Chapter 7

Regeneration

Madison's eyes twitched and then flickered open. The bright light of the sun nearly blinding her. Her head was throbbing and her vision was blurred. Her body lay twisted on the ground and the uncomfortable position was eating away at her bones and muscles. Slowly she remembered that the heavy blow out of the crash had sent her flying through the air and must have knocked her out when her body hit the ground.

Her vision became clearer as she focused on the green streak before her eyes. Her face was still pressed flat to the ground, but she first wanted to see properly before attempting to get up from the awkward position she found herself in.. Then her eyes came into focus and her breath caught in her throat. It was.....GRASS?!!

She sprawled out her fingers to tentatively touch the green blades of grass before her and when she felt them, she realised that they were indeed real. She sat up too quickly and instantly regretted the sudden movement, but what she saw was mind blowing!

It-was-amazing!!! She gasped as she took in the scene surrounding her.... everywhere there were grass, moss, plants and trees that have sprouted from out of the soil. She found herself in a lushly covered green meadow. The tarmac road that she knew was not far from her was now completely gone and the whole area covered with deep green grass ... WOW!!!

Her eyes wide in her small face, she drank in the beauty of everything she saw and she slowly came to her feet. She started laughing in disbelief. She sounded a bit hysterical as she ran her hands slowly through her hair... gazing at the wondrous miracle before her.

She snapped to attention when she heard groans not far from her and she realised her companions were also there. Knocked out and probably hurt she ran towards the sound and came to Connor who lay against a rock huddled together. He groaned unpleasantly.

"Connor!! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly and placed her hand on his shoulder. He came to and his eyes met hers for a second, until they darted towards the green scenery behind her.

"What the FUCK!?" he murmured and rose painfully to his feet. He stared and so did everyone else who came to and were getting their bearings.

"Jesus ... This is not fucking real!? Is it??" Reed sounded like he was about to cry.
Bob held onto Alley and their eyes were misty as well.
"Do you guys think we're dead?" the question made everyone stare at Warren abruptly, shaking their heads disapprovingly.
"NO you fucking idiot!!" Darren snapped at Warren irritably.
"How did this happen?" Alley asked and looked over to Connor. He shrugged and just like everyone else could make no sense of it, but stood there gaping at what they saw.

"We should stay here for the night. There's no point leaving now. The sun is setting. We have no idea what is going on and what else is happening. Clearly something strange is going on.... and we all might need some meds after that hard fall." Connor said logically, taking control and surprisingly everyone just agreed happily with his suggestion.

Connor was rather unsettled by the unexplained event that took place whilst they were all out of it. He looked over to where the object had crashed. There was HARDLY a sign of smoke anymore or any sign of scattered debris from where he observed the general area where he knew the object impacted the ground. He should go and investigate. He knew this had something to do with the falling object. How? He had no idea....yet.

Madison deep in thought, helped the others setting up the camp for the night, whilst Connor said he needed to take a walk and have a look around.

This was probably the MOST amazing day of her life. Not even in her lifetime alone had she seen this much greenery at the same spot. Sure, they had vegetable gardens which were really hard to grow and maintain, since most of the soil was corrupted and barren. But ... trees ... THIS big and green? Grass and all sorts of plants? NEVER!! There were even small wildflowers growing in thick patches around her. She kneeled down beside one such a patch and gently fingered the tiny, purple buds.

She had NEVER EVER seen a flower ... or EVEN smelt one! She had just had to do that! She slowly brought her nose down and sucked in a deep, deep breath. It was glorious, so rich and fresh. Sweet and tantalising to her nostrils. She could hardly get enough of it. Her heart filled with emotion and she felt a tear slip from her eye and slowly, dripping off her cheek, gently fall onto the grass near to her face. Today ... today was a mark of history in her own life that she will ALWAYS treasure. Something had finally happened to change their dead world and she had survived to see it and to experience this miracle.

***

Connor scanned the area slowly. There was a faint trail of smoke escaping from the wreckage, slowly billowing into the air. He started walking up the mount of sand gathered together by the crash, to peer into the hole it caused due to the collision.

Reaching the top, he stopped and gaped at the object burrowed in the deep hole. It was a gigantic missile ... or what was left of it at least. And it was already overgrown by grass, as if it has been there for years! From out of the small openings along side the end of it, dripped a greyish liquid. The smoke was clearing out fast, dissipating as the remains cooled down.

He moved closer to the edge, slipping down the slope of grass and sand to inspect the missile. The most troubling thought of all was, why was there a missile directed here? At earth? Who was launching them? He looked up into the sky and squinting his eyes, he saw nothing but the fading sun. IF it were humans ... how and why??

Connor shook his head dismissively. NO! This assumption was unlikely... humans do not possess the capabilities, to endeavor in such advanced technology anymore. NO! It definitely were not humans! He was sure of this. At the same time this realisation hit him, it sent shudders down his spine.

Then, WHAT was it ...or rather, WHO was it that initiated this whole thing???
He wiped his finger across the small openings of the leaking missile to feel the texture of the liquid. He brought it closer to smell, but... it had NO distinguishable known smell to it. It's color was silver grey. It was of strange consistency. He looked at the tiny droplets left dripping down upon the expanding grass bed and saw the liquid droplets transform into blades of grass or forming stems for small wild flowers once it impacted the soil. Gasping, he fell backwards, he was shocked. This was like ... Magic!

On his way back to their camp he stared at the small vial of liquid he collected, as the silvery liquid runs up and down the glass vile as he tilts it. His mind ponders these strange events. Of course, he knew magic was not real! This was made ... it came from that missile. Someone had made it!

"Connor!" Madison called out to him as she came jogging towards him. She smiled brilliantly and catched a breath.
"What is wrong?" he asked with sudden concern in his voice.
"Nothing. I came to give you this." She pulled her hand from her jacket pocket and held out the round shaped object.
"An apple?!"he asked incredulously. They haven't seen many fruits over the years and most, even as common as an apple, had become extinct. He slowly stuck out his hand and took it from her, as he closely inspects the green shape and sniffs the fruit.
Madison retrieved another from her pocket and bit hard into the juicy flesh. Connor was not as enthusiastic and he slapped it from her hand. It rolled into the dirt and she gave him a piercing scowl.

"Don't just eat it! Jesus!!" he spat and she rolled her eyes.
"Your too late if you thought it would kill us. Reed had about ten of them." she said nonchalantly with a smug smile.
"Your a bunch of fucking idiots!!" he said harshly and handed the apple back to her.
"Why are you being so bitchy?!" she asked, following him towards the camp.
"I found something. And I am just concerned. That's all.... Do you understand?" he asked with an intended patronising tone in his voice.
"Wow!! Great! You just managed to make everything SUCK!!" she moaned and stomped off towards the camp fire.

Connor felt the sting of her words in his chest, but blew it off by directing his gaze towards the lazily stretched out men around the burning fire. They were chewing apples noisily and having their rations. He placed down his back pack and joined them.

"Did you find anything?" Bob's voice resonated concern. Connor slipped his hand into his pocket to retrieve the vile.
"I found whatever it is that makes all the trees and plants appear. It came from a missile. A liquid gas that is affecting the earth." They gazed at him with baffled expressions.
"A missile?" Reed asked, suddenly alert.
"Yes. You should have a look at it in the morning." Connor said.
"Where the FUCK would that come from?" Warren asked the obvious question on everyone's mind but that no one could answer.
"Not from here. That's for sure!" Connor said plainly and looked up to the star filled sky. They followed his gaze expectantly and the group fell into an eerie silence.

***

Jane shot up from her bed as she heard a loud and shrill scream coming from outside her tent. She nearly tumbled to the floor, as she raced to get on her jacket and pants. She barged out into the crisp, cold morning air and saw that the whole camp had turned to chaos. The men in black cloaks were the reason.

The entire camp was surrounded, with everyone trapped inside. In the middle of the large crowd stood a very tall man dressed in black; his hair long and tousled. At his feet sat Jack on his knees with hands tied behind his back. Her heart raced and pounded. They were caught! They were going to be killed!! The fear nearly made her crumble to her feet and beg for mercy. But before she could act on any instinct, a cold hand slipped around hers and jerked her back into the tent. She nearly screamed aloud, if it was not for recognising the familiar face. Ed, Jack's close friend, was pushing her back further inside, before anyone noticed her.

"You need to run!! Find Connor! Now!!" he said in a strained, urgent whisper.
"I can't... I won't survive alone!! I don't even KNOW where they have gone!?" she frantically whispered back.
"My son is on the outskirts of the forest ... westwards. Run there! He has supplies and a map. He will know where to go to find Connor."
"Ed please!! What about Jack?! Everyone else?! The children?!" she asked, nearly weeping.
"They will not hurt us. Now please GO!! NOW!!" he jammed a hammer into her hands and pushed her nearer to the back of the tent, so that she could slip out that way and avoid detection. Jane was trembling like a sick pup, but when she heard Ed shout violently, she knew no turning back and she pivoted toward the west end of the forest, her feet flying over the ground she covered with speed.

***

Jack gazed up at the tall man towering over him. He looked wild and dark ... not the type of man you would generally pick a fight with.
"What is it you WANT!?" Jack asked with a clenched jaw.
"Sage demands you and your people to come with us."
"Your leader must be mistaken. We are not her property ... NOR is she OUR leader."

The remark was met with a mind blowing slap across his face and Jack spat a ball of blood into the dirt as he gazed back at the man with hateful eyes.
"Sage DEMANDS you come ... and there will be no harm done to you!"
"Your leader's WORD has not meant much in the past ... for all the other innocent lives ended by his command?! Why should we trust you?"
The man bent down to look Jack in the eyes. His one eye had a battle scar across it that extended down across his lip. He narrowed his black eyes and grinned maliciously.
"If you DON'T.... I will make sure that EVERY single person here are burned alive....Whilst YOU watch. And THEN I will kill YOU." he said threateningly.
Jack knew they had lost. Whatever advantage they had ...if they did not trust in this man's feeble promise, his people will be slaughtered. Sage had no mercy and was capable of much worse!!

"Fine! I just beg of you not to harm our children and women. Please." Jack said in defeat. And the tall man rose to his feet.
"We will not ... I can assure you of that." he said and gestured his men to round them up.
Jack let out a deep wobbling breath as he felt the worrying, fearful eyes of his people on him. Waiting and hoping ... needing his sign of approval ... A gesture of comfort. He looked up and nodded his head, but his heart weighing heavy in defeat.

***

Jane had never run so fast before in her life! Her heart was pounding so hard it made her feel like she was going to choke. When she reached the end of the forest, she fell to her knees and gasped for air. Her hands were shaking and her vision was blurry and a sip of water would have helped right then, but, she had none with her.
Two feet appeared on the ground before her and she threw herself backwards to look up in readiness to get away if needed.
Ed's son, Miles, stood towering over her, watching her with deep concern etched on his face. She let out a deep breath of pure relief and sagged into a shaking bundle on the ground.

"I didn't expect my dad to send you. Shit! With your lack of stamina you would never reach them in time." he said with disappointment heavy in his voice. Jane scowled up at him and got to her feet without hesitation.
"Look Miles, I am a nurse, NOT a god damn athlete!!So shut your trap and let's get a move on!!" she spat at him in resentment and turned on her way. He smiled and let out a chuckle. His brown hair hung floppily over his head and his beard needed a trimming. He was a few inches taller than her, but lean and strong. He was scouting for the camp, hence the thoughtless insult.

"Wow! Didn't know you had so much fire, Blondie." he said teasingly and she shot him an awful look of dismay.
"Let's cut through the field and head west. We need to move as fast we can. We do not even know where they are at this moment. So we need to track them on the path exactly the way Jack told them to go... otherwise we will pass each other." he said, as they hastily cut through the dead trees.
"I'll do my best to keep up Miles." she said with outspoken honesty and he grinned.
"Don't worry. I am strong enough to carry you if you can't run anymore." he said and winked at her. She narrowed her eyes at him and sprinted forward into a comfortable jog.

****************************************

Meanwhile, much further away...

In a broken down city with hardly anything left, except the ruins and skeletons of buildings that once was a testimony of man's capabilities, stood one particular building. The resemblance of an enormous castle. High walls enclosed it and its appearance created a gloomy, dark shadow that overshadowed all that which lay beneath its feet. Ominous and lurking, but inside the enormous fortress like walls, things were much different. A new city was growing and prospering on whatever resources could be found by the raiding inhabitants. The castle was a silent reminder of their leader who was watching over them.

Heavy, black painted, wooden doors swung open giving access to a hall with cold stone flooring and at the end of it, there was a gigantic open arch, overlooking the newly risen city within its walls, from the balcony pointing sharply outwards.

Two men were pulling a rope behind them. The man tied to it, was being dragged across the floor. His clothes were torn and his face was smeared with blood. He groaned painfully, and they tossed him before the small steps that lead to a Throne chair . Metal swerved and circled like a snake that were resting upon the chair. A golden tapestry was draped over the frame. The large head of the metal snake rested ontop of the backrest of the chair and two yellow stones served the purpose of its cold glaring eyes. The two men were uncomfortably surveying the room, waiting for their superior to appear.

A figure moved from out of the dark shadows of the black drapes, that were hanging along either side of the arch and out of its enveloping darkness appeared two slim feet with long perfectly shaped legs, followed by her body, sleekly covered in a yellow gown split open from the top of her hipbone downwards. Her hair hung loosely down to the floor and when the man tied down, looked up, he looked straight into those bright yellow eyes. He jolted with fright and whimpered. Her rosy lips curved into a sardonic grin and she knelt down before him to look at him.

"Is HE the man responsible?" she asked gently and looked up at the guards.
"Yes. He is guilty of the murder of his daughter and wife. He also confessed."

"Mmmm ... well ... thank you for your cooperation. Tell me ... why did you decide on killing your wife and child so ... inhumanely?" she asked. Her eyes pinning him down and piercing into his frigid, terrified soul. He was so nervous he could hardly speak without a stutter.

"I-I-I don't know mam ..." he whimpered.
"Mam?" she repeated and burst out laughing. Her guards clearly understood why she laughed and chuckled along.
"Do NOT fuck'n insult me!!!" she said seriously and the man became rigid.
"You do NOT deserve to take up space in my prison. You should be... somewhere else..." she said and grinned maliciously.
The terrified man started squirming and begging, but this made no difference to her. Grabbing him by his tattered collar and lifting him from the ground without a fuss, she held him up effortlessly and looked into his eyes.
"I HATE men who hurts innocent people ... especially, their OWN children." she said measuredly. Her words filled with hot hatred.
"Please mam ... don't ... Please!" he begged. She rolled her eyes irritably and then set him down on his feet.
"Hold him!!" she ordered her guards.
They grabbed hold of his arms while he tried wriggling away. Flailing like a bird caught in a coop, he became dead still when he saw her slowly slip a dagger from the waist band of her dress.
She smiled and as if he had no choice but to follow her command, his body became quiet and slack.
She grabbed his hand and jabbed the dagger into his flesh.
He screamed viciously and as his mouth opened, she grabbed him close and bore her hand down his throat.
She grabbed hold of his tongue and ripped it from its flesh.
His screams were unimaginable and as he gargled in his own blood, she took him by the rope and pulled his body like a dog after her.
Up, on the balcony, she took a deep breath and turned to him.
She watched him spew blood and cry out in pain.
Her face gentle and calm and with a quick flick of her arms, she tossed him over the edge.
His muffled screams coming to an abrupt end, as he finally hit the ground.

Looking at her hand, she inspected the tongue that lay bloody in her palm.
With no sense of repulsion, she tossed it at the dog that lay sprawled out on the balcony, enjoying the afternoon sun.
To be fair, it wasn't entirely a dog ... maybe more of a dog crossed with a lion and something else. Whatever it was, it got pretty messed up by radiation.
The size of a tiger, with a black and grey coat. Its tail and left hind leg were scaly and hairless. He had long fangs, with a lip that was half cut off, exposing the terrifying teeth permanently. He hungrily snatched up the tongue and licked the blood off the floor.
"Good boy, Chimera!" she said happily. He wagged his scaly tail. She smiled nonchalantly and returned to her guards.
She noticed how uncomfortable she made them feel. It was clear to her that they also feared her.

"We have other news." The taller of the two said stiffly.
"Yes?" she asked expectantly and sat down on her throne. With her hands still bloody, she rested them on top of her thighs.
"Harrow had send word. He found your camp." he said, looking down at his feet.
This sparked excitement within her. She smiled widely, feeling very pleased with her first in command's success.
"Good! Now inform the monks that we need to prepare for our guests."
"Yes .... Of course. Sage." he said obediently. And they rushed off.

She looked down at her blood smeared hands and dirty clothes.
"I should probably wear something LESS extravagant, next time I plan on killing someone." she said loudly to herself.

"Indeed so!" the familiar voice echoed through the hall.
Sage looked up and saw her loyal friend Yorro. He smiled; his face crinkling as his age became even more distinguishable.
"Yorro. I see you have the strength to walk far today."
"I always have the strength. But you wont LET me." he said with annoyance and slowly sat down on the steps before her.
"Probably because, you will be dead if you don't take it slow Yorro. You're a relic. Now go to rest!" she commanded, but he only chuckled at her. His eyes grey with cataracts.
"I will be dead soon. You need to stay strong little one." he said wisely.
Sage cringed as he patronized her and rolled her eyes upwards.
"I have work to do. Guards!!" she called out and two came rushing inside the hall.
"Yes Sage?" they asked respectfully.
"Take Yorro back to his quarters. Make SURE they bathe him and give him whatever he wants to eat." she said sternly as her eyes moved gently over his frail figure.
"I do not need to be babied!" he said stubbornly. She scoffed dismissively and waved her hands at the guards to hurry along.
"Sage... Before I go ... have you found them?" he asked enquiringly. His grey eyes twinkling with hope.
"We have!" she said with great relief.
Yorro smiled and turned to walk back to his quarters, under escort of the guards .

***

Sage walked slowly down the small steps, turning to the left towards where her quarters were situated and pushed open the heavy doors that lend access to it.
When they closed behind her, she slipped the gown off, stepped out of it and pulled irritably at her scalp.

The long locks fell to the ground and her natural hair sprung free of the wig. Her hair had turned darker with time and she hated the wig, but her feminine appearance was more welcoming and comforting to her people.

She brushed the dark stubbles of hair with her fingers and strolled over to the tub.
It was heated well and she slipped into the warm welcoming water. The blood stained the clear water as she sunk into its warmth and lay back to relax in the tub.

"Your hands carry all the more blood. Your soul is blackened by death." a soft voice said eerily. The shadow in the corner of the room moving, but never appearing.
Sage's eyes flickered open, and the bright, yellow gaze emanating from it, were nearly glowing in their sockets. She grinned and turned her gaze towards the window at the end of the room.
"My hands were never meant to be clean ... and my soul was never made to be perfect." her words rang out and sounded hollow and cold.
The shadow only remained in the corner.
"You are becoming the monster everyone says you are." the soft voice said.
She turned towards it and smirked maliciously.
"I fuck'n HOPE SO!!" she said acidly and the shadow disappeared.

_____________end of Chapter 7

Author Note: took a long time but it is here. I had very bad luck with health the last month and also suffered major writers block.
Hope you enjoy
Please comment and remember to vote. Thank you everyone.