Chapter 30

“Edmund, we can't use the boy his gifts aren't as strong as hers, I have to kill one of them to show I am still a true leader,” Morrison explained, “Your son won't survive the procedure anyways.”

“You can't kill him,” I struggled to get up while Seth tried to reach out for me.

“Miss. Garnet, you'll understand soon,” Morrison said, “Peck I expect you to still do your duties.”

“Yes, I will, Joseph,” Peck took a needle over to his son.

“Dr. Peck, he's your son you cannot do this,” I yelled at him, “Please don't, Seth don't go away, I need you.”

 

“Tell Eva I love her,” Seth said then the needle was emptied into his arm.

“No,” I jostled the table and officers had to come and steady it, “Seth.” He started gasping and twitching it was horrible. “You are all monster, you're cowards,” I felt the tears in my eyes, “Seth.”

“Now her, Edmund,” Morrison moved my hair out of the way and Peck came in with the needle, “Wait, what is that?” It was too late though, Peck pierced it into my skin.

“I'm sorry,” Peck said then the serum hit my system like ice to my hot blood.

“What have you done?” Morrison asked him.

“Seth,” I looked over to see he was still alive.

 

“Maya,” he cried out, “It hurts, make it stop.”

“I can't,” I muttered and he saw me.

“Father, what did you do? You gave her the death serum, you cannot do that, Maya,” he shouted then started writhing in pain again.

“You made your son a monster,” I looked at Peck forcing my eyes to stay open even though each heartbeat was slower than the last.

 

“I did what needed to be done,” Peck said.

“Guards, take Dr. Peck to a cell room now,” Morrison ordered, “Miss. Garnet, is the serum taking effect?”

“Yes,” my eyes closed.

“Damn it all, I needed her,” I knew the other doctors must be standing by.

“Sorry, sir there is no reversing this,” Dr. Morgan's voice was instantly recognizable.

“Seth, tell Darren I love him,” I felt my legs go numb, “And Morrison.”

“What is it? Have you seen one last vision?” he requested.

“You can go after every single afflicted man or woman, but you cannot beat them you cannot beat one, not alone thousands,” I said feeling my arms go numb, “You don't have your secret weapon anymore and I promise you're going to lose for sure now, what you created will destroy youChapter 16.”

“You aren't going to die,” he tried to use the electrodes, but I couldn't feel them anymore.

“The boy seems to be responding well to the first step,” another doctor said from Seth's direction, “Better than any of the others.”

“She isn't responding to the electrodes,” Dr. Morrison shouted.

 

“I am gone already,” I said quietly, “Hopes and dreams are not for realists, your vision wasn't real Morrison there is no such thing as perfection because even the cold has fire and even your finest soldier has a heart.”

“Maya,” he said warningly.

“Goodbye,” I whispered then I heard the machine flat line and I drifted off. I don't know if I expected to go straight to heaven or hell, but I was just surrounded by blackness. I saw the ghosts of my relatives and they waved goodbye before leaving me.

 

“You were a soldier,” the young girl said.

 

“You should have fought harder, but it's gone,” the old woman sighed.

 

“Good luck, kid,” my father kissed my hand before leaving.

 

“I am found,” the lost boy ran off following the others.

 

“You did what I asked,” the faded looking man smiled then left too leaving only the short woman.

 

“You still have a mission,” she whispered in my ear then headed off, “You're in it alone now though my dear.”

“Wait,” I called then I looked around, “What now?” I felt like I was going crazy again, the death serum had killed me and I was dead now. I did not want it to end this way. If this was how the other side was then I would have to fight. I ran into the darkness and kept going even when painful memories flashed through my vision. I kept going until I got hit by a vision so intense it took over everything I was.

 

There was a sun through the mist and clouds and cold winds whipped through everything. There were soldiers they were led by Seth and they attacked my friends. The afflicted setting up camps outside the city. I saw Darren drinking and yelling at people including his sister. Seth fighting a blonde girl and Morrison laughing. I fought back against the darkness and I saw people smiling, fires popping up all around the city until it surrounded it and then fought off the darkness within the city and myself. Darren laughed and made love to a girl. He was happy again and I tried not to be bitter. Seth's blank eyes filled with light again and Eva laughed.

Eva's belly got big and I saw the powers of the afflicted grow stronger. The whole thing meant that there was still hope and it hadn't been destroyed. I heard the voice in my head. “It's all on you again,” my mother's voice said, “You can make the ending to this story better than the start.”

 

“I am gone though, mom I cannot help them,” I hovered over the city looking down at the bodies being burnt.

“Or can you,” she smiled.

“Mom, I said goodbyes,” I muttered, “No one survives the death serum.”

“No one can fight the most powerful man in the city, no one can take adaptors for five years and survive it,” she laughed, “Look down I see someone with the strength to defy everything.”

“What?” I saw the pale girl on the stone table. She looked like an angel with a pale dress and delicate face with soft features and curls brushing her cheeks. She was peaceful and pure looking. “That's me,” I remarked.

 

“Yes,” she smiled, “Are you afraid?”

“Of course I am,” I frowned.

“Good,” she disappeared too leaving me to watch the bodies of dead get burned one by one while I laid there.

“Time to face the reality, little dove,” I could almost hear Seth say.

“Keep fighting,” Darren's voice said then the girl's eyes sprung open.

 

“Wake up,” I said. She fought Seth, she was with Darren and she brought the hope back. That was my job as Maya Garnet the only survivor of the death serum. It could be a struggle still, but I was ready this time. I saw the girl smile.

 

I smiled back.

END OF BOOK ONE

The second book, Hope's Dagger is now available...

Here is the link to it.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/lorenarose001/1526538/

Author's Note

What did you think of the plot and characters? What needs improvement? Let me know your opinions, folks :-)