passable!"

  Ethan stared at him. Sweat dripped from his forehead and into his eyes as he remembered the warning Gabe had told them. 'Don't drink the water'.

  Ethan coughed.

  "Typical...” Hunter continued. “Always ready to take my leftovers."

  He stroked the face of Angela as she laid upon his lap.

  "No surprise you would want this too!" he mocked, shaking the flask.

  Ethan wanted to cough again but instead cleared his throat.

  "The kids-” he uttered.

  "You saw what I saw," Hunter contested. "There's nothing we could've done."

  "I just don't believe it. Those boys... they were possessed."

  "And you know what? They were the property of Apex! They had no family, there were no missing reports filed, they were orphaned street thugs."

  "The briefing said-"

  "I know what the briefing said! They were on a list of prospects for the recruitment program. Tho
se boys were missing in action. As far as I'm concerned, they died in the line of duty."

  "Wow... like that huh?"

  "Just like that."

  "And what about the guy?"

  "I wouldn't know... Awoken Ones, Gaia, sounds like the rambling of a lunatic. Last person I met that sounded like that..." Hunter looked at Ethan. "What am I’m saying... you know the story about her.”

  Ethan froze as a chill washed over him.

  "Those things... that's more than just lunatic talk. Those were real. Real people died."

  Hunter ignored Ethan.

  “And back there... what you did to Butch? I’ll make sure you’re held responsible for-”

  “For crying out loud!” Hunter injected. “You’re gonna court martial me, Ethan.”

  Hunter chuckled.

  “You still got a lot to learn about Advent City, kid. The people in charge at New Gate only care about the well-being one person here...”

  Hunter stroked Angela’s face.

  “Her,” he concluded.

  The two of them sat across from each other in the back of the loading deck aboard the Apex Carrier Delta. A red light flashed overhead, signaling them to prepare for engagement. Hunter grinned at Ethan then turned to look out his window. Ethan coughed once more, than did the same.

  As they approached the city of New Gate, a billow of smoke flooded the night sky. The tallest building in Advent City, Apex Headquarters, pierced high amongst the skyline. With fire and smoke purging from the uppermost floors the building resmembled a lit match. Multiple searchlights scanned the underbelly of the vertically divided Providence. Central District supported Advent City by means of enormous pillars called globes. Helicopters hovered in the sky, while the sound of ordinance grew loud in the dark.

  Ethan looked at his wrist monitor. It read 3 hours left til his next dose. He took out his medication and glanced at the hand full of pills that were left in the plastic vial. He turned towards Angela. I’m glad I was able to help with your cure. He thought. At least you don't have to rely on these anymore.

  The transport shook.

  Hunter and Ethan braced themselves. As the light above their heads flashed red, Hunter installed a new earpiece in his ear, then secured Angela with a safety harness. Ethan watched the two of them as he prepared himself on the gun turret.