Highway to Hell

8- Into hell

Chaos swarmed throughout the entire city, cars packed the streets full of people trying to get to safety. Sidney was on duty at the gate, standing around in case another mutant or group of undead showed up. The traffic was crawling along, the gate left opened for all to enter the city who were seeking refuge. Not that it mattered much; anything that wanted in could just travel around the small portion of wall built up around the gate.
Sidney’s hair was shorter back then, almost in a crew cut. He carried a single automatic rifle with limited ammunition, most of it spent during fights earlier in the day. He was pacing along the sidewalk not too far away from the gate, a little on edge. He dt lit like this; no one seemed to know what was going on. The only thing anyone could do was shoot whatever was coming after them.
His gaze turned to the gate, down the Highway when more and more screams began filling the chaotic sounds of the city. Hundreds of people stampeded down the highway in terror, fleeing for their lives. When others still in their cars seen what was happening, they too joined the hundreds running. A massive number of mutants were charging down the highway, killing all in their path. Among them were countless undead, taking out anyone left behind that the mutants missed.
Some people tried to flee while remaining in the safety of their cars, crashing into others or running off of the road. One car that sought to use the sidewalk for transportation only made it a few feet before smashing into a power pole, sending it crashing down into the street atop a lot of cars. It sends a spray of sparks into the air, causing everyone around to duck and shield themselves in any way they could.
When the streets became too full of people to run, they began running over the cars, tripping and pushing others out of their way. Once someone fell to the ground, they were as good as dead, very soon after being trampled by the hundreds running for their lives.
One of the mutants grabbed a screaming woman around the middle, lifted her above its head and threw her. She went screaming and flailing through the air until she hit the wall of a building with a sickening crack, dying instantly. Another woman screamed in terror as a swarm of undead gathered around her, clawing and biting at her flesh until she was in pieces. A man leaned back on the hood of a car, screaming and bringing his arms up to shield himself as a massive mutant slammed one of its pdowndown on him. His entire torso was crushed, a large amount of blood gurgling up and out of his mouth as he too, became silent.
A woman was in procprocess of running between the front and back of a car, when the driver panicked and hit the gas. The wheels screeched as it rolled forward, crushing her as she screamed. Up in one of the higher levels of a building a man was trapped, fleeing from a mutant. He was faced with either leaping from the window, or being devoured by the monster. So, he leapt, landing on the roof of a car in the street causing it to buckle in. All of the windows blew out, sending shards of glass into the crowds of people running around it.
Another car sped out of the gridlock traffic, running down a few people before two of its wheels ran up a short flight of stairs that lead to an apartment entrance. The car flipped onto its side, sliding a short distance like that before crashing into another car, the two of them erupting in a ball of fire that rose up into the air. One of the larger mutants lifted a car from the ground, passengers still screaming inside it. With a powerful thrust, it sent the car into the air. It came crashing down sideways atop the roofs of two cars that were side by side. The car that had been thrown continued rolling, tumbling over numerous cars in a straight path. All throughout the city there were numerous explosions and a constant uproar of terrified screams, shrieks, and crying.
Sidney was lying on the ground now, trapped beneath a car that had rolled on top of his leg. His gun was out of reach, and no one was stopping to help him. Looking down the street, he saw a small child standing on the sidewalk. The boy couldn’t have been more than two years old. He had blond hair, and was crying with tears streaming down his face, repeatedly calling ‘mommy.’ He was clinging to a stuffed animal, a light blue bear with bloodstains on it. Over and over he cried, mommy, mommy, mommy, while sobbing. He wasn’t running, just standing there, as a mutant came up behind him. Sidney screamed as the thing rose it’s clawed hand up above its head, swinging down powerfully atop the child.
He sat up in his bed as he screamed, waking himself. Tears were streaming down his face, and at least while in the privacy of his room, he let them fall freely. He was never able to forget that day, when the mutants swarmed the city. It was a recurring nightmare to him, forcing him to relive it night after night. He always knew, that no matter what, he would never be able to forget that child’s face as he cried for his mother.
He gave himself a few more moments before getting up and getting changed. It was morning, and he knew the kids would want to be looking for their friends. There was no doubt in his mind that the two boys left out in the city were dead. It had been years since someone survived a night outside.
After dressing into the usual garments all the survivors were provided, black pants, black shirt, he left his room. He checked Lou’s room, it was empty, most likely she’d already gotten up and was down in the cafeteria getting something to eat.
Sidney then made his way to the girl’s room, knocking before he entered. They were both still asleep. Now that the sun had risen above the dark gray clouds, a clear view of the city below was possible from their window.
“Wake up, we have an hour before we leave. Get ready, get something to eat.” He didn’t wait for their response; he left, closing the door behind him.
Jaina groaned as she rolled in bed, waking slowly. Sera hadn’t heard Sidney, and was still asleep. After rubbing the last bit of sleep from her eyes, Jaina stood and walked over to Sera’s bed, shaking her awake.
“Wake up, we’ve got to go get Aden and Felix.”
Sera groaned, then sat up in bed. The first thing she did was look at her hand. The cut still looked fine. Red, and a little puffy, but that was normal. She still didn’t let Jaina see it; her suspicions were enough, without someone else who might say something about it. Connor was killed because he was infected, and even though there was just a chance that she was infected, Sera didn’t want to risk it.
When Sera looked up, she saw Jaina staring out of the windows, down to the city. She stood, and joined her. They weren’t too high up, but they still had a great view of downtown. As far as they could see, there was nothing but ruin. Everything was old, and destroyed. The gray sunlight that filtered through the clouds added to the ominous sense.
“If you knew everything and everyone would die after we left, would you still have gotten on that bus? Knowing that all you had to return to, was this?” Jaina put her hand against the glass of the window. Her voice was soft, laden with sadness.
“Well, yes, I suppose. Even though everyone is gone, we’re still here. We have a chance to try and do some good. It may not be much, but it’s better than just laying down and giving up.”
Jaina turned to Sera, smiling softly. It had been a while since she heard her say something intelligent.
“Lets go, I don’t want to leave Aden and Felix out there any longer than they need to be.”
The two of them got ready and went down to the cafeteria, where they assumed Sidney would be. Not only that, they were hungry.
When they stepped through the doorway, a hush fell over all of the people inside. There was a long line at the bar where food was being served, and the tables were only about halfway filled, all with men and women staring at the two of them. Word must have spread fast of the ones with no recollection of the end of the world.
Slowly everyone returned to their private conversations, as Sera and Jaina went to stand in the line. Jaina saw Sidney and Lou eating together at a table along the wall; she smiled and waved as they did the same.
The food wasn’t much, and it wasn’t that great either. They couldn’t even tell what it was. Some kind of mush dumped out of a can and heated up. Regardless, it was food, so they didn’t complain. They went to Sidney and Lou, sitting across from them at the table.
“You know, you’re friends are most likely dead,” was the first thing Sidney said, even before they could start eating. Jaina simply nodded, taking a spoonful of the mush into her mo Si Sidney continued, “By going out into the city, there’s a chance that both of you could die too. Are you sure you want to go with us?”
“Of course, they’re our friends. And besides, you’re going out there, risking your life for them. You don’t even know them,” Jaina said.
“Yeah, but that’s different, it’s our job. Any civilian saved is another gun on the streets, fighting off these demons. We need everyone we can get, and as well, there’s talk of a plan being cooked up in the ranks, something that should allow us to take back the city. As anyone can imagine, it will probably require a lot of manpower.”
“So, you’re only doing it for the extra hands in combat? That’s our price for you saving us, we have to fight?”
“Not necessarily. You could just sit back and watch as hundreds die to protect you. No one is forced to do anything here, everyone chooses to fight, it’s all we have left now. Fight, or die, you’re choice. We choose to go out and try to save your friends, because they are human beings who have the right to live.”
Jaina became silent, poking at the slop placed on a trey for her. Would she fight once they returned? With or without Aden, as long as they still lived and made it back, there was nowhere else to go. This was there home now, would she risk her life to protect it? She was only a child in comparison to most around her. There were a few young like her, very few younger. She doubted that the children had to fight, but the others who looked about her age were clad in fighting gear and armor, ready to kill.
“I understand,” she said softly.
At that time Lou interrupted. “Sir, generators two and three went down last night, most likely someone forgot to fill the tanks. Regardless, it knocked out a third of our surveillance cameras in the central city area. Teams have been sent out to get the generators back online, but it’ll be a few hours before the cameras have been booted back up. We can’t tell if the civilian is still alive or not, we’llflyiflying blind if we go back out there before then.”
Sidney hesitated, before a slight smile grew across his lips. “It’ll be just like old times then eh Lou?”
Lou smiled in return, “Just like oimesimes.”
They finished their breakfast, and then got ready to head out into the city. Instead of going to the main parking deck to enter and exit the building, they were taken to the floor below it.
The elevator doors opened up and they were greeted by endless shelves and racks of weapons, along with armor type items, but no medical kits or the like. Since one wound was all it took to ensure one’s death, Jaina supposed they didn’t need any medical supplies.
Sidney led them down one of the make shift aisles, stopping before racks filled with the suits that he had been wearing when they first met. He was already wearing his, in the absence of his helmet.
After picking out their appropriate sizes, they were appointed helmets that fit as well. And then, they made their way to the weapons, which were mostly all the same type of gun. A combination weapon, capable of firing automatically, single shots, or shotgun bursts. It was heavy, but after laying the strap over her shoulder, Jaina was able to hold it up with ease. Sera had a little more trouble, but she looked to be managing.
“The suits go on over your regular clothes, go ahead and put them on here.” Sidney said as he pulled the helmet on over his head. Once it was placed properly, he clasped it shut.
The girls did as they were told. Jaina noticed how heavy the suit was once she began putting it on, all of the steel attachments adding to its weight greatly. Once it was on though, she found it to be quite maneuverable. Steel was attached at the back of her hands, around her forearms, upper arms, thighs, calves, chest, and back. Her abdomen and lower back were plated with numerous strips of interlocking steel, which gave her protection while enabling her flexibility. Most of her joints were left unprotected, but those areas were quite small, and required for her to be able to move. She placed the gun strap back over her shoulder, and held the helmet under her other arm, ready to go.
It took Sera a bit longer to get the armor on, but she managed. Afterwards, they went back up to the parking deck. This time, Lou got into the vehicle with them; apparently Bertha wasn’t coming on this trip.
It was the same type of vehicle they’d been in before, low to the ground with no roof or doors and three rows of seats. Sidney once again was driving, waiting for everyone to get settled before heading out.
He had to stop at the first gate and wait for it to open, once it did asseassed into the small gateway area and again waited, this time for the first gate to close, and then the second to open. Once that was accomplished, they moved on into the tunnels.

Aden made a soft, whimpering noise as he began to awake. His body was still aching, but he had no recollection of attacking Felix. He remembered almost nothing of the day before. He remembered Aldaris, and that he’d become a vampire, after that everything was blank.
He sat up, combing his fingers back through his hair to feel the knot on the back of his head. He winced and groaned, then began to look around.
He was in a large bed, covered in crimson silk. There was a plush area rug in the center of the floor, matching the crimson beddings. Gray light filtered in through the window on the left wall, framed in crimson sheers. Along the right wall was a dresser and desk, both ornately carved and matching two bed stands at the left and right of the bed, as well as the bedposts. The floor was composed of white marble tiles, the walls of gray granite, and the ceiling of cherry wood panels, all cut in randomly sized squares intricately pieced together like a puzzle. There were lanterns on both bed stands, and a few candles on the desk and dresser. They added a bit of an orange glow to the room, mixing with the gray sunlight.
Aden seen his clothes folded neatly in the desk’s chair, only then noticing he was bare. He was about to go retrieve them when the door on the far wall came gliding open, a young male about Aden’s age stepping through. He was carrying different clothes.
His hair was black, streaked with gold, and reached down just past his shoulders. His eyes were golden, and his skin fair. He was wearing a pair of brown trousers that looked like something someone would wear in medieval times, along with a white short-sleeved shirt tucked into them. The front of the shirt was lined with buttons, the top few left undone.
When he noticed Aden sitting up in bed, he smiled softly and gave a light bow. “Sorry to barge in, I thought you were still asleep,” he began to back out of the door.
“No, wait. Who are you, what’s going on, where am I?” Aden asked him, pulling the sheets up a bit around him.
The other hesitated before re-entering the room, placing the clothes he was holding on the foot of the bed and standing beside them. “My name is Vaiga, and you are in the home of the vampires. I know you’ve just arrived here, and it’s my job to give you the details you’ll need.
“There are four classes of vampires, you being the lowest. At the top of the list there is mistress Alaria. It won’t be likely that you’ll see her anytime soon, but if you do, don’t look at her face. Keep your head down, and only speak to her once she asks you a question. Beneath are are the commanders; there are a handful of them, each in charge of their own bundle of vampires. Beneath the commanders are the officers, and beneath them, others like you.
“Since Aldaris was the one who created you, I’m assuming you’ll be in his division. He’s out for the day however, and will speak with you upon his return. There are a select few, like me, whom the mistress takes certain interest in. If you turn out to be one of them, you’ll have no one below, or above you aside from the mistress. But, seeing as you’re just another vampire, I don’t think you have to worry about that.
“You’re not allowed to leave the estate, and you’ll only need to feed about once a week, so you’re hunger will be subdued for a while. You still need to eat regularly though, there’s a kitchen on the first floor that isn’t too hard to find. I suggest you spend the day finding your way about, once Aldaris returns to give you your orders you wont have much time to do anything else.” Vaiga tapped the clothes he placed on the bed, “Here are your clothes, and more will be brought to you later in the day to change in and out of. There are a few bathrooms here and there; if you can find one available you’re welcome to use it. Most often the water isn’t running though, so there’s a bathhouse in the back of the estate, behind the greenhouse. Unlike the humans, the vampires don’t have any electricity. So you’ll have to get used to candles and lanterns.
“That about covers it I think. My room is right across from yours, so if you need anything, just come get me. I’ll be there unless the mistress has me on orders.”
Vaiga wn thn the process of turning, about to leave, when Aden stopped him.
“Wait, why does the mistress take special interest in you?” Aden didn’t really care, he was just curious. So much had changed in just two days, he wasn’t sure that he cared about much of anything anymore, aside from Jaina. He missed her.
“I’m immune,” Vaiga answered, smiling with the corner of his lips. “I was captured by Aldaris, as you were, but when he tried to turn me, he failed. As did every other vampire who attempted, even the mistress. In an experiment, they unleashed one of their mutant pets on me. I came out battered and scarred, but I healed, and was fine. No mutation.”
Aden was getting even more confused, unlike the others, he hadn’t had the speech about how the world came to be. “How do vampires even exisAnd And mutants, are those the monsters that attacked my friends and me? And what about the dead people crawling all over the city? Where’d all the normal people go?”
Vaiga stared at Aden with a blank expression, much the same as the one Sidney had given Jaina and Sera when they proved completely dumb of the situation. He remembered how violent Aldaris’ attack had been on him, and thought maybe it was much the same on Aden. A blunt impact to the head could provide a bit of amnesia, explaining Aden’s lack of knowledge.
With a sigh, Vaiga sat on the edge of the bed and began explaining everything from the beginning; the same story Sidney had given Sera and Jaina.
Aden hung on to his every word, almost wanting to laugh. There was no way all of this was possible, not in the span of two days. Oh well, any explanation was better than none, he only cared about getting back to see Jaina.
After giving him a smile, Vaiga left Aden, closing the door behind him. By now Aden’s body had stopped aching, and he felt well rested after all the sleep he’d gotten. He slipped out of bed and walked around to the clothes provided for him, he didn’t know why he just wasn’t allowed to wear his clothes.
The ones Vaiga had brought him weren’t much different from the ones he was wearing, a pair of trousers and a white button down shirt. Aden dressed, tucking the shirt into the pants as he saw Vaiga had done, androllrolled up the sleeves to just past his elbows. His boots were placed at the foot of his bed, so he assumed he was still allowed to wear them at least.
Outside the door of his bedroom was another room that resembled a study. There were two windows on the left wall, a large desk placed in front of them facing into the room. In the right corner of the room was a large wooden chair covered in many thick blankets. The floor was hidden beneath numerous plush rugs scattered randomly over it, and the walls were hidden beneath bookcases, running around the entire room and stocked full of books. There was another door directly across from the one Aden had just passed through, which led to the main hallway.
The hallway was very wide, at least thirty feet between walls. Directly to the left of Aden’s door was a massive window stretching all the way to the high ceiling and looking down on the front of the estate. Pillars lined the walls, stretching up to the ceiling, reaching the ends of balconies all the way up, about three or four floors. The ceiling above the hallway was completely glass, giving a clear view up to the gray sky above. The building was clearly massive, looking down the hallway Aden could see a great distance before it split off in a T-junction, identical hallways going to the left and right. At the intersection was a massive staircase. Two sets of stairs spiraled around two individual pillars, joining in the center at each floor before splitting off to spiral down to nextnext. A long, bridge like structure reached from the floor to the staircase at each level, leaving a large area around the stairs open to look all the way up and down them, from roof to floor.
Aden seen no signs of Vaiga, meaning he must have gone into his room rather than traverse the lengthy corridor. After closing his door behind him, Aden began walking down the hallway, his footsteps echoing around him.
He reached the stairs, and descended them; from the third floor where he was, down to the second, and then first. The first floor was laid out differently than the others, the staircase set back in the wall, leading to a four-way intersection. Most of the rooms lining the hallways on the first floor were open, large sitting rooms, libraries, or things of that nature. In the middle of the floor at the intersection a dome rose up, looked to be carved of solid marble. It formed a half circle, the top of it carved flat in a type of pedestal with a white, grand piano atop it. A single line of steps was carved into the marble leading up to the piano, only about two feet wide.
Aden hadn’t played in a while, but it would give him something to do while he waited to figure out how he was going to get out of here. He began walking towards the piano, thinking it strange that he hadn’t ran into anyone else in the hallways, being that this was the vampire’s home.
The sound of his footsteps followed him, down the hall, and up the steps to the piano. He pulled the bench out, and then sat atop it. Once he lifted the lid over the keys, he placed his fingertips ever so lightly atop the ivory bars and hesitated.
After taking in a breath and clearing his mind, he began. He chose the piece at random from memory; it was in a minor key, and resounded with a peaceful sorrow. For a short time it seemed to liven up a bit, picking up in tempo, only to drop back into its sad melody.
Aden didn’t know it, but the sounds of the piano reverberated throughout most of the mansion in quiet harmony. Everyone took notice of the lovely sounds filtering through the building, but most paid little attention.
Vaiga heard the sounds well in his room, sitting in a chair while he stared silently out of his window. The look upon his face matched the melody flowing from Aden’s fingertips, quite melancholy.
The music abruptly stopped in the middle of the piece, Aden’s fingers pulling back from the keys as a woman approached from the side.
She was dressed in a purple gown with a red sash draped around her arms. There was a slit running along the front of her right leg, reaching all the way up to nearly her pelvis. She had dark, curly hair, tied up in a bun at the top of her head. A few curls hung down out he ghe golden hairpiece that restrained them. Her eyes were bright blue, almost eerie looking. She appeared young, in her mid twenties most likely.
Vaiga hadn’t told Aden what this, mistress Alaria looked like, so he didn’t know if he was in her presence or not.
“Please, continue,” she said as she motioned to the piano with her hand.