Darkness Fades

  Sylas nudges me in the back to go and we take off towards where they're being overtaken, making a path along the top of the wall while keeping our eyes on the section about to collapse.

  Another abomination jumps up onto the wall by my side as I'm heading there and pounces on top of me, side swiping me. Its rotting flesh slams against my face as I fall to the ground. I can smell its putrid scent as it covers me with its decaying body. I flip over onto my back and move to put my legs up, but it hovers over me, snarling, and then opens its mouth to take a bite. I manage to get my legs up and kick forcefully upward, launching it off me. Then, I spring to my feet, looking around for Sylas.

  He's fighting another one off behind me, stabbing the spear into its chest. I twirl around, but trip back as a beast in front of me charges. I put my weight down on my knees, baring my balance, preparing my body for impact. Seconds later, our bodies collide and we both fly back from the force. I land on my side and it drops not too far away from me, right on the edge. Before it can recover, I jump to my feet, rush over to it and push it over the edge, watching it fall to the ground.

  Sylas finishes off the beast he's fighting then tosses me the spear. I catch it effortlessly and we begin to run again, jumping acrobatically over gaps in the wall, stabbing abominations as they reach the top beside us. I pause for a moment, panting and sweating as I look back over the wall. The monsters seem endless. We've barely made a dent in their masses and they're starting to cover the top of the wall.

  At the back of the crowd are the Highers, watching it all; watching what they've created, watching our numbers fade. To the side of them is Aiden, his dark eyes on me. Just to the side of him is the man that raised me, or so I thought.

  Monarch.

  Anger boils inside of me, making me feel like I could burst. The anger fuels my energy and I begin to move quicker, swinging the spear around and stabbing any beast near me, knocking one after the other to the ground. It feels like my spear is attached to my very arms, as though I'm not even holding onto it as I rip and tear into their flesh. They howl and nip at everything around them. I'm not even sure what's controlling me. Somehow, I've become the perfect soldier; however I'm doing this for good. Doing this to help mankind.

  The herd of monsters begins to dwindle with my burst of energy and violence, but just as I think things are in our favor, I turn around, my jaw dropping. Dozens more are climbing the walls in waves, biting and clawing at the guards as they reach the top. Through my blind rage, I see something driving towards the wall with catastrophic force. An abomination, but it's different; stronger, bigger. It stands higher than everything else, at least twice as big as the rest with huge chunks of flesh hanging from its body, it's teeth razor sharp.

  Before I can even react, it rams at top speed into the wall. There's a loud ripple and then the wall explodes like it was struck by dynamite. People are sent flying from the force. I'm thrown with them, unable to withstand the force.

  Time slows down as people scream and fight around me.

  Slow motion...

  I can't think...

  For a moment, I think I hear Sylas yelling at me in terror. Something's about to happen and then seconds later, I slam head first into the ground below.

  Then everything goes dark.

  Chapter 24

  My eyes slowly open. Glimpses of people running and panicking flow through my mind. Some lie on the ground, motionless, some are screaming, others are groaning and working to get to their feet. Fires burn from torches and reflect into my eyes. I see the sky. It's dark. It hurts my head to look at it.

  Footsteps surround me as the abominations begin to pour through the collapsed wall. Some of the guards and people start to run back into the city as they fight the hordes of monsters coming at them from all directions.

  As I fade in and out of consciousness, I grasp the reality of the situation. We're going to be overrun. It's over. I think I always knew this would happen. Even when Maci was telling me I could do it. I refuse to give up, though. I must fight until the end.

  But how can it all end if the monsters and Highers still exist?

  Mustering up the last bit of strength I have, I snap myself out of my daze and try to get up. Pain shoots through my shoulder at the slightest bit of movement. It's out of place and I need to get it back in. I hold my breath and twist my body, grimacing as I feel a pop and it slides back into place. Warm liquid trickles from my head, yet I can already feel my body working to heal itself; mend my bones, bring the life back into me.

  I glance around as I sit up straight, searching for a weapon. Just a ways in front of me, in a pile of broken metal and glass, is a dagger. I crawl over to it and pick it up. Then I breathe in and out, giving my body a few more minutes before I spring back to my feet and join the fight again.

  The beasts are everywhere. On the wall, through the wall, running in through the gap in the wall. I quickly jump on top of one of the monsters that are ripping a person to pieces and stab it with my dagger, slicing its flesh apart. Blood spills out as it throws its head back and howls, however it lets go of the person in the process. I lift the dagger high above me as I hold onto its back then drive it down just below its head, sinking it in deep. It starts to run, but its knees give out and it falls to the ground, yelping.

  I leap off its back with the dagger in my hand and charge at the herd of abominations barreling through the hole, ready to continue the battle even through the wall.

  I spot Sylas jumping down from the wall, disappearing into the wave of their bodies. I want to cry out to him, but an abomination blindsides me and knocks me to the ground. I roll backwards and push myself upwards with my arms, launching into a flip. It nips at my ankles as I skitter to the side then slide the dagger through its enormous chest.

  Another charges at me from the left. I spin around, steering the dagger downward, but it knocks it out of my hand. I grab ahold of its neck and pull it around with me as I glide to the ground, swoop up the dagger then swing us around. I stab it over and over again in its back. It lets out a roar, throwing its head back, hitting me in the chin before it falls to the ground as I stagger back from it, feeling my jaw pop out then back into place.

  I pause to recover, but then something brushes my back. I instinctually spin around, my dagger ready to plunge it into the attacker, but I stop myself just in time as Sylas leans on me. He's covered in blood and looks exhausted, however I can see that there is still fight in him. He's not dying yet--we're not dying yet. Can we even die?

  Blood trickles down his side and there's a large gash through his shirt and flesh.

  "Are you okay?" I yell out as I glance around with the dagger out in front of me.

  "Yeah, I'll be fine," he says, but I feel his lie all over him. "It's just a little scratch. I'll heal."

  I swallow hard, feeling the end nearing. The wall is gone; cars are toppled on the ground in piles with bodies around me of both the abominations and people. Some of the people are rushing into their homes while others flee down the side of the wall, heading to the other end of the city. A few more are heading to the center of the city, trying to get away.

  It hits me as the abominations chase them down towards the center of the city that we need to get somewhere where we can corner them. We need to keep them from heading further into the city towards the lab; somewhere where we can keep them from coming at us in all directions.

  "Gather some of the Day Takers and follow me!" I yell to Sylas and to the people still alive around me. "We need to lead them another way!"

  Sylas nods and then races off to gather them while I gather the stronger people around me. Once we all regroup, I take off and they follow me up the street.

  "And make a lot of noise!" I shout out. When Sylas gives me a funny look, I add, "It'll get them to follow us and move them away from the weak."

  He nods again and we make noise as we run down the street swiftly. I shout, trying to get the abominations to follow me, diverting them from going towards th
e lab. For the most part, it works. Many of them follow us, although some stay behind.

  There are fires burning where people have fallen to the ground, dropping their torches, and blood stains the ground. Many of abominations are right on our heels, which is right where I want them. Finally, we reach the alley that Maci took me to earlier. I'm a little out of breath while, at the same time, my cuts aren't healing as quickly as they normally do.

  "This is where we can hold them off without them attacking us from other sides," I say as we reach the alley with the people and even the Day Takers more out of breath then Sylas and I. "You four with spears line the width of the alley." I point at four people holding swords then move my finger to another group of people. "You two go herd more in our direction." I slide my finger to the Day Takers. "And you stay behind me and wait for any to get through."

  Everyone follows their orders, taking off in different directions. Seconds later, a handful of abominations rip around the corner, a herd of them at the others' heels. Their eyes bleed as they rush at us, their feet plowing at the ground. The front row target their spears and swords towards the front of the alley. Seconds later, the first group of abominations collides with their weapons. Sharp points pierce their rotting flesh and they die almost instantly, crumpling to the ground. More keep coming, though, and then the people behind me suddenly burst around in a panic and barrel towards the beasts.

  "Stop!" I cry. "Fall back!"

  They don't listen, and all I can do is fight. I stab the first abomination that reaches me and blood spurts all over my face. I tear the dagger from its body and spin into the next, stabbing at its chest. Sylas moves beside me, and we fight together, dipping and dodging as we slice through flesh, coating ourselves in their blood.

  The abominations' bodies pile up at the alley and create a small barrier for us. My mood begins to lift as I think that maybe, just maybe, we can beat them. Then I hear a loud thudding noise that grows louder and louder before I then feel a ripple in the ground. I know before I see it what it is.

  Moments later, the over-sized abomination charges around the corner of the building and down the alleyway at us. The rest of the abominations move out of the way, creating a path for it to get straight to the pile at the end of the alley and to us. There's nowhere to go and I'm not sure if we'll survive fighting it.

  "What the hell do I do?" I mutter, glancing around at the Day Takers and people waiting for me to give them a command.

  I feel someone touch my arm. I turn my head to meet Sylas's eyes.

  "Run," he says in a low voice, his eyes pressing for me to listen.

  I shake my head. "No... I'm not running away like a coward. What the hell are you talking about?"

  His grip on my arm tightens as the massive beast starts to charge over the wall of abominations at the end of the alley. "You are the key to the cure. No one else," he presses. "Go back to the lab. Make sure that you get Mathew and the others out of here... make sure you survive."

  He jerks me towards him and kisses me quickly. I barely register it before he's shoving me away, breathless. He whirls around, sprinting for the beast. Even though it tears me apart, I do what I have to do. I hurry and spring over the wall at the end of the alley, landing on the other side in another street, telling myself he'll make it. That he's a Day Walker. Deep down, I'm not sure, though. I'm not sure of anything anymore.

  Blood stains the building walls and the ground below me. Horrifying screams blare at me from every angle, but I shut out the sight and run. I pass the blood and abominations, pass the bodies, pass all the death.

  Was this all worth it? If Mathew's still alive, will he even be able to save everyone? Will I be able to go through with the fading?

  I shove these thoughts from my mind when I reach the lab. Nichelle is gone, along with everyone else, except for one person lying dead on the ground. Her red hair is scattered across the blood stained ground, her flawless features frozen in time, like death managed to preserve her beauty. I feel my dead heart inside my chest ache for a second, taking in the death of Emmy.

  She stares up at the sky, her eyes open, her arms lifelessly to her side. I crouch down and let my fingers drift over her eyelids, shutting her eyes, letting myself feel what I need to. Letting myself realize what I have to do.

  I get to my feet and head for the door. There are signs of a struggle, blood splattered on the front section of the wall, boot tracks in the dirt leading away from the building, blood all around them.

  I open the door and rush inside, running to the lab. It's quiet inside, however it looks untouched. The only signs of a mess are the vials everywhere, yet it was like that before.

  "Mathew?" I call out quietly, vigilantly entering the room with my dagger out.

  There's silence and then I hear a whimper as Mathew jumps up from behind the table. "Kayla." He glances over me; cuts and gashes, blood soaking my clothes. "God, what's going on out there?"

  "Did you figure it out?" I ask, stepping towards him. "Please tell me you figured out if my blood and the virus replicates like it's supposed to."

  "Not yet," he replies. "I'm still waiting to see if time will get the process moving." He glances down at his arms. "Like your blood did with me."

  I walk to his side and rest my hand on his back, trying to shake out this bottomless, hopeless feeling. "You know you can fight, right?" I ask. "You don't have to hide behind tables."

  He glances up at me. "I know, but I also don't want to risk the chance of dying, either. I need to figure all this out before I die. You and I... we need to make sure we survive so that we can move forward."

  He waits expectantly for me to say that I'm with him, that I'll do the fading. My mouth opens, ready to give him my answer, but then I snap it shut when I hear the door open. I know it's not an abomination because they can't open doors, so I don't know who to expect.

  When I turn my head and look in the direction of the doorway, I wish it'd been the abominations.

  Gabrielle and Monarch are standing just inside the room with Aiden behind them. All three of their eyes are filled with the same coldness. The only difference between them is that Aiden is dressed in all black while Monarch and Gabrielle are in all white.

  They're the same. God, poor Aiden.

  "Bravo," Gabrielle says as he claps his hands together and enters the room. "You almost had us. Almost, but not quite. Yes, you put up a fight, but at the same time, there are still way more abominations over humans." He pauses, looking thoughtfully at Mathew. "Because Humans are weak."

  I step in front of Mathew as he rises to his feet. "Run," I hiss at him. "Or prepare to fight."

  Gabrielle snaps his fingers and in five lengthy strides, Aiden crosses the room. I move to hit him, but he catches my arm, matching, if not exceeding, my strength. He shoves me down to the ground and I crash against the table. As I scramble to my feet, he moves for Mathew, throwing his body into his.

  They tumble into the cabinets, glass falling everywhere as they topple to the ground and roll around, throwing fists at each other. Mathew is still getting used to his power and he moves very sloppily compared to Aiden, causing them to move all over the floor and crash into things. Vials fall off the counters and shatter, pieces of glass surround them.

  I start for them to pull Aiden off him, but Gabrielle grabs my arm, stopping me. I swing my other fist around and ram it into his jaw, but he's barely fazed by it as he pushes me effortlessly to the floor. I fall onto Mathew who's curled in a ball in front of Aiden's feet, giving up before this has even started.

  Gabrielle chuckles as he slowly walks over to me, glass crunching under his feet. "I'll give it to you, Kayla, you're strong. You would have made a fine Higher if you weren't so determined to fight back, and go against rules and order. It's your one flaw, yet you're the cure to saving the Highers' breed." He shakes his head like he's so disappointed in this fact. "It's so pathetic that such an emotional girl is what's going to save the strongest and brightest species that's ever l
ived." He smiles as he glances down at himself, filled with vanity.

  I search my mind, trying to figure out what to do next. Fight him? Run? What about Mathew? Will he run, too? Or will we fight? Do we even stand a chance? And what if I don't? What if the Highers capture me and are able to save their race? What would happen to the human race?

  I'm not sure, but out corner of my eye I see the vial filled with black liquid that bubbles red. It's the easiest answer to all this. If it works, it gives the best outcome. Do I dare go through with it, though? Will it change me back to a human? Or will it change me into a shell of a human? Am I ready to give everything up? My life? My strength? My feelings for Sylas? My entire existence? Am I selfish or am I self-sacrificing?

  "It doesn't matter what you do," Gabrielle continues as he paces the floor in front of me with his robe trailing behind him. "We're too strong, and in the end, you'll come with us and I'll find my cure."

  You must save the world, Kayla, no matter what.

  I feel the vial in my hand, the glass scorching hot against my skin. When I glance at Mathew to the side of me, he nods his head once, his eyes begging me to do it.

  Gabrielle kicks me in the foot, bringing my attention back to him. "Get up and come now. It's time to give up and come back to the colony."

  "Kayla, there are other things more important than Sylas and Aiden. Bigger things. There will come a time when you'll have to choose your battle, and may have to let someone go. You need to realize that you can't save everyone. Not if you are going to save the world," Monarch presses, his eyes locked on me. "Do you understand?"

  I understand. I wasn't created to fight against the Highers and vampires. I was created to end them. I bring my foot up and kick Gabrielle in the chin, putting as much force as I can muster behind it. As he buckles back, I jump to my feet and scurry over to the counter as Monarch and Aiden rush for me. I grab one of the syringes, bite off the cap from the needle and stab into the vial, filling the liquid. Then I drop the empty vial onto the floor and I hold out my wrist, pointing the needle to a vein in my arm.

  I look Monarch straight in the eyes with no fear because if I feel the fear, then I won't go through with it. "I understand now," I say to him. "To save the world not everyone can survive."