Damn it, I was so close.
I had it all laid out in front of me.
Finally survived that apocalyptic hell hole, then survived the rebuilding world.
Even survived Pangea 2 (yeah, our scientists were very creative, weren’t they), and for what, just to die at the hands of my loved ones.
20 minutes ago: My brother, Derricc, my closest companion, was getting worse at the hospital and I was making my way there to see what was going on.
Derricc and I were former special ops, you know the real deep in the system people who technically didn’t exist due to the work we did.
The president and USDF general were the only two people in the U.S.
government that we communicated with and two of only a handful in the world who we worked with in person.
During the initial apocalypse months, we spent our time getting the higher-ups situated and were able to look for our family to help them through this affair.
Derricc lost a leg three years ago fighting a mutant zombie that we weren’t prepared for and had to amputate it to prevent infection.
However, due to the zombie’s mutation, his leg still to this day has lingering health issues from the toxins in the bite area.
I finally make it to my brother’s room only to see and hear my family trying to pull the plug on him.
“Hey, what are you doing to him?
You can’t be doing this, he’s family,” I yelled as I shoved my way towards him.
Mom and Dad block my way, sneering at me the whole time.
“He’s costing us too much money and he’s not getting better.
Can’t risk another zombie outbreak,” Mom says looking at me.
“Also, your brother-in-law needs this room for a proper injury,” Mom says smugly, “so we’re pulling the plug on your brother so we can save money and also help someone who can be saved.” I look at my dad furiously.
“You seriously can’t even be considering this, Dad.” “Son, it’s been three years, you have to accept reality.
He’s not getting any better and we don’t have the money.” “Dad, there has to be another way,” I pleaded.
Dad has the fake defeated look that makes me question the humanity of my parents.
“You know, son,” Mom chimes in, “Sarah’s husband is the one that really took care of us through the last 15 years.
While you and your brother vanished, he stepped in and saved our family.
As far as I’m concerned, allowing you two around after deserting us for so long is the best we can do.
Hard to even consider you two our kids when we don’t even know who you are anymore.” That statement nearly shattered my heart.
I spent so much time trying to help them during my time in the spec ops and then during the apocalypse that it really hurts that my own family thinks this way of us.
My brother and I are twins and we both entered the military at 18 and served until the first couple months of the apocalypse that hit when we were 35.
It took us another seven years to find our family, as we were on a mission on the other side of the country when the apocalypse hit.
That’s 24 years.
My brother and I excelled in the military and in only two years, we were basically erased from the world so we could operate around the world in silence.
Half my life I spent invisible to my family before we reunited seven years into the apocalypse.
Even so, we sent money, letters, and secretly supported the family so they could live a good life.
As I try to regain my composure after that comment, I hear a voice behind me: “Mom, Dad, have you made room for Jackson?
He has a sprained wrist and needs this bed.” I turn around to see Sarah, my younger sister by two years, walking in with her husband Jackson.
Sarah looks at me with a sneer.
“What are you doing here, we’re trying to deal with this deadbeat and you’re ruining things.
Get out before we ruin you too.” I’ve gone pale at this point.
Even my sister doesn’t care for us.
We literally kept them from harm and Derricc lost his damn leg protecting them and all we get at the end is a full familial rejection.
Jackson gives me a look of pity and tells Sarah, “Babe, don’t be so harsh.
It’s not easy being the black sheep of the family dealing with a vegetable.” Mom laughs.
“Jackson, you’re so funny.
Erik, you hear that?
You should get it by now.
You should just give up on being around us and just be done with that deadbeat.” At this point my heart finally broke and crumbled.
I also feel something snap inside of me.
Like a gate cracking and breaking into pieces.
After being in the military for so long, I’ve learned to keep my feelings bottled up and it’s kept me from expressing my feelings very well.
I look at my sister, Mom, Dad and Jackson very angrily and with the calmest voice, I make my choice.
“If any of you so much as harm Derricc in any way, there won’t be anything left of you to find.” My dad and my mom shriek back in fear as I walk towards Derricc and place my hand on his neck to check his pulse.
It’s slow, barely enough to keep him alive but I know he’s fighting it with all he’s got.
It’s only fair that I do the same.
While I’m distracted, Sarah manages to pull the plug.
I don’t even notice at first.
The silence in the room was instantly shattered with a flat tone.
I look at Derricc, then the screen, then at Sarah who is currently holding a cord in her hand with an evil, smug look on her face.
“What have you done, you brat?” I yell as I glare across the room.
Sarah smiles as she returns next to Jackson who’s still holding his arm.
“See, that wasn’t so hard.
Now our money is saved and we have one less burden on the family,” Sarah mocks as the family smiles on.
The doctor runs in like an alarm was going off and looks at my brother.
“What’s going on?” he frantically asks.
Jackson is quick to explain, “Doc, this man came into the room and pulled the plug on this guy like there is bad beef between them.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Skydaddy0716 Hello everyone.
with this chapter completed we officially start this journey together.
as stated in the synopsis, I’m fully open to comments and suggestion or feedback as we go on this journey so please let me know if you like or dislike something so we can enjoy this ride better.