Hybrids: A New Species

Early morning rises, the air crisp and cold, and the groans of the Fallen haunt the city of Denver. Ben walks out the blue house he’s been staying at. His truck is parked on the lawn, there are tire tracks on the dead grass. Ben grabs some keys out his jean pocket and opens the door to the Toyota truck. The door creaks loudly as he opens it. The engine roars, echoing throughout the abandoned neighborhood. Ben grabs a tank of gas from the bed of the truck and begins to fuel it. The cold air sends a shiver down Ben’s spine, he can see his own breath. He continues to pour gas as he carefully looks around for any danger of the Fallen. These undead corpses may be slow, but they can easily sneak up on someone if they’re not paying attention. The front door of the house opens, Cole walks out yawning and scratching his head. His curly black hair is messy.

“Morning.” Cole says, liking his lips.

Ben finishes fueling the truck and put the empty container back in the truck’s bed.

“Morning.” He says. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Yes.” Cole answers, showing the small black bag he has on.

“Good, we’re leaving now.” Ben says as he finishes checking the truck for additional things.

Cole nods his head and he walks to the passenger door, getting into the truck.

Ben checks his gun and knife, everything seems fine. He’s ready to go and gets in the truck.

Ben puts the truck in reverse and backs out onto the street, the engine roars as he steps on the gas. He changes to first gear and accelerates forward down the street. Cole and him now make their way up the mountains, back to where it all began.

*****

Ben is speeding down the open road, he easily avoids parked cars and the occasional undead on the highway. He stays focus on the road while Cole writes in a notebook.

Ben is getting bored and his eyes began to wonder. He looks over at Cole’s notebook and tries to glance what he’s writing. Looks like he’s drawing something.

Cole notices and moves his hand to cover his drawing.

“Eyes on the road.” Cole says.

Ben eyes him a dirty look, then rolls his eyes.

“I was just curious what you were doodling there.” He says.

Cole removes his hand and shows Ben the drawing. His eyes bounce back and forth between the road and drawing. It appears to be some rough sketches of human body parts with numbers by them. Ben raises an eyebrow.

“They’re rough sketches of our human anatomy. I’m calculating some formulas and recording our new genetics caused by Project Hybrid to determine how our cellular count and structure has been effected.” Cole says.

Ben stays silent.

Cole could feel he didn’t understand. He relieves a sigh.

“I’m trying to guess what the cure did to us on the inside. The drawings are for visuals and the numbers are my guessed formulas.” he explains.

“Ah, okay.” Ben says.

Cole shakes his head. “I’m also making notes of what I’ve seen so far.”

“Like?” Ben responds.

Cole turns through some pages in his notebook.

“Well for one, the only physical transformation I’ve noticed are our eyes. I believe they change when we feel we’re in danger. I’m guessing it’s some kind of self-defense mechanism built inside us now.”

Ben keeps his eyes on the road, all while listening to Cole.

“No other physical changes then that, but I want to study our blood and look at any changes on a cellular level.” Cole continues.

“And you’ll need the lab in Colorado Springs to do that right?” Ben asks.

“Right. That’s why it’s vital for us to get Dr. Mori’s body. I just need one eye or finger to get access to that lab. Plus, his blood might make me understand why the cure worked for us but not him.”

Ben glances at Cole, he can see how worried he looks. Like he is unsure of something.

“This is a longshot, you know that right?”

Cole closes his notebook. He sighs. “I know. But it’s our only choice.”

The two remain silent for a moment. No talking, just the loud hum of the truck’s engine.

“I appreciate you doing this with me.” Cole speaks, breaking the silence. “I know it’s a long shot, but it’s better than going with Jack.”

Ben says nothing at first. He just smiles while watching the road.

They began coming up the base of a road that leads up the mountains.

We’re getting close.” He says.

Cole sleeps in the passenger seat as they make their way up the mountains. Ben’s truck slowly makes its way up the steep road. The truck is putting as much power as it can. Ben keeps a lower gear, trying to not blow his engine. Going down the mountains is easy but trying to drive up them with an old truck can be difficult.

As they make their way up the road, a few of the Fallen linger around, drying up under the hot sun. Suddenly, a loud pop comes from the engine. It’s loud enough to wake Cole up. He sits up straight and quickly looks around.

“Fuck!” Ben curses.

Smoke begins to rise up from the front of the truck. It sounds like something is rattling in the truck. Ben slowly stops the it and parks.

“What happened?” Cole asks nervously.

Ben slams his fist on the driver wheel. “The engines a bust.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“It means we’re fucked.” he snaps.

“So there’s no way of fixing it than.” Cole mutters.

Suddenly a Fallen slams on the driver window. Cole flinches from the sudden scare, but Ben remains calm. The Fallen gurgles blood and saliva from its mouth and gnaws at the window. Puss and slime begins to stain the window.

Ben sighs, “I can’t fix the engine. I have no tools. So...”

He rolls down his window a bit and thrusts his onyx knife into the Fallen’s skull. It dies instantly.

“We’re walking the rest of the way.”

Cole has a look of concern. He looks straight up the road. There about dozen of the undead up ahead, plus the few around them.

“This isn’t going to be fun is it?”

“Nope.” Ben says.

He opens his door, and immediately another Fallen comes in after Ben. He grabs it by the neck and slams its head into the hood of the truck. Blood and brains splatter on it, and the corpse slides to the ground.

“Come on Cole, we’re losing daylight here.” Ben tells, as he grabs his bag from the bed of the truck.

Cole sighs. He gets out as well.

Another Fallen comes after Cole, it groans with hunger, its hands out to grab Cole.

He draws his gun and shoots, blowing a chunk of its head right off. The gunshot echoes through the air.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Ben snaps at him.

“What?” Cole asks, confused.

“Don’t fire your gun or you’ll draw more of them!”

“Oh... I’m sorry.” Cole apologies, withdrawing his gun.

Ben shakes his head, “Only use it when we really need it. We can take these things out with a knife.”

Ben stabs another Fallen in the head.

“Now let’s go and stay close.” Ben orders.

“Uhh right.” Cole agrees and begins to follow closely behind Ben.

As they make their way up the road, they leave a trail of bodies behind them. Ben and Cole easily take out the undead with just a knife. With the cure running through their blood, they’re able to keep up longer killing the Fallen. The two get further up the road until Ben stops. Cole stops as well and wonders what Ben is up to. They’re in the middle of the road and he’s looking around, as if he’s lost. The only thing around them are trees leading into the forest and the rocky wall of a mountain.

“You know where we’re going?” Cole asks.

“Of course. I know these woods like the back of my hand.” Ben says, still looking around.

“Then what are you doing?” Cole says.

Ben ignore his question and hushed him instead.

“Sshh, we’re not alone. Listen.” Ben whispers.

Cole looks around. He sees nothing.

Ben slowly draws his gun. He looks nervous.

Cole slows his breathing and concentrates. He hears footsteps. They’re faint. But he can hear crushing leaves and twigs coming from the direction of the trees.

He’s amazed, he shouldn’t be able to hear something like that but he can.

The cure.

It’s enhanced his hearing. Cole has forgotten about that.

The steps are getting louder, the smell of rot and filth fills the air. It’s strong. Cole draws his gun.

Ben slowly steps forward to the trees, his gun raised. Cole slowly stays behind him.

Suddenly a Fallen lunges out from behind a tree, it’s face looks half melted off and it has dark yellow teeth. Ben tries to move away from it but it latches on Ben’s arm and bites into his flesh. He yells in pain shoots it in the head. Part of Ben’s flesh hangs off his arm.

“Fuck!” he curses.

Before Ben has time to treat his wound, another one of the undead reveals itself. It only has patches of hair left and most of its skin is missing, revealing rotting bones. Ben stops it by the neck. A sharp burning sensation fills his bite wound and he begins to lose strength. Cole quickly runs forward with his knife drawn and jabs the Fallen in the eye socket, piercing its brain. It gurgles blood and drops to the ground.

Ben backs up into the road and examines his arm. The wound is deep.

“Ben... you’re bit.” Cole says, terror in his voice.

Ben takes his bag off and digs through it, pulling medical supplies.

“It’s fine.” Ben mutters, patching up his wound.

He clenches his fist, enduring the sharp burning pain. He cleans his wound and wraps his arm with gauze.

“What are you so worried about? I have the cure in me, I won’t turn.” Ben explains as he finishes tending to his wound.

“You were cured yes, but it doesn’t mean you’re immune. You could still turn.” Cole responds, concern in his voice.

Ben puts his items in his bag, “How about this, if I turn, kill me. Understand?”

“How about I just kill ya’ll now?” A ruff voice comes from behind them

Without a thought, Ben quickly stands and draws his gun, but it’s too late.

A dark man with a beard has a knife to Cole’s neck. Two more men come up behind him.

Ben has his gun pointed to the man threatening Cole with a knife.

“Put the gun down son, or your friend here dies.” The man says.

Cole stands still like a statue, not making any sudden moves that might provoke this stranger.

Shit! Ben thinks.

Should he risk it? He could get Cole killed.

The other two men carefully walk up to Ben, both with a knife in their hand.

“Give us your gun and your stuff and we’ll let ya’ll live.” The man says.

Ben studies the other two men, he can easily take them out.

He turns his attention to Cole.

“Do you think you can handle him?” Ben asks.

“What?” The strange man speaks, thinking Ben is talking to him.

Cole realizes what Ben is planning on doing. He nods.

Ben’s eyes begin to transition to their Hybrid state.

The bearded man sees this transition and it confuses him.

Suddenly Ben quickly points his gun to the man that’s to the left of him. He shoots, the bullet hits him in the head. Blood sprays from the back of the man’s head and he falls to the ground, dead. The man to the right of Ben charges at him, his knife up. He jabs his blade forward, aiming for Ben’s stomach. However, Ben is too quick, and easily dodges him.

Ben grabs him by the arm and throws the man to the ground like a rag doll. Ben’s new strength made it easy for him to throw him. The man yells in pain from the impact. His arm is now broken, along with a few other bones in his body. Ben draws his large knife with the black onyx blade. His yellow eyes meet with the man’s. He’s terrified. Ben arches his blade forward, stabbing the man in the chest and piercing his heart. One last gasp of life escapes him. Dead.

During Ben’s attack, Cole heads butt the bearded man with the back of his head. He curses as he lessens his grip on Cole. It’s enough to set himself free.

“You’re gonna regret that kid.” The man mutters in his gritty voice.

Cole draws his knife. He has it up, in a defense stance. He says nothing, waiting from the man to make the first move. The man grits his teeth and charges forward with his blade. Cole dodges him and swings his knife, slashing the man’s back. He yelps in pain. His anger only escalates as he turns to Cole with fire in his eyes. He swings his blade but Cole makes another quick dodge.

Cole quickly swings his fist at the man, landing a punch on his jaw. The bearded man goes down for the count. He lands flat on his face. Now still from the hit.

Cole lowers his guard now. He’s surprised how easily this fight was. Coles reflexes are much better than they used to be. If he didn’t have the Hybrid cure in him, this man would have killed him easily.

“You done?” Ben asks.

He stabs the head of one of the men he killed. Best to avoid having him turn.

“Uh ya.” Cole responds.

Ben pats down the bodies, looking for any loot these men could have. He finds nothing but some trash and a pack of cigarettes. He sighs.

“Wow. These guys have nothing.”

Ben picks his bag up from the gravel road and walks over to Cole.

“This guy have anything?”

Cole shakes his head.

“Nothing but his knife.” Cole says.

He hands it over to Ben. The blade is small, about five inches and rusted.

Ben shakes his head in disappointment. Suddenly the two hear a groan. The bearded man Cole knocked out is waking up.

“He’s still alive?” Ben says.

Cole swallows nervously and says nothing.

Ben sighs. He draws his blade and turns the man over on his back. The man slowly opens his eyes. He looks around. The trees of the forest surround him. Then suddenly fear fills him. His eyes meet with Ben’s. His yellow eyes strike fear into this man.

“Demon! You’re a demon!” He shouts.

Ben cracks a smile and get on top of the man.

He struggles to escape but can’t move.

“Please! Don’t kill me!” He pleads.

Ben raises his knife. His icy cold gaze doesn’t break from the man.

“Please God! I beg-”

Ben jams his blade into the man’s left eye. He dies as he utters mixed words. Ben retrieves his knife, pulling out the man’s eyeball with it.

Cole cringed. Not from the eyeball, but from the man’s raspy voice begging for his life.

“Did you really have to kill him?” Cole asks, looking away from the dead bearded man.

Ben takes the eyeball off his knife and tosses it.

“Of course I did. He deserves to die.” Ben responds.

Cole has a disgusted expression.

“It’s not your choice who lives or dies.”

Ben stands up and gives Cole a serious look.

“Do you think this man would have spared your life if you begged?!”

Cole opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. He can’t think of anything.

“Exactly.” Ben states.

He walks back on the main road leading further up the mountains. Cole stands there, at the edge of the forest. He stares at the dirt ground.

“We don’t have to be like them Ben. We’re better than that.” Cole adds.

Ben looks back at him. He still just standing there. Suddenly, Ben laughs. But it’s a fake mocking one.

“You’ll never survive out here Cole if you continue to think that way.” Ben tells.

Cole feels hurt by his words.

“In this world, it’s kill or be killed.” Ben continues. “I’ve had people who wanted me and my family dead through the years. I’ve survived as long as I did because of the people I’ve killed. Trust me when I say this, humans are scum. This world is ran by killers now, and I’m one of them.”

Cole grits his teeth. He wants to say something but he chokes on his words.

“What if that man was Jack?” Ben asks.

Cole suddenly finds his voice again. “That’s different!” He says. “Jack is evil!”

“How do you know this man wasn’t?” Ben continues to question.

Again, Cole is at a loss for words.

“Exactly you don’t know. You better learn to adapt Cole. Killing another human is going to take balls. Any humanity you have left, you better let it go if you want to survive.” Ben explains.

He turns his back on Cole and faces the road.

“How? I don’t know how I can.” Cole mutters.

“It shouldn’t be hard.” Ben says. “Considering we’re not human anymore.”

Ben then begins to walk up ahead the road. Leaving Cole to himself.

Cole thinks for a moment.

We’re not human anymore.

That realization sinks in. It makes him uneasy.

Cole then notices Ben has already left. He snaps out of his thought and runs to catch up.

The blazing sun is high in the sky, warming the pavement of the mountain roads. Ben and Cole slowly make their way up the heated trail. They’re sweating and tired from the heat. If Ben’s truck hadn’t broke down, they would already be at their destination.

Cole wipes sweat from his forehead.

“How much longer till we get there?” Cole asks.

Ben drinks some water from a metal canister.

“A couple more miles and we should be close to the dirt trail that leads to my cabin.”

He says, licking the water around his lips.

Cole lets out a slight grunt, annoyed and tired of their walk.

As they continue along the road, Ben smells something quite foul in the air. It smells of rotting garbage and blood. He stops walking and sniffs the air. It’s getting stronger. Cole stops too and wonders what Ben is up to.

“What is it?” Cole asks.

“Shut up for a moment.” Ben says.

Cole rolls his eyes. Then, the rotting smell hits him too.

It’s so putrid he almost vomits.

“What the hell is that?” he says, pinching his nose.

Ben says nothing and looks down the road. Up ahead it makes a turn to the right. Ben sees something down the road. He squints his eyes to try to get a better look. He begins to see some figures coming from around the corner.

“What the?” Ben mutters.

Suddenly he begins to hear faint groans and gurgling. That’s when Ben has a sudden realization.

That smell. Those ghoulish groans. It’s the Fallen!

More and more of them begin to emerge from around the corner.

Cole finally takes notice of the Fallen emerging from down the road as well.

“Holy crap. Is that?”

“Ya.” Ben says. He’s worried. “It’s a herd.”

The number of the Fallen keeping adding up, there seems to be no end.

“We need to go now!” Ben shouts.

He begins to run up ahead the road.

“Wait! What the hell are you doing?!” Cole questions.

Ben ignores him and just keeps running towards the herd of Fallen.

Cole curses and runs too, catching up to Ben.

“You’re not seriously going to fight these things, are you?!” Cole says, panting.

“Of course not! We need to hide and we’re out in the open.” Ben explains.

Cole looks around, there is only walls of rock to their left and a cliff leading off down to certain death on the right. However, up ahead to the right, there are trees that begin the forest.

“We need to get where the forest begins. We’ll use the trees as cover.” Ben says.

Cole is nervous. The large herd of the Fallen is coming in closer.

Ben is determined though. They’ve gone too far to turn back now.

“Run!!!” he yells.

The two put everything they got into their legs, speeding up the inclined road with all their might. The large herd of the Fallen is coming closer. There is too many to count. Their smell and groans increase, which makes Cole want to hurl.

Blood begins to rush through their bodies, then, adrenaline comes in.

Ben’s eyes suddenly transition to their Hybrid state. He begins to move quicker, leaving Cole behind. Cole holds back his vomit and his eyes transform as well. He begins to pick up speed. Their new Hybrid cells has increased their stamina and made them quicker. The two are running faster than any human ever has.

They reach the edge of the forest and quickly emerge themselves in the trees. Ben and Cole keep running until Ben makes a sudden stop. Cole tries stopping quickly as well but he suddenly slips and beings to fall down a hill. Ben quickly grabs him by the hand, saving Cole from falling to his death.

“Woah.” Cole mutters. Realizing he almost died.

Ben pulls him up and drags him away from the edge.

They both lay on the dirt floor, out of breath from running. The shadows of the trees are cool and refreshing.

Suddenly the smell of rot perks Ben up. He quickly stands and draws his blade. He looks at the road they were just on. The herd of the Fallen are beginning to pass by. Their groans sound like a hellish symphony. Ben walks to a tree and hides behind it.

Cole still lays there. He doesn’t want to move.

“Hey.” Ben whispers. “Get your ass up!”

Cole turns over on his stomach and stands up.

“Hide you idiot.” Ben whispers.

Cole quickly get behind a tree by Ben.

They now both watch the Fallen. They barely made it, luckily none of the undead spotted them.

Ben relieves a sigh and turns his back against the tree. His right arm begins pulsing in pain. The bite wound he received earlier is bleeding out. He sits down.

“Keep an eye out.” Ben says as he takes his bag off.

Cole nods and watches for any of the Fallen coming to close.

Ben unwraps the bandages on his arm. The bite wound is covered in dark red blood. He cringes from the sharp pains. He begins to clean it up.

Cole looks away from the road for a moment and takes a peek at Ben. Cole notices how terrible his bite wound looks.

“So are you infected?” Cole asks.

“Shouldn’t you be watching the road.?” he says.

Cole looks back at the road filled with the Fallen. Their putrid smell still lingers in the air, but Ben and Cole have gotten used to it by now. Their new enhanced sense of smell makes the dead’s smell worse than it has to be.

“Well are you?” Cole asks once more but keeping an eye on the Fallen this time.

“No.” Ben says as finishes wrapping gauze around his wound.

“How do you know?”

Ben snickers. “I’ve been bitten before. Promise me, I’d know if I was infected.”

Ben looks at the scar on his left arm from when his daughter bit him. He figured he was done for than. But after acquiring the cure, it only took a couple of days for the wound to heal.

“Amazing. It seems you’re immune to the Fallen virus. ” Cole states. “This will definitely help us survive.”

“Sure were immune, but were not immune to blood loss and being eaten alive by those things.” Ben adds.

“Well, ya. You’re right about that.” Cole says, sounding a bit disappointed.

“Where do you think they’re headed?” Cole asks.

“Not too sure. But if they keep walking they’ll eventually reach the city.” Ben says.

Cole scratches his head. “I feel sorry for any survivors down there.”

“Anyone living in the city is probably dead. Or at least they will be when that herd reaches them.” Ben says, scratching his bandaged arm.

Some time passes as Ben and Cole wait out the Fallen herd. It seems this undead army has no end to it. Cole is sitting down, relaxing, while Ben keeps an eye out.

“Look.” Ben says, pointing to the road. “Looks like the herd is coming to an end.”

Cole yawns. “About time. I was actually hoping they move quicker.”

Ben raises his eyebrow. “We really be fucked if these damn things could run.”

The idea of the Fallen running sends a shiver down Cole’s spine. “Ya you’re right. That be horrifying.”

“Okay, let’s move out. It should be safe now.” Ben says. He begins walking towards the road.

Cole stands and follows.

The sun has come down a bit since their wait. The heat is still harsh, but not as bad as it was earlier.

“We still got a few more miles ahead us. Hopefully we reach my cabin before nightfall.” Ben says.

Just as they continue to walk their path, Ben notices a small group of the Fallen up the road.

“Looks like there some slow ones that got left behind.” Ben says.

“Should we hide again?” Cole asks.

Ben smiles as he draws his onyx blade. “It’s just four. We can handle this. No guns.” He says.

“Right.” Cole responds. He too draws his knife.

They approach the four Fallen. All of them have grayish leathery skin. Their eyes are foggy and their skin is almost peeling off. Ben grabs the first one, a tall thin man, by the neck and jabs his blade into its skull. It dies instantly. Another hisses at Ben and he quickly swings his arm, knocking the Fallen to the ground. Ben retrieves his blade from the tall Fallen’s skull and then quickly strikes at the one on the ground. It growls at Ben once more, before his blade pierced its brain, killing it.

While Ben took care of the first two, Cole goes after the others. The first Fallen is an undead woman, its thin dead hair covers half its face. Cole arches forward his small knife and stabs its eye. It growls at Cole, not dead just yet. His knife didn’t fully go through. Cole curses, and pushed his knife more in. The Fallen let’s out one final groan, then dies when the blade stabs into its brain.

Cole rips the knife out; dark blood is all over his hands. He’s too distracted from the blood that he doesn’t notice the last Fallen come right up to him. It thin arms grabs onto Cole. He flinches from the sudden attack and he tries to push it back. Cole trips and falls on the ground, with the undead Fallen landing right on top. They’re almost face to face now. It growls and snaps its rotten teeth at Cole. He can feel its hot steamy breath on his face. He tries to push the Fallen off of him, but the smell of its breath is making him weak. The smell is sour and unbearable, like rotting flesh and blood. Cole yells and tries to push the Fallen off once more. The weight of this undead thing suddenly disappears. Cole sees it fly off. But it wasn’t him who did it.

Ben has grabbed the Fallen by its shirt and threw it off Cole. It growls at Ben now, until he kicks it in the jaw with his boot. Its head hits the ground so hard the back of its rotting skull is smashed on concrete of the road. Ben stomps its head in once more, to finalize the kill. His shoe is coated in dark red blood. He scrapes bits of brain off his boot on the pavement.

“Thanks.” Cole says, wiping blood off his pants.

“You’re stronger than you ever were before and you still couldn’t push that thing off?” Ben questions.

“Its breath was grossing me out. I felt dizzy and weak.” Cole defends himself.

Ben smirks. “Get used it. The dead have terrible hygiene.”

" I could have gotten it.” Cole says, as he stands himself up.

“Sure you could.”

Cole is about to say something until he notices another one of the Fallen coming their way. It’s just one, and it’s a child. A girl.

“Ben.” Cole says pointing. “There’s one more.”

Ben draws his blade. “I got it.” he says as he turns around.

He suddenly freezes up when he lays his eyes on this child. His heart sinks into his stomach. The small Fallen child couldn’t have been no more than eight years old. It looks like she hasn’t been dead for that long. Its hair was a dirty blonde, eyes were milky blue, its skin was pale and blood covered its mouth.

“Hailey.” Ben mutters.

He’s shaking. This little undead girl was his dead daughter. The last time he saw her, she bit into his left arm. He ran that day. Leaving her behind.

“Ben?” Cole calls out. “You okay?”

Hailey keeps limping towards them. Ben is frozen like a statue.

“Hey!” Cole says again. This time he sees Ben’s face and sees the fear in his eyes.

Cole looks back at the little girl then back at Ben.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

Ben has his focus on his daughter. Not batting an eye at nothing else.

“Hailey.” he mutters once more.

Cole has a confused look. ” Hailey?”

The name suddenly clicks. This is Ben’s daughter. Cole now realizes what he has to do. He picks his knife up from the ground and begins walking forward to Hailey.

He’ll kill her. For Ben.

“Wait!” Ben suddenly yells.

Cole stops and looks back at him. “It’s okay. I can do it.”

Ben shakes his head. “No don’t. I have to do this.”

Ben has found his senses again.

“Are you sure?” Cole questions.

Ben nods. He begins walking towards his daughter.

She hisses at him and brings her arms out, ready to attack.

Ben kneels down, his knife in his right hand.

Hailey reaches Ben, but he stops her with his left hand. He has her by the neck. Hailey is trying to push through but Ben is too strong.

He is filled with sorrow.

" Hailey.” He says, talking to what was once his little girl.

She hisses and snaps her rotting teeth at Ben.

“I’m sorry sweetie. Sorry I couldn’t protect you and your mother.”

He clenches his knife in his hand. “I’ll never forgive myself.”

Cole watches from the back. He can’t imagine how hard this must be for Ben.

“I should have ended your misery when you first turn. But I couldn’t. I was weak” he continues to speak. “But not anymore. I can’t be. You don’t need to suffer anymore sweetie.”

Ben’s eyes begin to water as he raises his blade to the back of Hailey’s head.

His knife pierces the back of her head.

She snaps at Ben even more until she suddenly stops. Her body goes still, and her head tilts down. Dead.

“I love you Hailey.” Ben mutters.

He embraces her dead body, hugging her one last time.

There are no words for a moment. Cole stood there as Ben held his dead daughter.

He clears his throat. “Ben. Will you be okay?”

Ben says nothing as he lays Hailey’s body down. He takes his bag off and grabs a tightly folded brown blanket out of his bag.

Cole feels uncomfortable. What do you tell someone who had to kill their own child?

Ben wraps Hailey’s body in the blanket. He picks her up.

“Let’s get moving. I wanna get there before we lose daylight.” Ben says.

He begins walking, holding Hailey in his arms.

His attitude became very serious. Who knows what’s going through his head.

Cole follows, grabbing Ben’s bag he left behind.

The two men continue their journey. Not saying one word to each other.

The sun begins to settle behind the mountains. It coats the sky orange. Ben and Cole have made it to their destination. Ben’s cabin, secluded within the forest of the Rocky Mountains. Trees surround the area, and a dirt path leading into the depths of the forest. Surrounding the wood cabin, there are eight-foot holes with wooden pikes sticking up in them. Ben and Cole haven’t said one word to each other since their encounter with Hailey. Ben’s been holding her in his arms for the rest of their journey.

As Ben walks to the front door of his home, he looks into one of his made traps. There are two of the Fallen trapped in there. Their bodies are impaled from the wooden pikes. They’re immobile but begin hissing and snapping at Ben when they see him. He gives them a hard look, then continues to make his way into his cabin. Cole follows along behind Ben.

Inside, the place is in the same condition they left it at. A broken wood table trashed on the floor from when Ben and Cole fought, and a fist size hole in the floor from when Ben punched it.

Ben continues through the house, stepping over the bits and pieces of wood on the ground. He makes his way out in the backyard.

Cole stops following Ben and takes his bags off and lays them on a brown couch off to his left.

He sits down for a moment, resting his legs after their long journey on foot. They didn’t stop once to rest. Cole already knows Ben wants to be left alone. So, it’s exactly what he will do. Leave him alone to mourn his lost.

Ben walks outside with Hailey in his arms. The sun has completely settle, making the cold night air completely dark. He walks over to a buried mound with some stones laid out on top. It’s his wife’s grave, Pam. Ben lays Hailey’s body down and grabs a shovel left on the ground. He begins to dig. Even after their five mile hike up the mountains, Ben refuses to rest until he can bury his daughter. He continues digging, wiping sweat from his head once in a while. He finally makes a deep enough hole for a child’s grave. Ben tosses the shovel aside and picks Hailey’s body up. He gently lays her down, keeping her wrapped up in the blanket. He begins to cover her in dirt now.

After making a smaller dirt mound next to his deceased wife, Ben lays a couple more stones on top of Hailey’s grave. He looks at the two graves. His wife and daughter have both been buried. Him and his family have been able to survive for eight years up in the mountains. But sadly, it has now come to an end. Ben drops to his knees, he’s exhausted. However, he feels lighter as well, as if a giant weight has been lifted off his shoulders. Now that they’re both dead, Ben feels almost empty. They were the reason he tried so hard to survive. Everything he’s done has all been for them. They were his purpose for living, and now, he needs a new one.

Ben just stares at the graves; his mind is racing. The Hybrid serum has given him another chance at life. A life he would trade for to get his family back. But that won’t happen. He knows this. This cure can save people, if they survive the transition of human to Hybrid. According to Cole, it is too dangerous. According to Jack, its perfect way to rid the weak.

Ben doesn’t know what to do. These two people want the same thing, but what does he want?

He thinks for a moment. He wants to spread this cure. Save other survivors. There are other families out there like his. Who want a chance to live. In order to successfully complete this mission in saving the world, he has to choose. Jack or Cole?

“I know what I have to do.” He mutters to himself.

Ben has already made up his mind.

He stands up and wipes the tears away from his face.

“Pam. Hailey. I will save the world. I do this for you.”