chapter 4

(Taylor's perspective)

So, I get it that Andrew is powerful, smart, and always seems well-rounded and in control, but I can't stand the boldness,  the fearlessness. He seems like the kinda guy who would walk through fire just to save a few and expect the same from his team, and I don't like that kind of a leader. What if he tells me to go first into a dark room and I get decapitated? But it's my only chance at survival as I have nowhere else to go, so as much as I hate him, I may as well listen. And I'm 24 and he treats me like he's seen more.

I got ready for the mission; blue jeans, steel toe boots which I'd never had a reason to wear before this pathetic apocalypse, and my Rick and Morty hoodie obviously. Then in my bag I packed extra clothes, water, food, a first aid kit, fire starter, and to complete the look I had my machete which I first used in Walmart to kill a demon which attacked me. That's where I found the now overthrown leader, him and his crew rescued me. Now, I don't know everything but I don't think the fact that Andrew is mad over some stolen dogs and captured friends during an apocalypse is smart. He should think a little more about himself.

Finally I made it to the entrance, my shoulders already sore from carrying my backpack. 

"Ah, glad you made it so soon!" Andrew said. Of course, he was the first one there. I got here 15 minutes early to mentally prepare myself to deal with him or anybody else, and he manages to already be here. "How's it going?"

"Fabulous," I said sarcastically. 

"Come on man, I get we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I never meant any disrespect towards you."

"Then why am I forced to do this?"

"Everything you disagree with me about, I understand. But I'd like to show you why it's important for you guys to listen to me. I know so much more about what's to come than you can imagine."

"Whatever. Just don't get me killed, and I'll be good enough."

He sighed. "Stubbornness is a great survival trait, long as you use it correctly. You'll come around, I can see it."

Finally, everyone else showed up in the truck. We all got in and I pretty much passed out in the first ten minutes of driving, and had a pretty weird dream that felt too real. It was night, I just hang up with a friend and started running. It was cold and I could barely feel it, between my coat and the adrenaline rush of worry for someone. I guess I wasn't much for running because my body wanted.to fight it so bad, but something had me going as fast as possible. 

I felt fear and couldn't help calling out a name. "Jack! I'm coming!" 

I could almost feel tears, something was chasing him. And it's exactly why we were there, but why were we split up? I knew I was halfway there, why haven't I seen him yet?" My heart kept sinking in my chest, and I just wanted to kill this monster messing with us. Then I saw him, short with long dirty blonde, curly hair. I smiled and part of me knew the danger was over already. 

"Andrew! Finally!" He yelled. 

Just then, I woke up to a crash. I had no idea what was happening besides my name being called. We were hit, and the truck went straight for the side of the bridge, and towards a 100 foot drop. Andrew stood up casually as if the movement had no effect on him, or he's done this before, and jumped straight off the side before we went over behind him. 

Is he crazy? We're gonna crush him. 

Just when I thought we'd hit the ground, however, it stopped and everyone hit the roof. The car turned right side up and was then lowered to the ground as if some giant hand had caught us. 

"Hey," Andrew yelled, opening the door. He looked perfectly fine somehow. "Everyone ok?"

"Fuck, this shit hurts!" I heard his youngest brother yell. 

"Shit. Alex, hold on!" He came rushing in, grabbed Alex from the front seat, and got him outside, Nick following close behind. I came behind him, for some reason I could feel his concern. Andrew lowered him into the water, Hus head on the bank of the river, and did a dance of some kind. But the water around Alex seemed to follow the movement, and I saw what I can only say is a current that went back and forth across the kid's body, and it began to glow. I silently got closer for a better look, and the knife that was in Alex's leg simply popped out, the wound completely healed in seconds. 

"Hey, buddy," he said, helping him sit up. Then some more water started hovering above his hand, and started rotating until it glowed. "Drink this. You need the energy." He guided it into his brother's mouth, and in seconds Alex stood up, good as new. Just who is this guy, how is he capable of so much?

"Ok guys," he said, "let's keep moving."

"How did we crash?" I asked as he passed me, holding onto his brother to make sure he doesn't fall. "How were you able to heal him like that?" 

"A pack of deer were on the road, and I have a lot of secrets I don't wish to share yet. Helps so the enemy doesn't know who I am or what I'm capable of." 

"And just what is that?"

"That's a question I hope I don't need to answer anytime soon." With that, he turned to the other brother, Nick. "Hey, so we need to get this truck back up there."

"We?" He replied. 

"Yeah, the three of us. We're more than strong enough, besides since the apocalypse began I've had a surge in power. You guys should too." What was he talking about? Are they all hiding some supernatural gifts from us? Do we all have powers we haven't discovered?

They all used telekinesis or something to get it up to the top of the hill but that wasn't nearly as impressive as what happened next.

"Ok, boys," Andrew said, "remember your water training?"

"Yeah," they both answered him.

"Well then, we're about to make some stairs. Focus on the water, don't force it but guide it. I'll focus on the ice part." The three then started a dance similar to when he was healing Alex earlier, and I paid closer attention. It was more like letting their bodies flow through movements fluidly, and sure enough the water was rising. Within seconds, a staircase of ice started forming and in a minute it was complete.

"Ok, we have no time to waste," he said, "those who don't have a spear, go first. So if you fall anyone behind you can catch you, as they can and will use their spears to stabilize themselves."

How does every crazy idea of his have some actual sense behind it? Are the gears in his brain not rusting and failing from so much use? Honestly after what I've seen I'd believe they're titanium. But me and two others went first, Nick leading the way. His brothers wore clothes similar to his, besides the flashy coat. The younger one had a bow, and seemed to take after Andrew more. The other however had two desert eagles, full military gear, and an AK-47. He was obviously the Juggernaut. Everyone else, except the one who was ex black-ops, however had of course street clothes modified a little for better survival, a knife or two, two others had bows. And of course there were the two who had spears, Andrew in the very back. I glanced at him, composed and confident as if the slippery ice was nothing. He didn't have a spear to stabilize, or need one. His coat flowed in the wind; primarily bright orange, with blue, black, navy blue, and an off-white color. It looked homemade, but really well done and thought out. I noticed the Wolf insignia on the back, the crescent moon with a zodiac sign behind it over his heart, and an assassin's cloak kinda vibe. Of course the arms weren't completely white, there was Navy blue and then black on either side.

"What are you thinking about Taylor?" He asked me. I wasn't even looking at him anymore.

"Just the coat you're wearing. Never seen one like it."

"Ah. Yeah, I made it after I graduated as a riding jacket for my motorcycle. Nice, right?"

"Yeah. Hey, another thing. I'm sorry about earlier, I don't completely agree with you sometimes, but your craziness has actually been pretty helpful."

"It's ok man, I get it all the time."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Nick jumped in, "he's one of the craziest people you'll meet, but you can never find a more trustworthy soul."

"He fights for others," said Alex, "never thinks about himself."

"I'd expect his brothers to say that."

"Not biological," the leader said, "we've known each other 5 years, I met them through their sister, Tris. A few weeks of hanging out and we were inseparable, truly brothers. There's truly nothing I wouldn't do for them."

"I've never had someone like that," I said, looming down, "someone who would run through forests in the middle of a winter night for my safety, or vice versa."

"What are you talking about?" He asked as I got to the top.

"When I was sleeping, I had a vision. I wa-" just then, I was interrupted by a ball of fire that almost got him, but he dodged in time. I looked over to see a group of people coming from the woods on the far side, one in a stance as if he just threw something. Obviously it was him, but how? Why are there suddenly people with extraordinary abilities like this? Unfortunately I couldn't think of that as much as surviving whatever happened next.

Nick shot off his AK with deadly accuracy, however the bullets would somehow bounce away from the group as if some invisible field was stopping them.

"We've got elementals and psychics!" Andrew announced, drawing his swords, "let's show 'em what we're made of boys!" The three brothers let out a war cry of some kind and attacked. Alex used his bow, and shot off an arrow. As soon as it made contact, it ignited a giant explosion. You'd think he had three grenades tied to it, but it was a normal arrow. The force field didn't stand a chance, and the group was thrown back. Andrew was already there before they could hit the ground, ready for first contact. A fire user went for a leg sweep, but he jumped the flames, and went for a kick. I don't even know how, but the fire guy dodged and went for a headshot. Andrew twisted, coming around with his blades. It looked like a sure hit, but the enemy ducked and kicked him in the chest. It looked over almost, the others getting back up now, except Nick started going crazy with his pistols, and ran in to get his brother. I grabbed my machete and charged behind, the others coming after me.

The archers launched arrows, Nick and Andrew double-teamed a pair of fire users, and I was engaged in a duel with someone else who had a katana. They seemed like the lazy type, because despite the expensive looking sword, even I could take him easily, just using my experience from playing sword related video games. He used a lot of powerful, slow swings, which were easy to predict. So, all it took was a swipe to the chest and he was on the ground screaming. My arm started shaking. That was the first time I used a blade on another man, I felt a steely cold pass through my body, a newfound sense of guilt washed over me but I couldn't leave him like this. So, I finished the job and put him out of his misery.

I looked back up to see the others had started retreating, Andrew helping chase them off. However, one grabbed hold of Nick by launching him with an earth spike and caught him as they ran. The guy was a brute. Andrew and Alex went sprinting after them, running faster than I thought possible. I was about to go help, but suddenly there was a loud bang. I looked down and dropped my machete in a panic when I saw I had been shot in the gut. There was so much blood, I could've sworn I was about to die. My vision went black, the last thing I could see was Alex getting taken as well. I felt the heat building up, and fell over but someone had caught me.