THE AFTERMATH (after the death cure)

Authorised Escape

RACHEL POV

My breaths come out in gasps and I struggle to get oxygen in my lungs. A year in a coma does not do wonders for your fitness. The backpack strapped to my shoulders thumps on my back with every new step I take and the poorly tied shoes on my feet make every step uncertain.

Something is chasing me. It looks like a person but I can't be certain. The WICKED employee who was escorting me to the flat trans told me to follow them and then suddenly we were running for our lives. Every so often my pursuer lets out a little shout or an insane laugh that makes me want to scream. In my haste I don't realise the guard come up in front of us and I run straight into the imposing body. I fall on my side and let out a small shriek. All too quickly the human-like creature lunges onto me and I scream in horror.

The man is on top of me. His skin is bloody and blistered, blue veins visible throughout his whole body. His hair ripped in random places and limbs jerking everywhere making it impossible to find a solid body part to hit. His jaw opening and closing with such force it looks as if he is trying to break his own teeth.

He wants to eat me.

I squeeze my eyes shut and in one quick burst of strength I push his body off of mine. I scramble to my feet, a gunshot rings through the corridor. I look down to see blood pooling on the floor from the man's chest. I stare down at the lifeless body in shock.

"What is it?" I whisper.

"That is the result of the flare virus." The WICKED employees replies. I continue to stare at the man until the same employee pulls me away.

"We have to get to the flat-trans now." He commands.

My body works in autopilot. I follow the employee. He runs at a medium pace, faster than walking but not full on sprinting. I can't seem to shake the disturbing image of the man that was just killed. I continue to run.

NEWT POV

I'm immediately escorted to the room once I inform the WICKED employee of what I saw. When I walk into the plain room I notice the only pieces occupying is a small metal table at the very back holding a white remote and a portfolio the same colour. I look back to see what the employee that has escorted me is doing and I realise that they have left the room. I stand at the doorway for a couple of seconds contemplating my next move. I wonder for a minute if this is one of those tests that WICKED did to us but decide that it is already too late to be studying us again. I wonder if there should be some sort of alarm going off right now and as if answering my question sirens start to shriek around me. I cringe in spite of the ear-splitting sound.

Curiosity gets the better of me and I walk swiftly towards the small metal table. I study the details of the objects debating in my head whether I should risk picking up the remote. For all I know when I pick up that shuck remote they'll blow me to bits. The remote is light; the only thing occupying its slim body is a tiny, black rectangular screen. I refrain from picking up the object and decide to examine the large portfolio. I couldn't see the cover from the other side of the room but now I realise it has large, black bold letters reading: "LOCATION ABI"

Excitement washes over me as I realise that this could have everything I needed to know about what's inside that location. I readily open up the full folder. The first pages are large paragraphs of the writer saying that the location should only be used if there is absolutely no other way to salvage humanity. I carelessly flip through the warning without thought. The next few pages are what catch my attention.

There are pages of reports and information about a different country that I guess is called "Australia" based on the headings and titles. Most of the reports are about massive tsunamis that wiped out the east side of the land and stuff about the damage of the sun-flares. Some of the news reports even say that they were hit with the sun flares even worse than others because their land was already suffering from severe global warming.

The more I flip through the pages of the portfolio the more drawings and pictures are added. WICKED seems to have travelled to Australia and cleaned up the areas to create location ABI.

The last few pages are statistics and graphs showing how the temperatures have slowly decreased and become close to original because of the lack of man interference. This doesn't look so bad.

The heading of the next page sparks a flicker of curiosity in my mind. In a bold font the words "ABI POPULATION COUNT" are printed on the page. I eagerly turn the page but before my mind can process any of the pictures in front of me the sound of the door behind me opens and my head snaps back to the sound.

I must look like a five-year-old caught by their parents doing something they weren't supposed to with my shocked facial expression and single hand still caressing the page. None other than Ava Paige stares at me, blue eyes searching my suspicious stance and blond hair swept up in a perfect up do. All I think in my mind is shuck, shuck, shuck. I am momentarily thrown off by her appearance. Who can look so put together when you've just been informed that cranks are roaming the building probably going bloody crazy on her fellow employees?

"Hello Newt, I apologise for the circumstances of your departure. Of course, we hoped that you, Teresa and Rachel left on more controlled terms." She says evenly.

My body unfreezes and I have control of my limbs again. I look down at the book opened in front of me.

"I see you've found quite a lot of information about location ABI." 

A/N

Hey Guys!

Here's a little information on location ABI which you really deserve given the amount of time it's taken to get this far! Comments are greatly appreciated, please don't be afraid it would mean a lot.

Love you guys!- Hx