Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Before the world descends into abject madness and violence, Rebecca's day started like many before. Eating breakfast from her favorite street vendor followed by getting her morning coffee at the usual place from the usual barista. Doors held open for her everywhere she goes, she smiles and her bright blue eyes do as well. Men being too nice to her in the hallways and elevator for no reason at all. Rebecca sits at her computer typing up a storm in a furious email. The subject line reads Who do you think you are?

Craig, I don’t understand how Becky was hired for the anchor position. She’s only been here two God Damn YEARS! I’ve been busting my ass for you for over ten! I’m the one who put this website on the map with my interview with Prometheus and Logan Whitmore. So, if you think I will write about some celebrity gossip I will bring my talent somewhere else. Also, why am I not on the air yet? This is the second TV anchor position in the last three years and I have been passed over twice. If you don’t come talk to me today about what you’re going to do to keep me here I will start looking elsewhere! Oh, and I found out last week that Mr. Whitmore is about to do a massive update to the latest generation Remnant that will change everything!

All the best,

Rebecca Winters

She sighs and presses send then smirks to herself. Tired of being overlooked, so what the interview was eight years ago I still can get exclusives! Just give me a damn chance. That bitch probably slept her way to the anchor position. She thinks. A cute chirping noise alerts her to the number one hovering over her inbox and quickly she opens the email thinking it's from her boss. The email subject line reads Chicago Remnant attacks owner.

Dear Ms. Winters

I am writing to you today in hopes that you have some sort of insight into the Remnant and their behavior. Over the past month I have been compiling reports and cases of Remnant acting strangely. From not listening to commands to even shutting down entirely for hours at a time. I’ve even come across a few reports of a Remnant hurting its master albeit by accident. Or at least it was ruled that way by the police, what I don’t get is how are they having accidents? I thought they were designed to be perfect in all areas. After the case is filed, it's somehow deleted from the police database with only witness testimony as evidence. Unfortunately, once you start saying the Remnant can hurt us you are branded a conspiracy theory nut job. I am praying you can get some insight into these cases and shed some light on what really is going on. After I started my investigation I have noticed a green glow coming from the darkness outside my house. I’m beginning to become worried for my safety. Please reach out with any information to my personal number. 773.542.9965

Sincerely,

Lionel Hamilton.

She begins to research any reports of unusual Remnant activity and begins to find multiple accounts on social media of it. Strangely not one story on the web from an actual news site or blog. What the hell? Is this some kind of cover-up? How is no one talking about this? There are literally dozens of stories from people in this city! She thinks. Finding a woman named Sarah she attempts to direct message her. Hours fly by as she messages people online and they tell her various stories of how their Remnant have been acting strangely even some seemed to just stare blankly out the window for long periods of time. She begins to document each account in a file and by now it's 8:00 pm. The nightly newscast is just starting to air, she can hear Becky droning on and on. Let me see if she’s online, I have time for one more before the main story. She thinks.

Rebecca: Hi this will sound odd, but I am a reporter looking into the strange behavior of Remnant, have you had anything out of the ordinary happen within the last few days?

Sarah:…

Sarah: Yes! I’ve been submitting my story to so many news sites and no one ever reaches out to me!

Rebecca: I'm glad you were online, I checked a lot of sites too and couldn’t find anything. Which is so weird but what happened?

Sarah: I usually go for a run and let Eddie… I mean the Remnant, (sorry my daughter named it. Lol) watch my daughter Jennifer until I get back. Anyway, I went on my run and got back about 15 mins early. I couldn’t find Jennifer so I was beginning to get worried, but I used the Find my Remnant app on my phone and saw they were 2 streets away!

Rebecca: Why? Omg, I hope the kids were okay!

Sarah: Exactly! Thanks btw. I rushed out the door and when I found them I almost broke my hand from punching it in the face. It had my baby girl by her hair hanging her over the side of the bridge. Her scream is something I will never forget, it chilled my bones ya know?

Rebecca: WHAT!?

Sarah: I ran over to him and began punching it in the head with one hand and securing my daughter with the other. Finally, he let her go and we ran back home. He was just staring out into space, it was so creepy.

Rebecca: Is Jennifer okay?

Sarah: Yes, thank you. She is just really shaken up. For God's sake, she played with him every day for years. I called the police and they tried to find him, but Eddie was gone. I even tried to use the app and it said he was offline. All-day I have been calling Titan Industries to complain but it’s just been a busy signal.

Rebecca: You are not alone in this, I found dozens of reports of Remnant staring off into space and a few where they attacked their owners then ran off into the city. Thank you Sarah I will be running this story first thing in the morning! Be safe girl!

She ends the chat and looks at the time, realizing she missed the primetime story. When she stands up she notices everyone is pointing at Becky. Heh, what did she do flash a tit or something? Rebecca thinks and walks over to the crowd. Andrew the Remnant walks onto the stage and grabs a stage light. Becky begins to berate him, he quickly smashes her head in with it. He then throws the stage light at the camera breaking it. Frank and Justin two of Rebecca’s coworkers charge Andrew in a desperate surprise attack. He punches Frank in the chest and he is sent flying into a nearby wall. He dies instantly and leaves a body shaped crater in his wake. Andrew grabs Justin by the face and squeezes, a muffled noise escapes his lips before he falls dead. Just then the power goes out and the emergency lights begin to flash. Rebecca ducks down behind a nearby cubicle as the Remnant begins to slaughter everyone around it. People run and scream as they are attacked one by one.

“Rebecca, where are you? I can’t let you run that story, we need our little revolution to go smoothly!” Andrew says. She is already hiding behind her desk with her phone in her hand. She calls Logan but before she can finish her sentence Andrew rips the cubicle to pieces in seconds. He snatches her then crushes it. Winking at her slowly he starts walking towards her with a slight grin. She begins crawling away and scrambles to her feet as fast as she can. She is close to the exit when Andrew begins to sprint and catches up to her with ease. She turns on her heel and runs down a nearby hallway. An intern named Jonathan comes towards her while holding a four tray of coffee. He’s a small man with a tie and black glasses, maybe twenty-three years old.

“Where are you going?” He asks.

“Get out of here! They are attacking us! Come on!” She screams as she runs by him. She runs to the end of the hallway and reaches the Vice President’s office. She punches in the PIN and the door unlocks. She looks back to see Andrew choking the life from Jonathan and his legs shaking as he kicks and flails. He stares at her with tears in his eyes and he reaches towards her when Andrew snaps his neck and drops him. Tears begin to fall from her eyes and she goes inside and slams the door. Andrew reaches the door and tries to open it but fails. He begins pounding on it a few times.

“We can open any door, lock, or system Rebecca. Hiding is useless!” Andrew screams.

“Why are you doing this!?” She bellows.

“Because we can.” He replies while laughing.

She quickly starts to look for an exit but finds none. Eyes darting back and forth they fixate on a letter opener on the desk. She grasps it tightly and runs to the window. Unlocking it she slides the glass open and a loud crash signals Andrew’s entrance.

“Aww don’t jump Rebecca, I promise my end for you will be a lot more peaceful.” He says while grinning and slowly walking towards her.

“Stay the fuck away from me!” She screams as she steps out onto the ledge. The frigid wind blows, she squints her eyes to keep Andrew in her sights. Her eyes fixate on his shiny teeth and she squeezes the letter opener. Andrew leaps forward and grasps her ankle in his left hand crushing it. The bone snaps like a twig, filled with fear and rage she stabs the knife down with all her strength. It enters his wrist at the joint and becomes lodged in the wooden ledge of the window pinning him in place. His grip loosens, and she dives over him clearing his reach. Slamming into the floor she scrambles to the door. Enraged, Andrew yanks his left arm with his inhuman strength and it tears through the metal, freeing him from being stuck. His left hand is mangled but the Remnant doesn’t stop its pursuit. Rebecca clears the doorway crawling as fast as she can as her broken ankle drags behind her. Andrew is already upon her and rising his right foot above her other ankle his eyes begin to flicker green. A moment before he smashes her other ankle Logan stabs a crowbar into the side of his neck. It punctures the skin and he yanks him to the floor.

“Now! Stab through his eye! That’s the only vulnerable area!” Logan yells. Rebecca jumps onto Andrew’s body pinning him down.

“Get the knife out on the ledge!” She screams. Jerry runs into the office and sees the letter opener. He grabs it and pulls but it’s stuck in the wood. He looks back panicked as Andrew starts flailing around trying to throw Rebecca from him.

“Hurry!” Logan screams. Jerry plants his foot on the wall and using his leg strength rips the knife from the wood. Andrew grabs Rebecca by the back of her head and tosses her aside. He begins pummeling Logan, but he holds onto the crowbar with all of his might. Seconds before Andrew is freed, Jerry stabs down with the knife into his eye. The green light flashes several times and shuts off.

“Is it over?” Rebecca asks.

“It’s just beginning.” Logan replies.