Hell On Earth

Chapter XV: Far from Alone

By this time, my team had checked the first and second floor and we're ready to check the third. When we arrived, I noticed that there was rust on the door's handle. Surprisingly, I was able to break down the door with ease but what I saw behind it made my stomach queasy. There were human parts all over the floor with at least what looked like 3 infected dead bodies along with a man standing over what looked like his son.

"My sweet, sweet boy," he sobbed. "Damn you God; why'd you have to take everything from me?!"

Slowly, Taylor approached the man and was able to get next to him before she startled him.

"Who the hell are you and what do you want," the man yelled in question.

Taylor could read the expressions on my face and could tell I was a little pissed off, but she held her hand up in a gesture to wait.

"I'm Taylor," she introduced. " This is my boyfriend Eric, and over there's Dr. Simon West. We'd like to help you and are hoping you can join our community."

The man paused and looked at Taylor and the rest of the group then gave a shaky sigh.

"I'm sorry, but my whole means for survival have been ripped away due to the infected."

With that, he pulled out a knife and slit his own throat before anyone of us could react. Taylor began to cry and I started having painful flashbacks of Abigail and Seth. Afterward, I immediately fainted in which all attention focused on me.

Inside my own mind, the voice began to speak.

"Pain and suffering from those 'Perfect Americans' have gone on for too long," the voice said. "Let me help you eliminate those who dare discriminate against you and everyone we love."

As a near overwhelming headache took place, the group saw red veins start to bulge from my head and arms. While I was fighting, Dr. West pointed out the infected breaking in.

Although Taylor noticed, she again wouldn't leave my side, at least not at first. Eventually, she joined Dr. West with helping him fight off the small group. Eventually, despite how painful it was, I managed to reawaken.I'll tell y'all, whatever it is that's infected me, it hurts like hell to fight. I turned over to see Taylor and Dr. West trying to fight the infected, but I could tell they were losing. In the nick of time, I managed to assist them and we managed to slaughter and butcher the infected.

"Well this is hurting our original intent," Dr. West sighed. " At this rate, it almost becomes pointless to fight the pacifistic route."

"We can't give up though," Taylor said. "There's still hope and we need to hope that--"

Suddenly, our other group burst into the room.

"Eric," Tyson said nervously. " There's a hell of a lot of infected on the east side. There's one way in and only one way out of the room; we were barely able to escape."

"Darlene," I said. " We all know that acquiring this broadcast station is important. Is it possible to lure the infected out as we did at the hospital?"

As she heard my question, she chuckled nervously in response.

"I'm afraid not," Darlene replied. " We'll have no choice but to move on."

Despite the fact that I was disappointed, we decided to move on. After a strong fight, we were able to reach the ABC station in South Carolina, surprisingly with ease. It was there that Tyson and the rest of the group set up the news station for a live emergency broadcast.

"Do you know what you're going to say," Taylor asked.

I nodded and slowly turned to the camera that flashed a red light meaning we were live.

"Hello world," I said nervously. " Today, I hope to inspire change for the better."

As I spoke, I slowly gained more and more confidence.

"The infected have taken our loved ones, our family, and our friends. My name is Eric Carver and I'm a survivor -- just like many of you. For those who are infected, you perhaps succumbed due to your pain, your feelings against those you blame for the faults of the U.S. As a victim of your prejudice, I can feel your pain.

At first, I fought to survive; now, I fight to help us work together to take down the 5-6 terrorist group. They are the real threat, and I ask you to come back to earth -- come back to your loved ones, and use this love of family and friends to unite us together. The only hell on earth is coming from us. We are far from alone, we just need to find people to hear us and to help us reach a mutual agreement."

When the camera cut off, there was a solemn silence in the room. Did my message work, or were our struggles and sacrifices all for nothing?