THE ONES WHO LIVED

The loss

Kai had reached the top floor, where he had expected to find Midas, his leader and his traitor, his brother and his enemy. He had expected to face him and kill him, to end him and his clan, to end his threat and his terror.

But he had found something else. He had found a trap, a bomb, a timer. He had found a note, a message, a challenge.

He had found a note that said:

"Sorry, brother. I'm not here. I'm somewhere else. Somewhere you'll never find me. Somewhere I have Haley and the others. Somewhere I'll make them mine. But don't worry, I won't forget you. I have a gift for you. A gift that will make you remember me. A gift that will make you suffer. A gift that will make you die. Enjoy."

He had no time to react. He had no time to run. He had no time to scream.

He only had time to die.

The bomb exploded, destroying the building and everything in it. The fire spread, engulfing the base and everything around it. The smoke rose, covering the sky and everything below it.

Kai was not dead. He was not even hit. He had jumped out of the window at the last second, throwing himself to the ground. He had seen the explosion and the fire, the smoke and the death. He had used his survival instincts and his reflexes to save himself.

He was unconscious, but alive.

He woke up, hours later, feeling pain and confusion, shock and anger, grief and guilt. He looked around, seeing flames and ashes, ruins and rubble, corpses and bones. He saw nothing but destruction and despair, horror and madness.

He saw Rex, his dog and his friend, his ally and his protector. He saw him lying on the ground, not moving, not breathing, not living. He saw him covered in blood and burns, his fur and his flesh, his eyes and his tongue. He saw him dead and gone, his loyal and brave, his smart and fierce, his friend and his protector.

He felt sad and angry, heartbroken and furious, lonely and vengeful. He cried and screamed, mourning and cursing, sobbing and howling. He buried him and honored him, digging and covering, praying and thanking, saying goodbye and promising. He promised to avenge him and to make them pay, to kill them and to destroy them, to end them and their clan.

He got up and looked for his gun and his knife, his weapons and his tools, his means and his ends. He found them and took them, checking and loading, sharpening and cleaning, preparing and planning. He also found his radio and his earpiece, his communication and his connection, his link and his hope. He put them on and turned them on, listening and waiting, hoping and praying, calling and answering.

He heard Lila's voice, weak and faint, but still alive and hopeful. He heard her say:

"Kai, are you there? Kai, can you hear me? Kai, please answer me."

He answered her, relieved and happy, but also worried and scared. He said:

"Lila, I'm here. Lila, I can hear you. Lila, I'm answering you."

He heard her sigh, a sigh of relief and joy, but also of pain and fear. She said:

"Kai, thank God. Kai, I'm so glad. Kai, I'm so sorry."

He asked her, concerned and curious, but also angry and suspicious. He asked:

"Lila, what happened? Lila, where are you? Lila, what did you do?"

He heard her explain, explain what had happened, what she had done, what she had seen.

She had stayed with Rex, on the ground floor, where she had seen the garage and the warehouse, the trucks and the bikes, the fuel and the ammo. She had seen the vehicles and the supplies, the weapons and the equipment, the resources and the loot. She had also seen the guards and the soldiers, the followers and the loyalists, the monsters and the demons. She had seen Midas and his clan, his army and his power, his threat and his terror.