Black Light: The Deplorable Savior

by Rich Richardson

  I heard someone call out, “Somebody has to help them!” and, just as they did, a black blur swept past all of us, running out and jumping off the destroyed edge of the overpass. Vale hooked onto a railing from a destroyed catwalk and rode down it like a makeshift zip line. He used his pistol to take out eight ferals before his boots hit the ground, and the red streaks on his jacket shimmered as he moved through the air.

  “All officers get over here!” I yelled. We lined up our rifles and took aim. “Open fire on those dogs!”

  Vale and two other survivors fought atop the mountain of rubble, using stones, knives and everything they could get their hands on to protect those who were paralyzed with fear, including my nephew.

  We shot as many of the ferals as we could, but I wasn’t sure we even needed to help. Vale seemed to be tearing through the beasts like tissue paper. He held an iron pipe in one hand and his gray revolver in the other. Every single shot landed between the eyes of a monster, and the ones that were alive only lived long enough to have their heads bashed in.

  “Kill these motherfuckers!” one of the Black Jackets screamed from the catwalks. He tossed three molotov cocktails into the air and shot each of them above the ground, causing fire to rain down and ignite more than two dozen monsters simultaneously.

  A moment of calm hit the battlefield, and the glass, bullets and bodies stopped piling up for a moment. The ferals stopped attacking, and seemed to reconsider their suicidal charge. However, it was only a few moments before I saw them once again bare their teeth and extend their claws. They moved into position to attack once again.

  Vale was breathing heavily, but his ferocity had not decreased. Other survivors gathered around him, carrying weapons of their own; ready to fight alongside the man who had abandoned our safe haven to defend them.

  However, there was no more fighting that day.

  A roar louder than anything I had ever heard shot through the city. We looked for its source and could faintly see another feral, bigger than any of the others, perched on one of the Cages. It roared again, and every feral ran to follow it. We even saw trees moving, as the ferals in the forest answered it’s call.

  They left the city forever, and I let out a breath that I didn’t know I was holding.

  The dust cloud once again covered our view, and the survivors were hidden from us.

  “Vale!” There was no answer. "Vale!”

  I jumped when a gloved hand grabbed onto the ledge right below me.

  “Aunt Paige,” came my nephew’s excited voice. I held him tight when Scott lifted him up to me. The Black Jackets ran up and helped him get over the edge, along with the other survivors.

  “We owe you our lives, Mr. Vale.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad I could help.”

  My nephew didn’t look comfortable, but he looked at the dark man and said “Thank you.”

  Everyone was happy at first, happy that they had survived the biggest feral attack in Jamestown’s history, but then the realizations started to set in. The broken families realized that their loved ones wouldn’t be coming back. Officers and Black Jackets alike consoled mothers who had left behind children and husbands who had left behind wives. A lot of good people were dead, and those that survived had had their spirits thoroughly broken.

  “I didn’t expect this. This isn’t why we came back.”

  “That may be so, but I’m still glad you did,” I told Scott. “Someone wanted you here, right now, so that you could save us.”

  “You mean, like God?”

  I felt the device in my pocket. “Maybe.” I pulled it out and saw that it now displayed a map, with directions to a place far to the north and a small message in the bottom corner.

  I’ll be waiting

  “Mr. Vale. Where are you and your men staying?”

  “An outpost in the Badlands, or rather, several outposts. Our people are split between them.”

  "Could take in a few more?”

  “I think we can make room.”

  “I need to pay a visit to a friend. These people are your responsibility now, and my officers are under your command.”

  “We’ll sweep for survivors and head out. They’ll be safe, I promise.”

  I kneeled down in front of my nephew. “Sweetheart, you’re going to go live with these people for a little while.”

  He still seemed frightened of the idea of being anywhere near Vale. “I don’t want to.”

  “I know it’s scary, but this is for the best. They’ll take care of you, and maybe someday you’ll be a big and strong fighter just like them.” I made sure Vale was listening when I said that. “These men saved us and I trust them. Mr. Vale is a good man, so don’t be afraid.”

  I grabbed my nephew one last time. “This will be just for a little while. You know that I love you right?”

  “Yes, Auntie Paige.” He started crying, and though it broke my heart, I sent him away with everyone else.

  Something hit me just then; a terrifying realization. I was no longer the President. I wasn’t the leader of anything. I no longer had citizens, buildings, a city… Everything was gone. I watched the last of my life leave with the Black Jackets, and I hated myself because I knew they would be better off without me.

  Chapter 66 - Sirius V

  I was starting to get worried. “Did something happen to her?” I pondered. “Did she get hurt? She should be here by now.”

  I felt relief when I saw the cart roll up to the Cage’s doors. I had expected something more inconspicuous, but the guards were gone for the moment, so it didn't matter. I just wanted to see Rae again. I hoped she hadn’t changed since I had last seen her.

  “I’m so glad you are here.”

  However, it was not Rae who was pushing the cart. It was a man, dressed in a suit, with eyes a shade of blue I had never seen before.

  “Where is Rae?”

  “Gone.”

  “Gone?” It was devastating to think that she had already died. I hadn’t seen her in a long time, but I had never let that thought cross my mind. Whenever I thought about escaping this place or finding a better life, I thought of her.

  “Is she dead?”

  “No. She left.”

  “Left? Where is she? Where did she go?” He didn’t answer. “Did she leave me a message? A note? Anything?”

  “No, I’m sorry,” he said, unlocking the cage door and pushing the cart inside.

  I opened the lid. Inside were hundreds of syringes, all primed and ready.

  “Why didn’t you bring this years earlier? It’s almost too late. The government is about to leave.”

  “I know,” he stated. “The other Cages have received their shipments, and the Shamans are waiting for you. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go meet up with an old friend.” He turned to leave.

  “You’re a fairy. What do you gain from this? Don’t you see what’s coming?”

  “All things are foreseen, but some things are unpreventable.” He started to walk away, but then turned back. “Oh, and the special one is yours.”

  I tried to open the box, but failed. It was sealed tight, and the lock, rather than having a key, instead had a timer, set for ten minutes, that had yet to start counting down.

  “Empowered One! You must come! The Shamans have requested you.” A messenger said. I had been so distracted I hadn’t even heard him approach.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  I left him with the cart and ran to my home. The Shamans had gathered with the other Empowered Ones at the arena, in the deepest section of the tunnels. People were standing on all sides, chanting for their Cage’s ruler to win.

  “Sirius V. I’m so glad to see you.”

  “I’m honored to see you, Shaman of Prophecy. Will we be starting soon?”

  “Yes. Get into position.”

  I arranged myself on the edge of the ring, while the Shaman of Honor spoke to the crowd.

  “On this day, we will take back the city. The fairies locked us up, and
now they tell us that they want to leave? They have tried to cage the beast, but today the beast breaks free!” The crowd screamed in excitement. “The Omniscients will never leave this city! We will kill every fairy, and then we will raze it to the ground. Once that is done, we will find the Great Beast and kill it. We will kill the fairies and kill the dragon!”

  “Kill the dragon!” shouted the crowd in reply.

  “And now, we shall decide the one who will lead us. The Empowered Ones will do battle, and the winner shall lead us into a glorious new age!”

  While the crowd screamed about blood and destiny, I stood on the edge of the ring, sizing up my opponents. Sirius I looked as if he wanted no part in this, but Sirius III was smiling. Sirius IV was having trouble catching his breath, and Sirius II looked as bloodthirsty as ever.

  This was my life. Every day since I met Rae, my one friend who wasn’t indoctrinated, I had dreamed of leaving, but there was no escape. There was no better life waiting for me, and there was no happiness on the other side of this. For a wolf, there was nothing more to life than blood.

  “BATTLE!”

  We didn’t have our machetes, and the entire fight quickly turned into an clusterfuck of punching and wrestling. I managed to get my hands around the throat of Sirius III and held him there. I kept squeezing, crushing his windpipe, wanting to take his life from him. This victory would be mine. He was spared when someone else put their arm around my neck. I struggled, but wasn’t able to get free. I kept fighting, but soon I felt blackness start to overtake me.

  The grip lessened. Sirius I had tackled him, allowing me to escape, but I fell back to the ground as soon as I tried to stand back up. I spent what felt like ages just trying to get on my feet, being constantly kicked or shoved, but, when I finally did, it was only because the fight had completely stopped.

  “I am the winner!” Sirius II said, standing at the edge of the arena and holding three syringes. “I will lead the Tribe of Dogs to greatness!” He stabbed himself and pulled the triggers.

  He fell to his knees in weakness, but a second later was growing to twice his normal size. He transformed before our eyes, and when he had changed into his new monstrous form he slashed Sirius IV across the stomach. The Empowered One screamed as his organs fell out of his body, but Sirius II began to tear through the crowd, killing dozens with his teeth and claws. People screamed and ran out of the tunnel, but I went to a nearby room where I knew our weapons were kept. I grabbed two machetes and ran back to the arena.

  The Sirius II, in his beastly form, stood over two dead empowered ones, but, before he could begin devouring them, he screamed in pain. He grew even larger; so large that his skin ripped open, and from the left side of his neck grew an entire head, complete with snapping razor-sharp jaws. A fifth leg also sprouted from his left side, and spiked pieces of bone jutted out of his joints and vertebrae.

  The behemoth looked over at me and licked its chops, like I was a piece of meat. Down on all fives, it crawled closer and closer. I held up my weapons, ready to defend myself.

  Like a rhino, it charged at me, but I was ready. I raised both my weapons and slashed at its heads, but the behemoth’s momentum caused it to roll over me, and my machetes to flew out of my hands.

  I was still dazed, but it was already on its feet. I had cut two deep gashes into one of its faces, but it didn’t even seem to notice. The behemoth came for me again, but stopped when a thrown knife struck it in the side.

  “Get up before he kills us!” Sirius I said to me. I found both my machetes, and he lifted a massive ax crafted of scrap metal.

  The behemoth was bleeding, but not down. It circled around us, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike… until we went on the offensive.

  I drew another knife from Sirius I’s belt, and took out one of its four eyes. It roared at us, but Sirius I swung his ax around his body and kept it moving at all times, not allowing the behemoth to come close for fear of being cut. We slowly moved towards it, backing it into a corner.

  “Now!” Sirius I shouted, and, just as his ax stopped whirling around his body, I leapt over him, brought both my weapons down and slashed into the behemoth’s shoulder.

  I smiled as it screamed in pain, but Sirius I took no pleasure in it. He immediately began swinging the ax again as soon as I was safely behind him.

  We repeated the process, following the monster until we backed him into a wall, and striking with vicious precision.

  Eventually, the behemoth decided to cut its losses and run, and so I slid between Sirius I’s legs and under the still moving ax blade, swung my machete’s and took off half of the behemoth’s back left leg.

  It turned and snapped at me, but Sirius I’s ax kept it from getting too close. It whined in pain between each snarl of anger.

  “Be careful. It’s still dangerous!” Sirius I yelled at me, but I didn’t listen. I charged at the monster, engrossed in the battle, and was knocked away.

  It leaped at Sirius I, who, after swinging the ax for so long, was far more tired than I. The behemoth pinned him, but he held its jaws away with his hands.

  I grabbed my weapons and jumped on its back, stabbing both machetes into its sides and twisting them like the throttle of a motorbike.

  It howled in pain and tried to limp away. Sirius I rose up, bleeding from his hands, but still strong enough to pick up his ax and kick the monster to the ground.

  “I never believed in Canis anyway,” he told the beast, and brought the ax down, splitting its main head in half like a watermelon, from the tip of its nose to down below the shoulder.

  “What have you done?” the Shamans said, returning to the arena. “How dare you kill one of our kind!”

  “One of our kind? He was mindless. Is this what you want for us?”

  “This power is our only way to beat the Omniscients!”

  “The fairies already think we are animals,” I said, as I approached them. “This isn’t right. We are not mindless beasts. We are not like that... that thing!” I screamed pointing at the monstrosity that had once been Sirius II.

  The Shaman of Honor sighed. “Young one, you are so naive.” He pulled a syringe from his robe. “But perhaps you will still make a good leader.”

  He raised it and tried to stab me, but I caught his hand in midair, and instead stabbed him with a knife I had pulled from the behemoth’s side.

  “You no longer rule me.”

  He fell dead, and the other Shamans stood horrified. Some tried to run, but they never made it to the surface. Their blood soaked the arena floor.

  I grabbed another machete and ran back to my cage, while Sirius I ran back to his. There were psychotic beasts everywhere. They chased after those that hadn’t turned, tore houses apart and I saw one feasting on the body of a child.

  “Stop!” I sprinted forward and tried to kill it, but it saw me coming and swatted me away like a gnat. I fell to the ground, watching the death around me. The beasts killed us. They killed each other. They killed men, women and children. They slaughtered everything they saw.

  I got up and ran to the box, remembering what the man in the suit had said. It was now wide open, with most of the syringes gone, but, deep inside, there was one that was different. It was green, rather than yellow, and on its side it said:

  Lykan’s Virus: Type 7

  I was scared of what I might become, but I needed the strength to end this, and so I jabbed the needle into my skin.

  “Canis forgive us all.”

  Chapter 67 - Paige Wilson

  The snow was difficult to trudge through, but, halfway up the mountain, I finally found it. Sitting outside the front doors was a sign that read:

  “Human Corps Headquarters: Sector 101”.

  I took off my snowsuit once I was inside. The structure, which was built into the mountain, had central heating and fluorescent lights that still functioned, somehow.

  I continued on, walking directly down the long hallway. The mysterious device told me to k
eep going down the hall, and so I did.

  I reached a set of closed double doors, and I knew he was on the other side. They swung open easily, revealing a long black table with a row of high backed leather chairs on each side, and one at both ends. Every single seat was empty, save one. Sitting at the far end of the table, was the man with the diamond blue eyes.

  “Good morning, Madam President. Care to sit?”

  I sat down at the other head of the table. “I think it’s time you gave me some answers.”

  “I’m afraid I have none to give you.”

  “That’s bullshit. Jamestown was wiped off the map and you knew it was coming. I’m even betting you could have stopped it.”

  “Jamestown served as the earth’s last connection to the old world, but the old world is not what is best for earth.”

  “People dying isn’t what’s best for earth,” I told him.

  He laughed. He actually laughed loudly and happily when I said that.

  “How is that funny?”

  “You are so short sighted. People died and you are angry, but there were survivors. Shouldn’t you be happy for them?”

  “People didn’t need to die if you saw the disaster coming.”

  “All things are foreseen, but some things are unpreventable.”

  I looked down at the table. He wasn’t telling me anything useful.

  “What exactly were you expecting to find when you got here?”

  I couldn’t answer that. Not many people could make me lose my place in a conversation, but somehow this man…

  “Not to interrupt you, but perhaps we should get on with what you’re here to do.” He got up and opened a door by his end of the table. He didn’t wait for me to come, simply expected me to follow, and I did, though cautiously. On the other side of the door was an enormous control room. Electronics I couldn’t even identify were built into the walls and ceiling. At the far end, where the man stood, there was a huge screen displaying an electronic map.