was smiling. He always said he loved every moment of his time on earth, and while it was sad he was leaving it, he had not a single regret.
"Mandy," he started. His voice a shadow of what it used to be, but still vibrant in its own way. Caring. "Sweetheart, we both know why you're watching this. I want you to take a deep breath with me. Okay, let it out really slow. One more time. Smile."
Mandy did as the video asked. Even as tears formed in her eyes, she smiled.
"You are brave. You are in control of your feelings, and right now you can choose happiness. You can choose peace. Calm. Joy. One day at a time. I love you, Mandy."
There was a brief second of a nurse saying, “that was wonderful” before the video ended. Mandy used to wish there was more, but over the years she realized Matthias recorded exactly what she needed for moments like this.
With newfound courage, Mandy placed the Glock deep in the closet with the rest of her gear before an inkling of hesitation stopped her. She took the suicide note and tore it into small pieces, vowing to herself for the umpteenth time she'd never write one again. That she could fight the disease plaguing her mind that made her not her, that wanted to snuff out her spirit.
The parasite might've been outside, but Mandy fought her own darkness inside the bunker.
19 – Ben Moreno
The Mass intimidated Ben. Even Mr. Ruchipip was wary of it. As he stood outside the door to the room, a young infected man by his side, he hesitated to go in. The man struggled against his grip, so Ben smashed his head against the doorframe to shut him up.
He needed a second to prepare.
Ben knew the Mass was important to the Parasite, but the giant mound of bodies and worms was alarming. The other infected only went to it if they were adding to it, like he was now.
It was in the grand dining room, which was the second biggest room in the house. Before, it had a giant mahogany table that seated 18 people. They commissioned it to be hand carved by an eccentric woodworking family in Virginia. It was a great conversation topic. There were beautiful paintings and small sitting areas his wife organized. It was where they hosted lavish Christmas parties in the winter and barbeques in the summer.
That life seemed so long ago. Distant, as though the memories were from a foreigner implanted in his own brain. The room was quite different now. They nailed boards over the windows so not a sliver of light entered. The Mass seemed to grow better in a dark, moist environment. The paintings and extra furniture were tossed in the front yard to give it more growing space. They left the table. The Mass grew on it like beans on a wireframe, using it for leverage.
Go on. You just have one , Mr. Ruchipip reminded him. Add him and go. Do not dally.
Ben took a deep breath. Mr. Ruchipip was right. He couldn't afford to show any hesitance. It wasn't as though he questioned The Mass or the Parasite. He would never do such a thing. Fear is what stopped him.
The man moaned, coming to. Ben caught him hiding in a linen closet while they were on their latest raid. They found four infected adults and two infected children inside the big home. This was the only one who almost eluded them. But Ben had a feeling. A sense, almost, directing him. It was his responsibility to put the new stock into the Mass.
They started the Mass with the bodies of infected who wouldn't cooperate. Ben knew all infected were equal, but sacrifices had to be made to give the Parasite what it wanted. It pained him to kill any of his own, but it had to be done.
First they broke their arms and legs so they couldn't move. That was important. While their bodies rested against each other, the parasite surfaced from their skin and connected itself to the body near it. If they struggled, it would break the delicate bridges formed by the worms. As the days went by, the parasites pulled the flesh closer together until Ben couldn't tell where one body started
"Mandy," he started. His voice a shadow of what it used to be, but still vibrant in its own way. Caring. "Sweetheart, we both know why you're watching this. I want you to take a deep breath with me. Okay, let it out really slow. One more time. Smile."
Mandy did as the video asked. Even as tears formed in her eyes, she smiled.
"You are brave. You are in control of your feelings, and right now you can choose happiness. You can choose peace. Calm. Joy. One day at a time. I love you, Mandy."
There was a brief second of a nurse saying, “that was wonderful” before the video ended. Mandy used to wish there was more, but over the years she realized Matthias recorded exactly what she needed for moments like this.
With newfound courage, Mandy placed the Glock deep in the closet with the rest of her gear before an inkling of hesitation stopped her. She took the suicide note and tore it into small pieces, vowing to herself for the umpteenth time she'd never write one again. That she could fight the disease plaguing her mind that made her not her, that wanted to snuff out her spirit.
The parasite might've been outside, but Mandy fought her own darkness inside the bunker.
19 – Ben Moreno
The Mass intimidated Ben. Even Mr. Ruchipip was wary of it. As he stood outside the door to the room, a young infected man by his side, he hesitated to go in. The man struggled against his grip, so Ben smashed his head against the doorframe to shut him up.
He needed a second to prepare.
Ben knew the Mass was important to the Parasite, but the giant mound of bodies and worms was alarming. The other infected only went to it if they were adding to it, like he was now.
It was in the grand dining room, which was the second biggest room in the house. Before, it had a giant mahogany table that seated 18 people. They commissioned it to be hand carved by an eccentric woodworking family in Virginia. It was a great conversation topic. There were beautiful paintings and small sitting areas his wife organized. It was where they hosted lavish Christmas parties in the winter and barbeques in the summer.
That life seemed so long ago. Distant, as though the memories were from a foreigner implanted in his own brain. The room was quite different now. They nailed boards over the windows so not a sliver of light entered. The Mass seemed to grow better in a dark, moist environment. The paintings and extra furniture were tossed in the front yard to give it more growing space. They left the table. The Mass grew on it like beans on a wireframe, using it for leverage.
Go on. You just have one , Mr. Ruchipip reminded him. Add him and go. Do not dally.
Ben took a deep breath. Mr. Ruchipip was right. He couldn't afford to show any hesitance. It wasn't as though he questioned The Mass or the Parasite. He would never do such a thing. Fear is what stopped him.
The man moaned, coming to. Ben caught him hiding in a linen closet while they were on their latest raid. They found four infected adults and two infected children inside the big home. This was the only one who almost eluded them. But Ben had a feeling. A sense, almost, directing him. It was his responsibility to put the new stock into the Mass.
They started the Mass with the bodies of infected who wouldn't cooperate. Ben knew all infected were equal, but sacrifices had to be made to give the Parasite what it wanted. It pained him to kill any of his own, but it had to be done.
First they broke their arms and legs so they couldn't move. That was important. While their bodies rested against each other, the parasite surfaced from their skin and connected itself to the body near it. If they struggled, it would break the delicate bridges formed by the worms. As the days went by, the parasites pulled the flesh closer together until Ben couldn't tell where one body started
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