Hi Everyone! This is my very first time here and this is my very first story on here (for me i mean) Please Rate and stuff and tell me if you like it and if I should continue it. If there is any errors in this story please dont hesitate to ask me! Ill fix it to the best of my ability! 

Enjoy! :)

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Chapter One – The Beginning of an End

I hid inside a burnt rusty looking car. The barrel of the gun brushed my cheek as I steadied the shot gun. I looked through the sight on the end of the barrel, watching the 6 legged deer walk across the road. There was greenery growing out of the concrete road, since the weather changed, more disasters happened. Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, you name it.

Then the trees suddenly moved and grew everywhere, well, over the past 13 years actually. This started when I was 10 years old. It was just a normal day; my parents took me to the park every Sunday afternoon just after we came back from mass. The sky was crystal clear, not a single cloud in sight. Gabrielle was with me, pushing me on the swings. I loved it.

He’d chase me around the park, play hide N seek together, climb trees. Just perfect. Suddenly it just got cloudy, out of nowhere and it hailed. Gabrielle picked me up and ran to the nearest shelter, a large gazebo. He held me close to him under his coat, the hail large as tennis balls. I held on to him for dear life as he tried his best to sooth me. The hail intensified, they grew bigger and bigger. I was terrified, ice everywhere, the roof of the gazebo started to break as the basketball sized hail stones pelted the weak roof. I screamed with horror as Gabe picked me up and ran for it, he dodged the ice, he was very careful to not slip. He made it to the nearest parking lot and went into the fire stairs. He closed the door and sat down, wet, cold and shivering. He leaned against the wall and pulled me close to his body.

I was shivering a lot and I was very, very cold. It was so cold that it felt like it was winter, and it was in the middle of summer when its supposed to be boiling hot! We sat there for five hours, listening to the sounds of ice cracking, glass shattering and people screaming.  

When the sounds stopped Gabe stood and, still holding me, he walked to the top of the parking lot and gasped.

Everything was white, car roofs flattened, trees knocked down, as he walked to the edge his jaw dropped, “Don’t look.” He told me, I didn’t even want to. I knew how it looked, the blood, the bodies, I started to cry. He turned away from the gruesome scene, my face buried in his coat, “Why…?” I stuttered. He didn’t answer and just kept walking.

As he descended the fire stairs the scene was worse. As we walked to my small house, he saw my parents car… I felt his grip tighten and I looked up and went still. The car was a wreck, I could see four bodies inside. We both just stared.

Stunned.

Horrified.

Traumatized by it. Gabrielle placed me down gently and walked to the car, he looked as if he was frozen, his movement slow and rigid. He stood next to the car, not a single movement he made. I walked up next to him, and it was a first that I saw him cry. His tears ran down his gorgeous, young face. Blue eyes saddened and defeated. I held his hand and he looked at me, “Annabelle…” he whispered before going on his knees and hugging me.

The tears escaped my eyes, running down my pale cheeks. I held him close as we both cried, we lost our parents that day. We made an oath, never give up, and never stop. After that day, it continued to rain for days, weeks then it turned to months.

Thunderstorms killed people, lighting strikes stronger than normal. Tsunami’s destroyed the coast, earthquakes shook the earth and destroyed homes, sink holes taking lives, tornadoes stronger than F5. Hurricanes reaching to category 8, killing millions of people along the coasts of almost every country, heatwaves knocking people down, terrible heatstrokes.

It was just…horrendous. The black plague struck many people in Europe; millions of people were taken by it. People went mad. I watched the T.V with fright as I saw them kill each other and themselves.  As I grew older, I became stronger; I worked with Gabe to survive. Helped people in need, I learned what plant was good and what was bad. And that is I how I started to become famous.

I shook my head from my flash back and jumped as I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The deer went down; the rest of them scurried away. I got out of the car and walked over to the cry animal. I bent down, “I’m sorry.” I pulled out a knife and slit its throat. Red blood spilled out over its greenish blue coat, I let it drain then cut of its head completely, allowing more blood to come out. I then skinned it, keeping the skin and hauling the body over my shoulder. It was heavy.

I grunted and then started to walk.

Yes I know the animals were weird, but hey, the nuclear factory exploded, sending toxic substances into the water that ran throughout Hell City. It caused the genetics in the animals to change, birds with 6 wings, anacondas triple the size, crocodiles big as a bus. No wonder this city is called Hell.

The city was covered in creepy crawlies, the buildings almost covered in them. Trees, bloody massive, grew out of the road and were almost as tall as a high rise building. Grass tall as human, and they could kill to.

The vines which grew on the trees could kill to, wrapping around you, pulling you up into the tree and…eat you. What is nerve racking is that the trees eat humans to survive and animals to if they wondered in. That’s why so many people were dead, either they committed suicide or taken down by the Night Creature. I shivered from the monster.

I hated this place, but… It was my only home left. And I had hungry mouths to fill.

I sighed as I dragged my feet along the ground, the sounds of the birds and bugs around me gave a sense of comfort for some reason. It was amazing how this world became what it is, though it frightens me every night that the Night Creature is just only mere meters away from my boarded up window.

I shivered at the thought and kept walking silently. I arrived at the 3 storey house, the windows all boarded up with wood I found.

I knocked on it, “Who is it?” A young male’s voice was heard within, “Me, Annabelle.” I said, the door clicked and opened. The man, Gabrielle Meadows was his name, stood before me. Tight fitting shirt, showing his 6 pack, light curly brown hair that grew to his shoulders, his green mixed with blue eyes stared at me with awe.

“Hi Gabe, I caught our dinner.” I said smiling and showed him the large hunk of meat over my shoulder. “I can see that.” He said, giving me a dazzling smile. “Let me take that.” He said and I gave him the deer meat. “Nice one.” He mumbled as he walked into the house and I closed the door behind me.

I was bombarded with little children, all jumping up and down, speaking over each other, “Anna! Anna!” they called. “Hi everyone.” I said with a cheerful voice, trying to hide the tiredness in my tone.

They kept asking me where I went, what I did, I just kept walking to the large kitchen, answering them as much as possible. “Kids, leave her alone.  She is tired.” Gabe said, thank god, I thought to myself.

The children nodded and went back to their play room. Gabe hugged me; he was my only friend that I trusted. I hugged him back and sighed into his chest, we stood in the middle of the kitchen, just enjoying our presence. “I was worried about you.” He said, his voice melted my soul, it was deep and strong.

“Why? I was only gone for 3 hours.” I said. “Yeah but things can happen.” He said. I giggled, “I’m fine Gabe, and I got my gun.” I said holding the shot gun up.

“But…” he trailed of but I shushed him by placing a finger on his lips, “Shhh.” I said stepping back from his embrace. “Fine.” He said smiling.

“Well I’m gonna go have a bath, so just call me when you need me.” I said turning on my heel and walked out of the run down kitchen. I walked up stairs; they creaked under my weight as I came to the top. I walked down my left, passing occupied rooms. I heard chatter inside some of them.

I was surprised that the children here kept a positive attitude, unlike the rest of the other people who were here.

Mostly consisting over 30’s, they were all gloomy and depressed people. The past 2 months 10 of the grown-ups committed suicide. They went outside at night and got taken by the Night Creature. The children, poor things. Some lost their parents cause of that.

I shook my head, long as we are alive and safe, then we’re fine. I came to my small room, a small single bed next to the boarded up window, a small flaking dresser with a cracked mirror, a chest with all my clothes in it.

I walked to it and pulled out a blue checked dress shirt that Gabe gave me and black jeans with rips in them. I grabbed my towel and head to the bath room.

I knocked on it making sure no one was in and opened the door and walked in. I locked it behind me and stripped of my clothes. I turned on the tap for the bath and waited for a while till it filled up.

I got in and sighed as the warm scented water cleansed my body. My black waist length hair floated around me, they looked like the arms of the Night Creature and I shivered hard.

“Jesus…” I whispered, “Don’t think of it. Don’t think of it…” so I did. Memories of my parents came rushing in, I cherished each one, and then Gabrielle’s face came to my mind.

I smiled wide; his smile always amazed me, his eyes always happy, never sad. Strong body always looked good in anything you gave him. I didn’t have feelings for him…okay maybe I do since we’ve been together since I was four years old. He was 4 years older than me, 27, but it didn’t bother us.

He’d always play with me; take me to the park, he felt like my older brother.

We’ve grown so close to each other that we’d tell our deep darkest secrets to each other, we never judged.

He told me once, before the Apocalypse started, that he loved me. We were walking back from a movie we watched and he took me to the park. I was only 8 years old, how was I supposed to know what love meant?

I was speechless for a moment and told him I was too young to be in love, he chuckled and said, “One day you won’t, and we’ll be together Annabelle.” He kissed my forehead and hugged me close as it started to rain. He pulled me under his coat and walked me back to my small house; he stayed over for the night and went home the next day.

He was a straight A student in school, always bright, happy. His smile never dimed in the most saddest times. He was always there for everyone, stood up to bullies, never afraid. He was rich, very rich. Lived in a 4 storey mansion with 12 siblings, unlike me I had no one except for him.

My parents worked hard for me to go to the school Gabe went, his parents even gave us money just so I could get a good education.  Mr. and Mrs. Meadows would always babysit me if my parents had to work late. Such a lovely couple, so sweet, so kind, loving. I smiled at the thought and opened my eyes.

I got out of the bathtub, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around my body. I stood in front of the sink and looked at the rusty looking tap, I sighed and looked up. I screamed in fright, in the mirror was a hideous creature. It didn’t even look like me at all.

Its face was covered with maggots as they ate at the rotting flesh. There was no bottom jaw, only the rotting teeth clinging to the top jaw.

I chocked and tripped and fell in the bath tub; it was full of blood and limbs, hands grabbing my arms, pulling me under the water. My head slammed against the side of the bath tub as I fell, my eyes rolling in the back of my head as darkness took over. The last thing I heard footsteps and the door slamming open.

I was already blacked out when someone’s arms picked me up. I was carried to my room and I was laid down. I felt a warm sensation run through my body and sighed as the pain disappeared.

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After a few days of coming in and out of unconsciousness, I finally woke up. I rubbed my head and groaned. I felt a hand push me back down, “Anna, don’t move.” Gabe’s voice told me, “I need…to get up…” I said, opening my eyes and seeing only blurriness.

“Just rest, here,” Gabe pushed a spoon in my mouth and almost vomited from the horrible taste. I forced myself to drink it and shivered from the taste, my sight started to come back and I was able to see again.

His gorgeous face became clear; his eyes looked more of a turquoise blue than green. His light brown hair came past his eyes; I reached up with a weak hand and pushed it behind his ear. He smiled and covered my hand with his, “I was worried about you.” He said softly.

“You’re always worried about me…” I whispered, he shifted his body weight and moved over to lay down next to me. We both lay on our backs just looking at each other in the eyes, “No I was worried you might die…” he said, moving his hand up and down my arm slowly like he was petting me.

I sighed, “Gabrielle, I won’t die okay? I’m strong.” I said softly, he was frowning now then smiled. “I know, I’m just saying.” He said.

I sat up, my head spined but it settled down. I swung my legs over the bed and wriggled my toes, “What happened in the bathroom Anna?” Gabe asked me gently. “Nothing, I just passed out.” I said staring at the ground, “I’m sure you did, why then did you scream?” he persisted.

“I don’t know…I can’t remember.” I said standing.

He sat up and grabbed my hand, entwining his fingers in mine. I blushed and looked down at our locked fingers, “Annabelle.” He said, “What?” I replied softly.

“I care about you…A lot. It kills me inside when I see you hurt, upset or angry. We grew up together,” he stood this time, his body a hair away from mine. “We told everything to each other. Why can’t you tell me? There has to be a reason.” He said softly. My heart was pounding in my rib cage; I was worried he might hear it.

He pressed my hand against his chest, I don’t know why he did it but…it helped. Words came out, I told him everything what happened and why it happened. I was on a hunt with a group of people, after I ran away from home and left Gabe.

I was only 16; I grew up on the streets. I ran away when I was only 15 years old. The reason was that I had a fight with Gabe about moving to somewhere safer. I didn’t want to move so I ran away. It was a hard life on the streets, it was the start of the End, and I struggled to find shade and a place to cool off when the heat waves came through. Winter was worse; the temperatures went down to -34, even lower.

During those 2 years on the streets just before my 15th birthday I was found by a group of men and women; I was taken in by them and I was taught how to hunt and fight. One day I was asked to go on a hunt with a small group. I had the best accuracy and they wanted to use that to collect food. 

I happily obliged and went along. We went for the whole day and came back late, but we got lost in Shadow Forest. The forest was dark, the moon light struggling to get through the thick canopy. I heard stories of this forest, it looked like it moved around you. It gave you illusions, made you go nuts.  I had to go first because the men were cowards, the vegetation was very thick and I used my large knife to cut through. I kept getting shivers through my body because I knew the Night Creature lived close by.  

I knew we went the wrong way and told them; I didn’t like them anyway but boy did they get pissed off. They knocked me out before I could explain but darkness overwhelmed me. I was left in the middle of the forest as the men walked off.

The Night Creature got them. Because as I awoke, I heard the sickening sound of something being ripped apart, bones cracking and agonising screams. I crawled on all fours, going through a plant which gave of some type of hallucination gas; I breathed it in and saw images of dead people, my family, and Gabe.

All of them were being tortured by demons. I screamed and found a hole in an ancient tree; I huddled in there as hands reached out for me, and I shook and cried.

Suddenly all the gory images disappeared as a deep and wise voice entered my mind, My dear, dear child. Do not cry. You will be safe. I heard the sound of something slithering, the ground shuddering a little too.

It was the Night Creature.

“Go away.” I said scared, it chuckled. Why? You are in my home; I need to get rid of you. For good,  I saw its eyes, blood red. No pupils in them. I was so transfixed on them; my body froze like it was trapped. It came closer and I could feel it’s warm breath on my bare legs.

Its long red tongue coiled up my leg, sending pleasure through me. I moaned and I didn’t know why, it went further and licked me at the most sensitive spot. I was moaning louder as its tongue entered me.

I was crying and begging for it to stop, “P-Please…I beg…of you….stop. I’ll do anything. Anything!” I cried out and moaned when I reached my limit.

It stopped and slither out of me and left me there panting. Hmm… it grumbled as it coiled itself around the tree, Anything you say? it asked. I could see its thick body, spikes 5 meters long ran down its back and to its tail. The face, huge massive horns poked out of its head and nose, white gleaming teeth, sharper than a knife glowed in the dark. Its scales were black as tar, I couldn’t tell each individual scale.

“Yes! Anything!” I said breathless.

You give me part of your soul and I will return you my Curse, It said. “No!” I cried out. It did it again and I moaned and panted, “Okay…give me your Curse.” I said. It chucked as its head popped in, it opened its mouth as another one of its kind slithered out, but it was smaller.

The creature coiled around my arm and my skin burned. I screamed in agony as a black tattoo of the Night Creature appeared from my shoulder to my wrist. The snake burned itself in my arm and disappeared.

I felt my body become heavy as the Curse took its toll on my weak human body. After that, my eye sight became way better, I could ‘zoom’ in and out like a camera when its taking a close shot of something, I could see in the dark like it was day, I could see people move before they even…moved I guess.

“Then yeah, I’ve felt more powerful and stronger than I used to. And I’ve had many visions ever since.” I said to Gabe.

He was sitting on the bed again, hands clasped under his chin as he took in the information. I stood there like an idiot, now worried that he might get pissed off at me. “Why didn’t you tell me this when we got back together?” he asked me, his green/blue eyes looked up. Yep, he was pissed off, and he was hurt to. “Why?” he asked again more persistent. I looked away, “I don’t know…” I spoke softly.

“I could of saved you, get a healer to get rid of The Curse!” he stood and I took a step back. “No…this curse is permanent, you can’t heal me, you can’t save me, and nothing will work!!” I yelled at him, I didn’t know why I was angry at him for.

“How do you know? There could be something out there that can help you, why do you always doubt stuff for?” Gabe said angrily. His eyes shinned with anger as we glared at each other.

I turned and walked to the door, “You know what, don’t worry about me anymore. Just go on with your life without me!” I opened the door and slammed it behind me before Gabrielle could stop me. I ran down the creaky hall way to my room and locked the door behind me.

I climbed into my bed next to the opened window and cried. I hugged the pillow close to me and sobbed into it. I just pushed away the man I loved, why did I say that? I thought my body weak and shivering.

During my crying, someone knocked at my door but I ignored them and told them to go away. After more knocking the stranger went away finally. It was 1am when I stopped crying and sat up, there was a light fog outside and saw it. I didn’t care and met its eyes, hello dear, it spoke in my mind, I see you are coping with my Curse, yes?  I nodded and it smirked and slithered down the main road.

I got out of my bed and walked into my bathroom and cleaned my face up, I walked out and pulled out a backpack and stuffed it with what I could carry.  Thick clothes, 2 blankets, 2 litres of water, matches, lamp. I got dressed in thick woollen pants, a black shirt and a long trench coat with my sniper rifle and hunting rifle strapped on my back, 2 hand guns tied on my belt and a Ka-bar USMC Fighter knife that sat inside my boot, the hilt just poking out a little.

I opened my window more and looked out. A light snow started and I sighed, I went back in and wrote a note to Gabe:

Dear Gabrielle, I am sorry for yelling at you. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you any of this, I…I didn’t want you to get worried. I wanted to be independent.

I wanted to carry my own problems. I didn’t want your smile to disappear; you always made me happy in the direst situations. But now, since you think there is a cure out there somewhere, I’m gonna go a find it. If I don’t return within 8 months…Forget about me.

Don’t find me. I’ll probably be dead by then anyways. Find another woman to love, get married, have kids! Even though that was my dream for us…but I don’t think we will work. I will always love you Gabrielle, no matter what. I love you.

 Annabelle.

 My cursive writing became shaky on the end as tears streamed down my cheeks. I wiped them away and said softly to myself, “No more crying Annabelle. Time to grow up. Mother and Father want you to be strong.” I said. I looked at my family photo and took it, putting it in my trench coats pocket. 

I left a small picture of me when I was 9 years old; I turned and faced the window again. I pulled my scarf that I had on, over my nose and pulled on a beanie.

I crawled out of the window and silently climbed down the side of the 3 storey house. Then landed in the white looking grass. I peaked in the window and saw the children surrounding Gabrielle; he was reading their favourite story.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, I loved that story so much. I smiled sadly and crouched as I walked through the front yard and out the small white gate. I tightened the backpack more tightly and breathed in…I took off, running across Endless Road. It was very wide, 4 lanes on each side and it looked like it went on forever. This was the largest road in the world, it used to be filled with taxis, expensive cars, on its shoulders were restaurants, strip clubs, night clubs, you name it.

It looked as if it was alive, thousands of people everywhere, all dressed up. But that was long ago now, everything changed.

Nature took over, grass, taller than me grew out of the cracked road and pathways. There were more storms than ever, much stronger.

I continued to run, not even stopping for a break. The Curse started to come alive within me.

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The end for now, I hope you liked this story that I made up while I was bored one day. Like I said before, if there is any errors in the story do not hesistate to ask! The chapters will sometimes be long and short, depends on how I feel when writting. 

Have a great day! :)