Burning Phoenix - Saga 1

(Cop???) Save us!

The cop then got on top of Luke, as if the cop didn’t have a mind of its own…

The cop’s mouth drooled the same black tar that filled the void for eyes and blood.

Scared to death, Luke didn’t do anything but try to hold the alive but dead cop as much as he could. He tried to push the cop off by using what little strength Luke had with him, but it was no use. The cop’s strength was abnormal, either that or Luke was just weak…

Either way, the cop slowly moved its way towards Luke's face, opening its mouth to bare its yellow and black teeth with venomous fangs. With nothing but black tar, the mouth smelled like both a deadly combo of rotten eggs and spoiled milk, or rather, the creature smelled as if it was rotting, to begin with…

And was this creature a zombie because of its abhorrent smell?

Or was it a vampire for baring its deadly fangs?

But just as Luke’s face was about to be early dinner for the cop, a miracle came for the boy in the nick of time.

A woman, who appeared to have dark brown hair in a ponytail, kicked the creature off Luke with incredible force. The wind jumped as the woman’s kick was strong enough to probably kill a normal person, but this was no ordinary woman…

It was Luke’s mother…

But Mary was not finished with the creature yet, because as soon as it managed to take in Mary’s kick, it looked as if it didn’t make a dent. To combat this creature, Mary took out from her waist a butcher knife. Positioning herself, she bent her knees so that she was able to launch herself forward, with enough speed and velocity of that of an incoming bullet.

Charging forward, she tucked in the knife like a football, and with enough force, she pushed the knife into the creature from where it sood. With harsh ease, she forcingly pushes the knife into the creature's heart, black tar oozing out of the creature.

As if it was its way of dying, the creature then started to glitch and spaz out like some sort of machine, its body twitching impossibly as the creature started to decay into black ash …

And this victory was given to no one other than Mary.

(Mary) Luke! Luke!

Putting the knife back into her huge pocket, Mary then gave Luke a tightening hug that almost took Luke’s breath away. As if mother and son were finally reunited, their struggle for survival was guaranteed. But as soon as Mary broke away from the hug, Luke’s heart winced when he saw his mother’s expression.

(Mary) Why did you run!? Why did you run away!? Just why!

Mary then pulled both Luke’s ears extremely hard. Her fingers pinching tightly at the corners, causing Luke to close his eyes of the pain.

(Luke) Ow! But Mom—

(Mary) No buts! … At least you're safe, that’s all that matters …

Letting go of Luke’s ears, Mary started to feel warm and relaxed as she gave Luke another hug.

Luke returned the hug given by his mom.

(Luke) Mom … we have to go …

(Mary) Alright, follow me.

Both mother and son then left, but just as the two headed off, a man wearing a black mask with a black jacket appeared out of the shadows, looking down at the area where the creature vaporized into ash.

(???) I guess I don’t have any choice then huh…

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(Luke) Mom, where are we going?

(Mary) We’re going to the evacuation boats that will lead us out of the city.

(Luke) But aren’t the boats too slow though?

(Mary) Just follow me!

Mary was gripping Luke’s hand so tight, that Luke had to wince himself from the pain as both were running towards the boat station.

(Mary) As long as they let you in, that’s all fine with me…

(Luke) But what about Dad?

(Mary) I don’t know … but don’t worry, your dad … is strong.

As they continued running and ignoring all the almost destroyed buildings caused by the boiling metal debris from above, Luke was about to pass out from exhaustion as the sky was now filled to the brim with lethal air. Mary noticed the lack of fresh air, but that didn’t stop her.

(Mary) Luke dear, let me give you a piggyback.

(Luke) But mom, you look tired too…

(Mary) I’ve been through much worse.

As Mary hoisted Luke on her back, she checked the time.

(Mary) 4:15, the boats leave at 4:30…

(Luke) And the station is only several minutes away, combined with the amount of people too…

(Mary) You’ll make it, I promise you that.

As the fiery monster from behind continued rampaging the city, more and more casualties and debris kept on rising, causing more chaos and destruction in its wake. Unlucky souls that got caught up in the barrage of debris were covered in pools of blood, with most of their heads crushed off, showing bits of brain and goo as the more Mary ran.

As for Luke, he was lucky enough to not be killed in such a horrible situation, hoping that both he and his mother make it out of this…

(Mary’s thoughts) I won’t let you get into any harm… No matter what happens …

Setting a fire within her heart, she won’t ever let that goal go, no matter what happens…

(Mary’s thoughts) You’ll have a chance of living…

As the mother and son duo continued to run for several minutes, they noticed a bunch of people gathering at a station, which meant…

(Luke) The station!

Mary’s grip tightened around Luke’s hands even more, as the road to Luke’s safety reached more and more within her grasp.

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(Random citizen #1) Please take my kids! At least them!

(Random citizen #2) I just want to be with my daughter! A father should look after her only daughter, please!

(Random citizen #3) I have money! I have money! I’m rich! Please take this! All of this! Just let me go on board!

Many more comments regarding the space of the boats came into play. The boat was massive, with enough space to fit more than a hundred people, but a crowd was piling up outside the station, trying to get their kids or small ones in first before them.

(Conductor) Please, kids, come first! Please bring your children first, they’re priority number one!

Stating that kids and even teens are the first ones to be on board the boats, made Mary feel calm and content as Luke would be able to be on board first. But what about the women?

(Conductor) Since this is a different era, and considering we see both women and men as equals, we have decided to let both women and men into the ship at the same time!

Another bombshell…

Now Mary has to fight her way to the ship, while Luke prays for his mother's success…

But ever since her fight with the creature, it made Mary appear more to what meets the eye. She is strong, almost too strong for her good, so who or what trained her to kick with enough force to probably kill someone from head trauma?

Just as she and Luke were about to be with the crowd…

(Random citizen #4) Debris!

Another barrage of fiery debris came crashing down, this time aiming at the station, but the debris didn’t even land near them.

Instead, the debris crashed at a nearby building that overlooked the building, and because of the acceleration of the debris itself…

(Random citizen #5) The top of the building is coming down!

Unfortunately, since both Luke and Mary weren’t with the crowd, where were they standing exactly?

They were both standing right in front …

(Random citizen #6) Look out!

Mary noticed the building ahead of Luke, and she tried to sprint with Luke to dodge the incoming stones and payment from the building. But Luke was hesitant and oblivious to the situation, or rather Luke was too slow compared to her, so Mary…

Threw Luke with enough force—

(Luke) MOM!!

Then the debris fell…

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The debris caused a major dust storm to prevail all around the station, causing nothing but coughs and sneezing throughout the hundreds of passengers waiting for the boat. But nothing compared to the dust level of where Luke and Mary once stood.

As the dust started to clear, Luke was covered head to toe with normal dust rather than fiery dust, but the dust wasn’t important…

(Luke) Mom! Mom!

Luke tried to search for his mom amongst the rubble, trying his very best to get at least some of the weight off of his mother. Even though his efforts of strength weren’t working, he still tried to pry his way to rescue her…

(Luke) Mom! Please! Mom! Say something!

He wanted to hear her voice, he wanted her to feel a vibration, he wanted…

His mother to be alive…

(Luke) No! Please no!

The more he struggled to get the debris, the harder he tried. His hands showed scrapes, splinters, and major cuts, but he continued digging. Pretty soon, his arms started to slow down, despite his attempts to push on through.

(Luke’s thoughts) Don’t stop! Don’t stop! Why are you stopping!? Why am I stopping!? Work! Work! Work! Work!

Now feeling as if his arms and hands were working against him, he then slammed the debris with his bare hands, creating a meek thud as his boyish hands were starting to crack.

(Luke) Why! Why! We were so close! She was so close! Why! I didn’t get to say—

Then came the noise of a thudding sound…

(Luke) Huh? … M-Mom?!

Luke, arms and hands bruised, battered, and scraped, was able to harness some adrenaline and used whatever strength he put into his hands and arms. The cuts and scrapes deeply agonized him, but he clenched through the pain, his teeth showcasing his resolve.

(Luke) Mom!

The more he clawed his way into the debris, the more his strength started to come back, as if hope was aiding his adrenaline…

Inch by inch, the rubble started to vibrate more heavily, and pretty soon, he started to hear a voice coming from the inside.

(Mary’s muffled voice) L-Luke! Are you there?!

(Luke) Mom! I’m coming to get you!

And in an instant, Luke’s way of clawing inch by inch finally paid off. From the rubble, Mary’s head emerged, and her dusted eyes saw Luke from the other side face to face, her face filled with relief as she saw that her throw was strong enough for Luke to not be crushed by the debris.

(Luke) M-Mom! How do I get you out!? Should I ask for help?! I’ll go get help!

Luke was fast with his dialogue and wanted someone stronger to help get his mother out of the debris since Luke already wasted his arms and hands on clawing to get his mother out. But, his mother glanced at the station and noticed that everyone was getting on board, so the only way to let Luke live was…

(Mary) Luke … come here …

(Luke) M-Mom…

(Mary) Can you come here?…

Luke’s eyes shimmered with sadness, which brought some water starting to form in his eyes. Almost melancholically, he walked towards his mother who was still stuck under the rubble, his body near her head as he listened to what his mother had to say.

In true silence, both mother and son were present in this world, and no one else. The world blanketing white.

(Mary) I want you to go without me.

Luke began shivering, his body not wanting to move at all at the thought of leaving his mother behind.

(Luke) I … m-mo—

(Mary) I’m sorry if I was too harsh on you, me and your dad. I know we weren’t the best in terms of making you happy, but you did your best to make us happy.

(Luke) no…

(Mary) You truly shined both me and your father’s hearts. Even when you get frustrated and ignore all of our words and reasons, or when you get in trouble for causing fires in your labs, you were mine and your father's world…

Luke’s eyes began to water as his mother confessed to the amount of love that he received from both his mom and dad. Not wanting this to be the last time he ever saw his mother again, he tried to fight back the tears, as well as control the quiverness of his body.

(Luke) I … I’m going to get you out! Please don’t say those words—

(Mary) Luke, I never told you this, but I was just like you…

(Luke) …

Curious as to what his mom meant, Luke bent down so that mother and son were face to face, inches from theirs.

(Mary) Before I first met your father, I didn’t have any freedom or choice in terms of how I lived my life … I was a lonely girl, a very angry girl …

Mary then snuggled her head near Luke's, her touch warm and comforting. Luke could even smell her perfume if it wasn’t for the smoke and sweat.

(Mary) But when I met your father, he was just like you, all shy and nervous, almost too shy to a certain point. Even at his shyest, the moment I truly wanted to be with him for the rest of my life, was when he held out his hand and said to me…

Tears then started to stream across Mary’s face, her life flashing one scene when he first met the love of her life…

(Joseph in Mary’s Mind) Live your life the way you want to. That’s what you wanted right? Someone to just snatch you up from that miserable place!

(Mary) So, please!

The world then started to resort from whiteness to the hellish reality that is called life.

(Mary) Live for me!

A river of tears strolls out of Mary’s face, as Luke starts crying, his hands holding his mother's face, accepting the reality of the situation.

(Conductor) Last call! Last call!

(Mary) Run Luke!

His quiverness stopped, his tears roamed free.

Standing up, he ran towards the train station to catch the last boat before it headed off. Tears make marks on his light-toned face as he lets go of the fact he won’t ever see his mother again…

(Mary’s thoughts) Don’t look back…

Luke continued to make his way to the boat, passengers trying to shove their way onto the boat before it sails off. As Luke was still a kid, his presence made the passengers make room, and even the conductor had to notify the crew members.

(Conductor) Make sure that kid gets in!

Everyone pushed their aggressiveness away and agreed to help Luke get on top of the boat. With the help of many humans and beast humans, Luke finally puts his feet upon the metallic boat that sets them away from everything.

But as Luke just wanted to see his mothers face one last time, he looked to see the rubble that his mother was in.

In an unexpected twist, Mary was…

She was lifting the rubble up with her bare hands with one knee and foot on the ground, her body shaking and convulsing at the weight of metal and stone. She gritted her teeth, her muscles aching with pain, as she slowly lifted the debris that was on top of her.

(Mary’s thoughts) Even if I don’t get on that boat … I’ll … I’ll reunite with him …

She then put both feet on the ground, as just as she was about to finally let go of the debris that was weighing her down…

There was a man on top of the rubble.

A man clad in all black, tall, almost a teen, and had a mask that covered his face.

(Luke’s thoughts) what…

The masked man, the man who made him go out to see the world beyond his room, was looking down, eyeing the woman that was lifting the rubble.

As Luke saw more, the masked man pulled out something from his pocket, and pointed his arm toward Mary’s—

Then came the gunshot…