Meridian | The Second Life III [COMPLETED]

17 - Somnium

- R O N N I E -

Thunder echoes to the northwest, shaking the gravel road beneath my feet. I'm somewhere in Nebraska, near an old farmhouse. Gas is running low, and I need to siphon.

The wind, just like in Salt Lake City, picks up. This won't be a snowstorm, though, this will be a thunderstorm. The clouds in the distance rise high into the sky; an indestructible wall of darkness slowly closing in.

The door to the garage bursts open as I slam a brick into the handle. This place is seriously dilapidated like it's been abandoned for much longer than just the apocalypse. The cars inside confirm my suspicions: dusty, flat tires, and broken down.

Quickly placing my siphon inside the gas tank, I begin pumping. Something about this place is... off. The dark corners of this garage look like they could hide anything. The vagueness reminds me of nightmares.

I finish siphoning what little gas was left in the cars. The fuel is undoubtedly old, but it has to do. My car has seen worse, after all. Stepping outside, I notice the air had changed. There's a certain smell to the air before the storm: the wind blows in the smell of the tall grass, but it's far too dry. Normally, one wouldn't notice, but the looming rain heightens their senses.

I nearly drop my gear as I look toward the car. It's... here. The fucking figure. Its pitch-black silhouette could be mistaken for a hole in my vision. Millions of thoughts race through my head as my body freezes and my hair raises.

Suddenly, a deafening sound overtakes my senses. I lose my balance and fall as light engulfs the house. Panic courses through my veins as I attempt to regain my senses. All I can hear is a ringing sound as if I'm locked in a studio. Looking right, I see the farmhouse. It's now on fire, and the air around me is full of energy.

Lightning.

Turning around, I look in terror as a small group of Z's rush from the house, perhaps more startled than myself. I quickly draw my pistol, aim, and pull the trigger- *click*.

They begin storming my way, thunder in the distance as I reload. The magazine seemingly drops from the handle in slow motion as I struggle to insert the new one. There's not enough time; I drop the gun and go straight for my knife, swinging at the first one.

Blood flies from the creature as I stumble forward, thrown off balance by my own swing. My vision's dazed; I can barely think straight. What the hell is going on? Lightning, the figure... thoughts go on hold as I sink the blade into the second one. I send a powerful kick to the third, keeping him out of the current struggle for a few precious seconds.

It knocks me off balance, though, and I stumble to the ground with the second Z. Gripping my knife hard, I slice a path down the Z's stomach. Rain begins to pour, soaking me in mere seconds. My knife, following me as I race to my feet, finds its way into the third and final Z's neck.

The ringing continues as I rush to my feet and grab my gun. In the corner of my eye, I see the damn thing again. It's almost indistinguishable from the dark sky behind, and the rain certainly doesn't help. I'm not frozen this time, though. My hand slams the magazine into the pistol as I stumble forward, pointing it at the figure.

I scream, pulling the trigger. The gun kicks back, and my vision goes dark as I feel a sharp pain in my forehead.

- ~ -

It's the house. This same damn place, again. The ringing remains, oddly enough. It reverberates throughout the house, a noticeable shift from the silence I've become accustomed to.

I look over at the clock, but it's gone. Nothing much remains in the room, actually. The sheets aren't even on the bed. I race to my feet and rush into the hall, where I see a distinct lack of furniture. Nothing is here.

I hear the static. Looking behind me, a portion of the wall had seemingly become a record player. The spinning disk cuts through the drywall as it makes a sound. "You're taking a break," it says through a layer of white noise.

My heart races as the ringing suddenly stops. The crippling silence is only drowned out by the record. "Halftime," it says. The record then shoots out from the player in the wall, passing straight through me. I look down in horror as I watch the blood fly from the massive slice I gain through the center of my chest. I scream in fear as my body collapses through the floor, and I fall into the void.

- ~ -

"No, no, why are you here?"

I'm in a dense forest. Godrays poke through the canopy, faintly illuminating the woman in front of me. I know that voice far too well.

"T-Tori?"

"Dude, you should not be here!" She exclaims, rushing to me and helping me up. I'm not sure what's happening, and frankly, I don't care. I embrace her, tears running down my face.

"I-," I stutter between hyperventilated breaths. "I'm so sorry."

"Please," she pleads. "Stop blaming yourself."

"I was supposed to protect you," I counter, inconsolable.

"Neither of us could've known what was going to happen," she says, sniffling. "You did all you could." I hug her tighter, afraid of letting go. Nothing makes sense right now, but I know this is a gift. It's her- it's really her-the one I love.

"I don't wanna go," I cry, closing my eyes.

"They need you," she mutters. "You have to save them- that's my wish."

The tears slow momentarily as I look into her eyes. "I'm here," she murmurs. "I'll be here. You have to let go."

The ground becomes unstable. "I love you," I smile.

"It's mutual," she smiles back. I let go, and the ground beneath me gives way.