Day 04: Moments

[hurricane]

There's a lot of things you'll never forget. Moments that are burned into your skull, never to be removed. Segments of our lives that we have to relive over and over. Some to survive another day...and some because we are meant to be reminded of as punishment. I'll never forget that emptiness in the pit of my stomach the day my father walked out on me and my mom. I'll never forget the day she left as well. I'll never forget that pain from...Ashley. I'll never forget that feeling of another man's blood on my hands for the first time. And I'll never forget the look on Ray's face...the look right before the blast. These are the moments that keep haunting me...these are the moments that keep me alive.

Provo, UT


The room is dark. A small sliver of light crosses the floor from the cracked door way leading to the world outside. Christian lays motionless on a small cot against the wall. Suddenly a voice speaks to Christian. It's barely audible and more of a whisper.

I'm still waiting

Christian jerks awake. He can't move his body. He tries to see through the darkness but its no avail. Restraints keep him connected to the cot.

That's when the pain sets in. Christian can feel the cuts on his back and taste the blood dried to his mouth. He struggles to free his arm but the restraints are too tight. That's when he hears voices coming from outside the door.

Christian
HEY! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!

The talking stops. Slowly the door opens. The light blinds Christian. He squints and can barely make out the outline of someone...from what Christian can tell it's a female. The figure turns back outside.

Figure
Get Virgil. Tell him he's awake.

Christian
What...what the hell is going on? Where's Ray? Oh and another thing...WHY THE HELL AM I TIED UP?!

The figure turns back to Christian.

Figure
Sorry but you'll have to wait for Virgil. He'll know what to do with you.

The figure turned and left the room closing the door. Christian was now engulfed in darkness. He couldn't see his hand in front of his face...that is if he had been able to move his hands.

Christian wasn't sure how long he was left in the dark but suddenly the door opened once more and in walked yet another shadowy figure.

Figure
Hello, Mr. Stephens.

Christian
How the hell do you know my name!

Figure
Seriously? Oh I don't know, maybe because you're a movie star?

Christian
Oh...yeah, that's true.

Figure
Look I'll take off your restraints if you promise not to do anything...rash.

Christian
You mean like bash your fucking face in?

Figure
Exactly.

Christian
...eh, sure what the hell.

Figure
Very good.

With the flick of a switch on the wall the room is showered in light. Christian is blinded for a moment but can feel his restraints being loosened. As soon as he feels them fall to the side he rushes the once shadowy figure and pins him up against the wall.

With the lights on Christian can see that the shadowy figure is nothing but an old man with a graying beard...not exactly the most ominous of individuals.

Christian glares at the man but finally decides he's not much of a threat to him and releases him. The pain in Christian's back is immense. He nearly collapses trying to make it back to the cot to sit down.

Figure
I thought we agreed no rash actions.

Christian
Yeah, well...shut up.

Figure
I'm guessing you're still in a good amount of pain then? We tried to patch you up as good as we could but given our lack of sufficient medical supplies we could only do so much.

Christian
I'll live. Just who the hell are you anyway?

Figure
My name is Virgil and I'm the projectionist for the theater.

Christian
What theater?

Virgil
The one you are in currently. Well, this is more of the janitorial closet of the theater but you get the idea.

Christian
So...you're just some guy...who works in a theater? That's it?

Virgil
I...I'm afraid so. Is that a problem?

Christian
No, I guess not. Just with the way that chick was talking earlier I expected to be in some military base or something. I guess it's a bit of a relief.

Virgil
Well we can't be too careful at times like this can we, Mr. Stephens?

Christian
What do you mean "times like this?"

Virgil
Surely you must know.

Christian
Look, last thing I remember was talking to my buddy Ray and...where's Ray?

Virgil
Who?

Christian
Ray Wynters, my manage...my friend? He was in the hotel room with me. Is he here?

Virgil
Mr. Stephens, we only found you. Apparently you took a bit of a tumble out of a thirteenth story window.

Christian
What?! Bullshit.

Virgil
No, not at all. It appeared that the building had lost it's foundation and began falling until crashing into a building next to it. So technically you didn't fall thirteen stories but your survival is still nothing less than a miracle.

Christian
But Ray isn't here?

Virgil
No.

Christian braced himself on the cot and struggled to stand.

Virgil
I really don't suggest moving around just yet. You have sustained some pretty serious injuries.

Christian
Well sorry, doc but I'm leaving. Ray wouldn't of left me and I'm sure as hell not gonna leave him. So you can point me in the direction I came from and I'll be on my way.

Virgil
Well, see its not that simple.

Christian
Look don't worry I'll just take a cab or something. I can take care of myself.

Christian pushes past Virgil and makes his way out of the room. Sure enough he's in a movie theater and he begins to make his way toward the lobby.

Once in the lobby he notices that groups of people are huddled together. He doesn't pay too much attention and just stays focused on the door. Virgil comes running behind him.

Virgil
Christian, wait!

Christian pushes through the front door and that's when it hits him...the stench of death.

Snow is falling all around him but still he can see it. At the other end of the parking lot is what looks like the remnants of a shopping mall. A fire is raging on the south end of the mall with no sign of stopping.

The parking lot is packed with cars, some overturned. Everywhere Christian looks he just sees a world that's missing one thing...people.

Virgil comes through the doors behind Christian.

Virgil
Please, Christian. Come inside and I can explain everything.

Christian
What...I...

Christian's breathing quickens. He looks lost searching for something to explain what is before him.

Virgil
Christian, please...it's not safe. Come in and I'll explain.

Christian turns to face Virgil. Anger has taken over and it almost looks like Christian is on the verge of tears.

Christian
Explain?! You're going to explain it? What could you possibly say that explains this?!

Virgil
Just come i-

Christian
NO! You EXPLAIN it to me right now.

Virgil lowers his head searching for the right words.

Christian
Well?

Virgil
We...we were attacked.

Christian
Attacked?

Virgil
Details are sketchy at best but from what we've heard America has experienced a nuclear attack. Some of the major cities and in some of the smaller ones we believe that there were other forms of attack.

Christian
What...what about...

Christian struggles for words.

Christian
What about L.A.?

Virgil stands there saying nothing. Finally he just shakes his head.

Christian walks over to the side of the building and falls up against the building, sliding into a seated position.

Virgil
...reports said that it was...quick. Anyone within thirty miles probably didn't fe-

Christian
Just...just shut up.

Virgil walks over to Christian and places his hand on his shoulder.

Virgil
Come inside. You can stay with us as long as you need.

Christian shakes the hand off his shoulder and uses the wall to stand. He turns to face Virgil, tears in his eyes.

Christian
I'm going after Ray.

Virgil
I really don't think that's a good idea. You don't understand...

Christian
I just lost every single person I cared for...I'm not gonna let my best friend be added to that list.

Virgil
Christian, the chances of him being...

Christian shoots him a look.

Virgil
Still...there's barely any chance you'll even be able to find him.

Christian
I'm leaving...whether you agree or not.

Virgil
I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this am I?

Christian
No chance in hell.

Virgil
Then at least let us help. Let me send a team with you. We're not much but we're better than nothing. Don't go this alone.

Christian thinks it over and nods in agreement.

Virgil
Good. Well first come in a get some food and some clothes.

Virgil turns to go back into the building.

Virgil
You're gonna need your strength.

Virgil holds the door for Christian. Christian ignores the offer and enters a different door. Virgil shakes his head and enters the theater.

Willis 20 Megaplex
Provo, UT

Christian decided to take his lunch of popcorn and hot dogs in theater five. Virgil had been nice enough to throw a movie into the reel for him. Christian knew that as soon as he was done the world would still be just as fucked up as before but he comfort in the fact that, at least for a little while, he could get lost in a film and escape reality for a few minutes.

In the projection booth Virgil watched Christian carefully. The door opened and a young brunette entered.

Virgil
I thought I told you not to come up here, Alice. Aren't you supposed to be finding a team that can escort Mr. Stephens back into Salt Lake City?

Alice
I have. I've got Desmond packing the car now.

Virgil
Desmond? Desmond isn't capable of taking on a something like this.

Alice
That's why I'm taking lead on this. I'll be overseeing the trip.

Virgil
You?

Alice
Is there something wrong with that?

Virgil
No...just I wish you'd stay here. I don't like you being away from the theater. These people need someone like you. They look to you.

Alice
I understand but I also don't trust this guy taking one of our vehicles without someone who isn't starstruck...someone willing to put him down if necessary...how is he anyway?

Virgil turns to look down upon Christian who is still watching the screen.

Virgil
He hasn't shown any signs yet. Maybe he's lucky.

Alice
We both know that Salt Lake got covered in that shit after the blast and no one escaped it. You're telling me that this guy is just "lucky?"

Virgil
I can't explain any of it. All I know is it's been four days and he shows no signs of...alteration...but he does, you know what must be done. You can not allow him to come back here...at any cost.

Alice
Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll take care of it.

Alice turns to leave. As she opens the door Virgil speaks up.

Virgil
You mean "if."

Alice turns to look at the old man with hate in her eyes.

Alice
...yeah...you're right.

She leaves and heads downstairs. Virgil looks in on Christian once more but sees that he's no longer in the theater.

Virgil makes his way out of the projection booth and finds Christian heading toward the front door with new clothes and a backpack over his shoulder.

Outside the front of the theater a pretty decent looking Jeep Liberty is parked...at least decent looking for surviving the last couple days. A pretty good looking guy is loading up the back with jugs of water and gas.

Alice
Are we ready to roll, Desmond?

The guy looks up toward Alice.

Desmond
Ready to go when you are.

Christian
Well then lets get a move on. I don't want to waste any more time here.

Virgil
Christian, wait.

Christian turns to see Virgil coming towards him.

Christian
What?

Virgil
I just wanted to wish you luck...and I truly hope you find your friend...or at least some peace.

Christian stands for a moment. Seemingly thinking about his response. Finally he extends his hand out to Virgil.

Christian
Thanks.

Virgil extends his hand and shakes Christian's hand. Without another word Christian gets into the front seat of the Jeep where Alice and Desmond have already gotten in.

Christian takes one last look at Virgil and his group of survivors as the car pulls away and toward the highway.

There's not much talk over the forty mile journey into the city. Christian just watches as more and more destruction surround them. He's left speechless from the sight of buildings turned to rubble and that's when he sees it.

The jeep comes over a hill to reveal what is left of the Salt Lake City skyline. The once giant skyscrapers are now but morbid reminders of the horrific events from less than a week ago.

Desmond pulls the Jeep over to the side of the road on an abandoned street. Christian looks confused.

Christian
What are we doing here?

Alice
We're here.

Christian turns to look out the window and sees what left of his previous hotel leaning dangerously against what looks to be a banking central of sorts.

The walk to the building is less than a couple blocks. The whole time Christian just watches in awe as the building grows larger before him.

Alice
That's where we found you.

Christian looks to see Alice pointing at a clearing beneath the leaning building. The ground is pure white with snow but it makes sense that there's no longer blood because it's been a few days.

Most of the windows are broken so it's hard to determine which window he actually fell through. The height still appears to be a pretty good distance. Christian starts to try and calculate how far he fell but the thought brings an all too familiar sickness to his stomach so he stops.

Alice
Desmond you go back to the truck and get her fueled up and ready to go. I'll go with Christian into the hotel.

Desmond nods and reaches into his backpack and pulls out a revolver. He hands it to Alice.

Christian
Whoa, what the hell is that for?

Alice
Protection.

Christian
Protection from what?

Alice
We don't have time for this.

Desmond runs off toward the truck while Alice and Christian trek through the snow toward the main entrance to the hotel.


As Alice and Christian enter the lobby of the hotel it's clear that this rescue mission is going to be harder than Christian expected. All the power in the building is out...not like they could use the elevator anyway.

Alice
So where do you want to start? We don't have long before night fall and we can't look after that.

Christian
I guess...I guess the best place to start would be the room. That's the last place I saw him.

Alice
What's the room number?

Christian
It was 1305.

Alice
Great.

They make their way to the elevator and pry open the doors. Christian looks up the shaft and it's clear that ascending from there is impossible. The elevator is crashed between what looks like floors five and six.

Alice makes her way to the stairs. Surprisingly the stairs are in pretty good condition for the first six or seven floors. After that they seem to get difficult in the area of the building that bent and fell to the side.

They begin their journey upward. Take each step carefully as to not disrupt any loose footing.

Christian
So...what's your deal?

Alice
I have no deal.

Christian
Come on. You seem a little bit young to be such a...

Alice stops climbing and turns back to Christian.

Alice
A what?

Christian
Well...a bitch.

Alice rolls her eyes and begins climbing again.

Christian
So...what were you...like some tomboy who was gonna join the Army or something?

Alice
Nope.

Christian
Navy?

Alice
No...

Christian
Marines?

Alice
Will you just shut up?

Christian
...I'm gonna take that as a no. You know I don't know why-

Alice
Shut up!

Christian
What?

Alice
We're here.

Christian looks and sees a large "13" painted on the wall. Christian climbs past Alice and opens the stairwell door into the hall. He looks down to see that everything is tilted.

Christian
There!

He points at the third door on the right...or the ceiling. They carefully make their way down the hall walking over doorways. Finally they reach 1305. Christian looks into the room below him and sees where he fell to the ground not too long ago.

Christian
Excuse me for a sec.

Alice
What the hell are you doing?

Christian lays down and pulls the door shut beneath him. He gets up and turns to Alice.

Christian
Don't really feel like using that emergency exit again.

Alice
Are you ready to go now?

Christian
Yeah.

Christian reaches above him and begins to open the door to his old hotel room...except...he stops and turns to Alice.

Alice
What now?!

Christian
It's locked.

Alice
Are you serious?

Christian starts patting at his pockets.

Christian
I'm sure I've got the key on me. It's gotta be some-

Suddenly the handle is blown off. Christian looks up to see that Alice has used her own "key."

Christian
Or we could always just shoot it...that works too.

Alice
Well?

Christian
Oh excuse me...ladies first.

Alice rolls her eyes and pushes the door open. She climbs up into the room. Christian follows after her closing the door behind him.

The bed has been thrown against the wall and the tv is smashed. Christian climbs up on the wall that juts out from the bathroom.

Christian
Shit...this looked a hell of alot easier in Inception.

Alice
What's that?

Christian
Nothing.

Christian stands up looking for any sign of Ray. The window is broken and snow falling into the room.

Christian
I don't see him.

Alice
It's getting late anyway. We should probably be...

Suddenly there is a loud smash in the bathroom. Alice pulls her gun.

Christian
Whoa! It's probably him. Calm the hell down.

Christian jumps back down and reaches for the bathroom door.

Alice
Wait!

Christian
What the hell is there to wait for?

Alice
He might be...

Christian opens the door and is immediately cut by a piece of glass. His arm begins bleeding and he falls back.

Christian
Fuck!

Christian watches as a figure emerges from the dark bathroom covered in blood, shit and god knows what else...it's Ray.

Christian
What the fuck?!

Ray lunges toward Christian with the shard of glass but is met with a pistol whip to the back of the head from Alice's gun. Ray crumples to the floor.

Christian stands up and looks at his friend.

Christian
What...

Alice
We need to kill him.

Christian
Kill him?! The fuck you will!

Alice
Christian, there's alot you don't know.

Christian
Well it's about time you better start telling me.

Alice
There wasn't only one bomb that hit Salt Lake City.

Christian
What?

Alice
That was only the initial attack. After that they dropped several other smaller ones but they weren't meant to do any damage...at least physical.

Christian
What are you saying?

Alice
They dropped some kind of chemical bomb. We don't know too much about it but everyone that's come in contact with it has...changed.

Christian
Changed? Like how?

Alice
It's different from person to person. More than often it's some form of hallucinations. They see other survivors as their enemy and they end up killing before they can be killed.

Christian
Well...we'll take him back to the theater. We'll lock him up and do something with him till we figure out what to do with him.

Alice
No, that's impossible.

Christian
No, we just have to be careful. I'm sure we can get him down those stairs. It'll be hard but we can get Desmond up here to help.

Alice
No, I mean taking him back. I can't do that.

Christian
Don't you fucking tell me what you can and cannot do! This is my friend and I'm not gonna leave him here, let alone kill him.

Alice
Christian, you're friend is gone. Lost to his own mind. He has no idea where he is or who you are. Bringing him back will just be a danger to all of us. I can't let you do that.

Christian
Fuck you! I'm taking him back!

Alice points the gun at Christian.

Christian
What? Now you're gonna kill me too? How you gonna explain that to all the good folks back at home.

Alice
Most already expect you to turn. I'll just tell them it happened and I had to take care of you.

Christian
Me?

Alice
Virgil doesn't think you're infected but that's impossible. No one got out of Salt Lake City without being dead or fucked up. Not you, not your buddy and not my...

Suddenly Ray awakens and reaches for the door handle. He pulls it and the door falls beneath the three. Christian grabs onto a light fixture but Alice and Ray fall down into the door below them. Even though Christian tried to keep it from happening again the pair break through the door and fall toward the broken window to the ground below.

Alice grabs onto the wall surrounding the window pane. Glass cuts through her hands. Unfortunately for her Ray grabs onto her leg. The two are now dangling outside of the hotel window.

Ray begins tearing at Alice.

Ray
You stupid fucking cunt!

Alice screams as Ray's fingernails dig into her skin. Christian sees this and lowers himself into the hallway just above them.

Christian
Ray!

Ray doesn't listen. He just continues tearing away at Alice's leg and back.

Christian goes to lower into the hotel room but stops when something catches his eye. During the fall Alice had dropped her revolver and it now layed in the hallway. Christian grabbed it and descended into the room.

Ray
I'm gonna fucking tear you apart!

Alice screamed. She was losing her grip as blood poured from her hand and Ray's extra weight was too much for her to handle.

Christian
RAY!

Ray continues ripping into Alice.

Alice
Help me!

Christian raises the gun at Ray. He holds for a second. His heart is bursting through his chest. Alice screams one last time.

Christian
Goddamnit, Ray!

Christian pulls the trigger. The hammer slowly pulls back and in that tenth of a second Christian sees it...

Ray eyes turn to Christian. His eyes are flooded with tears but through them shows something else...confusion.

Ray
Chris?

The hammer falls and the gun goes off. The bullet hits Ray right between the eyes and he falls toward the ground and finally hitting the snow covered street below as nothing more than a cold, dead, thud.

Christian lowers his head. Alice still hangs dangerously close to falling.

Alice
Christian!

Christian looks up and sees Alice holding on for dear life.

Alice
Help me up, Christian.

Christian begins to move toward her but stops. He raises the revolver and points it directly at Alice.

Alice
What the hell are you doing?!

He pulls the hammer back. It cocks in place.

Alice
Oh god, Christian don't do this.

Christian's grip on the trigger begins to tighten. He feels the rage building in his chest and the voice returns and in that moment of absolute need for revenge it whispers...

I'm still waiting

Alice clenches her eyes shut for the inevitable...but it doesn't come. Christian slowly returns the hammer to its place and makes his way to the window. He reaches down and grabs the back of Alice's pants pulling her up.

She moves to the other side of the room crying hysterically. Christian places the gun beside her and makes his way back up into the hallway. He pulls his knees to his chest, lowers his head, and weeps.

There's a lot of things you'll never forget. Moments that are burned into your skull, never to be removed. Segments of our lives that we have to relive over and over. Some to survive another day...and some because we are meant to be reminded of as punishment. I'll never forget that emptiness in the pit of my stomach the day my father walked out on me and my mom. I'll never forget the day she left as well. I'll never forget that pain from...Ashley. I'll never forget that feeling of another man's blood on my hands for the first time. And I'll never forget the look on Ray's face...the look right before the blast. These are the moments that keep haunting me...these are the moments that keep me alive.