Devastation

When an unknown light entered his eyes, he opened the very same eyes. His body swayed all around the place like a drunkard.

"Captain, the last one's awake!" a rugged-looking man shouted.

"Fantastic!" replied the captain at the helm.

"Where am I?" asked Jackson, holding onto his head.

Jackson looked at his surroundings. On his left, he saw the tall troublemaker, along with the wide-eyed boy. On his right, he saw a black-haired eastern beauty. They were all equipped with blankets.

"We're on a boat, navigating through the sea," the man smiled at Jackson.

The serene sound of waves hitting against the boat's hull was therapeutic. Jackson could see the endless sea from where he was.

However, the past lingered with him. The antagonizing sound of his classmates' screams, lifeless bodies dropping to the ground. Along with the bloodied look of the sisters.

The ship crew whispered amongst themselves in front of Jackson. Impatient about the fates of his classmates, he inquired about them.

When he asked them, they turned around to their captain. The captain handed over the helm as he kneeled with his hat off and turned to Jackson.

"I'm sorry," said the captain in sorrow as he looked down.

"Captain! It's not your fault!" yelled one of the crewmates.

"No, the fault lies with me," said the captain while still looking down.

"Look at me," said Jackson in a stern voice.

Slowly, the captain lifted his head and stared into Jackson's gaze. His bloodshot eyes were filled with determination.

"Tell me what happened," said Jackson with firm resolve.

"It's… radiation," the captain bluntly answered.

"Radiation?" Jackson asked.

"Unlike the four of you, the others would be considered fragile," said the captain.

"They couldn't make it," the captain continued, his head looking back down.

Jackson's heart sank at the revelation. The precious moment he spent with his classmates flashed before his eyes, recalling every moment that happened. The weight of their deaths hung heavy.

While the boat continued sailing through the sea, the captain huddled the survivors of the tragedy.

He further explained the radioactive nature of the mist they had encountered and how radiation had engulfed the whole island.

Before the island was taken over by radiation, the effects were mild. Their hallucinations of the sinister forest were one.

The four survivors listened in astonishment and fear at the harsh facts. They looked at one another with sorrow, agony, and guilt.

Not only did the survivors feel guilt, but the captain did too. He felt like he could've done much more if he had gone to the island right away instead of the government post.

But he would soon remember that he would've been a headless chicken if it weren't for the direction the government gave.

The crew, who realized the pain their captain felt, approached him with words of consolation and support. However, the captain's bottled-up emotions surged, and he raged.

"No!" he shouted; his voice turned deep.

"Captain..." the crewmates nailed down their captain in a tight embrace.

"I should've done a better job!"

"I should've done more!" the captain shouted in agony, his tears overflowing.

"We're okay now," the wide-eyed boy said, hugging the captain on his leg.

With a gentle voice, the wide-eyed boy reminded the captain that he was enough. He did whatever he could, and blaming himself won't change the outcome.

The crew nodded along, agreeing with what the boy just said. The captain realized that the survivors' current health was of the utmost importance.

After sailing through the sea, the boat arrived at a small coastal town. The town was sufficiently remote from the epicenter of the radiation.

Once docked, medical personnel rushed onto the boat with stretchers. The survivors were taken into the medical tent the staff had set up earlier.

Psychiatrists were among the first members of the medical staff to approach the survivors. They wanted to find ways to assist the traumatized group.

Not long after they were brought in, the Marines brought another batch of people to be treated.

The marine crew went along with the survivors to the medical tent, assisting with their every need. However mundane it was.

When the sun rose high and the sea breeze caressed the captain, the stern-looking marine officer with a lion's mane approached the captain.

"Captain Daniels," he saluted with his hat off.

"Reynolds," the captain salutes back.

When Captain Daniels was busy heading to the island of Joy, Officer Reynolds oversaw marines in the region.

He deemed the task of evacuating citizens by himself insufficient. As such, he contacted every outpost in the sea and tasked them with the evacuation of their region.

"I thank you for your quick decision," said Officer Reynolds.

"I trusted you!" Captain Daniels shouted and grabbed Officer Reynold's collar.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Officer Reynolds asked as he threw the hand that was grabbing him.

"No outposts would let me dock on my way here!" shouted Captain Daniels.

Officer Reynold was shaken at what had just transpired. His brow furrowed at the sight of Captain Daniels.

He looked at their surroundings to check if anyone was nearby. He began explaining to calm down the captain's resurging rage.

"The situation turned for the worst while you were at sea," said Officer Reynolds.

"The spread of the radiation expanded, breaking the expected threshold," Officer Reynolds continued.

"We had to even evacuate the outpost that was near the danger," Officer Reynolds explained.

"Tch!" Captain Daniels gruntled.

"We even had to contact headquarters!" Officer Reynolds exclaimed.

The captain didn't know to what extent the radiation had spread. The marine bases and facilities had to evacuate since the extent of the spread is still unknown, even to the very moment they're talking.

"I understand your concern, Captain, but rest assured," said Officer Reynolds.

Officer Daniels patted the shoulder of Captain Daniels. However, the captain simply shrugged it off with his hand.

Officer Reynolds sighed and continued explaining, "Our initial attempts at containment were insufficient."

"Headquarters thought that if we let any radiation come to the base, it would result in a catastrophe as none had sufficient medical personnel to handle radiation," Officer Reynolds continued explaining.

Captain Daniels furrowed his brow and apologized, "I see. I'm sorry about before."

"It's fine; I understand what you had to go through," said Officer Reynolds.

"Wait. Then what happened to the bases?" asked Captain Daniels.

"Empty," answered Officer Reynolds.

"What about the important documents?" inquired Captain Daniels.

"Tightly sealed," Officer Reynolds answered once more.

"So, where are they taking operations now?" asked Captain Daniels.

Officer Reynolds responded solemnly, "On the nearest island from them."

"While the branches treat the injured, headquarters work overtime to limit the radioactive spread," said Officer Reynolds.

"That's what they should do. Protect the people from danger," commented Captain Daniels.

While the two conversed, Jackson and the other survivors gathered in one place. They anxiously talked about their experiences with the tragedy. Instructed by their psychiatrists.

"Damn it! I botched my first-ever mission!" a voice shouted from the distance.

"What will happen to me?" they mumbled, with voices of nails being chewed.