Our Vanquished Light

“Dear, if you are ever afraid, just look to the stars.”

The words of my mother echoed through my head. The phrase that has stuck with me through the entirety of my life. I didn’t know why my mother would tell me that, but the young me took those words wholeheartedly. Every time I was afraid, I would look towards the stars and my mind would wander. My mind would go blank. I wouldn’t think, I would just stare at the vast sky. I smiled, my mother had always been right. I should have listened to her more when she was still alive.

“The night sky looks so beautiful today, Mom, I wish you were here to enjoy it with me…” I muttered to myself. Tears started streaming down my eyes. Am I crying? Why am I crying? I turned to my side and reached for the picture frame that has long been abandoned. I hugged it and curled up into a ball.

“Mom, why did this have to happen? Why are they here? What did we do to them? Mom, I can’t continue living like this. Please help me!” I whimpered. “Luke and Alicia are gone, my buddy Jean sacrificed himself because of my stupidity! I can’t go on anymore!” My tears stained the torn mattress.

“Dear, if you are ever afraid, just look to the stars.” Her words echoed through my head again. Without hesitation, my head turned towards the sky. The stars were shining beautifully. They were my only light in this desolate world. I couldn’t stop crying. This old house had reminded me so much of the past that all the memories I had came flooding back to me. The view of my old home was amazing, the stars shone brightly here every night unlike in the city. I remembered I would come here every month just to stargaze. It would extinguish my fears and relinquish my hopes and dreams. It was the one thing I could look forward to. Now, it will only remind of my loss. I sat up from the mattress and looked around at my old bedroom. Time has been cruel to it. The walls were moulding and rotting, the furniture that had been placed there once are damaged beyond repair, except for one, and old desk. I stood up from the mattress and walked towards the desk. The wooden floor creaked with despair as I walked. I looked at the relic, it was covered in dust. I caressed the old desk, rough and nostalgic. It was the only one left untouched by The Infestation. I chuckled.

“You’re all alone, huh?”

I reached for the top most drawer of the desk, inside included all the stationary and mouldy cards that I had collected. I smiled, the nostalgia was getting to me. I brushed aside the memories and continued to find search through the drawer. I reached into the deepest parts of the drawer. I couldn’t feel it, it wasn’t here anymore. I withdrew my hand and closed the drawer. I stepped away from the drawer and slowly tilted my head upwards. The roof that had once sheltered me is now a window to the eternal night.

“Its like staring into a glittering abyss..” I spoke with conviction.

The floor creaked. I looked around my old room. Silence again. I took a step back silently. The floor creaked again. It’s here. I stepped back silently. The floor creaked once more. I backed away slowly and the creaking grew louder and louder. It grew silent again. I backed away quietly and slowly reached for the machete hidden behind my back. The floor crackled and two monstrous paw prints appeared in it. By instinct, I drew my machete and slashed the air with all my might. Blueish blood spilled from the air, with it left a scar in the space in front of me. The scar fell to the ground and made a huge thump. More liquid spewed from the scar leaving a permanent stain onto the rotten ground. I could hear the creature moving about and wincing, like it was close to death. I walked towards the scar on the bloodstained floor. The wincing grew louder, it acted as if it didn’t want to die. Rage coursed through my veins, this creature which has taken so many lives, is begging for its life? I quickened my footsteps and moved in for the kill. As a final ditch effort, the scar pounced once again. I dodged to my right and grabbed it, its unkempt fur grossly latched onto me. I struck my stained machete deep into the creature and slashed it in half. The creature flickered in and out of existence and then it became visible. The severed creature resembled that of a rabid dog but bigger. I looked at it with disgust as blood poured out of its severed body. I looked around the room, the Infested’s blood drenched it, tainting it of its nostalgia. The room I once lived is now a place where death can only be found. Then, as if by queue, the sun rose and shone through the broken window of my once sacred room. I slowly turned my face towards it. It’s been awhile since I had an encounter with death. I laughed to myself. The tears came back. Yes, this is where I will die. I looked behind me and saw the blue blood boil. It’s starting already. I slowly withdrew from the room and walked to the living room of my home. The sun drew closer, the howling began, I can’t hide forever. I sheathed my machete as the rising sun took its toll onto the dead. I could hear the blood popping from the 1st floor. I went outside of the house and stared into breaking dawn. The glimmering fields of my old farmhouse, they leave so many memories. I smiled, maybe it was time to leave one final memory. The overgrown fields rustled echoed violently. I prepped myself for the inevitable onslaught. I couldn’t help but chuckle for just a little while, this was the place that I was raised, that I was born in, yet this farmhouse will be my final resting place. I thought I would been able to have children of my own, but that was just a fantasy long forgotten in the past. My hopes and dreams, they end here from where I began. I peered into the distance and could make out irregular human shapes walking towards me. Arrogant pricks, the hounds are not enough to take me down. The fields omitted a powerful jump that vibrated through the air. I unsheathed my weapon and slashed the air. They connect with one of the creatures, but as I do, the invisible infested pounced onto me. My machete fell with the injured infested as I fell onto the ground. The weight of the monsters pinned me down and I struggled to get up. I could hear them growling menacingly. I struggled frivolously but it was futile. I could hear footsteps in the windblown fields, the Masters were here. The footsteps stopped as I hear wincing in the distance, a soft hushing could be heard, then silence, followed by a loud slash and splatter. The sound of birds flying off filled the silence afterwards. The footsteps resumed and the once invisible creatures revealed themselves. It was the first time I had seen one in all its grotesqueness, much less one without blood on them. The monsters stepped away from my sight as a new monstrosity appeared in front of me. The Masters, humans tainted by the Infestation but somehow didn’t convert into the mindless zombies roaming the world. They couldn’t speak but they have ultimate control over all the brainless Infested. The Master smirked devilishly as he pointed the blood-soaked machete at me. I looked to the ground where the Master was standing, it was being corrupted. I looked to the Master and smiled weakly at it. My fate had been sealed, but I was smiling. Smiling to the fact that I would no longer be tormented by this existence. Smiling to the fact that I would no longer have to fight. At death's door, I was happy. I would see them again. Those that had perished in this suicidal mission.

The Master face contorted into a sinister smile and threw away the machete. It went over and grabbed me by the neck. I choked and struggled, realizing its intentions. It was going to convert me. Convert me into those atrocious creatures. I felt its nails sinking into my flesh as a strange green fluid was injected into my veins. I gasped for air, crying out in terror. My arms are getting limp. I slowly closed my eyes and shed my last tear.