The Rise of Silent Earth: Beginnings

It’s been about 2 months since Nathan has come to this town. His internship with the architects of Parkhill Smith and Cooper at the Lincoln, Nebraska branch has been his only reason to stay. There is a huge deadline due for a building that is to be commissioned as the new solution to the current “super-flu victim” control issue that is to be tested here. Staying late at the downtown 6th story office, Nathan is trying to finish drawings for a presentation in the morning.

:: Rubs his eyes while he stares at the computer screen::

“All work and no play make Nathan a dull boy,” he chuckles to himself as he finishes the last parts to the drawing and sends the files to print.

:: Kicks back in a state of accomplishment::

He thinks to himself that the boss is gonna be pleased with what it is that he has done with the plans. Might even get that permanent position that he was aiming for.

There is suddenly a scream from the street level that startles him from his concentration. A few seconds of silence pass and the sudden screech of tires and a loud sound of a crash, that rattles the very building, fills what silence the scream left behind.

:: Walking slowly to the window to see what the hell happened is the only way to curb this sudden surge of curiosity::

The only thing that really comes to mind is “What the….” as the scene of people running in panic and confusion through the streets meets his eyes. Some people were attacking others running from the attacks and others were being… eaten?

:: Finding the closest trashcan he realizes his stomach is weaker than he assumed::

From the vantage point, the view gives Nathan a good view of how the rest of the town is being affected by this scene of panic. It appears to stretch for blocks. Sirens blare in the distance and there are lights coming on all over the city.

:: The printers in the background finish and draw attention back into the office::

Suddenly there is the realization, these office lights are the only lights that are on in the building!

:: A mad dash towards the light switch::

The sounds of the stairwell door and a soft growling noise find his ears. The switch falls and darkness descends. Growling intensifies then dies out completely. Adrenaline and fear drive him, with memory of the everyday walk, to his desk where his hand finds the metal T-square left lying there. Gripping it tightly Nathan comes to the realization that his company is closer than he would like. As he peeks around his desk the… creature… locks eyes and snarls. The eyes pick up the light from the street and an eerie madness is the only thing that stares back in that brief moment. With a scream and a lunge the creature crashes its way past desks and chairs in a savage like motion. When he dodges this attack the creature leaves its back vulnerable and in this intense urge not to be eaten Nathan begins to beat his victim uncontrollably with no intention of stopping. The T-square making contact with every swing eventually bends and breaks under the repeated blows.

:: Falling back into his chair catching his breath::

“Holy” (deep breath) “shit.” Staring at the ever darkening spot on the floor again pushes Nathan’s curiosity to turn on the desk lamp revealing what is left of the woman that became his first victim. Covered in blood splatter he changes glances from the woman, to the part of his T-square still dripping in his hand, back to the woman. He just sits there, looking at the other part of his T-square that is still lodged into the back of her head. The bloodied body with multiple wounds and many missing chunks of flesh from its back lays there as the only evidence that a survival instinct lies within him.

:: An unbelieving chuckle floats through the air::

Minutes pass that feel like hours in his mind. He finally stands, drops his weapon, gathers his things and heads for the elevator. Once calling it he remembers the others in the street and reaches for the closest stool and breaks a leg from it. From the main lobby door Nathan spots his car, looks around and makes a mad dash for it. From there it is just the 10 minutes of silence that he endures as he witnesses the scenes in the town as he drives towards his house.

The silence makes the thoughts flow faster than he can truly process them. What is happening...? Why are people eating other people...? Why did that woman appear so savage...? The part where he killed the woman was the thought that rolled through his mind the most.

:: His neighborhood is a lot less panicked than the city was slightly calming his nerves::

The shock of the day sets in as he fumbles for his keys and notices that with a shaking hand, he picks them up. Nathan finally gets his door unlocked and gets in the house slumping against the door after bolting it. “Just breathe” he whispers, trying to calm himself. Looking to the living room he wonders what the TV has to say.

:: The click of a button and the steady tone of the emergency broadcast system fill his house::

Sudden panic! If this is right his family might not have made it through the night. Turning the TV off, with a new determination Nathan heads upstairs, thoughts of his sister’s safety immediately drive him forward. When once again the cell service in the area is busy he can’t help but finally yell “fucking phones!!”

:: Through his door and straight to his bed where under the mattress he removes his loaded H&R 1871 Defender pump action 12 gauge shotgun::

Something has changed inside of him....

(This posting is a corresponding story to that of WarMarshall's 'Feral Instinct'. We are trying to build a story together that has different points of view.)