Rehabilitation 1

Vomiting and shaking on his bathroom floor Kale reached forward with pale hands as he grasped his phone, 9.34pm, November 25th, 2210.

Only 2 hours had passed but that slaughter was still present in his mind.

It wasn't a dream, he was the only who… he was the only survivor.

Vomiting again Kale's eyes closed as his mind shut down, only now did he truly believe that it was all happening, only now did the shock of it all truly hit him.

With his jeans around his ankles and surrounded in his own bodily fluid, Kale slept as his mind replayed the scenes of death and blood over and over, haunting him. Scenes that his 26 year old mind struggled to withstand, the War of Tears was nothing in comparison to surviving in that hellish place.

The world would tick on as everyone coped with the disasters caused by the first summoning, whilst waiting for their loved ones to wake up.

Unaware of what had really happened.

Only Kale knew, but who would believe him?

"Famous Doctor Craig Neville has been convicted of treason despite many human activists stating that it is wrong and can be called a joke of the law to judge a man stuck in coma. Despite complaints the Re-united Nations stand behind this ruling as they prepare to honour their deceased leader, President Leeroy Stuart."

"In other news world leaders remained confused and are hastily pointing fingers as they are trying to find the cause of the mass blackouts, of which none have woken up from. Even now many lie afflicted and innocent victims remain in hospital after some of the horrendous accidents that have occurred. Our resident medical specialist has more information on this matter…"

"Thank you Mrs Amanda. As of yet none of the afflicted have awoken or shown any signs conscious activity, as if their minds or rather 'souls' as some have dubbed it, have simply disappeared. We believe that this has been caused by some sort of spacial resonance where the afflicted were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even with the latest scientific methods some of those afflicted are already experiencing organ failure as their bodies begin to shut down, on this matter I believe you know more than me Amanda."

"Indeed. These bouts of large case organ failures have elicited some parliamentary figures to push for a new law on the transplanting of donor organs to target all those in coma. Some argue that this is simply wrong, that they are trying to harvest what they can from a bad situation…."

With the whizzing of air dry heaving sounded out as Kale wrapped his arms around a bucket and hung his head down, his phone colliding with the wall the least of his concerns.

It all disgusted him, the world was disgusting him, the people were disgusting him. He had tried to tell people what had happened, he taken to the internet like fire, sending thousands of messages and blogs only to be called a monster who fed off peoples fears. His efforts were ruined by fear mongers and conspiracy theorists who hit the internet harder than he himself managed to do, he had been labelled as one of them.

No one would believe him and he had no evidence to speak of.

The first summoning had scared the world. Planes fell from the sky as boats ran aground, the worst was the thousands of drivers who blacked out in city centres and mowed down multiple bystanders, adding to the amount of overall destruction and devastation.

Kale had slept for two days, he woke up to the cloy smell of dry vomit as his body screamed at him for food or nourishment of some kind. But as soon as he tried to eat the memory of those maggots surrounding him and eating the others made him want to vomit again, it took all Kale could muster to hold drink down.

Luckily his boss had messaged saying that the factory was shut until further notice and that if he turned up to work he wouldn't be paid for it, Kale knew that these days would be taken from his leave, this was his silver lining for surviving.

That was how Kale spent the rest of his week, hugging a bucket as he sat on the edge of bed covered by an old blanket, shivering and shaking in cold sweats as he struggled to sleep. The images and experience of what he had been through were still too fresh and vivid in his mind, he didn't know how to cope with it, this wasn't something that could be easily shaken off.

Tossing another can to the floor Kale drank another beer as he waited for it to take effect, he didn't care that he smelt or was covered in his own sick, he just wanted the beers to take effect and drag him away into a black depth of sweet nothing as the alcohol consumed him.

This was all Kale could think of to do.

2nd December, 2210, 10.29 AM.

Kale had surfaced from his lair. Still haunted by images of the test he had struggled to sleep or operate as a normal person, unknowing on what to do. Kale had been forced to leave his small room as his fridge lay bare, the empty cans littering his floor was the only proof of it being used, if he stayed any longer then he would die of starvation.

Forcing himself under the shower Kale ran it hot, even as his skin began to sting and scold he didn't feel a thing, his mind was numb to his body, lost in other sensations that gripped him. Freshly red and steaming from the shower Kale dressed himself in any old rags he could find as he crept outside and faced the sun shining high in the sky, a glorious sunny day that only served to sting and mock him even more.

Walking down the street Kale was hunched over as his tall figure was drooped and wobbly, passer-bys on the street avoided him as words such as 'Drugs' and 'Scum' reached his ears but he didn't care, he felt none of it. Kale's goal was just the super market that was about a twenty minute walk away, if he had to suffer the stings of peoples looks then so be it, he just wanted to get food and hide away. To be forgotten in the hopes it would help him forget.

Kale arrived outside the supermarket, a grand and sparkly store with modern looks that stood out garishly in contrast to the run down area that Kale lived in, with houses and apartments of mottled greys and reds. A dim place for those with no alternatives.

Walking inside Kale was spotted by an employee, Chloe.

Chloe was a do gooder, a busy body who helped others as much as possible whether they wanted it or not. Ever since the First Summoning it 'Incident C,' as it had been dubbed, Chloe had spent hours every day in the supermarket as she talked to people and tried to offer them aid and advice, wanting to help people.

It was Kale who tugged at her heart the most, despite his shabby clothing and current lack of self care, Chloe could see his pain.

Watching his dark eyes as he voidlessly looked around brought tears to Chloe's own as her heart throbbed. She had seen many people in pain who had lost their relatives and loved ones but it still didn't come close to matching the look in Kale's eyes.

This was a man who had nothing left.

Pulling out a card from her pocket Chloe bounced over to Kale, prepared to help him no matter the cost.

"Sir….. Sir."

"HELLO."

Startled from his trance Kale looked down, looking up at him was a brown haired girl who appeared to be in her early twenties. With a bright smile and white pearly teeth she smiled up at Kale, determined to cheer him up, to help him.

"Sir. Are you okay?"

Kale opened his mouth to respond but no sound came out, his voice was stuck in his throat, all he could do was merely nod his head as water sprang to his eyes, being looked at so cheerfully and happily just made him hurt for some reason.

Chloe gripped the card in her hands tighter as she looked at the man before her, it was like looking at one of her mothers patients. Her mother helped those with trauma from accidents or dangerous situations, she had been exceedingly busy ever since 'Incident C' and had to hold many more meetings to try and help people.

"Here. Take this."

Seeing no reaction Chloe used her small hands to place a card in Kale's pocket, fearful that he might drop it if she placed it in his hand.

"I don't know what you've been through, but you don't need to suffer alone. So many people are in pain and unable to voice it but if you're ready or just want to be somewhere safe then go to the meeting written on the card, I'll save you a seat."

His heart still in pain Kale could just about manage to nod as he tried his best to bottle up the emotions that were running wild in his body.

"My mums running a drop in session for those in trauma and shock from Incident C. I don't want to be rude but, you look like you need the help… you don't need to be alone."

With a final cheery wave and smile Chloe dashed back behind the counter before her boss spotted that she had left her position, he liked her on the counter to encourage customers to come back for her cheery smile. Kale watched her bounce away, offering him a quick smile and wave as she continued to serve other customers, the card lay in his pocket like a cold weight as her words still bounced around.

Could he really be helped?

Did he deserve it?