Survival: Misery Loves Company

Chapter 31

Bryan woke up early in the morning when the dawn broke the silence of a gloomy night with a ray of intense sunshine.

I see a beacon of hope flickering to shine on the rim. In the city that was once completely demolished, now it’s halfway restored structurally and morally; life has started to return to normal, although uncertainty still wavers ahead. Some forces of demons are fighting us in every direction. Sometimes, this survival quest feels like waking up from a deep reverie—it’s hard knowing what’s real or an illusion. I’m convinced and confident that we’ll prevail somehow. We’re more than capable and resolute, and determined to utilize all resources to revitalize a brand-new world. Everyone’s committed and investing in their labors and lives to the cause and hard challenges.

He exercised around the camp, avoiding the potholes and craters the storm left behind. He wanted to create some normalcy and develop mental agility to lead his people into the promised land.

To do that, he must stay fit physically and mentally. Nobody could give him those strengths unless he harnessed the power within himself; he knew that those were at least in his willpower, between his fists and control, something he could easily do and accomplish. But what occasionally terrified him was how he was going to keep his promises that he’d made blindly—something that he still couldn’t fathom fully, nonetheless, whatever it took, he promised that he would fight to the end in keeping everyone safe and sound.

He’ll revolt to create a tapestry of life for the years to come.

Running gave him clarity about what to do about Banks and anyone else that might arise. The war was way too far from over. But things were looking much better at the same time.

He inhaled the fresh air and let the burning fire out of his lungs. He ran for miles until he couldn’t breathe anymore. He was alone, and he had a breathing room for himself, a few moments to ponder over his next moves.

On the way back as he got closer to the busy camp, the sun got warmer. He kept his momentum and enjoyed the lone morning run. He smiled happily for the first time, watching the flames of the sun shining upon the town that once was destroyed and turned to ashes, yet it was now shimmering with hope, a few homes, and walls standing tall.

When he turned around the corner of Faith’s damaged gardens, his mother’s childhood memories danced in the back of his head. I promise, one day, nobody can defeat you.

He slowed down and gasped for more air and took in all of her memories and buried them back deep inside where nobody could reach them. This isn’t a time for a sentimental cry he thought, walking bare feet on the edges of her lost echoes; the days of reckoning are almost over he mumbled, watching her delicate face fade into the morning sun ahead of him when he saw Felix and Faith come running towards him.

They seemed happy about something, and he couldn’t wait to hear what they had to say. For the first time, Bryan smiled without force or exaggeration and felt his glowing cheeks turning red with happiness. More than that, he could see a flicker of hope on Felix’s face when he saw sunlight shining from Bryan’s broken face.

Bryan’s heart sparked with a smile again as he felt the compassion and magnetism of those two inseparable souls and their unbreakable bond. He never had that kind of bond with anyone except his mother.

His father was a shadow, a hidden ghost even when he was around and breathing, sitting in the living room, or reading papers. He was rather locked up in his world of desolation, holding and fighting his demons that were buried deep within. He was a stranger who Bryan had never understood or gotten his affection or approvals from. He stopped looking for his love way before he killed him.

His dad was dead to him even way before the accident. Though sometimes a little remorse lingered in his head, it became pointless thinking about the ghost-father that was never involved in his life; he felt a little or no pain when he often came to mind. He was a casualty of war, a deadly one that Bryan couldn’t avoid at that moment.

Now, he wouldn’t want to allow his emptiness to shadow his visions. He had no time wondering about his past anymore. There were other strangers who he had no blood connections with yet looked up to him, respected, and loved him unconditionally. Those are the ones worth, and he swore to protect with his life. He inhaled the morning breeze of freedom once more and let go of the darkness and nightmares that had been haunting him. He finally allowed himself to be free, seeing those youngsters.

When they got to him, Felix and Faith stopped, breathing heavily. They were excited to tell him that Dr. Matthews could also understand and speak their sign language, and Faith was quite happy to find another person to communicate with besides her brother. Bryan laughed at their childish innocence and hugged them both under his protective umbrella arms, and then, they all started running toward the campus together.

*****

Every day, Dr. Matthews worked in the lab tirelessly. She was left to her own accords, and a few people hardly walked to her lab. She felt a bit lonely there sometimes. Like the old days, she missed seeing people rushing in and out of the hospital rooms, voices ringing through the intercoms calling onto her on different floors.

She loved the thrill of saving lives under pressure. At least back then, she had control and most of the equipment she needed to solve problems and heal wounds. This one, however, started putting a lot of tolls on her mind, until everything they’re building from scratch gets ready for service to help her ease the process. She vowed to wait and work hard patiently and find the cure.

*****

One afternoon, Faith walked into the lab and startled Dr. Matthews. She was not sure why she went there, but she found herself standing in the middle of it, silently trying to figure out what to say. Suddenly, Felix walked behind her and asked what she was doing in there, disturbing the good doctor. When both began to argue, Dr. Matthews interjected, speaking in sign language, and asked them to stop fighting. Faith left, speechless for knowing the doctor understood them. A few moments later silence filled the room.

Breaking the cold silence, Dr. Matthews said, “She’s going to read? I didn’t know she had books.”

“Yeah, she has a couple, mostly on plants and herbs, that sort of thing.”

Dr. Matthews moved around a table and looked at Felix and asked about their families and where they came from. Felix told her about their long journey, how they survived and got separated down the line, and how fate brought them together. They talked for a few minutes more, lost in their conversation.

Felix felt safe and happy watching the doctor explain about her work and life. She was easy going and reminded him of his mother—and when a sudden feeling burst out of his chest, he went and hugged the doctor tightly like her teddy bears, thrilled that Faith had found another person who she could freely talk to.

“How do you know sign language,” Felix asked excitedly before they headed out.

“My daughter used to be mute, and I had to learn it,” said the doctor, suddenly a drenching sadness washing over her lonely face; her response took her back to her life with her grandmother and deaf daughter Naomi.

She remembered how hard her family had it before the explosion. She was a single mother with a mute daughter and a sick grandmother. She worked day and night as the head doctor in a big hospital in the country. She regrets that she was way busier and unavailable emotionally because she was more focused on her hospital job in saving others, as her family was slipping away; by the time she made it home, she was exhausted beyond her control, and sometimes out of exhaustion, she even slept on the couch after her housekeepers left her alone with her family.

The day she stayed late for work on an emergency call, the explosion happened and forever altered her life. She could not go home looking for them. She was not sure if they survived or died. She couldn’t make it to the other side when the final rescuing came. She had to leave them behind. She was told that nobody could’ve survived the blast anyway, and it was no point in risking her life in searching for lost causes—the radiation was too high in the areas she lived in more than others. So, she said goodbye and blew them a kiss and picked up her empty hopes and dreams and followed the remaining survivors to never-land. That’s something she can never forget.

She returned from her nightmares and watched Felix and Faith leave the lab and disappear into the silent hall. I’ll do my best to help these people any way possible, she whispered to the empty room, even though I wasn’t much of a help to mine.

*****

Haley remained in dire pain, and it got worse by the hour. She moaned through the nights. Matt stayed beside her as often as time permitted, but when duty called, he had to leave her alone, which sickened him more than anything. If it were possible, he wanted not to leave her sight for a second.

When he came back though, he sat and slept on the floor next to her, his hands wrapped around hers, brushing her soft, silky hair. He blamed himself after what happened when she fell into the crater, even though he tried. Yet as a man, he still couldn’t save her from this excruciating agony.

“Matt,” she said in her soft, tired voice, “I am not feeling well, and I want to see the doctor tomorrow.” He nodded and rested her head between his arms and sang her lullaby until she fell sound asleep.

The next morning, Dr. Matthews examined Haley thoroughly. She found nothing alarming. But seeing a glow and change in Haley’s face and body, the doctor suspected something else was happening for the cause of the pain.

“How often and when do you feel symptoms?” Asked the doctor.

“Most mornings and lately though, they’re getting worse,” replied Haley.

“When was your last period?”

“I don’t know. I think maybe seven weeks ago. Why?”

“Congratulations, you’re pregnant,” the doctor said, smiling at Haley, although what she just said tightened her stomach with sharp pain.

Matt began to blush with the good news. But, a horrific wind brushed over Haley’s face, a sudden fear tearing her apart from the inside.

“Are you sure, Doc?” Haley asked, since those were the only words that popped into her head. After that, she could not even hear what the doctor was saying. She got lost in a solace thought.

This is a bad time to have a baby. She felt death swirling around her. Her hysteria made her feel like she was having a heart attack. She wanted to take this baby out before it’s too late. What if there’s hope tomorrow, a vaccine or medical treatment that could reverse the birth defects and deaths? Would I wait and take that chance? The firestorm burning inside her head was nagging her emotionally, and she began to burn up. Her heart began to beat faster. She wheezed for air. She wanted to sit with Matt and discuss their course of action. Even though it was her body to decide, she wanted to make the right decision together. Two minds are always better than one under any weather, she uttered.

*****

I am tired of killing, and bathing in the rivers of blood to expand my powers. I’ve never thought of what happens if, in fact, I conquered this bleak world, even as my plans are becoming darker and more hopeless by the day. My love is long gone, and there is no one to share my kingdom with. I can punish every living soul all I want but nothing will bring my Emery back from the gates of hell, the only woman who understood my weaknesses and power and still cared for me more than herself.

I am going to let Leila go. Maybe, she can be my redemption when a day comes for me to sleep.

Banks walked around and thought more and more, unable to fathom what was raging in his mind sporadically. Lately, the nightmares and people’s faces were becoming frequent visitors in his dreams and sleep.

He thought about Leila’s fate, and then he only came to one conclusion. I am afraid to kill her because she reminds me of my Emery. Or am I starting to have feelings for her? He loved her fortitude and resilience, her feistiness; she had an attitude like a lioness that patiently hunts her prey and chokes the life out of it.

He doubted himself. The earth beneath his feet seemed to move, tilting forward. I am getting weaker for her, perhaps attracted to her, too, but I can’t make her forgive me or love me after what I’ve done to her mentally and physically. I won’t blame her if she wanted to kill me after this. Should I take that chance with her and fall down from my grace? No, says his other ego. Are you delusional? You’re making a huge mistake thinking that you have any chance with this one and live happily ever after. He ignores the noises. Everyone wants to be happy.

It’s exhausting being alone and fighting with everybody and for everything all my life. My days are coming, and I want to find some solitude and a piece of happiness, even if that’s meant with someone who could kill me while I’m dead asleep. Maybe that’s something worth exploring for a change.

He paused, contemplating and opened the door to gaze outside where Leila was standing.

“Guard, please invite Leila over.”

“Yes, sir,” responded one of the guards and disappeared in a blink to where Leila was looking over the vast clearing, devising her final kill plans.

“Excuse me, Mr. Banks would like to see you now,” said the messenger guard.

She frowned yet followed him as requested, her heartbeat skipping faster, knowing that Banks might have changed his mad mind about keeping her alive any longer.

Leila accepted that her fate was running thin. She was also tired of living in terror that one day she could just vanish before she could return to Bryan and his people. Not knowing whether she’d live, or die was an endless torture, and she couldn’t bear the pains of silence anymore. Skeptically, she trudged to the office, numbing her mind and body, for whatever was awaiting for her. If it had to be her last day, she wanted to do something quick about this menacing man without a heart, who was wild and so mad out of his mind, obsessing over the fire of power.

“Leave us alone now and bring us wine and food.” He spoke kindly, with a voice his guards had never heard before. For the first time, the guard saw his soft side.

Leila’s glare was fierce like she was on death row and this was her last meal before given a lethal injection. She didn’t bother to ask or argue with him anymore but waited until he came close to her and held her broken, dry hands between his big and firm hands. He seemed to breathe heavily before he spoke.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. Please forgive me.” He said softly and unexpectedly.

She couldn’t believe what she heard. Bewildered with the shifting narrative and breaking news, she kept her eyes on his moving lips and felt his warm and firm hands, which were sweating and shaking like a little boy’s.

He collected his thoughts, and told her, “You know, how much you remind me of someone I dearly loved, Emery? Just recently, someone took her away from me.”

He almost said who killed her before getting closer under her nose.

“I know we may not see eye to eye right now, but I would love the chance to show you how good and kind I would be to you if you would only give me a chance.”

She looked at him and with a wry smile, laughed and said, “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I would even think about letting myself be your look-alike lover. I would just as soon be dead.”

Her cold response infuriated Banks, but he managed to hold his temper in check. If she didn’t resemble and reminded him of Emery, he’d just snap her neck like a chicken in a second. That would be the justice repayment for his anger and to those who defy or refuse him.

Putting his fuming rage down, he said, “You will change your mind one day. Once I destroy your friends, you won’t have anyone else left to trust but me. Go back to your quarters and clean yourself up.”

As Leila leaves, he thinks to himself, If mother were here, she could tell me what I have to do.

One day, I will find the happiness I want and deserve, dammit!

Written By:

MidnightInk