The bleeding of number 12

Prologue/ three years later/The End

I see black.

a cloth bag over my face, covering  my eyes.

In my old life, I had been a baker, a fan of pasteries, cakes, tarts, scones which i would gladly sell in lille.
I saw the news regularly on my little television set in my living room.
"Madame, et monsieur, bon jour."

I stared in horror at the images conveyed on the screen.

People were staring at a man with scalded flesh tearing down the steps of a cathedral.

The report stated that his name was I. Nasir, CEO of genecorp.inc.

Genecorp Inc was a company that specialised in DNA Modification. It had apparently healed many people in giving them much-needed dna strenghtening drugs.

Its influence was spreading after the invention of the Rage drug, a legendary substance which could stop cancer dead in its tracks.

i am number 1. a prisoner. like 11

others. for what offence? 

they count us.

"they're all here sarge."

i feel the cloth bag come free from over my lips. its good to be able to breathe. we stare up into the eyes of our captors. soldiers. 

"name. Now."

i give my name. when they turn to the next, she does the same, we all do. what choice is there?

all twelve of us.

then, suddenly,-

 the whole building is blown apart. the soldiers are blown away.  

i remember all the screams.

we stagger to our feet. 

then, we run. 

through dark corridors, through laboratory blocks, and finally out onto the surface of the world.

"ALERT! prisoners are escaping the interrogation complex. all patrols, live ammo is authorised!"

a klaxon begins to sound. whoo-whoo! whoo-whoo!

it is night outside, we run through the woods. 

shouts and gunfire erupt behind our backs.

a woman screams. 

"run! just,- oh god, RUN!"

we all stumble through the grassy terrain. cursing and swearing.

the darkness goes on. so very dark. 

we hear the whirl of helicopter blades over our heads. 

"alert, you are surrounded. raise your hands and return to the cells. you will live if you surrender."

suddenly the lead soldier collapses, a wound in his neck spurting blood. I fall to my knees. 

It is here. the bleeding has struck once more. i realise with horror that the cockpit window is spattered with blood. the pilot has been bled dry. red gore bubbles. 

"look out! " 

we all scatter and dive for cover. 

KABOOM!!

the helicopter crashes, the forest is engulfed in flames and leaking fuel.

i close my eyes. our lives are over. 

the Bleeding has won. 

and we are just the latest victims.

All my damn fault.