Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25242837-20150407225226

This is my second story for the collab.

Apex of Ruin

'''2 days prior to "Judgment Day" '''

The door to Alan's abode gently creaked open. A man dressed in a business suit stepped through the doorway. He cried out, "Alan?  You here, buddy?" The man walked slowly around the house, the floorboards squeaking with each step he took. "It's me, Sid.  Where are you?" It was then that Sid spotted a small yet noticeable trail of blood on the carpet. He began following the trail. "Come on, Alan.  We haven't seen you in weeks!" The trail got thicker as Sid neared the bedroom. Upon entering he saw Alan sitting in the corner. He had no shirt on, and there were lash marks upon his back. Sid came closer to him. "Alan, where the hell ya been?  It's been almost two weeks since anyone saw you!" Alan turned around, almost to present his painting to his long time friend. Carved into his chest was a six pointed star that stretched from his shoulders to the bottom of his stomach. Sid was drawn aback. "Alan, what the hell happened to you?"

Alan stammered, "I-I am."

"What?"

"I- you- we all are not."

"What are you talking about."

"Who we thought we were."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Sid stood, puzzled and scared at what his friend had just said. "What do you mean?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan was screaming now, "We all were there.  We worked for her, that b*tch!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Sid grabbed Alan by the shoulders, "Get a hold of yourself!  What are you talking about?!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan calmed down slightly, "I'm gonna show everyone.  I'll show them all."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Calm down.  Don't do anything stupid." Sid reached for his phone to call Diana, but Alan slapped his hand away.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Josie, Tim- oh god.  I hated that kid back when all this sh*t started.  He always thought his ideas were the best.  Even I can't believe what they did to him."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Alan shut up.  Just shut the f*ck up!  Do you have any idea what she's gonna do to you?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"I know what she's gonna do.  She'll make me wish I was dead.  It's gonna be worth it, though."

<p class="MsoNormal">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">1 day prior to "Judgment Day" '''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Jack walked into Diana's office. "Hey, Diana.  We've got a problem."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Not even turning to look at him she said, "What did Jim do?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Nothing.  Sid's the problem this time.  He didn't show up today and nobody's seen him since he went to Alan's place."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Diana froze and then stood up. She briskly walked to Jack. "Well why don't you go find him?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"That's the thing.  We've already searched Alan's house up and down.  No sign of Sid or Alan anywhere."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Well, sh*t.  Go ahead and put a reward out for anyone who finds them.  I want them alive."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"We don't particularly need any new test subjects at the moment."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"I want them here today.  Move it."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Yes, ma'am."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">1 hour prior to "Judgment Day" <span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:107%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan parked the van outside of a hotel on 16th Street. His clothes were disheveled, covered in blood and food stains. He sauntered towards the entrance to the hotel. When he walked in, the denizens of the building were understandably concerned. The report had described him as, "Armed and dangerous," and, "Ready to kill at a moment's notice." He walked to the receptionist. "Where's the phone?" he asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">She nervously replied, "On the wall by the elevators." Upon reaching the phone, he dialed in the only number he could remember, "207-559-8127." A familiar voice answered. "This is Diana."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan said, "I'm at the hotel on 16th Street.  Come watch me die."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Before he hung up he heard, "Alan?"

<p class="MsoNormal">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Judgment Day '''

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Nobody could exactly pinpoint where the blast originated from, but it almost certainly came from the black minivan parked outside the hotel. Within the first few seconds the dead body of Sid Morgan had been completely incinerated along with most of the hotel. The residents of 16th Street were scared, but eventually left the safety of their homes to investigate the blast zone. It was then that the very street began to split. Chunks of asphalt fell into a cave-like structure underneath the breaking street. Several people ran for cover, but very few made it away from the ever growing sinkhole.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Eventually, the ground settled and the few survivors looked into the hole. What they thought was a cave was a large white room painted by the blood of their friends and neighbors. Black vehicles rushed to the scene as what appeared to be the lone survivor of the sinkhole began to climb out. A woman ran screaming out of a black car, "The Pen!  What the f*ck happened?!  What did you do?!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">A man beside her said, "Diana, we don't have time.  It's already started climbing the rocks.  You take care of the witnesses, we'll take care of the beast."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Just kill it!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"No.  We've put too much time and effort into this to just let it die now.  Besides, we have no idea what actually hurts it."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Do, whatever.  I'll round up the survivors."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan stood up from beside the sinkhole. He started running towards the beast while shouting at it. His words were slurred and incomprehensible. Out of the black vehicles came a hoard of soldiers in body armor. The soldiers shot at the monster in sinkhole, but it was unfazed. Slowly but surely, it climbed the rubble and made its way to solid ground. The monster was covered in large blobs of skin. It's face sagged and revealed the bloody muscles beneath it. Across its body were many small scales that seemed to deflect all attacks against it. The monster shambled towards Diana, who had begun to gather the survivors into a remaining house. She slowly turned to meet the creature. In a raspy voice it said, "Diana."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">She nervously replied, "W-what?  What do you want?!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"There's something you have to know about The Pen."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Diana was startled at this statement. The creature was not supposed to possess any form of logical thought, just a desire to kill and eat whatever it could find. Before she could say anything, the creature said, "Your surgeon is untrustworthy.  The current subjects in The Pen all have their brains intact.  They're using this disaster as a means of escape as we speak.  I know that you don't know how I can still think and speak, but I can help you.  All you need to do is stop the escape plan."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Diana said, "How do you-"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"Know all of this?  We've been planning this for a long time.  I don't particularly care what happens to the escapees, I just want you to know that I am in complete control of this facility."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"What do you want?!  Why are you helping me?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">"I want out of this sh*thole.  I want to eat something other than human flesh for once.  I'd almost forgotten what the sun looked like.  You already have the data you need on me.  The only reason I can think of for you keeping me here is that you don't want to fess up to your mistake."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Diana was getting angry. "What the f*ck are you talking about?!  You're just an accident!  We never collected any data on you?!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The creature stayed calm. "Oh, you don't know about the Manufacturing Center?  I suppose even you don't know what's going on under your feet, but I do.  Let's be very clear on something, Diana.  I am in charge now.  You are not to set foot inside any of the labs or even The Pen without my permission.  As further incentive there is a man with a gun pointed straight at your head standing right behind you.  I believe you know Alan?"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Alan, revealing himself to her said, "Oh yeah, we go way back."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The creature returned, "Order your men to stand down.  All of the survivors live, for now.  Tell them that I am the new leader of the Indigo Falls facility.  If any one of them attempts to harm me in any way, you will die.  Alan has a sensor that will go off whenever my heart rate drops below 20 bpm or my heart rate goes above 200 bpm.  I'll be making my leave now."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The beast turned and walked towards the vehicle that Diana had arrived in. Before he stepped in he said, "Oh, and one more thing.  Call me Tim from now on." <ac_metadata title="Collab Project: Apex of Ruin (unreviewed)"> </ac_metadata>