(PC) Brill

Running…

Running…

Deep within an unknown forest, there was the sound of dogs barking.  The air was thick and heavy with mist and fog.  That may be the scientific reason of this feeling but the tense atmosphere was the true cause of this. There were men yelling and shouting over the barks of the dogs.

“She went over here!”

“Damn it. It looks like she crossed the river!”

“She got to have gone up stream then.”

The angry voices of these men slowly died out as they walked farther and farther. The last thing that was heard was the cry of a hound accidentally falling into the rushing river. A hushed silence fell over the forest. For what seemed like hours, the forest slowly returned to its natural, peaceful self. The fog slowly part as the sunlight finally beamed down at the forest floor. Birds of all kind started to return home, singing about what they saw when flying. The land animals had yet to come out of hiding. They were not completely alone yet.

Along some brush in particular, the animals refused to walk near. It looked like any normal overly grown bush. Big and green. However, if one was to look carefully at the base, there was enough crawl room for a small person to hide in. Wait. There was heavy breathing coming from the brush. The leaves shook as a large object appeared from the small crawl space.

It was a woman. She was sickly pale and was drenched in sweat. Her blonde hair was sticking to her face like tape. Heavy bags were under her blue eyes. She looked like a walking corpse. She was absolutely frail. Her white gown was covered in dirt, grass, and blood. Though she was a completely ugly mess, it was the moving bundle in her arms that took all attention.

“Hush my child… go back to sleep. Sh… sh…” the woman coos softly. Her voice was not at all calming though. It was cracked. Broken. It was strained. As if she forced herself to talk. “I… got to… protect you, my son,” she croaked. The woman managed to stumble her way through the forest.  It was painful to watch this woman trekked through these woods. At any moment, it looked as if she’ll kneel over at any moment. But, with amazing endurance this woman continued to move forward. Never looking back. “The city… the city…” she repeated over and over again to herself.

Days before, this woman had given birth. This child was nothing more than an experiment to be tested on by scientist to push the limit on human learning capabilities. Mainly in the ability to learn another language. At first, this woman was all for this experiment. Increasing the learning capabilities of humans. Incredible! But, as this little child grew inside of her, attachment grew. It was her child. There may not be DNA shared but this child is growing inside of her. Relying on her. Was she okay with allow her child to become some mad scientist experiment. No! This isn't right. He’s a living human being.

She knew what had to be done.

After giving birth, the scientist gave her time to rest with the child. The birthing process took a lot out of her but this was no time to sleep. Moving quickly, she took the baby and ran. She ran as far away from the lab as she could. Being located in the middle of nowhere, the mother and child had to travel many miles to find others. People that could help them. Protect them. But all they found was the scientist looking for them. But! This woman has evaded them. She is sure that she is close to a city. She is sure of it.

The woman’s eyes were dull as the last of the sun slowly fell. It was night once again. The temperature was dropping by the minute. They can't survive in this weather at this rate. “Got to keep move…” the woman chanted to herself. The dark sky flashed white as a crack of thunder rang throughout the sky. Rain. It’s going the rain.

Holding the baby close to her, the woman somehow walked in the pouring rain. She was soaking to the bone with cold water. All thoughts were gone from her mind with only one thing in her mind. Survival. In a daze, the woman somehow entered a cave. Safe from the elements, the woman dropped to her knees.  She positioned the baby before her face before lying on the hard ground, dripping.  She reached out and caressed the bundle. Pushing aside the thick, filthy blanket to reveal the infant.
“My child…” she whispered as she stared at the sleeping pale figure. Small curls of black hair decorated his round head. A small baby he was, only weighing in at nine pounds. It’s amazing that this tiny thing was alive. Blinking his yellow eyes open, the baby stared at his mother. “I love you… Brill,” she whispered. Her blue eyes stared the glaze over as her breathing slowed to the point of stopping. She took one last breath before closing her eyes, never to be opened again.
The baby wiggled in his dead mother’s embrace. Cold and hungry, he started to cry. And cry. And cry. Yet there was no one to hear his cries except maybe god. But even he turned his back on this child; clearly destined to die.

But, this child wasn't alone. Deep inside this cave was home to one of the largest family of megabats. Or are better known as fruit bats. These funny looking creatures were stirring from their slumbers when they heard the cries of the infant. The creatures of the night were startled at the annoyingly loud sounds. Few of the younger and braver bat set out to find what was making this annoying sound.

Flying close, they quickly stumble upon the dead body and screaming bundle. Huddled around the two masses, these bats closed in, hanging upside down. One of the bigger bats flew in close and landed near the baby. The two stared for the longest of time. Slowly, the baby’s cry died down, as it appears he found the sight of this bigger bat amusing. There was the sound was squeaking and clicking coming from the dark brown animals. The larger bat takes the blanket the baby was wrapped in and slowly dragged the infant from the dead woman’s arm. Another bat flew overhead with a fruit. Looks like a small plum. Dropping it at the floor, another two bats carried a stone and dropped it onto the fruit, crushing it into mush. The bigger bat dragged the baby to the mushy fruit. Forcing the food into the child’s mouth, the bats fed the child until he was moving his face away.

The bats wrapped the baby up and dragged him deeper into the cave. Never to be seen again until he is much older.