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Bray awoke with a start, he laid back down in his bed and tried to figure out what his dream had meant, he had been having the same dream every night for the past two weeks; he was standing on a cliff over a massive lake and he would look up and see an eagle flying over head, he would try to reach out and touch it and then he would wake up with a feeling of tremendous loss.
Bray sighed with confusion, pulled himself out of bed, did ten press ups and began to get ready for school.
Half and hour later he was sitting around the table eating breakfast with his parents, his brother Martin had already gone to school, his dad was reading the paper, "Bray listen to this, it says in here that some scientists that work for the government were working on some top secret project when accidentally a deadly virus was invented, it was predicted that this virus could have wiped out the population, although they discovered that it only seemed to affect adults, the country was beginning to prepare for a state of emergency when two kids, who met over the internet, figured out a cure. One of the kids was a complete computer nerd and managed to hack into the governments files and he got in contact with a girl that he had met in a chat room she was into herbal medicines and all of that kind of stuff and together they made an antidote, it says that they have been hailed as heroes."
When his dad was finished talking Bray said with out even thinking "Huh, Jack and Tai San."
His dad looked at him "Bray have you already read this article?"
"No, why?"
"Because the two teenagers who did this, their names were Jack Harrison and Tai San Bhring."
Bray nearly choked on his cereal and looked at his dad with wide eyes 'How did I know that' Bray thought to himself. Before he had time to even think about it his mum said "Bray your going to be late for school" Bray shrugged off the weird feeling that he had, leapt up to get his bag, said goodbye to is parents, and ran out to his car.
On his way to school he saw Trudy, his brothers girlfriend, walking along the street. Trudy had a thing for him once but Bray was sure that she was over it; after all she was going out with his brother now.
Bray pulled over and yelled out the window "Hey Trudy, want a ride?" Trudy gave him a warm and full smile and jumped into the car.
They talked like old friends all the way to school but Bray didn't notice the longing looks that Trudy was giving him.
On the way Bray saw a little girl with light brown skin and short brown hair, and an image of a little girl playing with a black and white calf flashed into his head, why did he keep having all of these memories that he hadn't really lived...
Bray tried to act normal throughout the school day, but something kept tugging at his mind, like something that he was trying to remember but every time he thought he had a firm grasp on it, it would slip away. On top of that he had been trying to avoid Ebony, she had started to become to clingy with him, before they got together she had always been so independent, always doing her own thing that was one of the things that had attracted him to her, that and the fact that she was a babe. But as soon as the got together she had kind of been suffocating him and she was the kind of person that didn't really take no for answer.
With all of this on his mind Bray didn't really concentrate through out the whole day, but then he had a meeting for all the basketball teams in the school, their sports manager looked particularly agitated, but he was a nervous little man so that wasn't really anything too much out of the ordinary, but when he began talking Bray was definitely concentrating, "I'm afraid boys", "And girls" some chick yelled from the back, "Yes, and girls, well I have some bad news, as I'm sure you all know every year all of the teams from our school tour around other schools in our area of the country, we have always done very well in these games and have enjoyed the luxury of staying in motels, well we have been looking over the budget and this year there just isn't enough money"
"You mean there isn't enough money for us to stay in motels, well that's ok we can just bullet into students houses?"
The sports manager gave him a nervous look before saying "No, what I mean is that there isn't enough money for the whole tour" Every one looked at him stunned and silent for a moment, before they all jumped to their feet and began yelling, displaying there obvious anger, the basketball tour was something that all the players looked forward to all year.
Bray knew he had to say something, after all he was the captain of the senior team, he stood up on his chair and as he looked down at all of the students he had a memory of doing exactly the same thing but to a smaller group of teens and kids ranging in ages from babies to late teens, but he shook his head and the image disappeared, and he quickly stepped into the leadership role that seemed so familiar to him, "OK everyone calm down, I have an idea, what if we organize a HUGE dance party and sell tickets to the students from all of the school that we go to play at, if enough people come we'll make a fortune" everyone thought about it for a moment and then looked to Mr. Duffery, then sports manger, for approval he looked thoughtful and then simply said "Sounds like a good idea" Every one gave a cheer and some of Bray's mates lifted him on to their shoulders.
One Week Later
Bray hadn't had time to think about the weird flashes and memories he'd been having, because he had been nominated to be in charge of the Dance Committee.
MEANWHILE IN ANOTHER SCHOOL:
Amber was sitting eating lunch with some of her friends when Nicole her best friend came bouncing up "Hey Amber, did you hear about this dance party, are you going to go?"
"Yeah probably" Amber said casually, but knowing that she would definitely go, she just had a feeling, something was telling her to go...
The night of the dance had arrived. Amber was extremely nervous because not only was there a dance but a singing competition had been organized and one representative from each school had to sing, and Amber had been chosen from her school, she was flattered but she had never been more nervous in her entire life, singing in front of a room of adults and judges was one thing, but to have to sing in front of hundreds of teenagers was a whole other matter. It was lucky that her hair wasn't giving her any grief that night because she was to nervous to do anything with it so the golden curls hung naturally around her shoulders, although she did spray some glitter on it before slipping into her purple 3/4 length skirt and white boob-tube.
She was going to the dance with Nicole, her other best friend Dal who was a few years younger but still old enough to enjoy the dance, she was also going with her friend Pride, Pride was driving them all and as soon as she heard him beep his car horn she waved good bye to her parents and practically ran to the car she was so nervous and excited.
Bray entered the dance with Martin and Trudy, he had deliberately told Ebony that he would meet her their in the hopes that he would be able to avoid her all night, when he entered an enormous cheer went up from everyone at his school and a few others that knew him. He had gotten no more than five steps inside the door when Ebony came bonding up "Oh Bray, I'm so nervous I can't believe I have to sing in front of all of these people" Ebony had been chosen to be their schools representative. "Ebony you'll be fine, you're a good singer"
"What do you mean I'm a good singer"
"Oh, I um mean...a um great singer"
"Damn, and you sound so enthusiastic about it"
"What, oh I'm sorry Ebony I'm just thinking, well hoping that everything goes alright tonight other wise all the teachers will hold me responsible"
"OK every body it's time to shake your groove thang" the DJ said into the microphone.
The pumping music started and everyone began dancing, while Ebony was talking to Trudy Bray quietly gave her the slip.
About half an hour later the DJ announced that it was time for the singing competition, "First up we have Ebony Jordan" Everyone cheered loudly and Ebony walked up onto the stage, she was wearing allow cut revealing top and an overly tight skirt this sent every male in the room into hundreds of wolf whistles, as a reward Ebony gave them a saucy smile. She sang a popular song of the time, and she sang it well, at the end every cheered, clapped and whistled loudly.
The DJ made a comment about how good she was and then said that the next singer up was Amber Stevens.
Amber took a deep breath and stepped up on the stage. Bray was a little.um.busy with Ebony and didn't notice her until she began to sing, Bray knew the song immediately it was from 'Les Miserables'. He completely ignored Ebony and began to listen to the angelic voice and the words that were being sung.
On my own,
Pretending he's beside me,
All alone,
I walk with him till morning.
Without him, I feel his arms around me.
And when I lose my way, I close my eyes, and he has found me.
In the rain,
The pavement shines like silver,
All the lights,
Are misty in the river,
In the darkness the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever.
And I know
It's only in my mind,
That I'm talking to myself,
And not to him.
And although,
I know that he is blind.
Still I say,
There's a way for us,
I love him,
But when the night is over.
He's gone,
The river's just a river.
Without him,
The world around me changes,
The trees are bare and everywhere
The streets are full of strangers.
I love him,
But everyday I'm learning,
All my life,
I've only been pretending,
Without me,
His world will go on turning,
The world is full of happiness that I have never known.
I love him,
I love him,
I love him but only on my own.
If you thought the cheer was loud when Ebony had finished her song you should have heard the one that they gave Amber, it was so loud that it was deafening and it didn't stop for about five minutes. Amber just stood on the stage smiling graciously at them all, of course she couldn't see the look the Ebony was giving her it was as if Ebony was mentally sending a thousands daggers in Amber's direction.
Bray looked up at the beautiful girl standing on the stage and as he did he saw the image of an eagle flying above her head, "It's her..." Bray whispered to himself.
The panel of judges who were students selected from all of the schools didn't take long to decide on a winner, and since he had practically organized the whole dance Bray had been dragged into announcing the winner, he was pushed up on to the stage and handed the envelope with the name of the winner inside.
He gave everyone in the crowd his famous smile that made all of the girls grin back at him and all of the guys put a protective arm around their girlfriends.
"And the winner is..." Bray opened the envelope with shaking hands, he didn't know why he was so nervous, yes he did, he wanted that girl, Amber, to win. Once he saw the name on the piece of paper his grin grew even wider, "The winner is: Amber Stevens of Central High School."
The crowd began cheering at an enormous level once again and Amber bounced up on the stage to collect her prize.
Bray saw that she was even more breath-takingly beautiful up close, "Congratulations"
"Thanks..." Amber began, but then she looked up at the guy standing in front of her, and she looked him right in the eye it was like an electric shock ran through her body, "Well it's a pretty good prize" Bray said awkwardly as he handed her the $100 music voucher, and then he couldn't help himself he leant forward and gave he a kiss, but only on the cheek. The crowd gave an even louder cheer, the only people that weren't doing load wolf whistles were Ebony who was standing there with a sulky expression on her face, and Amber's friend Pride who unbeknownst to her has had a huge crush on Amber for months, Trudy was also looking on jealously, of course the smitten Martin didn't notice.
Amber gave Bray one last smile before, as calmly as she could, walking off the stage to show her friends her prize.
"Oh my God, Amber did you see the way that guy was looking at you, do you know him?"
"No, I've never seen him before in my life" Amber said with a small smile.
"He's a babe." Nicole said dreamily.
Amber's smile grew wider, but her face dropped when she saw a girl, one of the other singers, go up to Bray and wrap her arm around his neck, "um, Nicole don't get to excited, I think he's taken" Amber said before turning on her heel to go and find a guy to dance with.
Ebony had decided that the best was to get make Bray pay attention to her and not to that girl who won the competition, was not to bitchy at him but to be even "nicer".
As soon as he stepped off the stage she wrapped her arms around him and began to dance slowly and sensually. But Bray shrugged her arms off and said "Ebony we need to talk"
They walked out into the entrance way and Bray began the speech that he had been going over and over in his head for the last couple of days, "Ebony, this thing with us, it just isn't working out anymore" he was about to continue when Ebony cut him off, "It's because of that chick isn't it, the singer"
Bray gave a tired sigh, "No, Ebony this isn't about her, it's about us, I just think that it's over, I don't feel that way about you anymore" Bray had an enormous sense of Déjà Vu, he saw an image of Ebony standing in front of him with a red flame painted on her forehead, he shook his head he didn't have time for these weird images right now. HE gave Ebony one last smile and said, "I'm sorry Ebony, I didn't plan for it to turn out this way"
On his way back into the dance Bray walked straight into Amber who was furious because some guy she had been dancing with had just tried to feel her up.
"Whoa, where are you going in such a hurry?" Bray asked with a grin.
Amber was about to shove past him when she realized who it was, "Oh, hi again" The was a few awkward seconds of silence before Bray said, "hey, do you want to dance?"
"What about your girlfriend?"
"What girlfriend?" Bray said assuringly. Amber grinned and walked with him to the dance floor. As they reached the floor a slow came on, it took a few moments but eventually they relaxed into each other's arms as the music pulsed around them, it was a song that they both knew and liked;
I won't go,
I won't sleep,
I can't breath,
Until your resting here with me...
"So, what's your name?" Amber asked shyly.
"Bray" He said with another one of those heart melting smiles, "And your Amber?"
She smiled, nodded and laid her head down to rest on his shoulder.
Right there dancing in Bray's arms Amber felt as if nothing could ruin that night, she
was wrong!
Bray heard shouting coming from the direction of the door, "I'll be back in a
second Amber, I'm kind of in charge of keeping things in order tonight" he said apologetically.
"It's ok, I'll come with you"
They walked hand in hand over to the door to see what the commotion was. Bray
expected that it would just be some drunk
kids trying to get into a school dance, but
as soon as he and Amber got the door it burst open, and in walked the local gang.
The gang was new, but ruthless, they didn't let anyone get in the way of what they
wanted, especially when it came to money, booze, drugs and girls.
Their leader, Tama, was walking in front of the rest.
Tama went to the dance hoping to cause some trouble, he knew that there wasn't
going to be much security there and he
was hoping to cause some havoc!
Bray heard Amber gasp and felt her grip on to his hand tighten, "Amber what's wrong?"
"Don't let him see me" she said while stepping behind Bray.
Too late, Tama had seen her, "Well, well, well, if it isn't, my girl, Amber."
"I'm not your girl, Tama, and I haven't been for a long time" Amber said forcefully and at the same time Bray put a protective arm around her.
At first Tama looked angry and then a smirk crossed his face, "Oh, I see. So this
is your new guy huh, well have you told him that you have a kid, my kid...?
"Shut up Tama, you have no idea what you're talking about" Amber screamed at
him. She looked up at Bray, his face was unreadable, she had no idea what he was thinking, "Look why don't you and your friends get lost, Amber obviously doesn't
want anything to do with you" Bray said defiantly.
Tama was about to lunge at him, when Pride came running up, "Tama I thought I told you to leave Amber alone last time we met"
When Tama saw Pride he immediately backed off "Come on boys, lets leave
these little school kids to their dance"
With that the gang turned and walked out, as noisily as they came in.
Amber's legs gave way and Bray had to hold her tight to keep her from sinking to
the ground.
"Amber...?"
"Pride take me home"
With as much dignity as she could muster Amber detached herself from Bray and left
the dance with Pride.
As soon as she was in the car Amber brook down into tears, "I thought he was
behind me, how dare he come back and ruin an almost perfect night, and then I just
left Bray standing there, I'm such an idiot"
"Amber you are not an idiot, Tama is the idiot. So you obviously didn't tell him about...?"
"No, I never told Tama I had an abortion, it just hurt too much. How do you tell someone
that you killed their child, even someone as heartless as Tama"
"So, who's this Bray guy?" Pride asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice.
The mention of Brays name brought a smile to Amber face, "Bray.." she whispered his
name.
Pride saw the look on Amber's face as soon as she heard his name, he knew he
had no chance with her now, at least before he had a small chance, but that
was gone now.
"But I'll bet he won't want to see me after tonight, he thinks I have a kid, a 16 year
old with a kid, he must think I'm such a slut." Amber said sadly.
"Amber, if he is a decent person, it shouldn't make a differences that you, or
as far as he knows, have a kid"
Back at the dance Bray was still standing there, a hundred images were flashing before his eyes, images of him and a Amber leaving the city, being forced from
the city, images of a very pregnant Amber. And finally images of him and Amber in a
barn, with Amber screaming and in terrible pain.
"Amber.." Bray finally managed to say.
"Bray?" Bray looked up and saw his brother standing in front of him, but he didn't
see him as the Martin he knew. He saw an angry young man standing in front of him
and he was screaming something, 'Power & Chaos'
Bray shook his head to get rid of the frightening images he was seeing of his brother, instead he saw an even worse picture, his brother falling over the edge of
a mall, "Martin"
"yeah Bray"
"Promise me that you will never...." as Bray was talking he looked over towards the
door and saw a guy with black shoulder length dreds walk in, "Lex?" He said
unsurely to him.
"Yeah, how did you know my name, well my nick name, only my friends call me
Lex?" The guy growled at him.
"I don't know" he looked up at Lex again, but this time saw him standing with a girl
with pink & blue hair. "What is happening to me...?"
Bray didn't sleep at all that night; he was too scared that if he closed his eyes all of the images would come back. He couldn't figure them out, they made no sense, 'I must be going crazy' he thought to himself. Eventually he couldn't fight sleep anymore.
When he woke up he let out a sigh of relief, none of the images had returned. But he had something much more important on his mind, Amber. That drug-head Tama said that she had a kid, Tama's kid.
Bray's brain and his heart were fight each other, his brain was telling him something that his heart wouldn't, couldn't agree with.
He decided to go and see Amber's friend, Pride. He would go see him after school.
When Bray arrived at school that day he saw a familiar face, "Lex" he said and walked up to him.
"Not you again" Lex said before turning and stalking away. Briefly an image flashed before Bray's eyes, it was Lex, but he looked different, he was sick. He was standing in front of him and Amber and some other kids telling them he had to go away, that Tai San told him this is what he has to do it get better, to get rid of the virus, "Tai San?" Bray said to himself, suddenly Lex whirled around, "What did you say?"
"What?" Bray said puzzled.
"You said Tai San... I know that name.?" Lex said getting up into Brays face.
"Have you met her before?"
"No.... kind of...no...urgh, it doesn't matter" He walked quickly away. Bray ran after him and grabbed his shoulder, "Don't touch me" Lex snarled at him.
"Lex, you see them too don't you? The images, you can see them too..."
Bray didn't need an answer, he could tell from the look in Lex's eyes that he was going through the same things that Bray was, and that he was just as scared that he was losing his mind.
Lex must have realized that even though he didn't say anything, he had given away too much, "Meet me at the gate after school" he said before running off to catch up with some boy that had been watching them strangely, Bray looked closer at the boy and a smile began to pull at his lips, "Ryan" he said to himself and thought 'some things never change'.
Meanwhile, Amber only had one thing on her mind, Bray. Ever since she left him standing by himself at the dance she had been cursing herself. If only she had had the courage to stay there and explain everything to him, if only Tama hadn't walked in and blurted out that she had a kid, of that she did as far as he new. If only......... 'If, the biggest word in the English language' she thought to her self. She sighed and tried to concentrate on the rest of her History class.
After school Bray ran to the gate where Lex was already waiting impatiently for him, "Lex" he said breathlessly.
"Not here, we'll go back to your place"
They arrived at Brays house, checked that no one was around and began talking.
"Ok" Lex said taking charge, "So I guess we've figured out that we are both having these dreams or images or what ever you want to call them?"
"Agreed" Bray said and continued, "I think we need to figure out what we are seeing, I'll tell you what I've seen and you tell me what you've seen, I'll go first"
Bray told all of the things that he had been seeing over the last couple of days and Lex did the same, they found out that Lex had been having images coming to him for about 2 weeks but Bray had only had them over the last couple of days.
Then Lex said something that made Bray jerk his head up, "What did you say?" he demanded.
Lex looked confused, "What the hell are talking about?"
"You just said that you had a memory of Tai San?"
"Yeah" Lex said still confused.
"Well don't you get it, that's what these images and dreams are, they're memories, but they memories that neither of us have ever lived, they're memories of what was supposed to happen"
A look of realization crossed Lex's face, "I've figured out from my...um...memories that some kind of virus wiped out the entire adult population, you mean that was supposed to happen, but somehow Tai San and Jack met and figured out that antidote, just like they did in our memories, but they did it a lot earlier?"
"Exactly" Bray begun, but he was interrupted by the phone ringing, he picked the extension in his room, "Hello Bray speaking" he said, irritated at being interrupted.
"Bray...um...it's Amber"
"Amber, oh, I.....um"
Lex had been listening to Bray side of the conversation and suddenly looked up, shocked, "Amber?"
Bray just nodded at him and Lex shook his head in disbelief.
"Amber, how did you get my number?"
"I got your number off some girl at school, I hope you don't mind?"
"No, I don't mind at all, actually I was going to go and see Pride to find out how you were. So, um, how are you? You left kind of suddenly the other night."
"I know, I'm sorry I left you standing there, I just to get out of there. Um Bray?"
"Yeah"
"Can we meet up somewhere tomorrow, I want to explain everything to you?"
"Sure, how about we meet at Phoenix Mall?' Bray said without even thinking.
Lex looked at him and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Ok then, I'll see you there at about 4"
"Ok, bye Amber."
"Bye" Amber said before hanging up the phone.
Lex looked at Bray with a smirk of his face.
"Alright, spit it out Lex, what's so funny"
"Oh, nothing it's just that even in this life or dimension or what ever, you and Amber are still taking ages to finally get together" he said with a laugh "What about Danni?"
"Who" Bray said, now it was his turn to be confused.
"Don't tell me you don't remember Danni! I do, but maybe that's because she pissed me off so much"
"No, I don't remember her, who was she?"
"Bray, she was your girlfriend"
"But what about Amber?" Bray said, still confused.
"It's a long story, and I would just love to tell you ALL about it, but, I have places to go and people to see, so laters."
And the Lex was gone before Bray could stop him and make him tell him about this girl Danni.
Just as bray was walking out of his room the phone began ringing again, he rushed back to it hoping it was Amber.
"Hello?"
"Bray, it's..."
"Jack" Bray said shocked.
"Yes, and we have to talk, it's about the antidote, it's an emergency...
"Jack what are you talking about?" Bray demanded.
"Like I said............ wait a minute, how did you know who I was?"
"Well, how did you know who I was, and my phone number?"
"About 2 months ago Tai San gave me an envelope and said that if anything ever happened to her to contact the person in the envelope and they would know what to do"
"What are you talking about???"
"Look Tai San is the only one who knows the formula for the antidote to this virus, she never told any one else, at least no anyone that I know of, and she said that of anything ever happened to her and she couldn't make the antidote anymore, that you will know what to do and how to do it. Well Tai San has been in a car accident and she's in a coma, so I figured I should get in contact with you."
As Jack was talking Bray saw images flashing before his eyes that were of Tai San convincing him, no, black-mailing him into accepting the responsibility of knowing the formula. Followed by images of Tai San showing him how to make the antidote and making him do it over and over.
"Bray........... Bray, are you there...?"
"I'm here"
"And?"
"It's ok Jack I know what to do"
Jack breathed a sigh of relief, "We have enough antidote to last the city about 3 days, Tai San said the adults have to keep having the antidote so that we can isolate the virus to the city only. If it spreads any further she said that we have to given to the government and tell them the formula, she's being able to keep them from forcing her to tell this far and if they found out that she...she..."
"Jack it's OK I know what to do"
"Good, can you come to the abandoned factory on Willis Street, on the South side of the city"
"Ok, I'll be there first thing in the morning"
That night Bray sat awake trying to fish out the things that Tai San had told him from his mixed up memory.
Another thing was there, in the corner of his mind, he was going to see Amber again, tomorrow...
Bray set off early the next morning, which wasn't hard to do as he didn't sleep at all the night before and went straight to the antidote factory.
When he arrived he found Jack already waiting anxiously outside. Bray stepped out of his car and Jack bounded up to him, "Are you Bray?" he asked nervously.
Jack was a bit of a nerd at school and he could tell right away that Bray was someone who was probably really popular, like all the guys at school that paid him to do their homework The sight of Bray who towered over Jack, immediately made Jack feel intimidated.
"Yep, that's me. Now lets get to work!" Bray said in a very focused way. Jack was surprised, but led Bray to the side entrance of the factory.
As soon as he was inside Bray began instructing Jack and a handful of other teens on making the antidote.
They had been working non-stop for hours, when Bray finally looked at his watch, "3:50" he yelled. "Jack I have to go, I have a really...um...important...ah meeting, I'll be back in about an hour."
"Well ok, everyone could do with a break anyway. OK everyone we are having an hour break, but after that I want everyone back here, we need to get another 10 liters made today if we are going to keep the supply up for the adult population of the city."
Before Jack had even finished what he was saying Bray was out the door and into his car, if he was going to make it to the mall he would have to hurry.
Meanwhile, Amber was on her way to the mall. As it was a nice day she had decided to walk.
She was only about a block from the Phoenix Mall when a car pulled over in front of her, Amber ignored it and continued walking until she saw who was getting out of the car, Tama and his loser friends. "Hey Amber, how about you and me go for a ride."
"Get lost Tama"
"Amber, I don't think you understand, it wasn't a question."
Amber started to walk away when she felt someone grab her arm.
"Let go Tama" she yelled at him
"Amber I just wanted to talk, but if you won't come willingly, well, then..."
That was all Amber heard before a rag soaked with something was clamped over her mouth and she passed out while she was being dragged into a car...
Amber woke up feeling confused and heavy headed, she let out a groan which caught the attention of the guys that were standing around her.
"Where am I" Amber demanded.
No one answered her but on of the guys said to the 'guard' standing next to Amber, "I better go get Tama"
"Where am I' Amber repeated in the same demanding tone.
When no one answered her for the second time Amber lowered her head in defeat, she saw that weapons that these guys were carrying and she that there was no point trying to escape, besides her wrists were tied together behind her back.
Suddenly Amber heard heavy boots walking towards her. She looked up expecting to see Tama, instead she was looking into the face of someone that didn't have the same stoner look of all of Tama's other heavy's.
"Look" he said in a quiet voice sot hat none of the others heard. "Don't make any trouble and no one will hurt you"
Amber opened her mouth to say something but the guy interrupted her, "Please just do what Tama says, I'm his right-hand man and I won't let him do anything to you, today"
"Today?" Amber asked weakly.
"Be patient, I'll explain everything tonight."
With that he turned and walked out of the room.
Before Amber had time to think about what this mystery guy had said to her she heard someone else walking towards her. A violent shudder ran through Amber's body and she knew immediately who would be standing in front of her.
"Amber, what a pleasant surprise" Tama said in a silky smooth voice.
"Tama, what the hell do you want?"
"Touchy, touchy. I always told you that you were mine Amber, and you always will be. Now I think it's about time that you I got...reacquainted" Tama said while running his hand down Amber cheek.
The feeling of his hand on her made Amber's skin crawl.
Then in walked the mysterious stranger "Tama, I need you, it's an emergency. You have to go and attend to some business to night."
"Gareth, I'm a little busy right now, can't this wait?"
"No, we will lock up your girl for tonight and you two can...um...catch up tomorrow." Gareth said all of this with a smirk on his face and in his voice, Amber was beginning to doubt that he was going to help her.
"OK. Amber I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow"
Amber raised her head and looked at Tama defiantly. Tama let out an evil laugh before leaving with Gareth, and the rest of the guards walking behind him.
At last Amber was alone.
Tears began to roll down her face, "Bray. Please Bray. Come and find me" Amber managed to whisper before the doors to the room were flung open and three of Tama's heavy's walked in.
They began coming towards Amber, "Ah, time to have some fun. What Tama doesn't know, won't hurt him. Besides we can test her out for him"
"HELP!" Amber screamed aimlessly, but she no one was going to come running in to her rescue...
"HELP!" Amber screamed again. The guys were loaming above her, one of them reached out and began grabbing at Amber's pants.
Amber wriggled and kicked out trying to keep the big lugs off her.
Suddenly they went flying; they literally flew off of her backwards.
Amber looked up fearfully and saw Gareth, the guy who said he was going to help her, standing angrily above the guys that were now sprawled across the ground.
"What the hell do you think you guys are doing?" he screamed at them.
"Come on Gareth, we were just having some fun."
"Fun!" Gareth yelled while pulling one of the drug-heads to their feet by their neck and pushing him up against the wall, "If I ever see any of you touch her ever again I'll tell Tama what you were trying to do with his girl" he said emphasizing the last two words, "and I'm sure that he won't be as easy on you as I was, now GET LOST!!!"
Gareth let go of the guy he was holding against the wall and he along with the other two ran out of the room.
"Thank you" Amber said with true gratitude, "But why are you helping me, you certainly didn't sound like you were going to before when you were talking to Tama."
"What did you expect to do? Jump up and down and say 'Hey Tama go away so I can rescue your girlfriend and get her as far away from you as possible' come on Amber."
"I suppose your right. But you still haven't me WHY you are helping me?"
"Look it's a long story, but you remind of my little sister she was about your age when she died."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you two close."
"Very" was Gareth could say, this wasn't the time to drag out his family history.
"Look Amber, we have to get you of here, and it has to be tonight, who knows what Tama will do to you if you stay any longer."
"Ok" Amber said quietly, she knew exactly what Tama would do and didn't even want to think about it.
"I have a plan, but you have to trust me."
"I trust you"
"By now most of the guys out there will either be completely drunk or completely stoned, probably both. I'm going to go and find some of the spare clothes that one of the guys will have lying around here. I need you to tie up your hair, I think that long blond curly hair will be kind of a dead give away. I'll come back you'll put on the clothes and I'll just walk you out of here. And in the morning all that these guys will remember, if anything, is that some new guy was walking around."
"That sounds easy in theory Gareth, but what if someone asks about me, I mean...."
"Amber, please try not to worry, I promise you I will get you out of here. Now I have to go and find you some clothes."
"Ok, no wait Gareth, what will happen to you?"
"Don't worry about me"
"But..."
"Amber please don't worry" Gareth said before quickly walking out the door before Amber could stop him.
Gareth returned about 15 minutes later with some old guys clothes.
"Are you ready?" he asked uncertainly.
"Ready"
Suddenly they heard a loud crashing sound outside.
"Oh shit, it's Tama, he's back early."
"How do you know it's him?"
Before Gareth could answer they heard some one throwing stuff around in the other room and Tama yell, "Where is she, where's Amber, take me to her..."
A moment later Tama burst in, he was drunk and was stumbling all over the place, "Amber, babe, come to your man."
Amber shrunk back hoping that because she was still in guys clothes Tama wouldn't recognize her, no such luck, he began lurching towards her. Once he was standing right in front of her he began yelling at Gareth to get out, Gareth didn't move, "What the f u c k are you doing Gareth, I said get the hell out!!!"
"Tama, why don't you wait until tomorrow to do this."
"Now why would I want to do that, oh I see, you wanted her all to yourself, well sorry Gareth she's mine, now are you going to leave or do I have to get Tom to deal with you?"
Gareth looked at Amber helplessly, "Amber I'm sorry." was all he said before lowering his head and backing out of the door.
Amber knew what was about to happen and she felt tears welling up in her eyes, she blinked them away, she was not going to let this monster see her cry.
"What's wrong Amber, it's not like you've never done this before." Tama said with an evil smirk.
"Get lost Tama, you are not going to touch me now or ever." Amber yelled forcefully.
"Oh is that so." Tama said while lunging at her.
Before Amber knew it her back was touching the wall and Tama was pressed up against her. "This is going to be fun." He said before sliding his hand under Amber's top. "Get off me" she screamed while wriggling and trying to get free from Tama's clammy grasp.
Amber felt Tama's hand slip lower and begin pulling at the button and zip to her jeans. Amber felt Tama's tongue in her mouth at bit down as hard as she could.
"You bitch!" he yelled at her. He let go of her wrist which he had been holding behind her back and raised his hand to punch her in the face. "You'll wish you hadn't done that, you whore."
Suddenly Amber was aware of the door flying open,
"DON'T TOUCH HER" she heard someone yell.
"Bray!" Amber yelled.
Tama whirled around and pulled his knife out of his pocket, Amber saw what Tama was going to do and felt her heart rise in her throat, "No, Bray, go Bray, run. He'll kill you..."
"Bray, please go, run." Amber screamed.
"No, I'm not leaving you." Bray yelled stubbornly.
"Aw, how sweet, your knight on shining amour has arrived Amber, it's such a pity that I have to rearrange his ugly face." Tama said accompanied by a evil laugh.
Everything after that seemed to go in slow motion for Amber, she saw Tama lunge at Bray, but he was off balance because of his drunken state so for a moment Bray had the upper hand, but Tama was taller and stronger and had a weapon. Even Bray's enormous anger and hatred towards Tama was no match. Amber leaped at Tama, determined to get him off Bray. Amber saw something red flash in front of her eyes, blood, she thought to herself.
Amber was so terrified that she was running on only adrenalin.
A second after the blood splattered in front of her she saw Bray stumble, bend of and fall to the ground face first, "Nooooo..." Amber screamed.
Amber was filled with so much hate for Tama at that moment, more hate than she had ever felt for anyone before, she reached for the nearest thing to her and hit Tama across the head with it. His body went limp and he sank to the ground.
"Bray" Amber whimpered and she fell to the ground with exhaustion and crawled to the person that she realized she loved most in the world. Amber summoned every ounce of strength she had and turned bray over so that he was on his back. Amber looked at her hands and felt sick when she saw how much blood were on them.
"Amber" she heard some one yell, she knew immediately who it was,
"Pride, I'm in here."
"Amber...oh, shit, Bray." Once Pride was sure Amber was ok he gently pushed her aside to check on Bray.
"Amber it's ok, he's breathing, but he has lost a lot of blood, he's unconscious and we have to get him to a hospital, SOON." Pride said as gently as he could.
Just then Gareth came rushing in, "Everyone has taken off, what do you want me to do?"
"Call an ambulance, quickly. And do something with HIM." Pride said while gesturing to Tama who was still out cold on the floor.
"I'll lock him one of the rooms until the police come for him."
Amber got up and gave Gareth a hug, "Thank you Gareth, and I'll make sure the police know how much you did for me, you won't get in any trouble."
Gareth gave her a brief smile before pulling Tama up and going as quickly as he could to ring an ambulance.
Amber sank down to her knees and grabbed Bray's hand, "Bray please, you can't leave me, we've only just found each other, please, your going to make it, I know you are." Amber tried to sound strong, but she knew her voice faltered with fear and uncertainty. She laid her head down on Bray's chest and listened to the very faint beating of his heart...
Amber raised her head from Bray's chest, "Pride how could this happen, two days ago everything was so normal and now the person I love most in the world could...could...he could die Pride."
Pride looked at his friend intently, "The person you love most in the world, Amber you just met him, how could you possibly feel that way already."
"I don't know, but I know that we are meant to be, I knew it the first moment I saw him."
They sat silent for a while listening to Bray's rasping and uneven breathing, waiting impatiently for the ambulance to arrive. Suddenly tears began streaming down Amber's cheeks, the emotion of everything that had gone on in the last 6 hours finally hit her, "Pride, it's all my fault, Bray is lying here because of me. It would have been better if he had never met me."
"Amber don't be stupid, no one is better off not meeting you. You bring light into everyone's lives, especially mine." Amber opened her mouth to say something but Pride cut her off, "Amber, Bray came here by himself, you didn't force him. It wasn't you that made him rush around for the last few hours desperate to find you, he did it by himself, and it is definitely not your fault that Tama forced you here. Now will you stop blaming everything on yourself, you not helping Bray at all." Pride said forcefully.
"Pride how did you find me?"
Pride was about to go into what had happened over the last couple of hours when they heard the unmistakable sound of sirens outside.
"About f u c k i n time." Amber said while looking down at the pale Bray.
Pride ran outside to get the ambulance officers they, he returned with 3 professional looking medics. They immediately rushed to Bray. After thoroughly but quickly checking him over they gripped each side of his clothing, that by now was nearly all soaked in blood and hosted him on to a bed that they had pulled in behind them. Amber ran out with them.
"Amber I will meet you at the hospital" Pride said before jumping into his car.
Amber leaped into the back of the ambulance, "Good" one of the medics said "Now we can check you over too."
"No, please just help Bray."
"We will do all that we can"
"But he will be ok, right?" Amber said, almost pleading with them. In response they gave each other a look, and one of them repeated, "We will do all that we can." A young Maori guy added, "I promise you"
"Amber"
He continued, "Amber I promise that no matter what happens we won't give up on your boyfriend."
Amber gave him a grateful smile and bother to correct him about the boyfriend remark.
They arrived at the hospital and Amber raced in with them, one hand on Bray's bed the other holding his hand.
A doctor came out and put a hand up in front of Amber, "Sorry, but you can't go any further" he said in a no nonsense way.
"Please I have to go in with him, I can't leave him"
"I'm sorry" was he said before turning his back to Amber and pulling the bed and Bray away from her...
"He's in a critical condition, if he's going to make it, we are going to have to work hard." The words of the doctor as he wheeled Bray away swirled through Amber's mind. She saw the wounds in Bray's stomach and shoulder and just thinking of them made her sick.
Just as she was about to collapse a young nurse came up to Amber and led her to one of the examining rooms, "The doctor wants to have a look at you, ok?"
"How's Bray."
"The guy you came in with?"
"Yeah." Amber answered in a weak voice.
"I don't know, I'm sorry. But they will do all that they can for him." The nurse forced a reassuring smile, "The doctor will be here in a minute." The nurse left feeling down, she knew that there wasn't much chance of the girls boyfriend pulling through.
The doctor looked Amber over, and apart from the bruises and scratches that covered her arms, stomach and especially her wrists, the doctor said she was fine, physically any way, but the doctor launched into a lengthy lecture about shock, and reactions to "heavy situations" as he put it. Amber interrupted him as politely as she could "I'm sorry, but I HAVE to go and find out how my friend is doing." She didn't wait for and answer, just slid off the bed where she was sitting and walked out to the main desk desperate to find out if Bray was ok. Amber knew that if he didn't make it she would never forgive herself. It was her problems that got him into this. Pride was wrong; Bray was worse off because he met me, much worse off.
Tears were once again streaming down Amber's cheeks when she made it to the waiting area, the woman at the main desk hadn't been able to help her at all, she couldn't even tell Amber what room Bray was in.
Sitting in the waiting room was a man and woman, who Amber could only assume were Bray's parents, Amber also spotted her own parents and Pride.
"Mum, Dad, how did you know I was here?"
"Pride stopped by to get us. Honey, are you ok, we have been so worried.?"
"I'm fine dad, Bray and Pride...um... rescued me." The cheesy line made even smile.
"Bray?"
"Yeah, he's a friend" Amber said with a small smile.
"Oh, I see. Well where is he, we have to thank him?"
Amber began to cry again, "Mum, he.... he.... Pride can you tell them, I have to talk to Bray parents."
Amber cautiously walked over to the two people who were huddled together, "Um, excuse me Mr. & Ms. Fielding, um, I'm Amber. I wanted to tell you that I'm so sorry about Bray, he was really brave, he saved me life."
Amber began to walk away when Ms. Fielding called her back, "Amber, dear. It's not your fault, you couldn't have stopped Bray from helping you, he's been running around the last few hours frantic to find you. You can't control people who are in love." she added.
"Your have a great son, he has done more for me in the last couple of days, than anyone has ever done for me in my whole life."
Ms. Fielding began to cry, which set Amber of again. Ms. Fielding stood up and wrapped her arms around Amber, "Shh, it's going to be ok, Bray's strong, he will make it."
Amber was about to thank her when an old doctor walked out into the waiting room, "Mr. & Ms. Fielding, and are the girl that came in with..." he checked his chart, "...Bray?"
"Yes" all three answered at the same time.
"I have some news about Bray. We have been working as hard as we can but he has lost a lot of blood and we don't know if he is going to make it, but I can tell you that if he pulls through the night, he will be ok"
Amber went and sat with Pride and her parents, it was going to be a long night...
Amber paced up and down the length of the waiting room. She couldn't handle not knowing what was going on. Bray's parent's had been allowed to go in and see him about half an hour ago, and they hadn't come out yet. Amber had begged the doctor to let her go in and see him but they told her she wasn't allowed because she's not family, "Such a stupid rule" Amber said aloud to her self.
"Pride" Amber said walking up to where he was sitting, "Pride I can't stand just waiting here, I'm going for a walk, if there is any change with Bray get reception to page me I won't be far, ok?"
"Ok" he replied.
Amber looked through the glass window at all of the newborn babies that were lined up in their tiny cribs. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of the baby she had killed. 'What have I done?' Amber thought to her self. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she made no effort to wipe them away.
Amber let out a tired sigh and let herself sink to the ground.
"Amber, Amber? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Pride." Amber said without looking up, "How did you know where to find me?"
"I guess I just know you too well, and because I do I know that you aren't fine."
"Pride how could I do it? How could I kill me own child, an abortion is just so cold." Amber said sobbing.
"Amber, at the time you felt it was your only choice. You were scared of Tama and we both know that he would have gotten to that child eventually and Tama is no father."
"I know but I could have adopted it."
"Amber you are the wisest person that I know and you did what you felt was right, you were going through a hell of time and you did what you could cope with." Pride said while wrapping his arms around Amber and resting his chin on the top of her head.
"My life is such a mess Pride, first I get pregnant, have an abortion and now Bray is in hospital and he could die, and it's all my fault."
Pride held on to Amber's arms and made her face him, "Amber what happened to Bray is not your fault, and don't you ever forget that. It's Tama's fault he is the one that has caused all of the problems and he is going to pay for it I promise you that. And about Bray he is going to make it, he will pull through this, he'll do it for you, I know I would." Pride finished quietly.
A look of realization crossed Amber's face, "Oh, Pride, I never realized. I never thought...."
"Amber it's ok, Bray makes you happy and that's all I want, you are and you always be my best friend." Pride said cutting her off.
"Thank you Pride."
Amber and Pride walked back to the waiting room quietly, the night was dragging on and Amber was making herself sick with worry.
"Amber where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere, we were just about to page you." Ms. Fielding said rushing up to Amber.
"What is it? Is it Bray?" Amber asked anticipating bad news.
"Yes honey, he's awake...and he's asking for you..."
Amber stepped into Bray's room, her shoes squeaked with every step she took.
Amber gasped when she saw the bruises and cuts that now covered Bray's face and
what she could see of his shoulders.
Bray looked up from his bed, "Amber, your ok?" he croaked.
"Of course I'm ok, thanks to you."
"Amber when you didn't show up at the mall I knew something was wrong, I could
feel it. I had to find you." Bray tried to sit up and flinched from the pain of trying to
do so, he eventually got himself propped up against some pillows.
Tears rushed to Amber's eyes when she saw the pain that he was in, "I'm so sorry
Bray, it's my fault that your in here."
"Shhhhh..." Bray said wiping the tears from her eyes, "Amber this is not your fault ok?"
"Bray you have been better off never meeting me." Amber said turning away from
him.
"Amber," he pleaded reaching for her hand, "My life these past few days has been
better because of you. If I had never met you I would've never known that love that I
feel right now."
"My life has so messed up right now and you shouldn't have to deal with it."
"Amber, if anything every happened to you I don't know what I would do. I'm going
to be there for you, from now on I'll always be there."
Amber smiled at Bray and held his hand tightly, they were together and they were safe
nothing else could go wrong...could it?
Lex walked into the hospital, silence hung like a thick blanket all around him. He asked the nurse on the front desk what room Bray was in. He had always hated hospitals ever since he was little and he would have to go and and visit his mum who had been admitted after one of his dad's latest beatings, or as his mum called it, 'accidently walking into a door', or, 'falling down the stairs'. But that was years ago, his mum had left eventually leaving Lex with his dad. No one knew, but Lex still cowered under his bed when his dad would come home in another one of his drunken rages. Lex knew how to take care of himself now and his dad hadn't hit him for at least year, but that's not saying that he doesn't try but over the years Lex has learnt to take care of himself!
Lex walked in to Bray's room to find Amber slumped over the bed asleep while Bray stroked her hair.
"Bray man, who are you." Lex said a little awkwardly.
"Lex, hey, what are you doing here?" Bray replied in a hushed tone as not to wake Amber up.
"Just came to see how you were. I heard that you went rushing around like an idiot into Tama's territory, I had to see if you still alive!" Lex said with a grin.
Bray laughed and then winced from the pain of doing so.
"So this is what you risked you life for?" Lex said gesturing to Amber.
"Yep, and I'd do it again in a second." Bray said in complete seriousness. He held Amber's hand tightly.
"Hey, not so tight..." Amber said waking up. She lifted her head from the bed and flicked her golden curls over her shoulders.
"Hey Amber, you look different, good but different." Lex said with his usual smirk.
"Do I know you?" Amber said her forehead wrinkling in confusion.
"Lets just say that I know you."
"Um, ok. Bray, I had the strangest dream."
"Yeah? What was it about?" Lex said, he already had a feeling what the dream would be about.
"Well..." Amber began, "You were in it" she said looking at Bray, "And come to think of it, so were you!" she said looking up at Lex with a strange expression on her face, "We, along with some others, were living in the Mall and I was complaining because no one had cleaned up, and there was no food. I was wearing the strangest clothes, everyone was. It was so weird."
Bray and Lex looked at each other, Lex nodded.
"Amber we've got to tell you something," Bray began.
"What is it?"
"Well it wasn't just a strange dream, they were memories..."
"Memories!!" Amber said cutting him off, "How can they be memories when I don't remember living them?" Amber cried here voice rising with every word.
"We've figured out that they are memories of what was meant to happen, that was what life was supposed to be, but something happened and fate took a different course."
"Bray what are you talking about...." Amber started to yell, but images started to flash in front of her eyes, she saw a girl with purple hair giving birth, she saw what she immediately knew as her own grave and she saw Bray, he was giving her something, the keys to his heart.
Amber gasped for breath, it felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, she regained her composure, "ok, I believe you." she said quietly.
"Lex you and Tai San were, oh I mean were going to be close, ah?"
"Yeah, I think so, I mean she always seems to come up in my 'memories'"
"Well there's something you should know, she was in a car accident she in the hospital, this hospital I guess, and she's lost her memory."
"WHAT??" Lex yelled, "I have to find her" he said before rushing out of the room.
"Bray who's Tai San?"
"Sit down, I'll tell you all that I can 'remember'..."
How is Tai San? Will Bray be ok, or has he been injured more than he and the doctors know? And are Bray, Lex and Amber the only one's that have been having 'unlived memories' or are their others?
Lex rushed into the room that nurse had told him was Tai San's. The nurse had told him that she was still in a coma and wasn't responding well to stimulants.
When Lex saw Tai San laying on that hospital bed with tubes in her nose he was immediately hit with images of he and Tai San fighting, yelling at each other and then embracing in a passionate kiss. Then he saw his wedding, their wedding and all of his friends, the Mall Rats, were gathered around. Lex felt love pour into his heart, a love that he had never known before, a love that filled him to the brim and he thought that he was sure to explode.
He moved closer to Tai San's bed and sat down on the chair next to her.
"Tai San?" he said while reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze, "It's ok Tai San, I'm here now and you're going to be ok. Please Tai San you have to wake up, please." Lex pleaded with her, tears welling his eyes and falling down his cheeks, he didn't bother to wipe them away.
"So this virus hit and all our parents died? All our teachers, aunties, uncles, grand parents, all the adults?" Amber asked Bray, her confusion obvious.
"Yep, that's right. I know it's hard to believe, but that is what was suppose to happen, but somehow Tai San and Jack met over the internet and discovered the antidote earlier than what they supposed to and saved that human race."
"Wow!" was all Amber could say, "And we were together?"
"Yeah, we formed a tribe called the Mall Rats."
"The Mall Rats? What a weird name!" Amber exclaimed.
"Well we did live in a mall." Bray said with a cheeky grin waiting for Amber's reaction.
"A mall? Now I know that your lying!" she said laughing. Then she suddenly grew serious, "Bray how do we know that this still won't happen?"
"Well, Tai San and Jack have been keeping the antidote in supply for the city and the virus doesn't seen to have spread out of our city, so as long as we keep making the antidote the virus should eventually go away. Oh no, oh sh*t, if I'm in hospital and Tai San's in hospital there's no one out there who knows how to make the antidote, there is only enough in supply to last for a few days." Bray said getting very worried.
"Well lets just hope the one gets out of here before then." Amber said trying to offer a solution.
Lex had eventually given up talking to Tai San and had fallen asleep in the chair next to her bed. Lex was still holding Tai San's hand and he felt it squeeze, Lex's eyes shot open. "Tai San?" he cried.
He felt her squeeze his hand again. Tai San's eyes began to flutter open, "Argh..." she groaned. "Lex? Is that you?" she croaked.
"Yes, it's me Tai San."
"You found me." she said a small smile breaking out on her face.
"Yeah I found you babe. And I'm not leaving here until we leave together."
"We have to do something. Jack go and see Tai San, she's in room 59B. We have to tell the government the formula for the antidote, but we should ask Tai San first." Bray ordered.
"Ok, but what if she says that you can't tell the formula?" Jack asked nervously.
"Too bad! The entire adult race depends on this and I won't let them die because Tai San has something against the government!" Bray yelled getting angrier with every word.
Jack just nodded and skidded out of the room.
"Bray what are we going to do?" Amber asked holding his hand tightly.
"I don't know Amber, but things will be ok." Bray said trying to reassure himself more than he was Amber.
"That's the thing Bray, no matter what happens we both know that things wil never be ok." she said sadly.
"Tai San, Tai San." Jack said breathlessly rushing into her room.
Lex stood up at the sudden intrusion, "Oh, it's you Jack."
"How does everyone know who I am?" Jack said knowing that he was missing something, "Is my picture plastered up on telephone posts or something?"
Lex just laughed, "I'm Lex, and lets just say that I think we've met before. Anyway Tai San's asleep so can you come back later."
"I can't, I have to talk to her now, it's an emergency."
"Look sorry Jack, but she's in hospital in case you didn't notice and she needs to sleep so she can get better." Lex said through gritted teeth.
"Lex," Tai San said her eyes slowly opening, "It's ok. Jack I know why your here and I agree with Bray, he has to tell them the formula, it's the only way." Tai San said quietly her eyes showing her sadness.
Jack just nodded, shocked at how Tai San knew what he was going to ask, "How did you..."
"Never mind about that, go to the nurses station and tell them to bring me a phone."
Again Jack skidded away.
"Tai San what's going on?" Lex asked his brow wrinkled with worry and confusion.
"Something has gone wrong Lex, the virus, the antidote isn't stopping it anymore it's merely slowing down and unless we can find a way to kill it, well you know what will happen."
"No..." Lex said shaking his head, "No..."
"We have to go Lex, we have to stop this virus." Tai San said while pushing back her
bed covers.
"Tai San, you were in a car accident, you can't just get up and leave!" Lex cried.
"I have to. This is more important."
With Lex's reluctant help Tai San got out of bed, changed out of her hospital robe,
packed her stuff and walked out of her room.
"We have to get Bray and Amber, they are apart of this too." Tai San said heading
straight for Bray's room.
"Tai San, how do you even know Amber?" Lex puffed struggling to keep up with Tai
San's speed.
"Lex I know Amber the same way that you knew who Jack was."
"Oh, right."
Lex and Tai San rushed into Bray's room to find that he was dressed and packed as
well.
The four teens moved closer to one another and they soon stood in a four point square
facing each other.
Suddenly images began running through all of their minds. They all had seen the
images before, but this was the first time they could actually feel them, they could
feel the energy that the images gave, it was that energy that connected to four of them
together.
Then it hit them, the feeling of complete dread, at that moment they knew that there
was nothing they could do to stop it, the virus was going to win.....................
Amber sunk to the ground and pulled her knees into her chest, "No" she whispered through dry lips.
"What did you say Amber?" Bray asked his hands still holding his throbbing head.
"I said NO!" She yelled jumping up, "We are going to stop this virus."
"Amber you saw the images, you felt them. We must accept what we were told." Tai San said looking the calmest out of all of them.
"How can you say that, how can you just go along with it." Amber said staring at Tai San with an unwavering gaze.
"I believe in fate and this is what is meant to be."
"BULL SHIT!" Amber screamed, "If we don't do anything our parents will die!"
"They are going to die anyway." Tai San yelled back.
Tears welled in Amber's eyes, "I can not just stand by and not do anything, I am going to do everything I can to stop this virus, and if I fail at least I'll know that I did something, I tried, what will you know?"
Bray silently moved and stood next to Amber. Lex looked from Amber to Tai San and then made his choice, "Tai San, I love you, but I'm with Amber I can't just stand by." he said quietly and stood behind Amber and Bray.
"Ok then," Amber said the natural leader coming out in her, "Lets go then." She turned on her heel and walked quickly out of the room, Bray threw a glance in Tai San's direction and then followed Amber.
"I'm sorry Tai San." Lex said before giving her one last sad smile and walking out of the room.
"What do we do first." Lex asked Amber who was powering on ahead of the two boys.
"Bray will Jack help us?" Amber said stopping suddenly.
"I think so." Bray said slowly trying to imagine Jack in an urgent and desperate situation, "But he doesn't know about any of our 'memories' or about how bad the virus is going to get."
"Well then, we are going to have to tell him." Amber said firmly before setting off again at a cracking pace.
The trio stepped outside from the dark corridors of the hospital and were shocked at what they saw, "Oh my god" Lex breathed.
"How could this have happened?" Amber said quietly, showing her first sign of weakness since storming away from Tai San in Bray's hospital room, "We have only been at the hospital for a couple of days."
"Look at them!" Bray said while wrapping a protective arm around Amber.
They stood there in silent shock looking at all of the people that were qued outside the hospital, they weren't normal people, well they would be if they were all a hundred and ten years old, but they couldn't be.
They all had gray hair, wrinkles intruded onto their once youthful faces, all of the people were hunched over inching over the ground toward the hospital.
"Where are they all going." Amber asked her voice barely above a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Bray asked not taking his eyes off the people who were shuffling past them.
"Well they're not being admitted to the hospital, we were just in there and we didn't see any of them in the halls."
A look of realization crossed over Lex's face, "Don't you get it, they're putting them in quarantine. They're putting them all into one room and them leaving them to die." he said through gritted teeth.
Amber suddenly stood up on her tip-toes, "What is it Amber?" Bray asked peering into the crowd where Amber was looking.
"Nana?" Amber called, "Nana." she yelled again breaking free from Bray and running towards the virus plagued people.
"Sorry miss," An government official said stepping in front of Amber, Amber was running as fast as she could towards her grandmother and so ran right into the stoat man who had stepped into her path, "Sorry miss," he said again, "But contact with the affected is strictly prohibited."
"But that's my grandmother, please I have to see her." Amber pleaded with man.
"Sorry." he said unsympathetically.
"Amber" Bray said rushing breathlessly up to her.
"They won't let me see her Bray, they won't let me see my Nana." Amber said tears now streaming down her face.
"Hey buddy, come on, cut us some slack." Bray said trying to reason with the man blocking Amber's way.
"Sorry." was all the man said.
"Come on Amber, we may have lost your grandmother but there are others we can save." Bray said gently.
"Your right." Amber wiped away her tears and the look of determination once again set into her delicate features. "Lets go, we have a computer nerd to recruit."
Lex, Amber and Bray were all acting strong, pretending that they knew what they
were doing, but in reality they had no clue in hell of where to start, how were they
going to stop a fatal virus from wiping out half of the worlds population.
It was too much for any teenager, no matter what they have been through and how
fast they've had to grow up, to have the fate of every adult on the face of the earth
resting upon their shoulders is something beyond to comprehension of anyone,
especially someone that hasn't even lived through two decades throughout their entire
life.
But Amber's determination combined with Lex's stubbornness and Bray's strong heart
kept their spirit's high enough to continue their battle...
After storming into the old warehouse where Tai San, Jack and recently Bray had
been manufacturing the antidote, Bray, Lex and Amber made Jack sit down and listen
to their story.
"You expect me to believe that you three have been seeing memories from a reality
that was meant to be?" Jack said skeptically.
"And Tai San, yes." Amber said simply.
"And you're sure that you guys haven't caught the virus, you sound delirious." Jack
said not a hint of humor in his voice.
"You don't belief us." Amber sighed slumping down into a chair.
"I'm sorry, but I'm a scientist, things like this just don't have an explanation and so I
can't believe them!"
"Ok, so you don't believe us, but you have seen all of the infected people out there
and they need us. If we don't do something they will die along with every other adult
in the world! So will you help us?" Bray said in familiar passion.
"Ok, I'll help you. Where do we start?"
Three days have passed since Amber, Bray, Lex and Jack resolved to save to human
race. Over those three days they have blended and tested every variation of the
original antidote that they could possible do, not one of the formula's have worked on
the adults that were fast becoming their guinea pigs.
Now they sat in the abandoned warehouse that just yesterday was full of the adults
and children alike begging for the antidote.
Things had turned ugly when the four teens were forced to admit that their antidotes
were useless against the raging virus that was sweeping through that adult population.
People plagued by the virus wandered from the warehouse, their hearts heaving with
despair.
Amber stood gazing out of the one of the bared windows that lined the walls of the
old warehouse. She saw the people that had lost all hope of life and was now either
wandering the streets or simple lying died or dieing on the side of the road.
Amber began to beat the wall with her balled fists in anger and frustration. Hot tears
streamed down her face, Bray tiredly made his way to her side, eager to comfort her
but too exhausted to do much more that put an arm around her.
Amber turned her attention from the wall and began to beat on Bray's chest instead,
"We failed, Bray, we couldn't do anything to stop it. The virus won."
Bray put his hand under Amber's chin and lifted her wet face so that she was looking
directly into his hazel eyes, "Amber your the one that said; 'if I fail at least I'll know
that I did something, I tried', you said that Amber and you were right, we tried, one
day we'll look back on this and we'll know that we didn't walk away, we did
everything we could to stop this thing. We didn't fail, we just didn't succeed at the
exact thing we set out to do, and there's a difference!" Bray said fiercely despite his own
weighed down heart.
"Bray you say that we'll look back on this, you say that as if we have a future! I know
what I've seen from our 'memories' and after the adults die the world turns to s h i t,
and you know it."
"I didn't think I'd ever hear you talk like this Amber!" Bray said turning away from
the fuming blonde unable to say anything else.
"He's right Amber." Lex said quietly standing up from where he had been sitting on
the floor not saying a word from the last three hours, "You of all people should
believe that we still have a chance to make something of this messed up world."
"I don't really know what's going on with you guys and these memories you keep
talking about, but I'm with Lex and Bray, I don't believe in giving up and I will fight
to survive." Jack said with a defiance quite unlike him.
"So it looks like your going to have to make a choice Amber, just like Tai San, she
made the wrong choice, you don't have to." Lex said crossing his arms in front of his
chest.
"I may have made the wrong choice, but it's not too late to change my mind." A small
voice said. Lex whirled around and saw Tai San standing at the door of the
warehouse.
Bray turned and looked at the girl he loved "So Amber, what's it going to be. Either
to keep the dream alive or give up on everything we've been fighting
for."
Bray kicked and empty can that was lying on the pathway outside of his house, he looked up and saw an old man standing in the window. "Dad..." he whispered to himself.
Bray ran to the house and burst through the doors, he dad was standing at the window looking out over the desolate neighborhood, "Dad, are you ok?" Bray said his voice cracking with emotion, he looked at his father who now had gray, almost white hair, and wrinkles now covered his tanned face. The same hands that had guided Bray on his first bike were now knobbed with large swollen knuckles, "Your mother is up stairs Bray, hurry you don't have much time."
Bray gave his father a desperate look before rushing upstairs to his parent's bedroom.
He walked in to find his mum lying in the huge bed looking small, old and frail. Martin was sitting on the bed holding his mum's hand.
Bray stood in the door way, neither his brother nor his mum had heard his arrival.
"Martin I want you to listen to me" the mother began in a quiet voice, "Are you listening?" Martin nodded silent tears creeping down his face, "I want you and Bray to stick together, help each other. Martin no matter what you think, you were always the strong one, Bray will need you now, you will need each other. You are the future of this planet and you have to choose what you are going to do with your life. Martin I have always known that one-day you would be a great leader, people respond to you Martin. Let Bray help you and guide you, he has a good heart, you both do. Please don't waste what you have been given."
Martin sat there looking at his once youthful mother, he had always thought that Bray was their dream son, the one that they placed their all of their hope and dreams in, but now he knew, his mother placed him on the same pedestal that he had once thought Bray had been placed on.
"Promise me Martin, promise me you will stick together."
"I promise mum." Martin said brushing tears from his eyes.
Bray took this as his cue and stepped into the room, "Hey man." he said nodding to his brother. "How is she?" Bray asked concern written all over his face.
Martin opened his mouth to speak, but their mum interrupted him, "She has a name, and she is doing just fine thank you." she said bringing a smile to her sons faces.
Bray grinned at his mum's wit, it was her sense of humor that had carried on to Martin.
"Bray, my oldest son. I want you to stay with your brother, as long as you stick together you will be fine in this new world that you are going to face."
Bray simply nodded and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder.
While look at her two sons seated in fronted of her Bray and Martin's mum took her last breath and died.
"Mum, no mum. Come back." Bray said rushing forward to his mum, "Bray, she's gone."
Martin pulled Bray away from the bed and held his brother in a tight hug, never through their entire childhood had the boys hugged, but their mum was right, they had to stick together.
"We have to go tell dad." Martin said quietly letting go of his brother.
Bray wiped his face with the back of his sleeve and followed Martin out of the room.
They walked in the lounge and found their father sitting on a chair facing the window, looking out onto the streets. In his hands he was holding a photo of their family that was taken last year on the night of Bray's 16th birthday.
Their father lifted his head, the simple movement looked slow and painful, "She's gone isn't she." he asked.
Bray nodded, Martin did nothing, he was numb, he couldn't take any more pain.
A single tear rolled down their father's face, "My sons, I love you so much, you made my life full and worth living. I'm sorry that I won't get to see you become the wonderful men that I know your going to be, and I'm sorry that I won't see you children come into this world. I love you." Martin and Bray were both unashamedly crying when that father took his last struggled breath and died holding his sons hands..........
Bray and Martin finished the weary job of burying their parents in their backyard, they hadn't even bothered to go to the graveyard, they knew it would be full. They tiredly made their way back in to their house.
They sat down in once was their family room, 'When there's no family, there can't be a family room!' Martin thought angrily to himself.
Bray paced around the room, absent-mindedly he picked up the phone, "The phones are dead." he said quietly.
"I know they have been for a couple of days." Martin said snapping out of his thoughts, "There's nothing on any of the TV stations either."
Bray looked over at his brother, his kid brother and was suddenly overcome by images of Martin, no, not Martin, images of Zoot. He saw Zoot standing in a police car yelling 'Power and Chaos'. Kids surrounded the car, protecting it, protecting Zoot. But it was the helpless street kids that needed protecting, not him. The final images he saw gripped his heart with fear, he saw Martin go flying over the balcony in the mall, he wasn't Zoot anymore, he had changed he was going to come back and stay with Trudy and the baby. He fell and he died.
"The baby.." Bray whispered aloud.
"What?" Martin said looking up at Bray.
"The baby..." Bray said again.
"What baby, what the hell are you talking about?" Martin said his temper rising.
"Martin I'm going to ask you something and you have to promise me that you won't get angry and that you'll tell me the truth."
"That depends on the question." Martin said looking at bray suspiciously.
"On the night of the dance, did you sleep with Trudy?" Bray asked slowly.
"None of your god dam business." Martin yelled his temper boiling over.
"Please Martin this is important." Bray implored with his brother.
"Important to what? Your jealousy?"
"No Martin, please, I want you and Trudy to be together, especially if...."
"Especially if what?" Martin asked, a little calmer.
"Just tell me Martin, did you sleep with her?" Bray urgently.
"If you must know, yes, I did." Martin said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, no.." Bray said slumping into the nearest chair.
"What, upset that you didn't get to her first?" Martin asked sneering at his brother.
"Please martin, you don't understand, I never tried to take Trudy from you. But there is something that you have to know."
"What?"
"Trudy's pregnant." Bray said bracing himself for his brother inevitable outburst.
Martin was surprisingly calm, "Pregnant..." he said to himself, "Oh yeah, and how do you know, did she come running to you?" Martin asked his voice rising again.
"No, I just know ok?"
"Pregnant, I'm going to be a dad." Martin said quietly a stupid grin spreading across his face.
Bray suddenly got an image of Zoot's dead body floating away in the sea, fire ablaze around him, and Bray knew, Zoot was gone forever and Martin was here to stay.
Amber sat in her bedroom; posters of the latest band ands movie stars littered her walls.
Her parents had died a little over an hour ago, her older brother, Adam, along with Amber had driven them to the cemetery, but it was full so they ended up burying them under a tree just outside the walls of the cemetery.
They had driven back to their family home in complete silence, there was nothing to say, Amber had been mourning the loss of her parents for days now, she new what was going happen and she had accepted it. It was her brother that was completely destroyed, he had driven all night home from Uni in Auckland to see his parents and on the way home from burying their parents he was so tired he could barely stay awake at the wheel, in fact Amber had made him pull over and she took up the driving, Adam had tried to protest saying that Amber was only on her on her learners, "And who exactly is going to care Adam, the police?" Amber retorted a little snappily.
Now Amber was sitting in her room, her room that was full of everything from her life, her old life. Everything was different now, Bray's words were still spinning around in her head, she wanted to help, she wanted to be involved in carving the future of this missed up planet, but she was tired, she was so tired of fighting, her whole life had been about fighting. She had to fight to get free of Tama only to find herself linked to him with a baby growing inside of her. Amber still mourned for the loss of her child as much as she mourned the death of her parents. 'If only I could do it over.' Amber thought to herself sadly, she didn't have a magical time machine and she couldn't do it over, it was in the past, everything was in the past now. The only thing that mattered was the future.
"Come on Adam, wake up. We have an appointed to keep." Amber said charging into her brothers room and pulling the covers of his bed.
"What the hell Amber?" Adam said glaring at his younger sister.
"Look Adam, I have some where I need to be, are you coming or not?"...........
Lex once again sat in the old warehouse where they had been producing the antidote for days now, 'Some antidote' Lex thought angrily to himself.
Lex had eventually found his mother; she was lying on the sidewalk, dead.
Lex pushed his feelings deep down inside of him, he knew he shouldn't and he knew that one day would explode, but for now that was all he could handle.
'Unlived memories' came constantly to him now, they seemed to appear before his eyes every time he had thoughts about leading the city, or leaving the others to go and find his own group of kids to rule over. Every time he had a self-serving thought images swirled through his mind. He hate those images, they were of things that he would rather not know about, they showed a side of him that he hoped he, or anyone else would never see. He saw himself trying to rape Zandra, as well as Salene. He saw, well not so much saw, but more remembered all of the schemes he cooked up, all the things he had done to hurt people.
A noise at the door pulled Lex out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Tai San standing in the large open door-way of the warehouse.
"San?" he said walking over to the young mystic.
"They died; I have never felt more helpless in my entire life. My mum was already dead by the time I arrived and all I could do was sit there and tell my dad that everything was going to be all right. Why do people say that anyway? Tell others that everything is going to be alright when they know it isn't."
"Shhh..." Lex said trying to calm the distressed girl.
"Tai San," Lex said quietly, and then he grinned, "I was going to say that everything is going to be alright, but I thought it might sound stupid."
Tai San laughed in spite of herself, then the cold hard reality hit her, "Lex what are we going to do, there's no one left. No adults, no one. What's going to happen to all of us?" Tai San asked her cool exterior breaking down even more.
"Tai San, aren't you the one that said that this was meant to be, or something along those lines." Lex said quietly holding Tai San close.
"How could this have meant to be, they're dead Lex all of them."
"Hey, there's still us."
Tai San looked up at Lex, "That's what I mean, there's no one older than 20 that's been left alive, how are a bunch of kids and teenagers supposed to looked after themselves and each other with falling apart?"
"We can do it Tai San."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've been looking after me and my mum since I was older enough to push the start button on the microwave, or throw our clothes in the washing machine! And look how I turned out?" Lex said with all seriousness.
"Maybe your right Lex." Tai San said some of her mystery returning, "Maybe this is the worlds way of starting over, of correcting all of the mistakes that the adults made. We have a chance to do everything over, to create a new world."
"Now there's the Tai San I know and love." Lex said before he even thought about the words that were leaving his lips.
Tai San grinned at him, "I love you too."
Tai San and Lex were soon joined by Jack.
Jack hadn't spoken since he entered to warehouse and Lex and Tai San left him alone to mourn in peace.
"Maybe no one else is coming." Lex whispered to Tai San.
As soon as the words had left his mouth Amber appeared in the door way, "Hey guys." she said quietly.
"Amber you came!"
"You sound surprised Lex." Amber said grinning mischievously, "Yes, of course I'm here, and I brought some one else." Amber reached out her arm and pulled some one in to the light of the door way.
"Everyone this is my brother Alex."
Alex grinned sheepishly and waved.
"Bray isn't here yet?" Amber asked with a hint of anxiousness in her voice.
"No, but don't Amber he will be." Tai San said mysteriously.
"Who'll be here?" Bray said appearing behind Amber.
"Bray you came." Amber said a little coolly.
"Yeah, and it looks like you brought a friend." Bray said eyeing Alex jealously.
"Relax lover-boy, it's her brother." Lex said holding back a laugh.
"Oh well, looks like we have something in common then." Bray said as a slightly younger looking teen walked shyly up to them, "Everyone this is my brother, Martin."
Amber looked at the timid looking boy and images flooded into her mind, "Zoot?" she said looking question at Bray.
"No, not Zoot, Martin." Bray said firmly.
Martin looked confused, "Who's Zoot?" Martin asked looking around at the people who were staring strangely at him.
"Someone that doesn't exist, anymore." Bray said looking hard at Lex, Tai San and Amber.
"Are you sure?" Lex asked shooting Bray a warning look.
"I'm sure."
Amber smiled, "Hi Martin I'm Amber, this is Lex, Tai San, and over there is Jack."
"Hi." Martin said a little of his confidence returned to him now that he knew these peoples names.
Everyone walked into the warehouse. Amber grabbed Bray's hand as he passed her, "I need to talk to you." she whispered into his ear.
"Ok, lets go for a walk."
Lex saw the departing Amber and Bray, "Ooh, I wonder what they've gone to do." Lex said grinning.
"Lex." Martin said rolling his eyes, "Please that's my brother.
Even Jack laughed at Martin's comment it seems he had figured Lex out pretty quickly.
A small smile crept on to Martin's face, for the first time in a long time, something just felt right inside of him, he still hurt inside, but somehow the pain felt a little eased, it was almost like pieces of a puzzle finally slipping into their correct place...
Amber and Bray walked around the other side of the warehouse, where they would have at least a little bit of privacy.
"Bray, I know that things have been crazy the last couple of days, and I haven't been myself, but I have to know whether things have changed, between us I mean." Amber said the words tumbling quickly out of her mouth.
Bray smiled, put both of his hands on Amber's small shoulders to make her face him, "Amber, no matter what happens around us in this crazy world, there will be one thing that will always stay the same," Bray said and placed Amber's hand on his chest right above his heart, Amber felt it beating quickly, but steadily. Bray looked at her solemly and continued, "No matter what happens the way that I feel about you will never change, ever."
Amber's mouth slowly spread into a smile she tiptoed to her full height and gave Bray a quick kiss on the lips and then turned around to walk back to the door to the warehouse but Bray reached out and grabbed her hand, "Oh no you don't, you can't give me a kiss and then walk away like that." Bray said pretending to be serious but the mischievous twinkle in his eyes gave him away.
Bray pulled Amber close to him and into a deep kiss.
Amber smiled into Bray's mouth and for a moment the craziness, the pain and the sorrow around them melted away.
Both Amber and Bray enjoyed the moment because both of them knew that sooner or later they would both fall from the clouds that they were floating in and come crashing back to reality..........
Amber and Bray (after a good half hour absence) wandered back into the warehouse joining Tai San, Lex, Jack, Adam and Martin who by now were waiting impatiently.
"Now that you two are finished out there, can we get back to what ever we are doing." Lex said rolling his eyes.
"Lex has a point, what exactly are we doing here?" Adam asked
"Well," Amber began, "We all know how things turned out before, well how they were supposed to turn out, well you know what I mean."
"No we don't!" Martin and Adam both said at the same time.
"It doesn't matter, the important thing is that we have to make sure that this world doesn't fall to pieces." Amber said while tying her curly blonde hair into a pony tail.
"And how do you propose we do that?" Adam asked his sister, more curious that angry.
"Well, we need to work out a system that works, something that everyone will agree to..."
The six teens talked and planned for the next two hours until they finally came to something that would work to secure the future of the youth that had been left to control the city.
"Lex, your going to round up everyone that we will need for security and go secure the discussed points throughout the city. Martin you need to round up leaders and other people that will agree to helping. Adam you need to find all of your law school buddies that you can, we will need them. Jack, go out and find all of the technical things that we will need and bring them back here. Tai San, you along with some of the guys that Lex is going to find secure the hospital, I will send my friend Dal to you he will be of great helo to us. Bray you're in charge of letting everyone in the city know that they must be at the Mall at 4 pm. And I will go and find Dal, who I'll send to the hospital and then I will go the Mall and make sure that everything is ready for the meeting. Ok everyone?" Amber asked, but then continued not waiting for an answer, "It's 10 am now, we have six hours until we, along with every kid in the city, have to be at the Mall, if things aren't ready by then we will be in a whole lot of shit!" Everyone's jaw dropped, they weren't used to hearing Amber swear. "Well what are you all gawking at, come one, we're running out of time, GO!" Amber said holding back a giggle at their shocked expressions.
Everyone left the warehouse quickly, but Amber and Lex hung back, "Amber?" Lex said quietly.
"Yeah." Amber said Turing from her note-pad to face him.
"Do you really think this will work?"
"I hope so Lex, I hope so. We've seen what things could turn out like if it doesn't."
Lex nodded, "Well then, for all of our sakes, I hope it does..."
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