//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 'A Long Night' Sec.1 'Resolutions' // Story: V-472 // by SimpleWriter //------------------------------// "TEN!" I turn up the T.V volume a little. "NINE!" I put my drink down, and reclined my chair. "EIGHT!" The people in the crowd are getting antsy... "SEVEN!" I sit patiently waiting… "SIX!" "Wait wait! Hold up!" My friend shouted as he stomped over to the couch. "FIVE!!" He sat on the couch, placing a bowl of nachos, a bottle of beer, and a party popper onto the coffee table. "FOUR!!!" The ball is getting closer and closer to the bottom. My friend sticks three fingers into the air, while my hand rests on the lid of my drink. "THREE!!!!" It's about to end. "TWO!!!!" It's about to begin... "ONE!!!!!!" Simultaneously, I pop open my soda, while my friend yanks the string of the party popper hard. A loud pop is quickly covered over by the insane amounts of cheering and screaming through the television. A small cloud of confetti falls to the floor before us. "Happy New Year, mother fucker!!" My friend shouted as he cracked open his beer. "2017!" I cheered, raising my drink into the air. "Cheers!" Large amounts of streamers and confetti rained down upon the enormous crowd of drunk New Yorkers. Cameras would switch to see couples kissing, people hugging, people cheering. Joy for the new year continued as Frank Sinatra's voice sang to the people of Time Square, to all of America, and the world. [youtube=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-ZUXQuFcnw] "Happy New Year, Oscar." My friend chimed. "Same to you, man! Happy New Year!" I belched, as I was just chugging my drink. We both took a swig of our drinks at the same time. I set my drink on a side table and sat up, taking my phone out of my pocket. I called her up. The phone rang while I watched the TV. There was a brief silence before I was greeted with her wonderful voice in the static. "Hey, Babe!" "Christa, Happy New Year!" I greeted her with much enthusiasm. "Happy New Year!" "How's the party?" I asked her. "You watching the TV?" "Yeah, it's on. But no, sadly I didn't watch as much as I would've liked to." She sighed. "You know how my Nana is. She's nice and all, but she doesn't stop talking! She just went on and ON about all of her problems, and politics. God...at least I got some down time for the moment." "Shit." I chuckled, scratching my chin, watching the T.V. "I know what you mean. Iv'e had a few...chats with her. She seems nice yeah, but she...she just likes to ramble I guess." "Well..." She said. There was a slight pause as I could hear the liquid in a bottle swooshing around, before she let out a quick gasp. "I'm...I'm gonna get hammered tonight. I don't have work tomorrow, so I can spend a good chunk of morning recovering from the hangover. I wish..." She sighed once more. "I wish you could be here with me." "Me too...me too." I could see my friend getting his shoes on in the corner of my eye. "Not having a hangover, of course. But spending some time with you, yeah." "Of course." She agreed. Still watching the T.V, I noticed that the sights of the celebrating crowd disappeared, and it was showing some news anchors reporting at the scene. "Look, we'll make a plan to see each other tomorrow." I said. "We can grab some breakfast if you want. A real expensive, and fancy breakfast. How bout McDonalds?." I could hear her snort under her breath. "I would like that..." Christa cooed soothingly. "Happy New Year, Oscar." "Yeah..." I softly said, about to hang up. "You too." I hung up the phone and put it in my pocket. Behind me, I could hear the fumbling of my friend stuffing his feet into his shoes. I looked behind me. "Going so soon, Dan?" "Yeah!" He said hastily, tying his laces. "Mark and Chester are going to that club a few blocks down. They asked if we wanted to join them. I might meet a girl tonight. Hell, maybe even get laid! You should come, dude!" "Nah." I said with a smirk, turning off the TV. "I don't feel like being the designated driver tonight, especially with all of the drunks running wild out there. Besides, my boss might call in tomorrow. You go ahead man." "But I'm walking there. It isn't far! You-... bahh. Suit yourself." He sighed, already opening the door, stepping out. He turned his head back. "Happy New Year!" He closed the door. I stood there in the dark. Looking at my Coke on the table, I snatched it up, and took a big long sip. Listening to the silence, I could faintly hear the music of the New Year's Celebration. Putting my drink down, I walked over to a fire escape window, and opened it. I could now hear the music more clearly, people cheering, loud fireworks of all kind. "Yeah...Happy New Year." I finished my drink, and took a nice, hot shower. Within five to ten minutes, I stepped out of my little apartment shower, steam clouding my mirror and my sight. Wearing some sweat pants, I took out my tooth brush and some toothpaste. By then, the mirror was slightly clearer. I could see myself, with my black hair matted down, and my brown eyes to match. I turned to the side, looking at my belly. Not completely skinny, but not getting a gut either. My eyes trailed down to my left arm, then to my hand...if it was there. I wrapped my right hand around the stump where my left hand should've been. A stump just above the wrist everything below that...gone. I placed my bum arm on top of the toothbrush, holding it down. With some stability, I simple squeezed some paste on. I gave my teeth a good cleaning, washed out my mouth, and I was just about ready to hit the sack. There was just one more thing I had to do. Navigating the halls to my bed room, I grabbed my phone on my dresser. I pulled up my Dad and I sent him a message. Hey Dad! Happy New Year. Hope you're doing alright tonight. I pushed send, and I almost got a reply instantly. ... Thanks, Oscar. I'm doing good. Rest easy. Happy New Year, son. I plugged in my phone, and set an alarm just in case. I yawned as I climbed into bed. Pulling the covers over me, I grabbed some headphones that were lying on the covers beside me. Putting them on killed anything that could wake me up. No cheering or fireworks could disturb me now. Lying beneath the blankets, all snug in my bed made me fall asleep. I was being swallowed in a comforting darkness of my mind. I fell asleep that night, ending a memorable New Year's Eve. But then I woke up... KA-VOOM!!! Something loud thundered through my arpartment. I shot up starit in my bed as everything shook around me. Vibrations sent items toppling over. I groaned, exhausted. I leaned over the bed to check my phone. The clock read 1:12 am. I've been asleep for a little over and hour. It was probably a firework. Did somebody really light off a mortar in the complex? I jumped out of bed to see what was going on. Right as I left the bedroom, I realized that I could hear people screaming and hollaring like a bunch of drunks in the hall. RAT-A-TATATATAT! Multiple pops could be heard from the hall outside. Very loud pops. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" I groaned "Really?" I stormed over to the front door and yanked it open. The commotion was coming from my right. "WHO THE HELL IS LIGHTING FIRECRA-" I stood in the hall, shirtless, ready to get some answers. I paused when I realized my mistake. I should've never opened that door. I stood before a group of...soldiers. They all wore dark green uniforms with camouflaged patterns. On their chests, knees, and elbows, they wore metallic platings. Everywhere else was covered with thick armor that looked very durable. They were all armed with guns. Rifles that were jet black with flashlights on the ends of them. They looked military grade. "What the hell..." I gasped. I could see that they wore face paint that hid their faces well enough to where you can't describe what they looked like. But I could see one detail that they could never hide. Their eyes. They...glowed. Their eyes glowed with a green hue. And they were all looking at me. More and more of them came storming onto the floor through the staircase at the end of the hall. The door across from me opened. My neighbor, a plump elderly lady named Mary was dressed in grey pajamas and wore the same angered expression that I had. More and more doors opened on the apartment floor. One man futher down the hall opened his door. He wore a blue robe and he was obviously drunk. "Wath a foo issss goon on?!" He helped. People watched the dispute in silence, until the soldier closest to him whipped out a baton, in which they whipped the metal club across his face! The force of the blow sent the poor man crumbling to the floor! "Everyone get out of your rooms and onto the ground!!" They shouted. They shouted it again and again and again! They started kicking down doors and hauling people out into the hall! Mary already slammed her door and locked it. My head darted back down the hall, as I saw more soldiers charging down the hall! Running in my direction! "Oh FUCK!" I slammed the door shut and turned the door lock. I backed away from the door, my heart was beginning to race, but it began to pound once I head the somebody ramming themselves against the door! "OH FUCK!" I immediatly bolted for the fire escape window, yanking it open one handed. Cold air already flooded in, and I I was crawling through, but I paused. Somebody was still kicking at the door, but my eyes shifted to the hallway to the bedroom. As quickly as I could, I ran toward my bedroom where my phone rested on the bedside. Throwing the door open, slamming it against the wall, I grabbed my phone, and yanked it hard as I could; hard enough to pull the charger out of the wall socket to send it flying through the air! CH-KRAK Just as I entered the living room, a loud snapping of wood filled my ears. I looked behind me in horror as the front door came crashing to the floor. Light poured in from the hall. I stood there, seeing the figure enter the room. I trembled, watching whatever creature stood before me. It wasn't human. Something else. It moved on all fours. Each time one of its feet hit the floor, a thump could be heard. I could see armor coating its body, all in black. The only feature that I could see were the two glowing red eyes staring at me. Orbs of burning fire that pierced my soul, right through me. I slowly inched further and further from it. "What the fuck are you..." I mumbled. "Get on the ground...before I use lethal force!! Drop the phone! NOW!!!" It...talked. It talked to me. I couldn't believe my ears. I quivered, panicking, trying to comprehend what I was witnessing with my senses. It's voice was female, rough and scratchy. I couldn't stay!With no hesitation, I spun around and raced for the fire exit! I could hear the rapid thumping on the carpet behind me as the thing gave chase! I drove through the window, slamming into the railing of the fire escape! The creature rammed itself into my back. I could feel two arms wrapping around my neck! It's legs wrapped around my torso, and it's weight prevented me from pushing it off! The grip was so tight. I struggled to breathe, as I spun around, trying to get in off! Trying anything to loosen its grip! SKSSHH! I threw my back up against the window, causing most of the glass to shatter into bits and pieces! "Hrk- ge...get OFF!" "Sub...mit! Stop fighting!" It screamed in my ear, every word made my ear ring. My vision was getting blurry. Hardly any oxygen was being inhaled. My arms flailed in the air, as I began to loose balance. Time began to slow down. I could analyze more details as everything around me spun. I could see the shattered window with such clarity. I looked down, and I could see the ground four stories below me. I couldn't believe what I saw. Just below me, lying on the sidewalk staring back up at me. It...it was a police officer. He lied sprawled out on his back, in a pool of his own blood. His left leg looked like it had been torn off, only leaving strips of flesh to dangle into the winter air. Multiple gashes across his body left his entire uniform a very dark blue. He lied there, on the sidewalk where large chunks of concrete have been blown away around him, forming a web of cracks that stretched in every direction. The creature's force yanked my head back up, allowing me to see the staircase downward for a very brief moment. Stairs...stairs! I knew what I had to do. I clamped my hand and arm down on its arms. Spinning around as quickly as I could, I leaned back and I felt myself loosen from the creature's grip. I could hear it yell in surprise for a brief moment. "Oh FU-" FWAM! I could feel its body slam itself against the top stair underneath me. It let out an angry grunt of pain as it began to roll down, with me on top of it. Gravity pulled me along before I could react! "ARGH!" I yelled as I fell face first into hard metal. I struggled to get up, but the creature's body rolled over me, pushing me against the cold metal before it flew downward to the bottom, hitting every step along the way. I final clang of the metal indicated that the beast hit the end of the staircase. I found myself gasping for air, my left arm warppaed around my chest as I coughed and wheezed. "Shi...shit." I moaned, as I gripped the railing. "Ow...ow...god damn." Pulling myself to my feet, I climbed up the stairs clutching my chest. I looked back down at the thing that lay at the bottom, moaning with pain. "What the...FUCK are you?!" I heaved. I looked down at what appeared to be a bright blue...horse?! A fucking horse?! I was not seeing things. This was real! It lied there, as blood trickled out of this mouth and nose! It's bright blue fur was sprinkled with red. It had rainbow fucking hair. Short hair that was sectioned off into different colors! "Wha...what the hell is this?" I mumbled quietly to myself. *cough cough* I watched it as it spat out a glob of blood and spit. The horse looked around itself, then back up at me. "OH SHIT." I stumbled back. It wiped a hoof across its face, looking at the blood that smeared its brown color. It looked up at me...and it growled. "You...are fucking...dead." I spun around and bolted up the fire escape! My heart pounded in my chest, my lungs burned. Up. Up! UP! I stomped up every stair, still gasping for air! I got to another window a floor up! I stopped in front of it, only to see the silhouette of a soldier pouring a gun at a somebody that I couldn't see. It's glowing eyes dimmly illuminated the room, but the flash of gunfire smothered it. Rat-at-tat! Ping! Pt! I saw glass fly from the window as bullets broke through. I yelped in shock as I fell back, cowering away from the window! "Fuck! FUCK!" I screamed as I scrambled up the stairs, tripping on every stair along the way. I looked back down to see the horse a floor below me! Reached the top! The metal stairs came to end as I came up on the roof! I threw myself forward, tumbling to the floor! I scurried away from the stairs, jumping to my feet! "Get away!" I yelled. "Get awa-" I paused. My gut twisted in fear, infusion, and pain at the sights that I saw. "Oh my god." Anarchy. Total anarchy. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Buildings were ablaze, blown to bits. Multiple smoke clouds stretched into the sky. As my legs turned to jelly, I listened to sirens, gunfire, explosions, and the screams terrified people. I could hear the loud hum from behind me. Looking back, I watched as two military helicopters flew over my head. Their roar was the only sound that I could hear. They soared through the air, and flew further up into the sky. FWUM! I could barely see the blue blur crash right into me, slamming into my chest. The immense pressure sent every ounce air out of my lungs. I was pinned to the ground, pain shot up my back, and I was gasping for air. From the ground, I looked up at the blue horse, that pinned me down with one hoof. It glared at me with its burning coal for eyes that seemed to grow brighter with each moment. I lied there paralyzed, staring up at a pair of humongous wings that were outstretched from its back. Growling at me like a savage beast, it wrapped its arms underneath my armpits, and it hauled me up to my feet with its large, flapping wings. I barely landed on my feet, still wheezing, still woozy. It's wings tucked back behind her. "You fucked up, boy..." I could hear it's raspy voice taunt me, before a solid hoof clocked me right in the jaw. I found myself spinning around before collapsing onto the floor. Facing away from the creature, I lay there on my stomach, whining in agony. Every breath, every moan of pain, sent more pain through my throbbing jaw. A hoof kept me stuck to the ground as it dug itself into my back. "You'll be alright." It hissed. "I hate doing that....but dammit you left me no fuckin choice. You're lucky I only used 40% of my strength on you." She pressed on me harder. I winced. "Don't make me go to 100." I watched the smoke from burning buildings float up into the night sky. Off in the distance, I could hear the destruction of a bulding of what sounded like a large bomb. It went off, and I could see a long lasting orange glow, that faded as quickly as it came into light. With a pounding heart, I heard the alien creature cackle a phrase that stuck with me since then. "Your life is fucked, kid. It's all about to change."