Chapter 4

My abdomen exploded in pain as the tongue creature stuck itself deep into the tissue of my stomach. I gasp in pain and the creature wriggles deeper into my skin. I grip its slippery body in my shaking hands and cry out as I pry it from my flesh. The Alien stayed imbedded in my skin, its long fangs sank into me. Panic overtook me as I heard the thumping of the larger alien coming up behind me. I flung the backpack off of me and search the inside frantically, I grip the handle and thrust the survival knife into the slippery felon. The larger Alien screeched in horror as I disconnected its tongue from its body. I grip my torso, the blood spilling from the wound down the front of my body. I hold both of my hands to the large gash and pick myself from the ground while the alien is stunned.

I stagger out of the mall into the sweltering sun, a cough wrecks my tormented body. I cringe in pain and continue through the parking lot, staining the concrete with crimson. A bone-chilling shriek echoed through the dead city and I suck in a troubled breath. I pick up the pace across the parking lot, weaving through cars and watching the sky for the collectors.

I rest against the dusty pickup truck once again, zipping up my backpack. The Alien slowly drags itself out into sun from the large doorway of the shopping centre. Bright, luminescent and orange liquid pours from the disconnection. The creature looks to the North and an unseen one creeps out from a buildings shadow. The latter Alien responds to the first with another screech, chilling the air even in the intense heat. I slink away quietly, gripping onto the straps of my backpack.

I struggle down the street, leaving the beasts behind me. My legs shakily carry me down the concrete, sometimes giving way beneath me. I curl my hands into fists as my body hits the sidewalk after tripping over a pile of rubble. I let out an agonizing cry and push myself from the ground. My arms give way and my upper body is plunged back down to the ground. Tears sting in my eyes and my stomach continues to ache. My body lays still, another one of the dead among the ghosts.

His words echo through my mind, his booming voice ringing through my ears.

'My little Guy, please promise me that you'll never let the cruelness of this world get to you. Promise that you'll be stronger than me, stronger than your mother. Be strong for you are the last of our family and you must be the one to continue our legacy. I love you my son, your mother loved you and I hope the world treats you better.'

A stream of tears flow down my face, regretting ever making that promise. I push the emotions down deep into my wounded gut and painfully choke down a sob. I try to forget the pain that struck deep within my father. I attempt to leave my mothers face and the way my father held her picture tightly in his hands in the past. My mind tortures me by replaying the image of father walking forward. He looks back at me one last time before plummeting himself off the roof. I run my bloodied hands through my buzz cut hair, attempting to sooth the on coming mental breakdown. I wipe my tears off my face, smearing the ichor thoroughly across my eyes and forehead.

A collector ship whizzes past a few streets down and my breath catches in my throat. I find strength within me to shove myself off the ground, the hanging animal still inside me. I drag my lower half off the ground, wheezing in excruciating pain. I slowly lean against a disgusting dumpster in a nearby alleyway, hoping that the buildings will provide sufficient cover. Flys land along my exposed insides, I swat them away and watch the sky. The bright afternoon heavens have deepened, giving way to brilliant purples and pinks of early evening. I carefully begin removing my long sleeved shirt, hissing as I peeled the blood soaked fabric from the gash. I managed to remove the shirt from my torso and now all I have to do is pull it over my head. I breathe heavily as I raise both hands above my head, the action pulling at the open skin. I quickly take off the shirt and tie it around my waist. I tie the sleeves tightly around my stomach then stuff the remaining fabric into the wound, working around the snake-like creature that implanted itself inside my skin.

A chilling breeze whips through the narrow space, causing a sea of goosebumps to arise across my whole body. Cold settles down among the empty streets as the sun goes down. I wobble out of the alleyway, clutching the map tightly in my shaking hands. I slowly traverse through the hushed avenues of the city, pausing many times for rest. Tiredness and strain has pushed my body to it's limits, and as I look over the next 2 miles of road I must go down to return home, I feel a sense of defeat come over me. I push the shirt farther into me and shamble my way down the criss-crossing roads of the city.

I heave open the front front and collapse into the safety of my temporary home. The door is slammed shut behind me and I lean against it. I take out the knife from my bag and focus on the Alien inside of me. I grasp its slender body and yank on it. Pain follows very shortly after, causing me to pause. I grit my teeth tightly and wrap it around my hand. I pull as hard as I can, screaming, as the rest of the beast emerges from me. With one final pull, it comes free, tearing my skin as the original chunk remains lodged inside its mouth. My vision fades as I hold the slimy monster in my hands, black dots float around the small room.

In my daze I almost don't notice the three small knocks on my door.