Hybrids: A New Species

At the end of the Rocky Mountains, on the highway road leaving and leading to the mountains, rows of cars are left abandon. From a distance, a city of tall buildings is seen from afar. It’s the city of Denver. Ben and Cole are driving to the abandon city on the highway road leading to Denver, until they see a man fleeing from two of the Fallen. The old rusted Toyota truck slows down.

“What the hell?” Ben says as he put the truck in park and gets out.

The rusted door screeches when they open. Cole slowly gets out as well, he still has a bit of trouble standing from when Ben and he fought.

Ben rushes ahead towards the fleeing man, leaving Cole behind. He pulls out his large onyx blade and goes for the first Fallen chasing the man. He grabs it by its cold shoulder with his right hand and thrusts the knife into its head. Black blood oozes from its skull when Ben tears the knife out. The other Fallen turns around and goes after Ben. It closes in to him, but he immediately jams his blade into the Fallen’s forehead. It goes limp and drops to the ground when Ben takes the knife out of its skull. Cole catches up to Ben, with a small black gun drawn. Cole had no need to worry. Ben knows how to fend for himself and with his newfound strengths, killing two of the Fallen is child’s play. The man that was running suddenly stops when he realized he wasn’t being chased anymore. He’s panting roughly.

“Can you walk okay?” Ben tells Cole.

“Ya. I can still move around.”

“Go grab some water for him.”

“Right.” Cole says as he walks back to the truck.

The man turns around to his rescuer. He looks to be in his mid-forties, with a dirty gray and brown beard, bloody white t-shirt, tattered blue jeans, and one black boot on his left foot. The man is drenched in sweat and red from the sun. Ben suddenly becomes cautious and draws his silver gun on the strange man. The man has a revolver tucked in the front of his jeans. Ben has learned over the years to be cautious with people, even after he’s saved their lives. Cole finally shows up with a small brown canister of water.

“Woah what happen?” Cole asks Ben, alert that he has his gun drawn.

“Careful Cole. He’s armed.” Ben mutters.

Cole immediately drops the canister of water and points his gun up as well. The man just stands there, with his hand over his shoulder. His crimson red blood is dripping, and the man is looking pale.

“What do you want!?” the man finally says with his rough southern cracked voice. The sudden question made them jump a bit, but they didn’t shoot.

They stand only about ten feet from the mystery man. The scorching sun is keep the air warm. Sweat is dripping from Ben’s forehead.

“You looked like you needed help.” Ben answers the man, his gun still aimed at the man.

“You shouldn’t have. I’m already dead.” The man utters. He releases his grip he had on his arm, revealing a bloody bite wound. The black and dark red wound shines in the sun, it’s deep.

“Shit.” Cole says under his breath. He lowers his gun.

“What are you doing Cole? He’s armed. You never let your guard down.” Ben tells him.

“Oh please!” the man interrupts. “Do me a favor and put a bullet in my head!”

Ben lowers his gun, but still has it ready to shoot.

“Why don’t you just do it yourself?” Ben asks.

The man smiles, and he begins to go for the gun tucked in the front of his jeans. Ben instantly aims his gun again at the man.

“Don’t think about it!” Ben yells.

The man freezes half way through reaching for his handheld.

“Relax. It’s empty.” He says as he continues to go for the gun. What he does next surprises Ben. The man slowly points his gun to his own head. He pulls the trigger.

Click.

Nothing came out.

“See?” the man claims.

“Why the hell do you still have it then?” Ben asks.

The rugged looking man examines his gun. It’s a metallic Colt Python. He just smiles and looks to Ben.

“Memories.” He answers.

Ben now completely lowers his gun. He can see that this man has been through hell. Ben sees a bit of himself in him; and he knows this man isn’t a threat. The man suddenly drops to his knees and coughs blood. Ben rushes to him to help. Cole withdraws his gun and picks up the canister of water he dropped. Cole catches up to Ben, who’s already helping the man up.

The man pushes Ben away from him.

“What the hell are you doing? I’m already dead.”

He has trouble standing. He falls to his knees again, but Ben catches him. Ben signals Cole to give him the brown canister of water.

“Here, have some water.” Ben tells the man as he holds him up by his arm.

At first, the man rejects the water, but he can’t help that he’s dehydrated. Ben feeds the water to the man, like a mother helping a child drink. The man chugs the water and releases a gasp. The water is refreshing as some of it dripped from his mouth.

“Thank you.” He says as he breathes loudly. “But you shouldn’t have wasted that on me.”

Ben and Cole pick the man up and sit him down on the hood of an abandon silver Honda civic next to them.

“How long ago were you bit?” Ben tells him.

The man trying to catch his breath thinks. “It was today, but don’t exactly know how long ago.”

Cole steps away from the man and Ben to face them. He wipes his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand. With the three men being out in the open on the highway, they’re absorbing a lot of the heat.

“What’s your name?” Cole asks, shielding the sunlight from his eyes with his hand.

The man looks up to Cole and studies him. “It’s Rick. My name is Rick.” He says.

“Well Rick, you think you can stand on your own?” Cole says.

“Look, I appreciate you guys helping me, but like I said before, I’m already dead.” Rick mentions as he looks to the bite wound on his shoulder.

Cole smiles to him. “Well Rick that’s where you’re wrong.”

Confused, Rick just gives Cole a blank expression.

“We have a cure.”

Ben and Cole have explained their situation to Rick and their mission to reach Cole’s home in Denver. Cole went into detail how the cure was the results of his mentor Dr. Mori and that Ben was the first to be cured. Ben also mentions how he was in the same situation Rick was a few days ago and that the cure saved his life. At first, Rick didn’t believe them, but as he heard more, he realized that he had nothing to lose. The idea of a cure sounded too good to Rick, but he was already a dead man, so he believed their stories and decided to go with them.

Cole opens the tailgate of the Toyota Tacoma; it sounds rusted as it screeches open. Cole gets into the bed. Ben walks up to the laid open tailgate with Rick in his arms. He’s carrying him with one arm under his legs and the other under his back. Rick isn’t a large man but he was tall, about as tall as Ben; and he was surprised how easily Ben was able to carry him without getting winded. Cole helps Ben lay Rick onto the bed of the truck. Ben closes the tailgate and makes certain its locked.

Ben walks to the side of the truck Rick lays closes to.

“You think you can hold on for a bit longer? Ben asks Rick.

With his dreadful eyes, Rick looks back at Ben, “You sure you can cure me?”

Cole interrupts them, “We’re sure. We just need to get to my home which is just a bit further into town.”

“Why don’t ya’ll just do it now?” Rick questions.

“Out in the open here might not be the best place to do this. We need to get you somewhere safe before we try to administer this cure to you.” Cole answers him. Rick lays back a bit in the bed of the truck and closes his eyes. “Wake me when we’re there.”

Cole jumps out of the bed. Both him and Ben get into the truck.

“You think he’ll make it?” Ben tells Cole.

“I don’t know, but let’s hope. He’ll be the first person we cure from the Fallen virus.”

Ben nods and turns the truck on. The loud engine roars and vibrates the metallic vehicle. Ben turns around and opens the small window that leads out to the bed.

“Hang in there Rick!” Ben yells over the loud engine of the truck.

Rick puts a thumb up, gesturing “okay” to Ben.

Ben takes a deep breath.

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t die on the way there.” He says.

Ben shifts the truck to first gear and begins to drive down the highway road.

The sun is close to settling on the city of Denver, capital of Colorado. It casts a beautiful reddish orange glow, highlighting the town. Once a beautiful and proud place to live at, has now become a place of ruins and destruction. The tall magnificent buildings that once stood have been mostly destroyed due to fires and the destruction of the citizens. The streets that were once filled with people; college students, workers, tourists, residents, and even the homeless have all become a distant memory for the survivors. If there are still any of course. Whatever still stood after the destruction of the town have now been claimed by mother nature and the Fallen, with the foliage, moss, trees and the undead occupying the streets, buildings and houses.

The city of Denver has been abandoned.

The sound of an old Toyota truck engine fills the empty streets. The drifting undead wake from their timeless sleep and turn their attention to the noise. One of the Fallen, a female, sluggishly walks across the abandon street. Suddenly a faded red Toyota Tacoma truck takes her out. Her body flies like a rag doll and black blood is splattered on the streets and the wheels of the truck.

“Dammit Ben!” Cole yells as he flinched from the sudden impact.

Ben laughs as he turns the wipers on to clean the blood off the windshield.

“Tried to be careful, and slow down!” Cole continues to scold Ben.

“Relax Cole, I know what I’m doing.”

“You idiot! Don’t forget we have an injured passenger in the back.”

Ben’s smile fades, “Shit! I honestly forgot.”

Ben says as he looks at his rear view to see if Rick was still back there. Ben has forgotten about him in the bed of the truck for a moment.

“How the hell do you forget something like that?” Cole questions Ben.

“I just got caught up in the moment. I’ve always wanted to hit these bastards with a truck.” Ben tries to explain.

Cole rolls his eyes to Ben’s answer. “Well slow down so I can tell you where to head.”

Ben beings to slow down, going about 20mph. Cole begins telling Ben where to turn. It takes about fifteen minutes for them to reach an area with small houses. Neighborhoods with a variety of homes that looked similar. Most were abandoned, while others were destroyed or burned to the ground. They’re currently at the edge of downtown and Cole’s old home is at the residential housings. They drive through the streets, viewing the destruction of the homes. Rick lays back, eyeing the Fallen that are desperately trying to catch the truck they’re in.

“Are you sure your house hasn’t been burned yet.” Ben questions.

“I was there not that long ago. It should still be there.” Cole responds as he too looks at the homes they’re passing by.

“Turn right on that stop sign ahead. It’ll be on this street.” Cole says.

Ben begins turning but suddenly slams the break. They both fall forward from the sudden stop. Rick is also alerted from the sudden stop as well.

“Fuck.” Ben mutters.

Down the road, the Fallen roam the street. Too many for Ben to avoid.

“Please tell me your house is past these walking bastards.” Ben asks.

“It’s that blue one up ahead.” Cole points out.

Where Cole points at there are three of the Fallen on the front lawn, however, on the way over there, about a dozen of them are wandering the street.

“Maybe we can distract them?” Cole proposes.

“No we don’t got the time. We have probably another hour of sunlight left and we need to get Rick to safety.” Ben declines the idea.

“What’s your idea?” Cole says.

Smiling, Ben says “We take them out.”

“You’re joking right? There’s too many!

Ben looks to Cole with determination. Cole suddenly realizes that Ben is serious.

“No! You’re crazy! What about Rick? You think he can fight back?” Cole argues.

“Of course not. He’s going to have to get in the house.”

“How?! The man can’t walk!”

Rick looks at the two from the bed of the truck. He tries to say something until Ben interrupts him.

“I know he can’t Cole! You’re going to have help him!” Ben snaps back.

Cole looks at the crowded street of the Fallen, “So what? You’re going to take them all out yourself?”

Ben smiles, “That’s the plan.”

Cole eyes widen with anger, “Ben no! That’s suicide. You’ll get yourself killed!”

Ben sighs. “Look just hear me out. I’m going to mow down as many of these things I can and stop in front of your home. I’ll immediately get out and start picking them off. I’ll distract them while you grab Rick and bring him inside.”

Cole listens to Ben insane plan. “I don’t know Ben. Without you there’s no cure. It’s too risky.”

An abrupt noise is heard from Rick when he clears his throat,

“Can I have a say in this?” Rick adds.

Ben and Cole both look to Rick, letting him speak.

“I say we do it. And the big guy is right. Not sure how much longer I can hold off. The sooner we do this, the better.”

Cole sighs. “Fine. But be careful Ben.”

Ben smiles and put the truck in gear. “Alright! Ya’ll ready?” Ben tells the two.

“Ya” both Cole and Rick say at the same time.

Ben revs the engine, causing it to loudly roar. The noise grabs the Fallen’s attention and they began gradually walking to the truck.

“Hold on!” Ben yells as he pushes the gas.

The truck shoots forward. He catches speed immediately. The first Fallen is instantly taken out by the huge metallic vehicle. Blood splatters everywhere on the windshield. Ben looks out the driver’s window as he begins mowing down the Fallen. He hits two more with the truck as their bodies roll under the vehicle. Their heads exploding as the wheels of the truck pop them like balloons. As they get closer to their destination, Ben hits another of the undead, this one rolls over the truck and half its body lands in the bed with Rick. The half-mangled body tries moving, despite having its soft bones turn to mush from the impact. Rick grabs a small knife he had strapped to his belt and punctures the head of the Fallen. Ben now drives onto the grass, running over the fragile wooden fence that separated Cole’s house with the neighboring one. The three Fallen that were on the front lawn turn their attention to the truck. The three walking corpses are next to each, which makes it easier for Ben to run all three of them over at once. The truck stops its rampage.

“Get Rick out and get him inside.” Ben orders.

“Don’t die dammit.” Cole says.

Ben smiles and gets out the truck, gun and blade already drawn. One of the Fallen Ben ran over, slowly crawls out from underneath the truck but before it could make a move, Ben stomps his boot on its rotting skull. Brains and black blood ooze spreads on the grass and on Ben’s boot. Two of the Fallen come in close, Ben shoots the first one directly in the head, and instantly stabs the next one. He keeps moving. Rick watches in admiration as Ben quickly kills the undead. How swiftly Ben moves in, taking out the undead with ease is something Rick has never witness. Cole gets out the truck, he sees one of the Fallen Ben ran over is still stuck under the wheel. It growls at him. Cole’s nose curls in disgust to see the half-mangled body under the wheel is still alive. He grabs his small hunting knife and stabs it in the head. He runs to the tailgate of the truck and opens it. Rick stops admiring Ben’s slaughtering skills for a moment and drags himself to Cole. Rick lays his arm over Cole as they reach the front door of the blue house. The windows are boarded up and garbage is laid across the lawn. They entered the house, but just before they go in, Rick takes one last look at Ben. He sees him stabbing a large undead man in the head, then, he loses sight of him. They’re inside.

The home smells of old furniture, dust and is fairly small; with the living room to the right of the front door with a small television on a table facing a dusty brown couch. To the left of the front door is a small kitchen with dirty white tile floor and wood cabinets that have been left open. There are broken plates, glass, and scrap left behind in the kitchen and the living room. It’s a mess. Cole helps Rick to the couch and lays him down.

“How are you doing?” Cole asks.

Rick is breathing a bit rigid; the walk was a tad much for him.

“I’ll be fine.” He mutters. “What about Ben?”

“Ben will be fine. He’s tough.” Cole declares as he closes and locks the front door, assuring none of the Fallen will wander in. Rick laughs a moment,

“He’s a monster. I’ve never seen anyone take out those things like he did.”

“It’s the cure. It changed him. Made him stronger, faster, and more responsive in his senses.” Cole explains.

“No kidding? Is that what’s going to happen to me?” Rick asks.

“Of course, once Ben comes back. We’ll administer the cure to you. So just hold on a bit longer.”

“I will.” Rick says, breathings hazily.

Cole walks through a hallway leaving the living room into another room. He comes back with a first aid kit. He takes out some bandages and alcohol.

“Now, this is gonna hurt like hell, but we need to stop the bleeding for now.” Cole explains.

Rick looks away, “Just do it. I’ve been through worse.”

“Okay.” Cole says as he beings cleaning up Rick’s wound.

The alcohol sizzles as he pours it over the bleeding bite wound. Rick cringes from the burning pain as Cole cleans up his wound. He tries his best not to scream. As Cole cleans the wound, an unexpected thud hits the door.

Ben is outside the house, killing the undead. He swings his large knife to the side of a huge undead man’s head. It dies but the blade gets stuck in its skull.

“Shit!” Ben yells as the large body falls to the ground and he fails to retrieve his knife.

The next undead man has already closed in and Ben pistol whips it. It flinches, giving Ben times to retrieve the knife from his last kill. Ben rips the onyx blade out, sending blood to his face. The Fallen he hit has its focus again and throws itself on Ben. He falls to the ground, holding back the foul breath Fallen. Two more of the Fallen begin to reach him.

Ben begins to panic. His heart is racing and he tries not to puke from the foul smell of the Fallen on him. The smell is making him weak and the Fallen’s black teeth snap at his face. It’s close.

Ben grits his teeth and suddenly, he feels adrenaline rushing through him.

His eyes begin to change. His brown eyes have transformed to yellow and his pupils have become thin like a snake.

Suddenly, everything becomes slow for Ben. Without thinking, he aims his gun to the two Fallen closing in and shoots both of them in the head. They instantaneously drop. Ben now has his attention to the one on top of him. He easily throws the undead creature off. Ben quickly stands up and kicks it in the head, it falls back. Ben’s spine shivers, like a six sense, he feels something behind him and he quickly turns around to see an undead woman with its mouth open ready to chew into him. He stabs it in the head, and it descents. Almost at the same time, the Fallen that was just kicked is shot in the head by Ben. Everything is slow, Ben calms his breathing. His new yellow eyes scan the area. He’s unaware that his eyes have changed. More of the Fallen are still coming from the end of the street. He can’t leave them alive or they’ll cause trouble.

He checks his ammo, only four bullets left.

Ben cracks his neck and narrows his eyes. They’re still yellow and they made his appearance like a demon.

He feels powerful.