After The Island

One week later..... on the outskirts of Zach's home city....

It has been one week since killing Hyptant and escaping from that hellhole and now myself and Kirk remained on the outskirts of my hometown waiting for sunset. We really couldn't afford to attract so much attention not to mention we still had our jumpsuits on that made it seem that we all just broke out of a facility. Three years had passed since I have been back and I can say without a doubt in those three years my hometown has changed significantly. Buildings that were here when I was are either destroyed or were now redesigned and the previous landscape had been cleared and expanded with more buildings.

"This is definitely a lot to take in...." Kirk had commented, "What is this city called again?"

"Sacremento, as the capital of my state this is the largest city. I wasn't originally planning on setting up here... but I need to see if a good friend of mine is still here and go as far as too recruit him in our squad." Kirk nodded his head, "It's been three years since I have last seen Anthony Johnson, my best friend and even after all this time he still has been looking for me."

Ah, hello there nice to see you again. It's been quite some time hasn't it? You probably have hundreds of questions running through your mind right now as too what is the current situation yes? The major question you more than most likely want an answer too is where has everyone gone in a single weeks time of being free? Well, a lot has happened in that very day and that was thanks to our plan.

A momentary flashback

"In order to prepare this right, we need a faction. Each of them being lead by two individuals. With these factions, we can have communications all across the world preparing for Nem's arrival. Every faction will be responsible for each continent on the planet to always be a step ahead of Master Nem. Myself and Kirk will be responsible for North America, Alexander and Charley will take on South America, Sam and Frederick will handle Europe, Percy and Kyzarian take Africa, Dakota and Parker will take Asia, and Jacan and Hayden will have Australia, and I have a two new members that will handle Antarctica."

"Two new members? How come we never met them?" Alexander asked.

"That is because they were never on the island to begin with. Neither of them are homosexual or bisexual."

Kirk raised one of his eyebrows, "is it this Anthony guy that was looking for you for three years?" He asked me.

"Correct...."

Back to the present

"Zach.... Zach Birds! Is it a really you?!" An elderly woman asked, "Three years.... Three years you have been gone! Yet here you are perfectly well! Come in! Come in! We have some much to talk about! And who is this gorgeous young man behind you?!" She asked as she pulled both of us in to her house.

"Have a seat! Let me fix a drink and we can talk!" She was literally moving with joy and this was a 75 year old woman. Both I and Kirk sat on her large living room couch waiting patiently for her. I saw that Kirk's attention was primarily focused on the large 80' television in front of us.

My focus was down the hall as I was just hoping Anthony would come out of his room and down the hall happy with joy. Alas, I had already still accepted reality that he wasn't here at the moment. My intentions were simple, find out what Miss Johnson knew about his current wherabouts but also....

"Here you sweet boys go! You have to tell me where you have been these three years!"

I had to tell Miss Johnson the truth... There is no doubt in my mind Master Nem will be on the way. Unlike Hyptant, there was a reason why I called her, Master Nem.

"There is reason to fear this monstrosity of a woman." Kirk said as we three sat at the top of the tree. "Isabella?"

Isabella nodded her head, "he is right about that. Unlike Hyptant, Master Nem was someone to be rightfully feared. In all my years I have never seen such a scary individual that was Master Nem. She's a very gluttonous woman consuming anyone who so much as questions her authority in the most slowest and painful way possible. She is always and I mean always hungry. Her top four disciples are almost as scary as herself. Heaven, Neveah, Lola, and Hyena Girl."

"Hyena Girl, a savage beauty she is, Hyena Girl is Nem's personal favorite as she shares the same ferocious appetite as her. Just as her name implies she has the abilities of a hyena with a few amplifications. With a bite that crush even steel, strength that lift multiton boulders, and powerful legs that help her catch anything Hyena Girl is someone to be feared. With absolutely no capabilities of talking like a normal human being. The only way she talks is by chomping on the flesh of victims she disembowels alive."

"Next is the silent yet monstrously powerful Lola. Standing at seven feet four inches tall, she is the tallest female on our island. Her body is extremely tough just like Jacan's and also like him she is a powerhouse. However, she is far more trained mastering her ability so her body would never tire or give out. Lola's only satisfaction in her life is finding a worthy opponent so they can have a great all out battle."

"And finally... The twins Heaven and Neveah... These twins are what I would call a freak of nature. I can't even describe what those two are... All I can say is when angered they manifest into a terrifying monster... creating havoc wherever they go. Alexander and Charley may have been the most powerful on your island. But I will tell you one thing... Heaven alone can take all five of your strongest and win."

Damn it... that isn't something I would have liked to hear exactly. I seen what both Alexander and Charley could do in action. Saying that one person alone can handle all five of the original prisoners is indeed scary. Just what kind of gift does she have? Isabella doesn't even know it and she has lived on the same island with them...

"So.... a girl with a killer bite, a silent powerhouse, and twins who are described as monsters... how in the hell are we going to beat them?" I asked Isabella.

"Don't worry... I have a solution..."

Miss Johnson placed the cup she had been drinking from down on the coffee table. This was the ninth time she had done this action in the last forty minutes of listening to me tell every last detail of where I have been for the past in earths terms, three long years. "Your telling me... that for three years you and thousands of other boys were held captive by some human-eating alien on some type of space island?" God I hated how crazy I sounded right now. While it may have not seem like I was getting through to her with this story, Miss Johnson knew well enough when it came to talking to her I didn't like to lie.

"Miss Johnson, you know I wouldn't just blatantly lie to you. Everything I just told you, despite how crazy it sounds has actually happened...." I paused, reflecting back to a thought in the back of my head. "Can I show you something on your labtop?" I asked her in which she nodded. I recalled this thought back on the island actually. Remember that one time when I said I had wished I paid attention to the world events?

The internet has so many unknown secrets about old stories just waiting to be opened up. From the corner of my eye I could see Miss Johnson locking eyes with Kirk who remained quiet since walking in. I could only guess that he was shy or just didn't want to say anything because he thought he would sound out of place.

"Ah... just what I wanted to see." Frederick was currently 91 years old however.... during the age of time he was born in his missing report did show up. Turning the labtop towards Miss Johnson I pointed at the old report about Frederick. "I was on the island with this individual! And there is so many more missing kids like him that were also there! Come on Miss Johnson! Please believe me!"

Miss Johnson was still quiet most likely trying to still process all this information at once. Once again, for the tenth time she took a small sip of her drink then placing it back down on the table. "Sweetheart, I do believe you it is just a lot to take in... especially after hearing something like this. It sounds impossible to believe but I don't take you as liar Zach." Near her leg the phone she owned began vibrating. Looking down at it she gasped and picked up the phone but instead of answering it she had let it ring. "Pick it up..." She handed the phone to me.

Grabbing the phone from her hands I saw a name I hadn't imagine I would see for a while. It was Anthony, Anthony Johnson my best friend I hadn't seen for three years. Sliding the green icon up I waited to hear his voice.

"Hey mom, I just wanted to let you know I'm about a minute away from the house. Can you please unlock the door?"

It was him, my best friend and he sounded so different since I last heard from him. "Mom? Are you alright? You haven't even said hey?" Miss Johnson quickly got up from the couch rushing over to the door. Hanging up the phone immediately I stood up from the couch facing the hallway leading towards the front door. "Mom... why did you hang up on me? I thought you something had happened."

"Follow me...." I heard her say to him. My heart dropped into my stomach as I heard the footsteps grow closer to the living room. I knew how long he was looking for me and it amazes me just how much of a true and loyal friend he was, never once giving up on me. As Anthony's boot came into view I felt as the entire atmosphere suddenly slowed down. His knees came into view, then his legs, torso, and finally his head with widen eyes. I felt my eyes well up with tears as we locked eye contact. He couldn't believe it was me and it showed. He didn't even know how to properly react besides walking slowly closer to me.

"Zach?" He softly asked stopping only two feet away from me. "Is it really you?" I smiled nodding my head as tears streamed down my face opening my arms for him to hug me. Anthony's tall figure rushed towards me giving me a hug and literally lifting me up off the ground. "I MISSED YOU!"

"I-I miss-ed you too!" I said between coughs as he squeezed the literal life out of me.

Two hours later myself, Kirk, Anthony, and Miss Johnson all sat around her dinner table. I told Anthony the same story I had told his mother earlier leaving him lost for words as well. Yet, I felt that my words were getting through far easier than Miss Johnson. While she did believe me, she had probably still had minor doubts. Meanwhile, Anthony was definitely convinced and judging by his calm facial expressions he most likely had suspicions. I was also a bit bothered by Anthony's stare and that military uniform he was wearing most likely had something to do with it. He wasn't doing this stare intentionally either it was something he had adapted over time.

"Hmph, I see." Anthony commented, "and now you are telling me there are more of these aliens and one of them and four girls with supernatural powers are coming here to retrieve all of you hmm?" He asked waiting for my response. I nodded my head to his question making him grow an uncomfortable smirk. "And you want to recruit me into your massive organization... yes? Well, what kind of friend would I be if I turned you down? I'll join."

That is all I needed to hear from him. I was absolutely certain that with Anthony on our side and his time in the military will greatly aid us. First things first, he needed to meet everyone he was going to be working with starting with my official boyfriend, Kirk. I had already known that both of these guys would naturally click if given a bit of time. They both acted very much alike so that wasn't an issue. Problem is, who will be willing crack the ice first?

Miss Johnson rose her hand wanting to ask a question of her own. "Is there any estimation of when they are coming Zach?"

"Realistically, they are most likely already here scattered around different parts of the world. With the vast knowledge and supernatural powers you described these girls are probably already have a trail on you despite being hidden away by your friend's power. While I like the fact you have placed your friends around different regions of the world you still aren't prepared for these girls. If one is enough to take all five of your strongest fighters you need to find a different approach. You need to know their weaknesses and thrive on it, that will be one of your best chances of taking them down. Everybody has a weakness, no matter how strong and perfect they like to believe themselves to be. That is one of the most important quotes you learn while serving in the army."

I nodded my head at Anthony then shifted my head to Kirk who had a smirk of approval. To be fair, I had already figured out that Kirk could be one of our best fighters against the likes of Lola and the twins. I took the time to actually analyze that fight he had with Sam, Hyptant, and even thought back to why he was above Jacan in the leaderboard. Kirk had crazy physical attributes, no doubt about that and with his blood to amplify his already absurd strength he could potentially match Sam and Jacan. Then again, I don't know neither of the three's maximum strength capacity. But that isn't what I am talking about, what I am talking about is his ability to bypass durability. Sam specifically stated his body was tougher than Jacan's and yet Kirk still broke every bone he physically came into contact with. With his endurance, speed, agility, battlefield experience, and tactical prowess I am confident he can do a number to these girls.

That just won't be enough though, we all needed to be stronger. Practicing would be essential if we wanted to best these girls and Master Nem. Despite having more combat experience than us we still had the number advantage.

"So, I never got your name. Can't be sitting all quiet over there you know? Makes me feel like something is going to happen. Anthony Johnson, its a pleasure." He extended his hand out for Kirk to shake it. Kirk looked over at me a bit confused about the gesture. I had nodded my head urging for him to shake his hand rather then leaving him hanging.

"Kirk, Kirk Lakeland." He answered back shaking Anthony's hand firmly. "I am sorry I am just not use to this..."

"Understandable, I mean you're older than all three of us combined. Meaning you are from a different timeline where things were alot different. Plus being trapped in space for as long as you have been means you are far behind on today's world. Hmm... whether you know it or not you are a living fossil of the past which I find interesting actually."

"I am more interested in how you are so calm about this. Your talking to me like we known one another for years. I was under the impression that you would have been a lot more different then this." Kirk said.

I had to agree on Kirk with that one. Anthony talked to him casually despite the fact about the story earlier and we left out no details. He knows everything, even the supernatural gifts that we possess. Yet he still kept that very unsettling stare... I remembered a topic I read a year ago in class about the military soldiers who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. Anthony was so scary with that stare... its like he staring at something that was no where near here. There was also his constant hand movements... He moved as he was ready to go at any moment.

Just what happened to the military world in the last three years?

Anthony opened and closed his palm repeatedly, "Follow me you two, I want to show you something." He said getting up from the chair and going down the hallway. Both Kirk and I followed him till we reached his bathroom. Anthony turned his bathroom light on for us to see straight into the mirror. "We are not that different...."

At first, I didn't understand what he was saying till I took a much closer look. This would have been the first time in a while did I see a very clear reflection of myself. My stare was identical to his and that legitimately frightened me. A limp, blank, and unfocused gaze of someone who has been traumatized. This entire time to me, I didn't feel different.... then again I did witness dozens of gruesome deaths by Hyptant's kind. Watching everyone brutally be disemboweled alive along with the unforgettable smell. I also can't forget the very first bloodcurdling screams of Gavin that very day either.

"How did you know we were talking about your stare?" I asked.

"I'm fully aware that I look completely different from when you last saw me. Alot has happened in the past three years you have been gone Zach. I seen a lot of things that too this day I wish I haven't. It really takes a toll on your soul and I know for a fact your story and experience is not that much different then mines."

Hearing that exact quote made me and Kirk turn to him in unison. I know exactly who that reminded us of.

"I'll be going to the clothing store later to grab you two some clothes. You can't be in those jumpsuits forever. Especially yours Kirk, if anyone saw you in that you'd be the most wanted individual in America. No one just walks around in a bloody jumpsuit. I understand its the properties of your gift and all but no one is going to believe you. For now, you two get some rest in the guest bedroom."

Both myself and Kirk laid in the same bed with our backs touching. Anthony gave us some clothes to wear while at the same time burning our jumpsuits which was a fantastic satisfaction to watch by the way. Only issue with his clothes was Anthony had grown a lot since the last I saw him. He was now six feet seven inches tall, a foot taller than me so the clothes me and Kirk wore were really baggy. Luckily for us, this was only going to be for tonight.

"Zach." Kirk called in a whisper making me turn around so I can face his back. "I can't help but think that this little freedom of ours will all be short lived. I am sorry to be that particular person right now... but that is all I am thinking about and more than most likely I won't stop either."

"I know Kirk and I understand and there isn't anything wrong with thinking the way you are thinking now. Hmph, as long as those monsters are alive we will always have too look over our shoulders. But... you remembered what you said to me... in that room?" I asked him making him turn around so we can lock eyes with one another. "Try to focus on that okay?"

Kirk formed a small cute smile on his face, "okay."