The Life After ATLAS

The Prophecy

Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.A
Day of Outbreak, 06:34

A boy and a girl sit atop a hill overlooking the sunrise. They had a radio with them after hearing that there is a virus somewhere in California. To be safe. The boy wraps his arm around the girl, and the girl leans in closer, and rests her head on his shoulder. They stare at their city down below, the buildings looking so small. The morning is perfect. The boy and girl look at each other, and as if their minds are connected, lean in and kiss. They part, and go right back in. Suddenly, their radio statics to life.
"There has bee... small outbreak near Idaho... are asked to find a bunker in... ATLAS is dropping a bomb in 5... Get to a safe house soon!"
The loving couple look at each other again, fear in their eyes.
"Let's go," the girl says. They run down the hill, back to home. They run past a group of Guards. The boy heard something through one of the helmets on a shelf.
"Hostile missile strike inbound! Take cover!"
It's SENTINEL? the boy questions himself. Suddenly, a whistle comes overhead. The boy and girl look up. They see a swirl of missiles along with the large, main missile.
Just more time... the boy thinks as the whistle comes again, as fire consumed him and the girl.
**********************************
I look out the window. Was Oz right? I wonder as I hold a bullet casing. The graves are still there. I stand uneasily. It's too calm in a time like this. The beautiful morning sun rises over the hilly landscape.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Dawn says as she comes beside me, grasping my hand.
"Even more so with you," I smile at my wife, and kiss her on top of her head. "This thing needs to stop."
"John, I know," Dawn replies. "But there is no cure."
"ATLAS has survivors all over the world," I say, remembering a computer monitor when I went for her back at the ATLAS HQ. "I just wish it didn't have to happen now," I look down at her belly.
Dawn sighs. "I know," she says before crying into my shoulder. I hold her close. Then, it hits me. I know what I have to do.
***
Back in the city, a man named Jack Dewhar sits with a M1 Irons in his hand. He can't help but stare down at his friend Nathan, who got bit no more than five minutes ago. Now, Nathan lay motionless on the ground.
Jack gets up, and turning his back to his friend, walks away. He opens up the cylinder. Three bullets left. Jack shakes his head. Suddenly, a screech makes him turn around. Behind him, a group of undead charge at him. Fuck! he thinks as he runs into the nearest building. He closes off all the doors, and waits. He waits for something to happen.
Then, something does. Fire of 105mm cannons sounds overhead the building. Once everything has settled, Jack runs out of the building. Overhead, a Warbird hovers, it's light on him.
Ropes drop down, and ATLAS Soldiers land.
"Are you bit?" one asks, his BAL 27 aimed at Jack's head.
"No," Jack replies, his hands in the air, gun on the ground. A Soldier approaches Jack.
"He's clean," the man says to his squad mates. "Get him back to Cobalt."
The others nod, and signal the Warbird down.
"Today's your lucky day," the Soldier to Jack's right says as Jack boards the Warbird, and leaves.
***
"What?!" Dawn shrieks as she steps back from me. "You are not! Not on my dead body, you aren't!"
"Baby," I say calmly. "I have to. Order 13 is the only way to make sure this thing goes. For good."
Dawn states at me, her beautiful brown eyes mixed with hatred, anger, love, and heartbreak. "I don't know what to say, babe," Dawn turns her back to me. "That's a one way trip. And I can't go on without you."
I put my hand on her shoulder. "I will make-"
The sound of distant firing stops me.
"Did you hear that?" I ask, and Dawn nods. "There's someone here! I'll be right back," I say as I don't give Dawn time to reject. I pull my BAL from by back, and start running. Once the house is out of sight, I take a right into the forest.
***
John's a crazy idiot if you ask me. I watch John, the only family I have left, run to find what made that sound. I think it isn't anything, and we're both hearing things. I walk into the kitchen, take a seat, and cry.
I can't believe John actually said that, I think as tears keep flowing. It's his life for possibly no one. What if there's no one left? What if it's just John and I? Everyone is dead anyways. John, just come back...
*
After my crying fest, I go back to the bedroom and lay down. I don't sleep. Instead, I stare at the ceiling, and pray for John to be safe.
***
I release the empty mag, and try to quickly slap in a new one. The undead outside the ATLAS building could be called a horde, but, it's just that they're all spaced out. The sound of a bullet through flesh makes me smile, but I don't lose focus. There's still so many...
I pick off one that tried to take me by surprise when a force knows me to the ground. I look, and it's one of the undead, trying for my throat. With one arm, I hold it off, but I can feel it could give. My free hand is scouring the ground for something. Then, the undead is yanked off me by something, and I see it's an ATLAS Soldier!
"Thanks," I say as I brush my shoulder off.
"Anytime, sir," he says.  "We got another," the man says into his comm. Then, a Warbird hovers overhead.
I shake my head. "I'm staying here," I say, and the man looks shocked. "But, I have someone else. Just follow the tree line north, and you should see a small house. She's in there," I tell the man.
"But sir," he says, sounding concerned. "ATLAS needs a leader."
"And my wife is one," I say as I walk towards the ATLAS compound, knowing what I need to do.