Apocalypse Chapter One: Regret

Apocalypse
Chapter One: Regret
     “I'm sorry I scared you,” My father said as he passed out our breakfast on the shining plates that mother must have washed last night. “You know, last night. I just accidentally dropped my favorite coffee mug. Didn't mean to scare you.”

     “Well you should be more careful next time! I thought a demon got through the window.” Henry, my little brother replied slapping his palms on the wooden surface of the table.

     “Sweetie, I doubt that would happen around here. Remember? Groups of demons aren't in our area. And besides, people are out fighting them.” My mother explained to Henry while she sat down at the table. “Clare, explain it to him.”

      And that’s my cue. My full name is Clarabelle, but I go by Clare. But I can’t explain it to Henry. Because I thought the same thing. And you can’t say that I need to grow up or whatever because demons actually do exist. And they are slowly taking over the world. People go out daily and risk their lives for the human race. Like my mother said, demons aren’t in our area... or aren’t supposed to be. The fighters said as much. Demons travel in groups. But still, from time to time, stray demons come along. And you never know when they could show up. Today or tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, whenever. I don’t like to say things I can’t prove. Like, how fighters say they aren’t in our area. How do you know they won’t just show up?  They could just appear like they did in France two years ago.

      I silently look down at my plate pushing my eggs around with my fork, pretending like I didn’t hear my mom.

      “Well?” Mother asked with an expectant look on her face.

       I raised my head and met her dark brown eyes the same color as mine across the table. “What?” I said.

        She let out an exasperated sigh. “Nevermind.” She said. “Just finish your breakfast.”

        So I did. In five minutes I brushed my teeth and got dressed. I wore a plain white shirt with blue jean shorts with jems on the back pockets. My light brown hair reflecting the lamp light. I looked average. I’ve never had a boyfriend. Never really had a crush. I don’t feel or think I’m pretty. Girls at school say that they wish they were beautiful like me. But I don’t know where that’s coming from. The girls that say that usually wear designer clothes and actually are beautiful.

       But that’s not what I’m focused on. I’m not focused on being stunningly attractive. I’m focused on staying alive. When the demons attack, I want to be ready for it. I want to protect my family and myself.

        I grabbed my backpack and swung it over my shoulder. “Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Bye Henry!” I called as I walked towards the front door. Henry is nine years old so he doesn’t go to school until 8:45. Lucky.

        I heard three “byes” in unison as I exited the house and closed the door behind me.

                                                                                   ***
       I put my books away in my small crammed locker and slammed the door shut. I was just about to go to the cafeteria when I heard someone’s voice stick out of everyone else’s.

      “Loser. I hope he dies.” The voice said.

      I turned around and saw a blonde haired boy with blue eyes talking to another boy. They were discussing about a boy in one of their classes that they apparently thought was annoying. Not a lot of bullying happened anymore since the demons came. So when I heard this, my blood boiled. I crossed the hall to meet face to face with the blonde haired bully.

      “Excuse me, but you shouldn’t say those things about somebody considering that they could actually die.” I confirmed.

      He locked eyes with me. “What do you mean little girl?” He replied squinting his beady blue eyes.

      “Little girl” made me even more furious. “I mean he could actually get killed. By a demon.” I replied with a razor edge to my voice. “Then how would you feel?”

      He scoffed. “Whatever.” He grumbled.

      I flushed with anger. I couldn’t contain it. “Then it would be your fault you idiot!” I spat. Then I turned around (making sure my hair swatted his face) and went to lunch.
                                                                             ***
      I closed my math book. I finally finished my homework. I shoved the book back into my bookbag and picked up my phone. 10:34. I sighed. I hated how they always gave you a ton of homework when you were already at the wretched place long enough.

      I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face. I caught a glimpse  of myself in the mirror. I looked wide eyed for some reason. I guess I didn’t realize my eyes were stretched out more than they had to be.

      I undressed and and slipped into my night gown. It was white and stopped at my knees. Two thin white straps at the shoulders kept it up. I crawled into my bed and enjoyed the warmth it gave me. I was quite cold. Whisked away by dreams, I fell asleep.

     I was falling. I was falling deeper and deeper into a black abyss. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t stop. I couldn’t even scream. When I almost reached the bottom I saw a flicker of movement. I couldn’t see what was there but I saw--

     Someone screamed.

     My eyelids flew open and I shot straight up. I knew who screamed. There was only one person that could scream like that. Henry.

     I dashed down the hall to his bedroom. When I reached his room I almost ran straight into the wall. “Henry! Henry are you alright?” I asked worried.

     “D-d-don’t you see it?” He asked softly, his voice trembling with fear.

     “Henry I don’t-” But then I saw it. A black figure at the foot of his bed. A demon.

     My eyes widened in horror. I froze. I couldn’t move. I had to force the words out of my mouth. “Henry... come here...” I finally choked out.

     He slowly obeyed me and swung his feet out of his bed. He zoomed towards me and threw his arms around me. I caressed his head and patted his back with shaking hands, my eyes fixed on the demon.

     The demon didn’t even move. It just stayed in the same position acting like Henry was still laying there. Still petrified, I quickly slammed his door and put a chair under the doorknob. I hoped that would keep it for a while. Tears streamed down Henry’s cheeks. I wanted to cry as well but I had to be strong. For him. I bent down to eye level with him and wiped his tears away with my thumbs.

     “Listen to me,” I whispered softly but urgently. “I want you to go wake up Mom and Dad okay?”

     “Okay.” He whispered back. I planted a kiss on his head. He slowly crossed the hall to their room. I stood up and stared at his bedroom door. How did I manage to do that? I thought. How did I manage not to scream and cry? How did I get Henry out safely? I had no idea I had this much self control.

     But that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared. I was horrified. I was as white as a ghost, had shivers going up and down my spine, and goosebumps all over my body.

     I jumped when I heard urgent footsteps coming up the hall. But it was Henry returning with our parents. They saw the door and hugged me.

     “Is it still in there?” My mother asked urgently.

     “Yes- I think so.” I replied, my voice trembling.

     “Oh Henry we’re so sorry we didn’t hear you.” Dad said as he picked him up.

     “Yes, Clare you’re such a good big sister.” Mom declared with tears forming in her eyes. That just made me want to cry even more.

       Another scream.

       We all flicked our gazes to the front door. It came from outside. Then it was followed by a dozen more screams. Then there was an awful ear piercing noise. An inhuman screech.

       Henry’s bedroom door banged. And behind it came the same inhuman screech. Mom and Henry screamed.

       I sucked in my breath. I can’t scream. I won’t. I have to be strong. I will protect them.

       The air around us was filled with screams and screeches. The demon was throwing itself against the door. It fell off.

       “RUN!” I shouted. And we did. We dashed out the door only to find more demons.

       There were demons everywhere. And people. Dead people everywhere. Henry screamed and cried. Mom silently cried. Dad buried his face in the crook of Mom’s neck. And me. I stood there, panic-stricken and frozen-- My eyes were as wide as saucers and my chest was rising and falling rapidly-- taking in the scene in front of me. Stay strong. Do not cry.

       A demon spotted us and launched at us. Dad dropped Henry and jumped in front of us.

      The demon ripped him to shreds with it’s razor sharp claws. He laid there, stained with blood and acid from the demon’s mouth. And as quick as the demon came it vanished in the blink of an eye.

       “DAD NO!” I cried. It seemed as if time were frozen. My ears were ringing. I felt like I was going to faint. My head was spinning non-stop. He’s dead. I saw it happen. And I did nothing. Mom didn’t even move. She just stood there with a stunned expression. Her blonde hair blowing around her in the wind. Henry screamed and clung to her crying.

       Light blazed up around us. I spun around to see our house on fire. From in it the demon that was in Henry’s room jumped out of the flames hissing and shrieking. I quickly grabbed their hands and dragged them away as fast as I could. Don’t look back! I screamed inside my head. Don’t!

       Suddenly every house in sight was engulfed in flames. I looked around. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. We just waited for death. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the blonde boy with the blue eyes crouching over someone. A boy with dark brown hair. He was dead.

       Out of all the screams and chaos, somehow I could hear him talking softly. “I didn’t mean it... I’m sorry.”

       I told you. I thought.

       Henry shrieked. A demon was running towards us. I ran in front of him and looked around desperately. There was a knife on the ground. I quickly picked it up and pointed it at the demon. “Take this!” I shouted.

       But I didn’t hit the demon. It was like it went right through me. But I wasn’t injured.

       No. I definitely wasn’t the one injured. There was a small gasp. I slowly turned my head.

       There was a little boy laying on his back on the cold hard ground. His hair was black and his brown eyes were wide. In those dark eyes life was slowly fading away. His stomach was punctured and bloody. The demon got him. The little boy. Henry. Henry.

       Realization struck me like a bullet. Henry! Henry! He was dying!

       “NO!!!” I shrieked. I fell to my knees and pulled him towards me. I cradled him in my arms. His blood was staining my night gown and skin and the dizziness became worse. Every muscle in my body shook. My mouth became completely dry. My skin was as white as a sheet.

       “Sissy?” He whispered softly. He moved his fading brown irises to look at me. “Am I dying?”

       I turned my head to the side and stared off into the chaotic distance. Tears filled my eyes and made my vision blurry. Stop it. Don’t cry. Stay strong for him.

       I bit my lip so hard that I could taste the bitter blood. “Sissy?” He whispered again. I stared at him. His face becoming paler by the minute. But despite the pain that he must be in, he was gazing at me with a smile on his small face.

       “It’s okay,” He whispered. “You can cry.”

       My chest felt heavy like someone had laid a hulking brick on me. I was trembling, holding my baby brother in my arms, and the only thing I could do was sit and watch.

       I bit my lip even harder, still fighting the tears. I stroked his silky dark hair. “Can you promise me something?” He asked quietly.

       “Yes- anything...” I choked out, my voice trembling unevenly and sounding distant in my own ears.

       “Promise me that you’ll live. That you’ll live for me. Survive this.” He whispered.

       Now I couldn’t hold the tears back. Pitiful whimpering noises crawled their way out of my throat as tears spilled down my cheeks. Tears just kept coming and coming and coming...

       “Yes-Yes-Yes-! I promise! I promise Henry!” I cried choked with tears.

        “Good.” He replied. Then he looked worried. “Sissy? Sissy where are you?”

        “I’m right here...I’m right here Henry....” I whispered so quietly I didn’t even think I said it. My tears were falling endlessly.

        “Don’t leave... me...alone.....” He breathed. “Remember.. my..... promise...  Sissy.....”

       And then he was gone. All the life that was left in him was drained.

       I was crying even more now. I was sobbing. Bawling. I hugged his lifeless body against my trembling body. “I promise Henry.... I promise!” I cried. “I love you so much.... you weren’t supposed to go...” I kissed his cold cheek, rocking him in my arms. I was stained with his blood. I couldn’t see or think straight. Everything was spinning. I was hot and cold at the same time. My heart ached. My whole body ached. First Dad... and now Henry...

       It felt like my heart was cracking. Being ripped apart by the demon’s claws. Mom is all that I have left...

       I gasped and stiffened all over. Mom?!

       Overcome by a sickening worry, I frantically looked from side to side. People in pools of blood, houses burning, and demons. She was nowhere in sight. I quickly but gently laid Henry on the ground and closed his eyes, giving him one last glance before I ran to find her.

       I dashed forward glancing around desperately searching for any sign of her. “Mom?! Mom?!” I yelled. But the only thing I got as a reply were more screams.

       “MO-” But just as I screamed for her I spotted her. Her shining blonde hair right in front of me. She was on the ground in a pool of blood.

       Her throat had been sliced and it looked like she was screaming for someone just before she died.

       The tears were back the moment they left.

       No. No. No no no nonononononono-

       I sank to my knees and put my hands over my ears. My heart was shattered. The only thing left in it’s place was a deep hole. Don’t scream. Don’t. You can’t. You have to stay stro-

       I screamed. It was the loudest, most ear peircing noise I had ever heard. Even with my ears covered. My tears were falling and falling and falling.....

       An enormous black foot kicked my mother’s lifeless body away. It was a demon. And it was followed by a hoard of demons. They all surrounded me. Their red eyes glaring and bloodthirsty. Their huge mouths filled with razor sharp teeth and drooling acid.

       I never stopped screaming. I didn’t think that I could ever stop.

       Just as one lunged for me, suddenly they were all sliced in half. Blood sprayed out of them like lava from a volcano, staining me. They all fell to the ground dead.

       A hand quickly seized my wrist and dragged me away from the demons. This made me scream even more. I tried to pry the hand off but they had an iron grip on me. At least I could see that they were human.

       I pressed my bare heels into the dirt and that slowed them down. But they just stopped dragging me and carried me instead. They swung me over their shoulder. I realized that this person was a man by the set of their shoulders. I was being taken away. This man could be a kidnapper and have some sadistic plan for me.

        I shouted louder. “LET ME GO! WHY DON’T YOU JUST LET ME DIE?! CAN’T YOU SEE I HAVE NO FAMILY ANYMORE?! LET ME GO!”

       There was no response.

       I kept yelling and every time I did more tears kept falling. I thought of my family. How my father sacrificed his life to keep us safe. How I saw my mother lying there with an expression of desperation on her lifeless face. And how Henry-Oh how my innocent baby brother Henry-made me promise him to stay alive, and died in my arms. I failed to protect them.

       And now, I was being hauled away by a stranger, that could do anything with me in this awful state.

      What would become of me now?