The Prophecy (Watty Awards 2013)

Chapter 8

VIII

“Do you wanna bloody explain to me how the hell you did that?! And where the hell you went?!” Yelled the infuriated Lozada, strangling Eva against the unsteady wall. He presumed he was the last of his kind, he needed answers.

“Firstly you are not the only one left Gabriel… and secondly I cleverly searched the ruins of the laboratory for any scientific notes on these grim creatures. The result, this ancient-looking book; take a look inside gents because it just saved yours lives, let go of me.”

“Nah you read it, you saved us.” Said the almost jealous Logan.

“Alright, basically everything you ‘think’ you know about the apocalypse, forget it! This is the real deal, it wasn’t a cure guys, let me explain…” Eva declared, now she felt powerful for everybody was depending on her.

“You saying my wife didn’t die of from the malaria incident?!” Lozada asked.

“No I guess she didn’t, the book reads: “The Nevada Test Site; Welcome to the most nuked place on the planet. A staggering 1245 nuclear tests were carried out in this 3500 km square area of Nevada 107 km north of Las Vegas between 2000 and 2020, more than 800 of them underground. As a result the area was peppered with subsidence craters. It has been revealed that the mutations rates in the area surrounding the test site are almost twice that of the US population. A significant increase in childhood leukemia had been noted in the years following the beginning of nuclear testing. Numerous lawsuits alleging health problems were brought against the US government since 1982. But these allegations are a miniscule concern when compared to “Phantoms”, mutations created by these nuclear testings. The dangers they imposed were cased “life-threatening” by the DSA so they were carefully transported to the desolate underground settlements in London. Specialist troops worked day and night to protect what we can only call, the “Contagion Zone” but the Phantoms we’re devising subterfuge, a rebellion was inevitable, and the world depended on London. Of course they escaped; they had years to create their plan.  The villainous, but insomniac creatures have only one weakness. In Nevada we built a chemical lab, we captured and imprisoned their leader and experimented, we discovered their one weakness. Unbearable illumination; it distorts their damaged and fragile systems.  We had to kill that Phantom but the smart race have probably produced another leader, by the time you are reading this they would have adapted to their weakness, the leader would have advanced; yes, I am suggesting there is one Phantom out there who is nigh-impossible to kill, and by the time you read this, I am dead. All is lost.”

“F**k a-doodle-do!!!...Well that was bloody negative.” Laughed Blake, Lozada firmly punching him in the stomach for such a light hearted approach to an extremely critical moment. Blake stormed off; discontent with the other’s serious manner. He wandered off cursing to himself in whispers; ignorant and unknown to the “Superior Phantom” about 50 metres in his direction. This beast was advanced, it was deadlier, stronger and much more resilient; the group was in trouble. Big trouble.

“Welcome to the slaughterhouse gentlemen! Oh I do hope you enjoy your stay! We get awfully lonely around here don’t we Nancy?” Said the beast in a disturbing tone. Stroking the cheek of Lozada’s wife, who’s rotten face was wedged onto a bloody spear. She had been dead for almost three months, it was sickening.

“Nancy!!!!!! Noooooo!!!! You beast!!!!! You monster!!!!!!You fiend!!!!!!!” Lozada screamed, the group fell still, they didn’t know what to do. Lozada was a wreck. He dropped to his knees and then into a ball of hopelessness and misery. Lozada snapped, his mood inverted. “I’m gonna kill you you savage!!!!” He yelled, fist clenched; he was unstable and out of control. He went in for the kill put Blake and Tyson restrained him, but they were up in each other’s faces.

“Let go!!!” Lozada roared.

“He’s not worth it, we haven’t got the strength Lozada come on! We are all weak at the moment and magic won’t affect him, we have to go!” Ordered Logan.

“Ha ha!” The creature slowly laughed in an echo, the horrendous smell of dried guts and rodent flesh overwhelmed the group.

“We have to go, come on there is a well over there! We must go!!” Eva screamed.

“Bye bye Gabriel! See you soon, very soon…” The beast said creepily, sustaining eye contact as Lozada gradually turned away. Just as he went the Phantom clawed Lozada’s chest, leaving five bloodlines dripping onto Lozada’s torn shirt.

“You bastard!!!... I’ll get you!!” Lozada wailed as he slowly scaled down the damp, cramped well.