As I stepped through that door, I tried not to focus on the pounding of my heart against my sternum. I took long and deep breaths, and waded through the darkness. When I reached the center, I saw the faint outline of a person.
Speedily, I reached behind my back for my pistol. I squeezed my hand around the grip and swung it in front of me. I wasn't taking any chances. I aimed and commanded them to stop. "Hands where I can see them."
Slowly, the ground began to shake. The room filled with mist from below. I felt a dizzying sensation sweep inside me. My throat closed, and I started to choke.
"N-N-No," I stuttered and fell back against one of the computers.
I tried to grab hold of the edges, but my fingers turned stiff and my vision went black. "What is… happening… to me?"
I fell to the rigid ground, face to face with Lucian. His eye twitched like that of a dying animal. "The cure…" he muttered.
Two boots stepped in between us. All of my senses died.
Lilly
I heard a voice. A woman's voice. A voice that was both familiar and foreign, all at once.
My senses were dull. I could not see, but I could hear every single
word.
"November. 2020. I have established first contact. It is worse than I thought. The virus has spread into the cities, but it will take years for people to reckon with the end. The apocalypse moves slowly. Meaning, I still have time. Meaning, it can still be undone," she said. "Today is a good day. I have found my family. My daughter… she is pregnant. You heard that right. I'm a grandmother. One check off the bucket list. I hope this tape gets to you with the others, Aiden. I miss you so much. Over and out."
Finally, I opened my eyes. It took all my strength, but I managed to turn onto my back. She clicked the stop button on a Walkman and turned around. That Walkman was the same one my mother gave to me.
"Mom?"
She stood in all her glory, showcasing her power and prowess. Bending to one knee, she lowered her head and said, "I was worried you wouldn't come," she said. "Sorry about the sedatives. A simple precaution. You never know who might show up here at the wrong time."
I gained some strength back and sat up, shaking my head. The sight of her inside of this place was a lot to take in even if it was expected.
I looked back at my mother and there were tears in her eyes. I choked up and breathed through my nose. "Please tell me this is real," I said.
"It's real," she said.
"I can't believe it. It was just as everyone said," I muttered.
She helped me up and engulfed me in her hug. I smelled her again, and my body could hardly take it. Every memory came back to me. "Every moment is specific," she said.
I stepped back and admired her. Everything felt so light and imaginary. "Your skin. Your eyes. Your voice. You're so young," I said. "My God, you must be younger than thirty!"
She bit her lip and laughed. "Twenty-three."
"The same age as me," I murmured.
I felt a sharp pain hit my heart. It was so hard to understand, but she promised to make it easier for me. She took my hand and led me out of the room. We walked through another hallway until we reached a tall ladder. She grabbed the first rung and hoisted herself up. "There's something you need to see," she said. "All of you."
I grabbed the first rung and tried to raise my body. It felt so hard to move, to breathe or feel anything at all. I followed a much younger version of my mother to the very top of the building. We were inside the watchtower.
"Mom, you're not a goddess, are you? Or a witch? If you are, it's okay. You can tell me…"
At the top was a small walkway. She helped me onto the platform and led me to a door. "Honey, as much as I like the sound of that, I can assure you I'm not a goddess."
"Then what are you?" I asked her.
"I'm about to show you," she said, checking an advanced watch on her wrist. "We only have minutes until it happens. Let's hurry."
She opened the door, and the night sky twinkled in front of me. Everyone was already on the deck. My dad stepped forward first, but Lucian and Kahn stood behind him, waiting for some answers. "Guys," I whispered. "It's… my mom."