Wasteland

Fate Does Not Like To Be Disrespected

We rode in the car in silence. We neither talked  nor glanced at each other. It felt like more than saving the world, I had come back to the past to understand how many times I was cheated on and betrayed.
The similar painted houses stood beside each other. It was old Cadence all over again. God I hated change.

We got our in front of a tall building. Thorn enterprises. Caleb's father was no ordinary man. Besides being a scientist to make deadly serums, he also was a millionaire. A filthy rich murderer. It made me want to vomit.
We were taken through a wide corridor where people walked up and down with important looking white files in their arms and once or twice I saw a Starbucks coffee cup in the other hand. We reached the elevator and up we went. This was my second elevator trip and it was more nerve cracking than the last one.

We ended up in a large control room. Hundreds of people were seated controlling buttons and tapping screens. All of their concentration on the person that hung on the other side which was separated from the control room by a glass screen. An experiment.
Nathan dangled unconsciously. My Nathan.

Dr. Thorn handed over the serum to one of the operators.

" Initiate the test subject with serum", he said and walked over to the front.

Beside me Taylor began fidgeting, but the police officer wouldn't let him budge.
A man covered in protective clothing and a mask appeared on the other side, and reached out to Nathan's arm.

Shit. I had to think of something fast.

That's when out of nowhere came A boy with ruffled dark hair and a goofy smile. I looked at him. What was his deal? He just turned us in but something told me this was the Caleb who had a plan. Besides, he always knew where to be at the exact time!

"Hey! What's going on here without me?"

"Caleb?"

" Yes ,the Caleb who died saving you and baked you the best pie in the world", he whispered.

I couldn't believe my eyes. He actually survived! There were so many questions to be answered but his presence calmed me down.I just wanted to hug him there.

Maybe it will end happy. Fingers crossed.

All heads turned towards him. Caleb's dad glared at his son. Even the guy on the other side stopped, looking at Caleb, confused.
This was my chance. I looked at Taylor and he nodded in response. We decided to work for the final time as a team. For the sake of the planet.

I stamped the police officers foot as hard as I could. He shrieked and grabbed at his foot. Taylor head butted the dude behind me kneed the officers in his crouch. I could hear the wail as I ran down. Everybody got up to catch me. Commotion. Perfect.

Caleb had run down parallel to me. I couldn't move my hands because of the bloody cuff.

" INJECT THE VIRUS!" screamed Mr Thorn.

I couldn't hear my own scream as the needle sinked into Nathan's arm. I barged at the door with my shoulder that lead to the glass room. The guy in the suit tried pulling me back but he was knocked down.

"I never knew I could fight. Wow it's been such a long time!" Caleb sighed as he massaged his wrist. He looked at me and smiled.

" I told you I'll be back!" He grinned.

This was old Caleb. The Caleb I had shared the lemon pie with. My half brother.
But did he know.
He helped me out of the shackles and we began working removing the ropes that held Nathan.

" I think I saw another Nathan outside" Caleb said a little out of breath.

"Long story and pulleease I saw the 'past' you", I replied holding Nathan and leaning him on my shoulder for support.

" No shit"

"You handed us over to the police." I said.

"That is pure crazy". He said not willing to believe it.

"And Cadenc-".

Before he could finish Dr. Thorn came in with a gun in his hand.

" Give me the boy. He is an experiment. You cannot take him away, unless the serum is prove-"

"Shut up Dad! This is only going to make things worse. Believe me, even a heartless person like you regretted it."

Dr. Thorn scoffed.

"What do you know? A boy who bakes tiny petty cakes for birthday parties. It's sickening to call you my son!"

" You have no right to call him YOUR son!" I snapped.

"He has much more potential than you think! Not everybody can bake a perfect key lime pie that can make you dizzy with its scent! Well you're just a coward to admit it but to me he is the greatest brother one could ask for!"

Dr. Thorn was silent. His eyes widened as the truth sinked in.
Nathan stirred.
I looked at him and whispered his name hoping he would respond.
His eyes were strangely red.

"Hey , you okay?" I asked checking his pulse.

Oh gods. His heart wasn't beating. I dropped him and he went splat as his head hit the floor. I backed away pulling Caleb away.
Caleb held my hand not letting go.
Nathan got up he limped towards me groaning. A thick glop of blood fell to the ground from his mouth and sent specks of blood everywhere.

" BRING THE GENETIC WEAPON!" bellowed The police men from behind.

Then the most bizarre thing happened. Suddenly filled with energy, zombie Nathan lunged at me knocking me down. I cried out but it was of no use. Caleb pulled me from behind . I struggled, like a drowning animal.

Then the pain struck in my leg. It was so electrifying that the pain in my leg was cold. Nathan was pulled away.

I saw Tyler and Caleb leaning down. Their faces began to blur little by little.
Oh! if I knew this would happen . Fate doesn't like to be disrespected. My heartbeat echoed in my ear.

And in the end the infinite blackness came back to keep me company.