Terminus (Teaser Chapters)

Chapter ?: A Rose Becomes an Instrument of War (Chevelle)

It was nearly dusk when Batista and I emerged from the forest. The air was becoming crisp and a bit chilly as the evening quickly began looming over us. The darkening storm clouds moving above us toward the horizon were not about to help the chilling situation either, although the sky looked pretty and dramatic as the sun's scarlet light fanned outward like red paint on a black canvas.

As Batista and I emerged at the base of the forest, there was an old rundown warehouse, an old prison maybe? And an ambulance not far from it. "Damn Chevelle you've got a nice place here," Batista said jokingly. I wacked his shoulder with the back of my hand and laughed a little. The lightness of the moment came and went, and an unsettling feeling began setting into the pit of my stomach. Batista and I looked at this place from a distance then turned toward each other, both of us silently asking the same question; "should we?"

"Do you think it's safe?" I asked, tearing my gaze from his and looking over the quiet property.

"Probably. This place looks like it hasn't been touched in years, let's go have a look," Batista answered.

"I'm not sure.. Something feels really off about this place Batista."

Batista glanced at me with a raised eyebrow in a look that I knew all too well from him; really? "I know, I know you don't need to say it. This is the apocalypse and everything feels off, I get it," I said quickly and crossed my arms over my chest. "Whatever don't even worry about it. Let's just go look at it."

We began walking toward the old prison, and with each step I felt the need to run from this place. Batista didn't seem bothered by this place at all and continued forward without a worry in the world. As we approached the main building we stopped directly in front of it and I swore I saw a shadow move out of the corner of my eye. I felt the pit of my stomach beginning to sink and the feeling of wary dread washed over me like a tidal wave, so I took a step back. Everything was silent.

"Batista.. We aren't alon-" before I could even finish that sentence two younger looking men began walking out from the smaller building, one of them had a Glock pointed sideways at us, another had an AK-47 with the butt crudely cut off.

"Well well well, what have we got here huh?" The guy with the AK sneered at us.

"How the hell did you find this place?" Glock guy barked and began walking toward us.

I decided that now would not be a great time to run, so I subtly took a step back, placing a hand on my concealed pistol. Batista did the same. "Look we don't want any trouble," Batista spoke in both a warning yet stern tone. "We'll leave this place immediately, come on Chevelle." Batista turned but kept a hand placed on his Colt 1911.

"Oh you aren't going anywhere." two more guys walked out from behind us, causing Batista and I to be cornered. Great. One of them held a bowie knife, carefully placed in his hand to stab with intent to kill. The other man beside him had a crossbow, all four of them were coming closer, cornering us more and more. I'd had enough. I pulled out my pistol and cocked the slide. "Back off, we said we were leaving." I hissed sternly and took a very subtle step back again. The men chuckled at my comment, AK and Glock also prepared their weapons to fire. In one swift movement, Batista cocked his colt 1911 and fired at knife guy who was coming uncomfortably close, and that's when the entirety of this evening turned hellish. I can tell you right now, neither of us were expecting a fight as bad as this.

Not even five minutes into this fight, the men managed to get Batista and I off on our own. AK and Knife guy were going after me, leaving Batista to deal with Crossbow and Glock. My heart was racing, and the feeling of dread was only continuing to rise. "It's a pity your boyfriend isn't here to save you anymore now isn't it?" AK bellowed, coming up by my left side. "He's not my boyfriend," I clenched my teeth and raised my pistol quickly, "listen I really don't want to do this." I warned sternly. Of course, he didn't listen and proceeded forward. BOOM, AK was on the ground screaming and holding his foot. The bullet successfully grazed the top of it, probably shattering his metatarsals. "Agh, you bitch! I'm going to kill you!" AK shrieked at me. I rolled my eyes and turned away, sprinting toward the ambulance. Knife guy was kneeling beside AK but quickly got up and ran after me, but I was faster. I leapt up into the back of the ambulance and slammed the doors shut behind me. Knife guy banged on the doors so I backed away from them a bit. "You can't hide in there forever you little brat!" He pounded against the side of it. The amount of medical supplies left in the ambulance were slim, but I was going to get what Batista and I needed.