Duality of Survival

  Lenore sat in one of the seats in the cathedral, looking up at the outline of where the cross once hung. It was cut up, used to make the barricade for the front doors. To them, it was disheartening to deface a place like this. But to keep everyone safe, it was necessary.

  A knock at the door caused Lenore to jolt. They stood up, talking over to the double doors held shut by the jaggedly cut plank of wood. “Who is it?” They asked.

  “Is your leader there?” Leader? Lenore thought. They didn’t have a set leader. Joseph was the group leader before he was killed.

  “I-I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Who are you?”

  “Listen, kid. I want to talk to the group leader– skinny guy, dark hair, shotgun?” The deep voice called out. Lenore’s brows furrowed. Was he talking about Mike, they thought.

  “Mr. Newstead… yes. He is. I’ll get him, Mr…?”

  “Cross. Oliver Cross.”

  After a moment, Mike walked to the double doors, lifting the barricade and opening one of them. At the doorstep stood the man, likely in his early-to-mid 40’s. He had cheek length black hair with hints of grey and was wearing clothing only a lumberjack would wear. Rather strangely, he stood alone at the door, seemingly unarmed. Mike looked around for Hellspawns before asking, “Can I help you, Oliver?”

  “Ah… I see, you’re the leader; Mr. Newstead–”

  “Mike.” Mike interrupted. Oliver’s face twitched, but remained a smiling, friendly look.

  “Well, Mike, I was going on a supply run around these parts, when I just so happened to see you and four other buddies running back here.” Mike’s eyes narrowed at the idea that this stranger was watching them, and only a week later decided to converse.

  “Yeah? What about it?” Mike asked, skepticism in his eyes as he observed Oliver.

  “Well, I just so happen to have just the thing for you and your friends. The high school– Guile Valley High, has been made into a shelter. We have food, water, and electricity. Everything you need, no entry ticket required!”

  “And you came to us… why?”

  “Because I know you’re struggling. I’ve seen it. That girl, in the scrubs. Her arm was broken. I know you don’t have the proper tools to help her. We do. There isn’t any fine print in this– I’m offering you help!”

  Mike looked over his shoulder at Lenore, who was watching with their usual nervousness. He sighed and nodded. “Well, I’d have to talk about it with everyone. I’m not necessarily the leader.”

  Oliver nodded, a smile coming to his bearded face. “Well, you know where to go when you’ve made a decision. Have a good night.” He turned and began to walk off. Mike swiftly shut the door and barricaded it once more.

  “Why didn’t you say yes?!” Lenore yelled. Mike jolted, surprised by the sudden outburst from the Angel.

  “Lenore. In every apocalyptic situation, groups form, and with genuine groups comes raiders, killers, those who will do anything to survive. Who the hell patronizes like that without wanting something in return?” Lenore opened their mouth to say something, but scoffed and shook their head instead. “We have it covered. Sam’s arm snapped back into place and the wounds were healed.”

  “But we can’t stay here in this church! The thing that killed Mr. Hopeland could come back, and Jackson is somewhere out there. He could come back and hurt us!”

  Mike rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. “Okay, okay. I’ll see. It won’t hurt to check it out, I guess.” He walked past Lenore and behind the altar, descending the ladder to the bunker.

  Mike knocked on the door to one of the rooms before walking in. Ami sat cross-legged on one of the cots, reading a book, while Sam rested in the other. Her arm was wrapped in a makeshift cast. Mike walked over to Ami, immediately grabbing her attention. “I didn’t know you liked reading.” Mike said, his tone having a hint of softness. Ami nodded.

  “Yeah! It’s The Crucible. I found it up in the church seats a couple days ago and honestly can’t put it down. I love old books like this.” She let out a small laugh, putting a bookmark in it before setting it aside. “You need somethin’?”

  “Some weird Roddy Piper looking asshole ‘invited’ us to his community at Guile Valley High. Apparently it’s thriving.”

  “Why’re you calling him that then?” Ami asked, tilting her head.

  “He was watching us. He saw us when we were running back here from Lucifer’s attack. He saw Sam’s broken arm and said he wanted to help us.”

  “Well, I think we should still give it a shot. If we don’t like it, then we’ll come right back here.” Mike nodded.

  “That’s what Lenore suggested.” He reached over to the nightstand, picking up a Luger handgun and holstering it. “I’m thinking we'll go and check it out. I have to go because I’m apparently the leader, and you’re the strongest of the group with your weird–”

  “Yeah…” She grabbed her knife and sheathed it, a grin coming to her face. “Let’s see what this is all about.”

  …

  Mike and Ami walked down the road, heading to Guile Valley High. Mike looked over at Ami, observing her. Since that confrontation with Lucifer, he’s felt odd about her. Seeing her with that crazed look, her curly hair all crazy and messy; it made him feel warm. Ami noticed Mike’s staring and raised an eyebrow. “You okay, Mike?” Mike snapped out of his daze, looking away quickly.

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  “Yeah… it’s just… I’m still hung up on the other day. You… you got shot in the head and lived. And with Lucifer, your face… it had barbed wire in it, and then it disappeared and your tear streaks came back.” Ami’s eyes widened, as if she knew what he was talking about.

  “Well, I guess there’s no point in hiding exactly what’s wrong with me.” She murmured, her subtle hops slowing to a slow stroll. “I don’t exactly know everything, but I’ve tried piecing it together and I think I got an idea.” She took a deep breath, forming the words together in her head before explaining.

  “A little over a month ago. I got into a car accident, T-Boned. For God knows how long, I was out cold. Coma. I was out for a few days before – at least I think – I died.” Mike’s eyes widened.

  “Died? That can’t be possible, you’re here, you’re alive–” Ami shushed Mike, firmly placing her index finger to his lips.

  “Yeah, I am… but part of me doesn’t feel like it. During that moment where I was ‘dead’, I woke up in like… a cavern. It was black and white, just like everything here. Barbed and razor wire shot from the cliffs and stones, wrapping around my limbs… they tore at me, ripping and cutting, as if trying to split me apart. That’s when I saw him– Lucifer, watching me getting sliced and stabbed over and over, doing nothing to help me. Eventually, something happened. I felt like I was on fire and screamed, louder than I was before, and suddenly I was awake. I don’t know what happened. I was faster and stronger. But part of me felt dead. It still does right now.”

  “I… I’m sorry, Ami.” Mike muttered nervously, looking away from her.

  “Don’t be, Mike. You didn’t do anything wrong. You actually did something good for me.”

  “I did?” Ami nodded, a slight smile coming to her face.

  “Yeah, you did! I was stuck out here for a month, constantly killing Hellspawns. I started to go a little insane, and I built up a crazy, whimsical personality for any survivors I managed to come across. But you… you managed to stick around long enough to see it slip. I actually feel like myself for the first time in what feels like forever. In a way, that makes me admire you.” Mike looked away, his face growing somewhat warm.

  “Well um… I’m glad.” He looked up, seeing the tall building of the school just under 100 yards away. “We’re almost there. Try to stay somewhat sane-looking.”

  …

  Mike and Ami came up to the gate in front of them, a large reinforced gate. Two guards stood at small stands on either side, like ticket booths. One, noticeably young, piped up.

  “Woah there! Who are you two?” He said, his voice having a slight muffle from behind the glass. Mike narrowed his eyes. Guards. That’s new.

  “We were invited by your ringleader: Oliver Cross?” The guard’s eyes widened, the other, older guard raised an eyebrow.

  “The boss invited you?” He replied, confused. “How do we know you’re not just saying a name to get in?”

  “I don’t know, go ask him.”

  After a moment, the gate creaked open, inside, Oliver stood, a smirk on his face. He was dressed differently than before; wearing a loose button up shirt and dress pants.

  “Ah, Newstead!” He said, his smirk turning into a wide, friendly smile. “I see you brought a friend. What’s your name?” He said, looking at Ami with curiosity.

  “Ami Smith.” She said, giving a slight smile in return. Oliver’s eyes widened with surprise, possibly at her name.

  “Smith… Amity Smith?” He softly said, “I think I met your father before. A humble man, he is.” Ami looked embarrassed at the mention of her name. Regardless, she nodded.

  “Yeah.”

  “Anywho, no point in being out here in the courtyard. Let’s come inside.” He said, turning and walking through the doors of the school. Mike tilted his head, looking at Ami with a slight smile.

  “Amity? That sounds pretty different from Ami.” He softly said. Ami scoffed, crossing her arms.

  “That’s the point.” She huffed, a slight smirk cracking at the edge of her mouth as she started walking. “I don’t wanna hear anything from you, Michael.”

  The two followed Oliver through the doors, looking around at the dim lighting. It was clean and nice, no blood or viscera adorning the walls, only posters and forgotten class president drawings clearly made by careless teenagers adorned the walls of white and red. After the tour, the two were given clean clothes, two white button-up shirts with a dark pair of pants for Mike and a long charcoal-colored skirt for Ami. They gave their thanks before going into an empty classroom to change.

  “This is cute!” Ami chirped, doing a slow twirl and watching the skirt sway around her knees. “I’m glad I agreed to come along.” She looked over at Mike, mouth open to say something, but nothing came out for a moment. Mike certainly looked good in dress clothes, even if he still looked like a rat with his stringy auburn hair.

  “What?” He replied, looking down at himself. “Too professional?” He rolled his sleeves up to just below his elbows. Ami shook her head, a wide smile on her face.

  “No! No, it looks great!” She replied, circling Mike with observing eyes. “It’s just strange seeing you in dress clothes.”

  Oliver came in with a swift knock, a smile still on his face. “Well, I see you two took interest in the clothes. We found a whole stockpile of those in the basement. Turns out this school had uniforms and stopped using them a few decades ago.”

  “This all is very nice…” Mike murmured, “But I can’t help but get the feeling that this isn’t charity.” He said, approaching Oliver and stopping just inches from him. Oliver held his hands up defensively, slowly backing away from Mike.

  “Mike, Mike! I assure you; This is out of the goodness of my heart. After all, why would I let you keep your weapons when the sign out front said to relieve them at the front desk immediately?” Mike shook his head, taking a step back. Oliver chuckled, his hands falling back to his sides. “Well. I came to say dinnertime is in 5 minutes. And I will reiterate, Mike, that I offer this solely for your benefit!” He loudly proclaimed as he made a swift turn and exited the classroom.

  “You’re skittish. You okay?” Ami questioned, putting a hand on Mike’s shoulder.

  “I don’t get that guy.”

  ...

  Naomi laid in her cot, trying desperately to sleep. She tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable. Eventually, she gave up with a sigh and stared at the ceiling. She stared for what felt like hours before the creaking of the door caught her attention. In the doorway, a silhouette of a man stood.

  "Naomi..." he groaned, slowly walking over to the cot. "Na... Naomi... you need to sleep..."

  "Dad?" Naomi hesitated. She slept with her katana harness on, the blade sheathed and concealed behind her back. Her fingers curled around the handle under the pillow, ready to defend herself.

  "Yes..." He groaned. "I--"

  "Got you." Naomi muttered, suddenly shooting up and bringing her blade down on his head. He let out a demonic scream, his form melting and writhing. "My dad is dead, you piece of shit!" With a kick, Naomi sent the fake Mr. Higashi flying towards the wall. When he hit the wall, he burst into sand and fog, the charcoal ash retreating into the cracks in the wall.

  Lenore rushed in, startled by Naomi's angered yell. "Naomi! W-What happened? I heard you yell!"

  "I saw what killed Joseph. It tried killing me by imitating my father, not knowing he's dead. I think that's how it got Joseph; by imitating someone close to him before finishing him off." She looked at Lenore, her eyes slightly wide with slight fear. "We got the fucker."