Heads Above the Clouds

Seven years had passed since the disaster that tore the world apart. The earth, once thriving with life, was now overrun with various types of humanoids. Some were simple to kill with just a gun, others required grenades to even make a dent, and then there were the ones that defied all logic-they didn't die, no matter what you threw at them. Humanity, battered and bruised, had gathered into fortified bases built by leaders from all continents, struggling to survive in this new world.

Scientists, desperate for answers, had come together to study the cause of the disaster, scouring the land for any clues about the origins of the humanoids. They needed samples-blood, tissue, anything they could find to study the creatures' behavior and biology. To obtain these samples, they needed volunteers-people willing to risk their lives outside the relative safety of the base.

The reward was substantial: $50,000 for those who returned alive. Some hesitated, too scared to leave the walls of the base, but others, driven by desperation or the lure of the money, signed up without a second thought.

I wasn't in it for the money. Not really. I had my reasons. The memory of Neal's sacrifice haunted me every day. I hated myself for what happened to him. I couldn't forgive myself. But maybe, just maybe, if I joined this mission, if I ventured into the wilderness and survived, I could find him-maybe he was still out there, somewhere, alive. I had to believe that.

When I told my mom about my decision to join, she was furious. She yelled, she cried, she begged me not to go. But in the end, she knew I had made up my mind. She was helpless to stop me.

On the day of our departure, we gathered in front of the massive gate leading out of the base, the hum of anticipation and fear thick in the air. We were suited up in military uniforms, each of us equipped with a tracker embedded into the fabric of our clothing. It wasn't just for our safety-it was a reminder that, at any moment, our lives could be lost.

They gave us time to say goodbye to our loved ones. Some people embraced for what might be the last time. I went to my mom and hugged her tight. "Don't worry, Mom," I whispered, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I'll be safe."

But she didn't let go, her tears soaking into my shirt as she held me like she was never going to see me again. "You promise?" she choked out.

"I promise," I said, even though the words felt hollow.

After the farewells, we were called to assemble in front of the gate. The air was thick with unspoken fears as we lined up. We were divided into teams of six, and I found myself placed in Team 4. However, one of the spots was empty-someone was missing. Our task was to collect water samples from the mutated rivers and gather infected plant specimens.

Before we could leave, we had to choose a team leader. I turned to my group, hoping someone else would step up, but no one volunteered. I considered taking the role myself, but I didn't feel like I was ready to lead-not yet. Just then, a voice came from behind me.

"I can be the team leader."

I turned, my heart leaping into my throat. It was him. The guy from seven years ago. The one I had seen in the evacuation center bathroom. Our eyes met, and a smile stretched across his face.

"My name is Joeress," he said, his hand casually resting on my shoulder. "I volunteer to lead your team."

I shrugged off his hand, stepping back to create some distance between us. The sight of him after all this time stirred up too many emotions, things I wasn't ready to face.

"Alright, then," the colonel said, handing Joeress a map and a small notebook.

Once all the teams had their leaders, the colonel gave us a brief, inspiring speech. "TO EACH AND EVERYONE HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS PROJECT. YOU SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE BASE. WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL ALL RETURN SAFELY."

His words rang hollow in my ears. The truth was, none of us knew if we would make it back. I focused on breathing, steadying my pulse as we climbed into the armored vehicle that would take us into the wilderness.

The next three days were a blur. We traveled through barren cities, long since abandoned. We encountered Class 1 humanoids-easy to kill, but still dangerous. We switched drivers, making stops along the way, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.

One afternoon, I went to find Joeress. I found him sitting at a small table, scribbling something in the notebook.

"What are you writing?" I asked, sitting down beside him.

He glanced up at me and quickly closed the notebook. "Just taking notes."

"Oh." I fiddled with the necklace around my neck, a nervous habit. "When will we arrive at our destination?"

He glanced down at the necklace, his eyes lingering on it before meeting mine again. "We'll be there tomorrow. Get some rest." With that, he stood and moved to the front of the vehicle.

The ride was cramped, the armored vehicle barely big enough for all of us. There were four compartments: the front where the driver sat, a middle section for our weapons and supplies, a small bedroom for three people, and the back, where the rest of us crammed in.

As we got closer to our destination, the landscape began to change. The plants were no longer the dull, withered things I had expected. Instead, they had mutated into vibrant, fluorescent colors, some growing as large as the Statue of Liberty. The air felt different too-strangely calm, almost unnervingly so.

When I looked up into the sky, my breath caught. There, soaring above the trees, was a massive humanoid with black wings, unlike anything I had ever seen before. It vanished into the forest before I could process what I had just seen.

When we arrived, the forest was unlike anything I had imagined. The mutated plants were more bizarre than I could have ever guessed, and the silence hung in the air, oppressive. We disembarked from the armored vehicle, each of us grabbing a pistol for protection. Joeress split our group into two: one would gather plant samples, while the other-our group-was tasked with collecting water samples.

As we searched for a water source, I couldn't help but notice the strange beauty of the mutated plants. The colors were vibrant, almost alien. Then, a butterfly appeared, its wings glittering like shards of crystal. Mesmerized, I followed it through the forest until I heard the sound of water splashing. I rushed toward it and found a river, the water crystal clear and shimmering with the reflection of the butterflies. I quickly gathered samples, but then I heard a noise behind me.

Branches cracked, and my heart skipped a beat. I spun around, gun in hand, but nothing was there. I stood frozen, the adrenaline making my hands shake. After what felt like an eternity, I lowered my gun and holstered it, telling myself it was nothing.

But then, I heard it. The cackling sound, the unmistakable sound of a predator preparing to strike.

I turned just in time to see a Class 2 humanoid-its limbs long and twisted, its eyes nonexistent, replaced by a gaping mouth full of needle-like teeth-lunging at me. The creature's screech was deafening, but before it could reach me, a sudden gust of wind ruffled my hair. I looked up just in time to see massive black wings blocking the attack.

The creature screeched in pain before it collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud. The wings folded back, revealing a humanoid-about seven feet tall, with a strikingly handsome face for a monster. His horns twisted like a goat's, and his green eyes pierced through me as if he could see into my soul.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice shaking as I pointed my gun at him.

The humanoid didn't answer. Instead, he stared at me, unblinking, before glancing over my shoulder. He gently set me down and, in one fluid motion, hoisted the dead Class 2 humanoid into his arms. He spread his wings, and with a final look at me, he flew off into the sky.

I stood there, breathless, my mind racing. What had just happened?

Joeress's voice broke through my thoughts. "What happened?" he asked, approaching cautiously.

"I... I was attacked by a Class 2 humanoid, but then... another humanoid saved me."

"Saved you?" Joeress asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

"I don't know," I said, still in shock. "But he did. He protected me."

Joeress stared at me for a long moment, before asking if I had collected any samples. I nodded, still trying to make sense of everything.

"Let's get going," he said, writing something in his notebook. "It's getting dark."

As we made our way back to the vehicle, I couldn't shake the image of that humanoid with the black wings. What did it mean? Why had he saved me? And what was I supposed to do with the questions that now plagued my mind?

The journey back was uneventful, but the strange events of the day kept replaying in my mind. When we arrived at the base, we were checked for infection, and after passing the exams, we were allowed inside.

But I couldn't stop thinking about the humanoid. Something in me knew that this was only the beginning of something much bigger than any of us could understand.