Elegy For An Epilogue

A year quickly passed and humanity had recovered from the initial destruction of the asteroid on that fateful day. Many dubbed the date, June 17th of the year 2163 the Great Cataclysm, while others called it the beginning of the apocalypse. None could disagree other than Malkorn. For him, it was his anniversary, and the date of his promise to his beloved wife. Yet all the memories that were shared were now tarnished with tragedy’s ugly head.

The director sat across the bed of the hospital ward, a place that he knew all too well. The air was stale, and heavy with a mocking silence. It was the only thing that filled the room other than a periodic beeping that dutifully rang out. He hoped that Eve would just wake up. To see her squinting at the bright, luminescent light’s overhead. But his wish was never fulfilled, and even the room number 727 was starting to haunt his hopeless dreams.

“Eve, when shall you return to me?”

His words were but a fleeting whisper, carrying out the window and never to be heard. He allowed himself a heavy sigh, it wasn’t just him that had suffered, rather… The Ether Project had been dealt a heavy blow as well. Numerous casualties had slowed efficiency, and the loss of multiple prominent researchers had halted several projects altogether.

Especially Edward—Malkorn clenched his fists. Losing him had affected him more than he’d liked. No longer did he have a friend to converse with, or just someone to discuss menial things. Yet he released another sigh. The fate of the world rested on his shoulders, such trivial matters shouldn’t have been so heavy on his mind in the first place.

Malkorn placed a hand over Eve’s arm. Her tender and soft skin was cold to the touch, the vitality in her body seeping away into nothingness. He faced the mirror at the corner of the room, and he suddenly felt dizzy.

His sunken eyes and whitening hair, this couldn’t be him. Malkorn couldn’t accept that the person staring back at him through that framed window was he himself. Yet deep down, he questioned if it really was possible to age a decade in just a year.

“Aah… geez…”

Perhaps he was dizzy, he wasn’t sure whether he was awake, or still half asleep, but he knew that his duties were to take precedence.

“Director.”

A knock came at the door, and a woman in a suit entered. She quickly scanned the room, her gaze lingering briefly on the dark-haired woman lying almost too peacefully on the bed before returning to Malkorn.

He greeted her with a slight nod.

“Are you ready sir?” The woman said calmly, though there was a faint trace of urgency in her voice. “The speech begins in half an hour.”

Malkorn took a deep breath, casting one last look at his wife. Thanks to their collaboration alongside the world’s militaries, their development had come far. And as the head of the project, this speech was just one of many responsibilities.

Turning to the woman, he stood and gave her a firm nod. “Yes, I’m ready.”

A car awaited them in the lobby, and within minutes they arrived at a towering building. As they stepped out of the vehicle, the woman led Malkorn down a corridor. Their steps echoed through the hall, and the distant hum of activity mingled with the sound.

It wasn’t long until they reached the Global Auditorium of Defense, and the woman gave a respectful bow followed by a good luck. Drawing a deep breath, Malkorn adjusted his suit and stepped up to the podium where a sea of faces awaited him.

As his eyes scanned across the assembly, the murmurs of the crowd were hushed. The theatre was massive—conglomerates and officials from all global powers had gathered to witness the dawn of a new era. Some faces he memorized, scientists both familiar and unknown to him, sat with watchful, examining eyes.

He adjusted the microphone, cleared his throat, and began.

“Welcome, everyone. I am Malkorn Black, Director of the Ether Project.”

He paused, gaze parsing over the crowd before drawing a steady breath.

“Today, I stand before you to address a matter of utmost importance. The Ether Project has been at the forefront of humanity, to preserve, and to develop our species. As many of you know, the Great Cataclysm has left its effects on our planet. We face an alien threat unlike anything our forefathers could have ever imagined. We lack substantial information. We lack details. However, despite their presence, humanity cannot afford to lag even a single step behind.”

“This is our reality now, and we are forced to be strong. For our wives, our childrens, and our families. We must stand tall before the enemy!”

Malkorn raised his chin and swallowed hard.

“Truth be told, the work we’ve done hasn’t been easy. We’ve faced countless challenges alongside the development. But I, along with my peers, see a future where humanity can emerge victorious. Our most significant achievement to date, is the development of the Arc Reactor. When applied to specially designed Ether machinery, it allows us to bypass the limitations of traditional usages. With this, we can now harness, and materialize energy directly into the physical plane. No longer will we be limited by ammunition, by energy, by our very lives!”

His breath shuddered, and the rippling tremor ran through the crowd as his voice echoed across the auditorium.

“Today, I ask for your continued support and cooperation. Our future depends on the choices we make now. Together, we can ensure that humanity does not fall, and that we will thrive in these dark times.

“Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and most importantly your time. Together, I pray that we will succeed.”

Though the speech only lasted a few minutes, it felt much longer to Malkorn. He faced the audience, his head ringing from the deafening silence. The crowd’s expressions were unreadable in the dim light, and the moment stretched until a single clap echoed throughout the room.

It was followed by another, then another, until a wave of applause and cheers filled the hall. Malkorn smiled, glancing to the side and caught the eye of the woman in the suit. She gave him a reassuring nod, he had done well.

The crowd was proof of that, and he knew that if they were united, humanity… had a chance. As the applause continued, Malkorn stepped away from the podium. With one final glance, he left the stage, and quickly called for a taxi to return to the hospital. And as the flickering street lights flew by, the echoes of applause faded from his mind, replaced by the overwhelming vice of despair.

*****

“—Today, I ask for your continued support and cooperation. Our future depends on the choices we make now. Together, we can ensure that humanity does not fall, and that we will thrive in these dark times.

“Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and most importantly your time. Together, I pray that we will succeed.”

As the summer sun streamed through one end of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the spacious penthouse, Alice stood at the other. Her calm grey eyes met her own reflection in the glass while her perfect, shoulder-length silver hair framed her flawless face.

The echoes of her father’s speech resounded in her mind and she couldn’t help but feel a tightness in her chest. She turned away from the window and glanced around. Since that day, their once lively home had fallen into silence. It had truly been a long while since she or Cecillia had seen their mother smile. Their father, too, was rarely home anymore. He was either consumed by his work, or clinging uselessly to the hope that his presence might help allow their mother to wake up.

Alice… to her, it didn’t quite so matter. But Cecillia had taken it hard. At first, she rebelled, unable to accept the change, although in time, she had grown accustomed to the hollow stillness that now filled their home.

Sighing, Alice pressed a hand against the glass, blurring her reflection while her gaze drifted across the cityscape of New Los Angeles. After the Great Cataclysm, the city was left in ruins. But thanks to the Ether Project’s technological efforts, the skyscrapers and many industrial buildings have been rebuilt in just a year.

Despite the long lasting marks of the earthquake, the city had recovered to the point where it could still be considered beautiful. Towering buildings pierced through their white bubbly clouds, their sleek curves accentuated by a futuristic architecture. Something about the design felt odd, and Alice couldn’t quite place a finger on it. The way that the sunlight would cascade over the metal and glass, absorbed by the countless solar panels, was satisfyingly efficient.

And that went against the notion that efficiency came with ugliness, because in this case, the buildings illuminated with a soft, radiant glow, rather than reflecting the harsh glare of the past century’s architecture.

“Earth’s engineering really is marvelous…” she murmured.

Alice tore her gaze from the window and turned, her eyes landing on Cecillia’s room through the open doorway. Her sister lay peacefully, softly snoring away. Alice’s expression darkened into a bittersweet smile. Glancing down at her left hand, where a thin silver band encircled her delicate finger, she traced her eyes over the etched engraving. She slipped the ring off and twirled it between her fingers.

Not once had she expected the day to turn out like this.

“Damn it Cecillia! We have to move now!”

The alarm wailed, screaming in the voice of the air-raid sirens that should’ve never sounded. The girl stood paralyzed, hands trembling while tears came to her eyes. She tried to ignore the sea of nausea churning in the depths of her stomach, but everything was just slipping away…

Cecillia’s jaws parted and her pupils shriveled up into constricted soulless spots. A soundless scream escaped her throat, tearing apart her vocal cords. For some reason, she couldn’t move. Her feet were glued to the floor, limbs frozen in place.

Why did it have to be this way?

Everything in her mind told her that it wasn’t real, bodies didn’t look like this in the movies… so why… w-why was that, staring at her. The blood pooling beneath the corpse was far darker, thicker than those on the screens. The viscous liquid seeped into the cracks in the floor, while the corpse's skin had a pale, almost bluish tint. And yet, the worst part were its eyes—those eyes, wide open, lifeless, and staring into the void. It felt like they were looking straight through her.

“Cecillia!” Alice’s voice broke through again, but it felt more distant than earlier.

Her vacant gaze lifted, and there her sister was. Smoke wisping into the air from the barrel of her gun, the muzzle flashing with blinding light. It was unreal, who was this person, shouldn’t they be strangers at this point?

Her mind was numb and the flow of tears began to pour out like a river, streaming down her cheeks. She felt herself choking on her own sobs, unable to bear the weight of her own mind.

‘He’s dead. Alice… killed him…’

The crowd of people rushed around them. The screaming in the air didn’t help, nor did the constant droning of the alarms. Rather… none of it made any sense.

‘I want mom…’

Cecillia clutched at her head, a dozen voices in her head screaming in a cacophony of indecipherable lies as she struggled to prove reality, from fantasy. Her body crumpled to the ground, the feeling disappearing in her legs. She let herself fall.

“Cecillia!”

There that voice echoed again and the girl felt a pair of arms wrapping around her body. A face floated in front of her eyes, and the softest of smiles was seen. Alice placed a comforting hand on Cecillia’s cheeks before wiping away her tears. Still, Cecillia remained frozen, her mind unable to comprehend. Her mouth opened, and she tried to speak, but no words came out.

“I know,” Alice hushed, placing both hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Just leave it to me.”

Cecillia nodded slowly, the movement was stiff, but it was all she could do, latching on those words like it was her lifeline.

“That’s it, Ceci,” Alice whispered. “Just keep your eyes on me, I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

The tears slowly ebbed away and Cecillia focused on those words, but a flicker of light from her dropped phone drew her attention away.

EMERGENCY ALERT

Location: Sector 12, New Los Angeles

Threat Level: Critical

Warning: Immediate Evacuation Required

Attention all residents and personnel:

This is not a drill. Repeat, this is NOT A DRILL. An unidentified threat has compromised Sector 12. All individuals must evacuate the area immediately.

Follow designated escape routes.

Leave all non-essential belongings behind.

Proceed to the nearest emergency shelter without delay.

If you are unable to evacuate, seek cover and await further instructions.

Air-raid sirens will sound until the threat is neutralized. Stay away from windows and doors. Remain alert to falling debris or other hazards. Stay away from the coast.

Authorities are working to secure the area. Do not re-enter until an all-clear message is given.

For your safety, evacuate NOW.

Alice caught Cecillia’s gaze and she quickly covered the screen.

“Don’t look at that, I told you we’re going to be okay,” Alice pushed her away to look straight into her eyes. “Focus on me alright? We’re going to be moving soon.”

Cecillia mustered a trembling nod, and Alice grabbed the girl’s shuddering hands. The elder sister pushed something cold and solid into the younger’s palm. Cecillia tried to look at what it was, but Alice quickly blocked her vision.

“Hold onto this for me, alright?” Alice said, her voice low and seeping with urgency.

Cecillia blinked, her vision still blurred from the tears, and her mind too scattered to understand what was going on. She hadn’t seen what was placed into her hands, but her fingers instinctively curled around the object, which felt unfamiliar. Heavy.

Alice raised her head, her expression hardening while she fired a bullet. Cecillia flinched away from the thundering sound, and as the casing fell to the ground, all strength left her legs.

“Fucking hell, we need to go,” Alice swore before turning to the girl. “Can you move?”

Another burst of tears streaked down the girl’s face, but fortunately, Alice had the foresight to take it as an answer. Without hesitation, she scooped up Cecillia’s limb body, hoisting her over her shoulder with a grunt. It was then that she took off running, retracing their steps until they burst out of the building.

Her brows furrowed when they took in the chaos, people were frantically running in every direction, trampling over each other. All were desperate and lost, it was pure chaos.

“Fucking headless chickens,” Alice muttered, scowling.

She pulled out her pistol and counted the bullets. Twelve left in the magazine. Cursing under her breath she stabilized Cecillia onto her shoulder and started to sprint towards the ocean. As explicitly told in the warning, it said to stay away from the coast. And she knew that the shelters were to the east, but reaching them on foot, especially when they were already filled to the brim with people… It was a gamble, but heading towards the heart of New Los Angeles, where reinforcements were likely gathering, was their best option available.

Alive dashed past abandoned storefronts, her feet slapping against the concrete. The underground streets were eerily deserted, with scattered food and drinks laying to rot. The dystopian sirens blared faintly, and as she ran for several minutes, the sound continued to grow louder. Soon, it wasn’t long until they reached a sewer tunnel with a ladder leading to ground level.

Alice glanced over her shoulder at Cecillia’s pale, glassy-eyed face. The girl was in no condition to climb up on her own. Growling in frustration, Alice gently set her down, then yanked off her hoodie and bra. The cold hit her skin, and a frigid chill ran down her spine, still, it had to be done.

She unclasped Cecillia’s hand, pulling the knife from her grasp before slicing through the fabric to fashion a makeshift harness.

“Hold on tight…” she said grimly and fixed the knife back into the girl’s hands.

Alice hoisted Cecillia over her shoulder again, securing her with the harness and making sure that there was no chance of her falling during the climb. Each step on the ladder’s rungs burned her arms, but she gritted through the pain and her grip never faltered.

As soon as they surfaced, the wailing of the sirens hit them at full volume. The streets were littered with deserted cars, and there were no traces of other humans other than the screams that rang out in the distance. Until suddenly, a low, ominous rumble reverberated through the air like the clashing of faraway thunder. Alice looked up just in time to see a cloud of flame erupting high into the sky, followed by a faint, echoing boom.

It seemed that the artillery cannons had just begun firing.

“Tsk,” Alice clicked her tongue. “Those bombs won’t be enough, what the hell are they doing over there.”

Breaking into another sprint, Alice made sure to keep a watchful eye out for any anomalies. Although, a buzzing emitted from her pocket, and a frown flitted over her lips. She pulled it out, and relief settled in when she read the caller’s name.

“Dad?”

“Alice, thank god you're safe. Cecillia isn’t responding, where are you?” Her father’s voice crackled through the line. Some words couldn’t be heard clearly, and she glanced up at the sky. The reception evidently wasn’t good, but it could be worse.

“New Chinatown. She’s with me,” Alice replied quickly.

There was a slight pause before Malkorn sighed in relief. “Chinatown? You’re that far?”

“Yes. Where are you?”

“I’m coming to you in a helicopter. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Hide if you have to.”

“N—”

Her reply was cut off by a bloodcurdling scream that rang out through the streets. The sound was raw and primal, sending an agonizing dread crawling up her spine. Then, just as abruptly, the scream was cut off.

Alice’s frown turned down into a scowl. “Meet me at the south side, 80th street. I’ll keep Cecillia safe.”

She ended the call with a click, and tucked the phone into her pocket to resume her sprint. The flickering carmine street lamps cast periodic flashes of light, making her appear like a phantom in the shadows. There were cries for help, the wails for children, but Alice ignored them all. Her single most important priority was Cecillia, everyone else was on their own.

But even then, she was beginning to grow tired. Her legs burned, far past the feeling of lead, while her breathing had long been past the point of ragged. She shot a glance over her shoulder, reminding herself why she had come this far, and forced a bitter smile before taking another turn.

However, her breath caught in her throat, and she immediately froze. At the end of the avenue, a young, elementary aged girl hovered in mid-air. Her body was limp, and lifeless. Blood stained her lips and clothes until suddenly—her head just wasn’t there.

A blurry shape appeared while the streetlamp flickered. Through the shadowy distance, Alice was able to make out the vague outline of something large and monstrous. Her breath hitched, and cold sweat poured down her back. There it was, something that seemed akin to an arachnid… but far worse.

Its numerous legs supported a hulking body covered in a carapace formed of obsidian, armor-like plates. The surface was slick and reflective, with pulsing, red arteries coiling just beneath the cracks.

Alice quickly turned the corner, pressing her back flat against the wall while her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. She glanced around frantically, searching for a route that wasn’t in the monster’s line of sight. But as she prepared to move, she felt a sudden small shift from behind her.

“Alice…” Cecillia began. “I’m sorry—”

“Shh… don’t speak, Ceci,” Alice hushed her, setting her to the ground. She forced a smile onto her face. “I know… I know… it’s going to be okay, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

Although it was like her words entered an ear before exiting through the other.

“I’m sorry… I’m not as strong as you. I wasn’t able to—” Cecillia’s voice crumbled, but Alice placed a gentle finger over the girl’s lips.

“Take this,” she shoved her gun into the girl’s quivering hands, exchanging it for the knife. “Promise me, that no matter what happens, if I fall… you’ll keep going. No matter what, okay?”

Cecillia stared down at the weapon in her hands. There that feeling was again, and her mind struggled to make sense of it all. Her chest started to tighten, a dull ache erupting from deep inside her soul. Slowly, her brow furrowed, and a rise of anguish caused her eyes to fill with tears.

“H-how can you ask me that?” Cecillia whispered, her voice breaking apart. “Why are you saying that to me, Alice?” The girl’s heart pounded faster and she began to hyperventilate, gulping for air all the while tears fell to the floor. “You always act like this… like you’re my parent.”

Her grip tightened on the gun, and hate ignited inside of her, burning hotter than the deepest depths of hell. Her face twisted into a grimace, the pain welling up inside of her couldn’t be relinquished through something such as tears.

“Alice… why,” Cecillia pleaded. “Why do I have to leave you?”

The elder sister’s expression darkened for a second before a bitter smile crossed her lips.

“Why?” Alice chuckled, but there was no hint of humor. “It’s because it’s my job.”

Cecillia’s heart tightened, and her soul filled with self loathing. She shifted the gun in her hands, but she couldn’t do anything else but stare at it whilst trembling.

“Hey,” Alice’s voice softened as she placed a hand over the girl’s. “It’s okay, I know you did your best.”

Her tone was gentle, and she reached out with an arm to brush away a tear from Cecillia’s cheek. “Can you move your legs?”

A brief moment passed before Cecillia’s eyes filled with another burst of tears. She shook her head tersely, the emotions clearly written all over her expression.

“Don’t worry, that’s fine,” Alice said before peeking around the corner and releasing a heavy exhale. “But…”

Her smile darkened, and she hesitated before her eyes hardened with graveness. “You remember what I said earlier, right?”

Alice didn’t give the girl a chance to respond and her lips curled upwards into an evil grin.

“Promise me that you’ll go on without me,” she waved the knife in front of Cecillia’s eyes. “Or I’ll kill myself.”

Cecillia seemed—just for an instant—like an entirely different person. Her usually soft, cheerful expression sharpened into something far more dangerous than a blade. Her blue eyes narrowed into thin slits, filling with an icy bloodthirst. For a second, Alice nearly had to turn away from the sheer intensity behind that gaze.

Then, just as quickly as it came, the ferocity vanished.

“I fucking hate you,” Cecillia spat.

Alice couldn’t help but let a light laugh escape her lips.

“I love you too, Ceci,” she said with a bright smile. “I’ll take that as your promise, okay?”

Cecillia scowled, and she glared at her sister. “Fuck you. I take it back.”

“Too late,” Alice smirked and pulled the girl onto her back. Her legs shook but the weight of the girl was stabilized in seconds.

Peering around the corner, Alice scanned their surroundings before reeling back.

“Stay calm,” she said softly. “We’re going to have to keep moving. I’m going to run in three… two… one…”

Without waiting for a response, Alice sprinted across the street, barely ducking out of sight when the arachnid raised its head. She already knew what had happened, and chose not to look, but Cecillia wasn’t so lucky. Her hands instinctively clambered over her mouth. She felt bile rising in her throat and almost vomited right then and there.

Alice heaved out a sharp exhale, and continued to run south. Although, it wasn’t long until they encountered yet another barrier in their path. Emerging from the shadows at the end of the street were a group of staggering figures. Humans… if you could even call them that. Their movements were jerky and unnatural, their limbs splayed out and spasming as if piloted by invisible strings. They stumbled forward rapidly at the sight of the two women, each step part of a sprint that was more horrifying than any nightmarish film that one could watch.

“A-Alice… what is that?” Cecillia whispered, her face paling.

“Zombies,” Alice answered grimly, and her steps started to slow. “They’re not human anymore, understand?”

Cecillia released a shaky breath. “Zombies… are they supposed to be this fast?” she murmured, desperately attempting to steady herself. “...Okay…”

Suddenly, a booming noise erupted from behind them, shattering the tension within their thoughts. The piercing wail of a car alarm followed, and the two sisters turned just in time to see a vehicle hurtling through the sky. The massive metal cage twisted in mid-air, the frame evidently contorted while its windows had shattered into billions of pieces. Time almost seemed to halt, until the entire thing slammed into the ground with a deafening crash. The car skidded, tumbling across the concrete before coming to a smoking halt against a crumbling wall.

“Fuck,” Alice hissed, her eyes tracing over from where the car came.

The acrid scent of burnt rubber and gasoline filled the air, but that was the least of their worries. Behind them, the grating sound of metal scraping against concrete reached their ears. The monstrous arachnid from earlier had just rounded the corner, in search for new sources of prey.

Alice’s jaw clenched when they caught onto the creature. Even through the shadows, now that it was much closer, she could see that it was massive, and was far more intimidating than earlier. At its full height, she estimated that it stood at six, almost seven feet or possibly even more. In looks alone, it was almost identical to a normal spider, except the sheer scale of its size.

Each of its eight legs narrowed into spear-like points that clicked against the concrete street with each chittering movement. The creature’s carapace gleamed under the streetlights, and its two extra appendages shone wickedly in the dim lighting. Like human arms, but unnervingly double-jointed, they ended in wicked, serrated scythes of black steel. As for its mouth, two metre long fangs curved inward, guarding an abyss with rows upon rows of jagged teeth.

Alice shuddered when the image of the impaled girl flashed through her mind. She could feel Cecillia’s growing panic behind her, yet it was all she could do to keep herself calm first.

The monster clicked forward and a thin, scorpion-like tail slithered behind its lurching body. Wicked barbs lined the length of the black metal, while at the end, there was a razor sharp stinger, dripping with crimson liquid.

A wave of fear crashed into the sisters, and as the creature took yet another step forward, Alice was already bolting off into the night. The sound of a heavy slam echoed from behind them, and they didn’t dare take a glance backwards.

Alice scowled when she stared forward into the distance. No other intersections were in the block between them and the zombies which meant they couldn’t run from both, rather, they had to choose. Though that choice was simple, turning and facing the arachnid was suicide, but with Cecillia on her back, even the zombies would be an issue.

Behind them, Alice shuddered when the monster released a shrill, ear-piercing scream that reberated through the streets. Cecillia stiffened and shut her eyes tightly while Alice blinked in a haze.

This kind of situation—heh…

It was a nightmare incarnate.