Hybrids: A New Species

Year 8 since the end, Colorado (present time)

Morning begins to rise and the sun peaks over the Rocky Mountains. The orange sun warms a large mountain lodge resting in the mountains. Inside are Isabella and Damon, asleep. Isabella sleeps on a chair and in front of her is a bed, where Damon is asleep.

Isabella suddenly wakes up. She quickly scans the room she’s in, trying to figure out where she’s at. It’s a modern looking room with white walls and shelves with books. Damon lays there, still unconscious from his fight with Jack. Isabella relaxes herself, she had a dream about her first meeting with Jack. She can’t believe it’s been four years since Jack saved their life. She never thought she be able to trust him, but now, she trusts him with her life. Isabella just wishes her brother could feel the same way. Damon challenged Jack and lost. Now Isabella has to watch her brother, to make sure he doesn’t pull another attack on Jack. Damon nudges around, he starting to wake up.

“Damon!” Isabella stands from her seat.

Damon slowly opens his eyes, “Izzy?” He mutters.

Damon slowly gets up, rubbing his head.

“Ow!” He shouts in pain. Damon has a large bruise on the back of his head.

“What the hell happen?” He asks, dazed.

“You challenged Jack and lost.” Isabella tells him.

“I lost? Uhhhh. I-” Damon tries hard to remember. The last thing he recalls is stabbing Jack in the arm, then nothing.

“How did I lose? I stabbed him.” Damon states.

Isabella relaxes back in her seat. Her brother really has no idea Jack was going to kill him.

“You did get him, but Jack swung at you with his knife. You took a hit in the face with the brass knuckles.” She explains.

“Fuck, you serious?”

Isabella nods her head.

Damon grips his fists tightly, “Dammit!” He shouts.

“You never should have fought him. He stronger than you. Stronger than both of us. He taught us everything we know now.” Isabella explains, poorly trying to make her brother feel better.

Damon turns to his sister and looks into her eyes. “Then help me.” he mutters.

Isabella looks away.

“Please Izzy. Help me kill him.” Damon pleads.

Isabella stands from her seat and snaps. “Enough!”

Damon is startled by his sister’s sudden response.

“What is it with you?” She questions. “Jack has helped us survive. We be dead if it wasn’t for him.”

“He’s insane. We’ve been lucky so far but he’s power hungry. He’d sacrifice us if it meant gaining what he wants.” Damon explains.

Isabella walks by the window and looks out it. The scenery of the mountains is beautiful.

“But you liked him when we first met him. Why do you suddenly hate him?” she asks, still peering out the window.

“I never liked him. But we needed him to survive at the time.” Damon explains. “What about you? I thought you hated him?”

Isabella still faces the window.

“I did hate him at first.” she begins. “But as the years went by, Jack begin to grow on me. He taught us skills in fighting and surviving. Because of him, we’re stronger than before. We owe him our life.” she explains.

The siblings stay silent for a moment. Then Damon clears his throat.

“Do you remember your promise to me?” he asks.

Isabella turns to look at her brother.

“You said, when the day comes that one of us wants to leave, we’ll have each other’s back. Because all we have left in this world is each other. We’re family, and we come first above anything else.”

Guilt fills Isabella. She did remember promising that. But things have changed, she believes in Jack, and believes in his goals.

“Izzy?” Damon calls out to his sister, who seems to be lost in thought.

What is your purpose? A voice whispers in Isabella’s head.

Memories flash through her mind. It’s three years ago and she’s back in New Mexico.

She is in a room, sitting on an old dusty bed. The room is cold, but she’s not alone. Jack is in here as well, rustling through some drawers.

“What?” Isabella responds to Jack’s strange question.

“Your purpose. What keeps you going in this world?” Jack asks once more, still looking through drawers and closets. He’s looking for supplies.

“I’m not sure I completely understand your question.” she says.

Jack opens a closet door and looks and around in it.

“Well what do we have here?” he excitedly says.

He backs out the closet to reveal a twelve-inch thin sword, with a black hilt wrapped in green cloth, and no guard

“Such fine craftsmanship.” He says, examining the sword. He touches the sharp edge, “How sharp!” He continues to praise the sword.

Jack stops admiring the weapon and realizes Isabella answered his earlier question.

“I’m sorry what did you say?” he asks.

“I said I don’t know.” Isabella answers, annoyed she had to answer again.

“You have no idea why you continue to survive?” Jack questions.

Isabella scratches her head and looks to the door leading out the room. Damon is on the other side, asleep.

“I guess my brother would be my reason to continue surviving.” she speaks.

Jack gives out a small chuckle. “How humorous.”

Isabella raises her eyebrow in confusion. “Excuse me?”

Jack walks over to her and sits next to her. She scoots the opposite way from him, feeling uncomfortable.

“Having someone else, another person as your reason to continue surviving is a terrible mistake.” Jack says.

“Why is that?”

He smiles coldly, “Because they may not always be around. Something could happen.” he explains.

“Nothing will happen because I’ll protect him.” Isabella says.

Jack laughs, “Anything could happen to him. Someone could kill him.”

She gives him a cold glare. “I’ll kill anyone who tries.”

“Oh really? You would stop me going in the other room and putting a bullet in his head?”

“I’ll grab that sword from you and jam it into your throat if you try.”

Jack laughs once more. “I like you girl, I really do. You’re tough, but you need to think seriously for a moment. If your brother dies, and it was out of your control, then what?”

Isabella looks down to the ground. “I’m not sure.”

“Would you kill yourself then? If he died?” Jack asks.

“No! Suicide is for the weak. I’m not weak.” she states.

“Wonderful. But everyone has a purpose for living in this world. For now, yours is your brother. But if he dies, you’ll have to find a new purpose.” Jack explains.

Isabella thinks on Jack’s words. He’s right, Damon is her reason to keep surviving and if something were to happen?

“What’s your purpose?” she asks.

He smiles, “To see where this new world takes us. Will humans survive? Or will something more rise?”

Isabella finds his answer interesting. To live just to see how the world turns out. It seems crazy to her.

Jack stands and examines the sword he found once more.

“You might not know it now. But one day, you’ll find your true purpose. Whether it’s some self enlightenment or for someone else, it will change.” he explains.

Isabella stares at the wall. Jack hit her with some heavy words. It’s got her thinking now.

“Here.” Jack says handing the sword to her.

“What? Why me?” Isabella asks not feeling right taking the sword.

“I’ve seen how you use that machete. This blade will work better.”

Isabella takes the weapon, it’s shiny. She can see her own reflection in it.

Jack walks away, heading to the door. He opens it.

“I know you don’t fully trust me. But one day you may. That sword will protect me or be the end of me. It’s your choice.”

Then he walks out.

Isabella stays stationary on the bed. Looking at her new weapon and still thinking about Jack’s question. What if Damon dies, what will she do next? Would it even matter to continue living on? She shakes her head. Those are thoughts she wants to restrain from. Isabella thinks suicide is a sign of weakness, and she doesn’t see herself as weak.

“Izzy.” A voice calls out but she doesn’t pay attention to it.

“Izzy!!”

Isabella suddenly snaps from her daydream. She’s back at the mountain lodge.

“Izzy, are you okay?” Damon asks.

He’s been trying to get his sister’s attention for a few minutes now. It seemed like Isabella was in some kind of trance, completely blocking out everything around her.

“Umm ya. Of course.” She responds, still adjusting back to present time.

Nothing is said at first. Then the loud sound of an engine suddenly breaks the silence.

Isabella looks out the window, she sees a black Camaro parked outside the closed metal gate.

“Jack and Pierce are back.” she says.

Damon’s expression turns to anger. The thought of Jack makes his blood boil.

“I’m going down to open the gate. I’ll be back.” she says.

She grabs her sword by the chair and heads for the door.

“Isabella.” Damon mutters.

She freezes at the door, her hand on the handle. Damon rarely calls her by her full name.

“Will you help me? Kill Jack?” Damon asks.

Her mind races again. She considers Jack a true friend and someone she can trust. He’s been a mentor to Isabella, almost like a father figure. A father she never felt she had.

Isabella swallows nervously. “Yes.” she mutters.

Then, presumes to leave the room.

Four growling undead surround Jack’s car at the gate. Their mouths open wide on the exterior of the car, desperately trying to break in. Jack relaxes, honking his horn, signaling Isabella or Damon to open the gate. The cars honk is only attracting more of the Fallen.

Pierce sits in the passenger seat unconscious, his body covered in bruises and scratches, and his head bleeding. His fight with Ben was rough, leaving him almost dead. Jack is impatient.

“What is taking so long?” He grunts.

He ignores the small group of the Fallen surrounding his car, acting like they’re not even there.

Instead, Jack looks straight out the front windshield, keeping an eye out for the siblings.

Jack’s wish finally comes true as he sees Isabella approaching the metal gate, her sword already drawn.

Isabella quickly unhooks the chain holding the gate together. Two of the Fallen stop their attack on the car and begin making their way to her. However, she makes an end for the Fallen quickly as she stabs the first in the head with her sword, then quickly slices the head of the other in an instant. The remaining Fallen don’t pay attention to Isabella as she swiftly finishes them off.

The last one dies on the hood of Camaro when she chops the head off. In just within fifteen seconds, Isabella has killed six of the Fallen.

The driver window begins to roll down, revealing Jack showing his bright smile.

“Took long enough.” He says smirking.

Isabella is bit out of breath. She looks in the car and sees Pierce damaged body.

“What happen?” She asks.

Jack looks at Pierce and back at her, “I’ll explain when we go in. Lock the gate back up.” He orders.

Jack rolls the window up and steps on the gas pedal. The car jerks forward quickly and its already close to the house.

Isabella watches the vehicle speed away.

Before she begins to walk back, a low groan comes behind her. She turns to see another Fallen, lazily walking towards her with its mouth snapped open. Isabella draws her sword and within a blink of an eye, she slices it’s head in half. It drops to ground dead.

Isabella shakes her sword, blood from her kills flying off.

She relieves a sigh, “Disgusting things.”

Then, she begins to walk back to the lodge, locking the gate behind her.

A door slams open, and Jack walks in, carrying Pierce on his back, who is almost twice his size. The room is quite large, with old antique paintings, books, and Knick knacks decorating the room. Jack lays Pierce down on the queen size bed.

Pierce is barely conscious, moaning in pain.

Jack wipes some sweat from his head. He gives Pierce a quick run through, checking for any critical damage to his body. It’s mostly covered in scratches and some bruising, but nothing appears to be critical.

“You put up a fight, but you underestimated that man.” Jack mutters.

Pierce responds with a painful moan.

Jack chuckles, “His power is great, and we’ll soon have that power as well. So, you rest now Pierce.” Jack says. “I’ll grab you some pain medication for now.”

Jack walks out the room and heads for the kitchen. He’s walking down a hall leading to another room until his arm suddenly pulsates in tremendous pain. He drops to his knees and tightly grips his bandaged arm. The large stab wound Damon inflicted on him is bleeding out.

Jack endures the pain and slowly get up. He takes a look at his arm; the bandages have gone black from the oozing blood. He’s put a lot of strain into his wounds and has only changed his bandaged once since his fight.

Jack takes a few deep breaths and continues down the hall. Behind him, he leaves a trail a blood droplets. If he doesn’t fix his wound, Jack could bleed out.

Isabella finally comes inside, she hears rustling in the kitchen. She goes to investigate and sees Jack rustling through some cabinets.

“Umm, hi Jack. Did you need help finding something?” she asks.

Jack continues to looks around the kitchen. “Garry was a fat drunk, I know he has a bottle somewhere here.” he responds.

Isabella takes notice of Jack’s bleeding arm.

“You need to change your bandages.” she says.

Jack stops looking for a moment. His breathing is heavy. He turns and gives Isabella a cold look. It sends shivers down her spine.

“You need to help look for a bottle. The alcohol will help me numb the pain.” He coldly says.

Isabella notices a small bottle of pain pills and grabs them. “Jack why don’t you take these?” she asks.

“Because they’re for Pierce. Now don’t make me ask again, help me find a bottle of liquor.” Jack says once more with an angrier tone.

Isabella releases a low grunt, a bit annoyed from Jack’s demand. She helps search the kitchen, until Jack suddenly falls to his knees.

“Jack!” she shouts.

She immediately runs to help him. She puts Jack’s arm around his neck and stands him up. It’s bit awkward for Isabella to hold him up since he is a few feet taller than her.

“Come on. Gary may have had a bottle in his study.” she says.

Jack is sweating profoundly, if he doesn’t clean up his wound, it could get infected.

Isabella walks Jack out the kitchen and up the stairs to Gary Maxwell’s old study.

When they walk into the room, it smells like death. Dark blood stains the granite floor of the room. This is where Gary Maxwell died a gruesome death.

Isabella sits Jack down on the black office chair.

She opens the drawers to the desk and searches. She tries to open the bottom right drawer but it doesn’t budge.

“It’s locked. Let me see if I can find a key.” Isabella says.

She looks around the study, while Jack sits on the office chair, in terrible pain.

Jack gives an annoyed grunt. “I don’t have time for this.”

He draws his Desert Eagle and shoots the locked drawer. It explodes open. Isabella flinched from the shot and goes back to Jack’s side.

The drawer is a bit opened now and she looks inside. She finds a large bottle with bronze colored liquid. It’s whiskey. Isabella hands the bottle to Jack.

“Hope this will suffice.” She says.

Jack snatches the bottle from her and opens it up.

“It’s plenty.” Jack mutters, just before he takes a large drink of the whiskey.

Jack wipes his mouth, “Wooo! It burns so good.” he says.

While he drinks the hard liquor like water, Isabella walks to a cabinet by the window and takes out a black medical bag.

“Let me change your bandages.” she says.

She retrieves some ointment, gauze and stitching material.

Isabella grabs a chair opposite from the desk Jack is sitting at and pulls it next to him.

Isabella begins to unwrap the used bandages on Jack’s arm. They’re filthy and the original color has been replaced with a dark red color from his blood. The bandages come completely off, revealing the grotesque open wound.

Isabella cringes at the sight.

“Jack this doesn’t look good, in fact, it looks infected.” she claims.

Jack takes another swig of whiskey.

“I’m not worried about it.” Jack says. “This wound will heal quickly.”

Isabella gives him a confused expression.

“No, it won’t heal if you don’t fix it. We need to clean it and stitch it up.”

“Do what you will but make it quick.” Jack grunts.

“You don’t understand how serious this is do you? Isabella speaks, cleaning up Jack’s wound with cleaning ointment.

“You can bleed out and die if you don’t take it easy.”

“No, you don’t understand. This wound will quickly heal once I have the cure.” he responds.

Isabella stops cleaning the cut and is silent for a moment, not sure if she understood Jack correctly.

“The cure? You found it? It’s real?” she mutters.

Jack shines his sinister smile. “Oh yes it’s real. I met the man who had it in him. I’ve got to say, I’m impressed.”

Isabella begins stitching up the wound on Jack’s arm and listening to him talk.

“This man was strong. He was quick, aggressive, and able to overpower Pierce.” Jack continues.

Isabella finishes up stitching and begins to wrap a clean bandage on.

“Once I have the cure running through me, it will speed the healing process on this wound.”

“So where is he now?” Isabella asks.

Jack takes another drink from the whiskey bottle.

“He’s in the city. I plan to meet him at his old cabin. He still doesn’t trust me, but he’s coming around.” he laughs shortly.

Isabella finishes up with Jack’s wound. She stands from her seat.

“So... you weren’t crazy. There actually is a cure to the virus? ” she mutters.

“Hmm? You thought I was crazy?” Jack says.

“No I uhh..” Isabella quickly defends herself. “I will admit, I had my doubts.”

Jack gives her an uneasy glare. Then, he takes another sip from his bottle.

“I understand Isabella . It does sound crazy doesn’t it? A cure? Especially one that makes us more advanced than the average human.” he explains. “But you will meet him soon. He’ll give us all the cure.”

Isabella swallows nervously. “Yes. I look forward to meeting with him.”

“You should. Everything is going to change for the better.”

“Agreed.”

Jack smiles, “Good. Now do me a favor and give Pierce those pain pills I left in the kitchen.”

“Of course, Jack. I’ll leave you be then.” she says, obeying what Jack tells her.

Isabella begins to leave the room, and as she opens the door, Jack calls out to her.

“Isabella !” he shouts. “One last thing.”

“Yes?” she answers, her hand still on the door.

“Keep an eye on your brother. I’m worried he’ll do something stupid when our new friend arrives.” Jack orders.

Isabella says nothing at first as she thinks about what she promised her brother. Damon wants Jack dead, but it changes everything if there’s a cure. It means Jack isn’t crazy.

“Isabella ?” Jack mutters. “You remember what you said right? That you take care of your brother if he would interfere with my plans.”

“Yes Jack...”

“I’ll let you handle this, but I will not hesitate to end him if you can’t.” he adds.

“Don’t worry about him. He’s my responsibility.” Isabella mutters.

Then, she walks out the office, leaving Jack alone with his bottle.

Damon sits in his bead, anxious for his sister to return. He picks his nails with his knife. The black blade is still stained from Jack’s blood.

The bedroom door opens and Isabella walks in.

“What took so long?” Damon asks as he gets in bed.

“I was helping Jack and Pierce.” She answers.

She lays her sword by a small couch and plants herself on it.

“You should see them. Someone messed up Pierce.”

“Wow really? They must be twice his size to damage him.” Damon says.

Isabella shakes her head, “According to Jack, he was only about half his size.”

Damon’s eyes widen, “Bullshit” he spits out. “There’s no way, Pierce is huge and can overpower anyone.”

“That’s true. But they found the man with the cure, and he’s stronger than any normal human.”

Damon is first amazed, then he shakes his head, as if trying to get the idea that someone like that exists.

He grits his teeth, “Jack is lying to you. He probably set this up.”

Isabella stands up now.

“Brother! Jack isn’t lying! He’s been telling the truth. The cure is real and Jack plans to meet him.” she explains.

“Why do you keep defending him?! I thought you were going to help me!” Damon shouts back at his sister.

Isabella is silent. She doesn’t know what to say.

“You promised me. You’re the only one in this world I can trust. You’re my sister, we’re family. We protect each other.” Damon continues.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” she mutters.

She sits back down. There’s silence again. Damon clears his throat.

“How’s his wound?” he asks, talking about Jack.

“It’s infected. Not sure how much longer he’ll have until it kills him.” Isabella answers.

Damon smirks. “In the end. I won that fight.”

“Not if that cure is real. If Jack’s telling the truth, he’ll be even stronger than he is now.” she explains.

“Not a chance I’m going to risk than.” he says. “It’s the perfect chance to take him out. He’s weak, and Pierce won’t be there to protect him.”

Isabella sits herself up, “How do you plan on doing it? He may be weak but his aim isn’t off, he’d still be able to shoot you.”

Damon gets out of bed and walks over to a closet across the room. He fiddles through it and takes out a black backpack. Isabella watches her brother, curious on what he’s doing. Damon rustles through the bag and pulls out a small black pouch. In that pouch, he reveals a grey tactical pistol.

“I thought you didn’t like guns.” Isabella claims.

Damon cocks the barrel of the pistol back and examines the weapon.

“I don’t. They’re loud and annoying. But very effective.” He says, snapping the barrel back in place.

“I don’t know brother, Jack is a quick draw. Will you be able to shoot and hit him before he does?” Isabella questions.

“That’s where you come in. You’re my back up. When he has two guns on him, he’ll know he’s a dead man and try to negotiate.” Damon explains.

He may hate Jack, but Damon knows him well enough.

“You still have that assault rifle?” he asks.

“I think so, but it only has a few bullets left.” Isabella explains.

“That’s fine. Jack won’t know that, we want him scared.”

Damon sits back down on his bed, his gun in his right hand.

“When are we doing this? asks Isabella.

Damon hides the gun under his pillow.

“Tomorrow morning.”

Isabella sits there on the chair, giving her brother an intense look.

“This is really happening then, huh?”

Damon lays down and faces away from his sister.

“It needs to. This lodge is a great place to stay and the walls surrounding it protects us from the Fallen. I’m not leaving this place.” he explains. “But I can’t continue to live with that man. He’s going to get us killed. He needs to die.”

Isabella stands from her chair, grabs her sword and walks to the door. She looks back at her brother, who’s still laying on the bed.

“Goodnight brother. I’ll see you tomorrow.” she mutters.

Damon stays silent, his eyes now closed.

Isabella walks out the room, leaving her brother to sleep.

Dawn, the sun rises over the mountains and shines light over everything. A ray of light hits Damon in the eye. He turns away and yawns as he stretches his body. He sits up, still half asleep. Looking around the room, it takes him a moment to realize what today is. Jack’s death day. He wipes his long hair away from his eyes and rubs them. Today is the day. The day Jack dies. He slaps his face a little bit, it’s time for him to get serious.

Damon hasn’t taken most things in his life serious before, but today, he can’t mess up. This is his one chance to kill Jack, and he isn’t going to let it go to waste.

Damon reaches for the gun under his pillow. He takes aim at the door, making sure he his sighting looks okay. Thinking they’re loud and obnoxious, he rarely uses guns. His thoughts are suddenly interrupted when he hears the door open. He quickly hides the gun under his pillow and pretends he’s just waking up.

Isabella walks in, a brown assault rifle strapped around her.

“You’re up already.” Isabella says, quickly closing the door behind her.

Damon stretches, cracking his arms and knuckles.

“Of course, gotta give Jack his breakfast.” He says.

“What?” Isabella says confused.

Damon grabs the gun again, “He’s gonna eat a bullet.”

“Cute.” she smugly responds.

“Whatever. How many bullets do you have?”

Isabella releases the magazine of the rifle, “About half a clip.”

“Better than nothing.” Damon says.

He gets out of bed and changes his clothes; putting on black boots, a black leather jacket, and jeans.

“Are you ready?” He says, pushing his long black hair back.

“Are you?” Isabella answers her brother with another question.

Damon smirks at his sister.

“Don’t worry about me.” He says.

Damon grabs his large black knife and ax and sheathes them both.

Isabella gives her brother a serious look, “Damon.”

“Ya?”

“What’s your purpose?” she asks.

“My what?” Damon says, not understanding what his sister is talking about.

“What keeps you going? What’s your reason to continue surviving?” Isabella elaborates more.

“What kind of damn question is that? Why do you care?”

Isabella stays silent, staring down her brother and waiting for his answer.

Damon sighs, “I’m not too sure.” He utters.

“You’re not sure why you try so hard to survive?” she asks.

“Well.” Damon becomes serious, a side his sister never sees. “I guess I’m afraid of death.”

Isabella is surprised. “You’re afraid of dying?”

He looks down, “Well ya, aren’t you?”

Isabella walks to her brother and hugs him. Something they barely do. It makes Damon feel safe.

“I’m afraid of losing you.” she says. “But killing Jack won’t help your fear. If anything, he’ll help prevent it.”

Damon jerks her away,

“I don’t think so. After I put a bullet in between his eyes, I intend to mount his head on the wall.”

Damon heads for the door. Isabella keeps a stern look,

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Damon stops at the door, “I don’t know why you keep asking me that. My mind is made up. Is yours?”

Isabella is silent. She ignores the question and walks out the room.

“Let’s get this over with.” she mutters and pushes by Damon.

He follows and the two leave the room, heading to Jack’s office.

Jack is relaxing in a black office chair, drunk and his red sunglasses lay folded on the desk. He spins the empty bottle of whiskey he finished on the wooden desk.

“Spin the bottle for a kiss, really hope I do not miss.” He mutters to himself, followed by a laughter.

The bottle spins and spins until it stops, pointing to the doors leading out.

Suddenly the double doors to the office slam open, Damon walks in with his gun pointed at Jack. Followed behind him is Isabella , her assault rifle pointed up.

“Morning Jack!” Damon speaks, grinning.

Jack sits himself up, “Oh? What a surprise to see you up Damon. I thought you still be unconscious after a strike to the head like that.”

“How’s the arm asshole?” Damon retorts.

Jack wheezes a laugh, “It’ll heal soon. Very soon.”

“You’re delusional.” Damon says.

The siblings walk a bit closer to Jack, now standing about eight feet from him. Isabella stands behind Damon, her gun raised to Jack as well.

“You’ve come to kill me, is that it?” he utters.

Damon shakes his head in disappointment. “Look at you, crazy, bleeding to death and drunk. It’s like I’m putting a damn animal down.”

Jack tilts his head and makes eye contact with Isabella,

“So you too? I thought you believed in me Isabella ?”

She stays silent but avoids eye contact with Jack’s cold eyes.

“Don’t talk to her, she’s here as back up.” Damon comes in.

Jack snickers, “Little brother couldn’t do it himself huh? Need your big sister to help?”

Damon fires his gun, hitting the empty bottle, making it explode.

Jack flinched back in his chair.

“Shut up. That was a warning shot.” he mutters.

Jack becomes serious. “How dare you. After everything I’ve done for you two.”

Damon smiles, “Ya. A damn shame you’re bat shit crazy. Or I wouldn’t be doing this. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate your help over the years, but all things must come to an end. As well as your life.”

“I took both of you in. Fed you! Protected you! Trained you!” Jack shouts. “You’d both be dead if it wasn’t for me!”

Damon keeps his focus on Jack, keeping his gun pointed at his head.

“We were using you. Me and my sister have been since the beginning.” He says.

Jack says nothing, filled with frustration.

“We have a good thing here. A mansion and supplies to last us. We can live like kings here and you want to throw it all away for some bullshit about a cure.” Damon explains.

“You’re not seeing the big picture here boy. Your idea that this will last forever is delusional. The human species won’t last if this continues. This cure is a new opportunity for a great future.” Jack explains.

Damon laughs, “I think the blood loss is messing with you. Of course humanity won’t last. We’re not meant to! There’s no coming back from this. The world is dying and so are we. Might as well live comfortably until that day comes.”

Jack has a stern expression.

“We’ll this was nice. But now you die Jack.” Damon says.

Damon readies to pull the trigger, preparing to kill this man he hates. Until suddenly he stops himself. He takes a good look at Jack again.

“What?” He mutters under his breath.

He’s smiling. His large devilish grin spread across his face.

“What’s so damn funny?” Damon asks with an angry tone.

“Do it.” He mutters.

“Wow, you’ve already accepted death?”

“Do it.” Jack says again, louder.

Damon has a smug look. “You’re taking the fun out of this.”

“Do it!” Jack shouts this time.

This angers Damon.

“You really want to die that badly?!” Damon shouts back.

“DO IT!!” Jack yells at the top of his lungs.

“Fine you son ova bitch! Fuck you!!” Damon yells.

Damon fires his gun, and at the same time, a sudden sharp pain strikes his chest.

Fear begins to fill in. Jack is still breathing, smiling. His shot missed, hitting the wall.

The tremendous pain in Damon’s chest grows stronger. Blood leaks from his mouth. His arm falls, and the gun drops to the floor.

Damon coughs. Blood sprays from his mouth. He looks down, and his eyes widen with terror, the tip of a blade is impaled through his chest.

“What..” he mutters.

The terrible pain is growing only stronger.

Damon is trembling, he fears to turn his head around to see his killer. However, his curiosity overpowers his fear and Damon slowly turns his head to look behind.

His eyes widen in shock.

There stands Isabella , sorrow in her eyes and her sword pierced through Damon.

Isabella pulls her sword out from Damon’s body.

He gasps with pain. Then, under his dying breath, he mutters. “Izzy... Why?”

He falls to the ground, hitting it hard enough that his body bounces once.

Damon’s vision goes blurry.

I really am dying. He thinks.

He will never have an explanation from his sister for her betrayal. The last thing he hears is Isabella’s voice.

“I’m sorry Damon.” She says.

Then, everything becomes silent and darkness fills in. Damon is dead.

“I thought you believed in me Isabella ?” Jack says, looking at her.

She shifts her head down, avoiding eye contact with Jack.

She feels ashamed inside. She truly does believe in Jack’s vision for a new future with the cure, but her brother doesn’t. Isabella lowers her gun, still not looking directly at Jack. She stares at the floor, fighting with herself.

This isn’t right. She thinks. Jack is our friend. We can’t kill him.

Suddenly Isabella flinches from the loud bang of a gunshot. She quickly turns her direction back to Jack, fearing that Damon already killed him.

Jack is still alive, but now he looks furious.

“That was a warning shot. ” Damon says.

Isabella is relieved. Not yet.

Damon continues to talk but Isabella mutes him out, getting lost in thought again.

She really doesn’t want Jack to die, but she also wants to protect her brother. It’s her purpose, her reason to live. Isabella can’t have both, and it’s eating her away.

What am I supposed to do? Dammit! She fights with herself.

The sound of Damon’s laugh brings her back to reality.

“I think the blood loss is messing with you. Of course, humanity won’t last. We’re not meant to! There’s no coming back from this. The world is dying and so are we. Might as well live comfortably until that day comes.” Damon says.

Isabella can’t believe her brother’s words.

He has no plan? He really believes there’s no future.

Isabella sets down her rifle on the floor.

All she wants to do is protect her brother. No matter what. However, Damon’s idea of a future is clouded. He wants nothing.

There’s only one thing I can do. She thinks.

Isabella slowly draws her sword.

Damon. I will protect you. Protect you from this world. I will release you from your hell and set you free. It’s the only way I can protect you.

Isabella tightens her grip on the handle of her sword. She points it to Damon’s back. The sword shakes in her hands.

Can she do it?

Isabella looks away for a moment, then she notices Jack. He’s smiling.

Jack says something but she can’t make out what he said.

He speaks again. “Do it.” Isabella hears.

The blade is shaking more now.

She hears her brother yell back. He’s clueless on what his sister’s intentions are.

“DO IT!!” Jack yells.

“FINE!!”

Isabella thrusts her blade forward and it easily goes through her brother’s chest.

Damon’s gun fired at the same time. Isabella strike just the right moment, her brother’s shot missed Jack.

She sees her brother cough out blood, the pain must be terrible.

Blood begins to leaked down the blade as well. Isabella is frozen in place.

What have I done?

She looks to Jack again. His evil smile is spread across his face. He looks satisfied with the scene that just took place.

Isabella can feel Damon’s body begin to shiver through the sword. He’s dying. Damon turns his head back and their eyes meet.

Isabella can see the fear and heart break in her brother’s eyes.

“Izzy... Why?” he mutters.

Guilt hits her hard. She’s filled with sorrow.

She pulls the blade out from her brother’s body. Damon shows the pain in his face. Then, his body flops to the ground.

Isabella drops her sword, the metal hitting the granite floor echoes.

She is able to muster up some words. “I’m sorry Damon.” she says.

Those are her last words to her younger brother.

Isabella drops to her knees. She’s petrified. She doesn’t know what to do now. She’s beginning to regret her decision.

Jack laughs. It fills the room up. His laugh makes Isabella feel uncomfortable.

Jack stands from his office chair and slowly walks over to her.

“I’m impressed.” he says.

Isabella doesn’t look at Jack when he walks up, she just stares coldly at Damon’s body.

“You said you stop him if he got out of control and you did. Must have been hard to kill him huh?” Jack talks. “The amount of betrayal he must have felt before dying. A shame really. However...”

Jack points his gun towards Damon’s head and shoots. The shot makes Isabella flinch and look up at him.

“You should make sure you kill the brain. Unless you want to kill him again.” he chuckles.

“I... I don’t know what to do.” she mutters.

“What is your purpose now?” Jack asks.

Isabella stares at him intently. “I...” she can’t think.

“You killed your brother, even though your purpose in this world was to protect him. Why did you do it?”

“Because.” she licks her lips. “I promised you that I would if he interfered with your plans.” she answers.

“Wrong answer.” Jack says.

“I...” Isabella thinks for a moment. She looks at her dead brother and swallows. “I was protecting him.”

Jack smiles. “Do explain.”

“He had no purpose. He just wanted to survive until he died. He hated this world and I can tell he was not happy.” she explains. “Keeping my brother alive in a world he hated is cruel. So I killed him. Released him from suffering. It was the only true way to protect him.”

“What is your purpose now?”

Isabella looks up to Jack. Her expression goes from sorrow to a stern look. She slowly stands half way up and kneels down on one knee. She’s kneeling to Jack.

“To serve and protect you Jack. I will be with you till the day I die.”

“Wonderful. Now stand.” Jack orders.

Isabella grabs her sword off the floor and stands.

“This is a new chapter in your life. We must now prepare for a new comrade to our group. He’ll make us stronger.” Jack says.

Isabella nods in agreement.

With Damon dead, Isabella has a new purpose, to protect and serve Jack. Now Jack prepares his trip to Ben’s cabin, where he will decide to help Jack or not. However, Jack’s wound are getting worse every minute, he needs the cure now more than ever. Ben’s decision will decide his fate.