Apocalyptic Culture (Camren/Norminah)

XXIX

Listen while you read:
Saturn - Sleeping at Last

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"Lauren!" The veteran heard from outside.

Lauren was the first to stand up and quickly run outside to Camila's cry for help. Hovering above a frightened Camila was a large creo. Lauren was too shocked at its size that she couldn't move. It was then that Janel approached from inside the house and had her knife in hand. She ran towards the large creo and jumped onto its back where she began stabbing at its chest.

Now angered the creo turned to grab Janel, who was on its back, and threw her to the ground. Everything happened so fast and before Lauren knew it the creo sunk it's teeth into Janel's shoulder. The moment she cried out in pain was when Lauren was brought out from her shock. She grabbed her knife and ran over to jump onto the beast herself where she then drove her knife deep into its head. The creo stood up on its feet and tried to grab Lauren. It almost had her, but the moment she twisted her knife, the creo fell to its knees while its arms fell to its side. She jumped off and quickly ran over to Janel's side.

Lauren crouched near Janel as she was bleeding out from her shoulder. Lauren wanted to stop the bleeding, but didn't know how. The bite was close to her neck and couldn't have done anything to stop it. Her shaky hand simply hovered over her bleeding wound for a moment. Lauren tried cupping her hand over it in hopes it would stop even though she knew it wouldn't.

"Lauren." Janel gasped.

"Shhh it's okay. I-I'll fix you- I'll help you. You're going to be okay, Janel, I-" Lauren said in a shaken voice as tears were now forming in her eyes. It was then that Lauren seen the group of friends standing in shock by the barn. "Normani, can you-" she said stopping herself as she knew not even Normani could do a thing to help their friend.

"K-keep them safe." She swallowed the blood in her mouth. "Get Mike back. Save as many people-" All Lauren could do was nod her head frantically as her tears fell.

"I promise. I'll get him back and we'll do everything we can, but you- you gotta hang on okay? You gotta... please don't." Lauren cried.

Janel nodded her head just to make Lauren feel a bit better. She knew her time was up and she had to let go. Either she would bleed out or become a creo. Not long after, Janel took her final breaths as she looked into Lauren's mesmerizing green eyes one last time.

Lauren noticed and her eyes went wide, "No, no, no. Janel, please. Come back, please." She cried cupping Janel's face with her bloody hand. "Please!" Lauren begged desperately. The veteran then held her lifeless body close as she cried. "Please, Taylor." She exhaled. "I'm so sorry." She said weeping.

The others watched from the barn doors as tears began to fall from their eyes. Camila sat on the floor still shocked at the scene in front of her. Lauren remained holding onto Janel's body as tears kept falling. Ian was the last to walk out and immediately fell to his knees unable to stand.

"No." Ian said shaking his head in disbelief. "NO!", He shouted angrily as he sat on the floor while his tears fell. His head was down as he continued to shake it.

Lucy quickly walked over and fell to her knees beside the crying man. She hugged him close as her tears began falling from her eyes. Her face buried in his neck as she cried. Ally held onto Calum, who couldn't look away at the scene in front of him.

"I'm sorry." Lauren whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you both." She said letting go to close the dark haired woman's eyes. Lauren placed a gentle kiss on her head before gently laying her on the grass.