Leadership

August the Second, Year 0

Daniel is the first of the group to do something. He takes the mask from the floor and looks at it.

"Why did the text change? Why is it death now?"

"I... I don't know"

"We all know nothing."

Daniel and Rachel help Ian to stand and then it starts to sink in. Some unnatural beings are loose. Many people could be in danger. Their parents could. Even their friends.

"Let's put some clothes in. We've gotta go help."

Ian is the first one to act, and starts running towards his bedroom to get some clothes on. Rachel runs too, while Daniel slowly gets his clothes back from his backpack.

Only a couple of minutes ago, they were going to just chill into a backyard pool, and now it looks like the world is gonna end. From outside, more and more screams are heard.

The three of them were lucky enought to be able to arm themself and not being alone. Who knows what could have happened if that wasn't the case. 

Daniel, Ian and Rachel are at the front door. Daniel has his backpack on his back and holds a knife in his right hand. The white mask is secured in his backpack, even if his friends said he should not take it.

Ian holds a baseball metal bat, a great upgrade from the broom handle, while Rachel is armed with a knife. They had a rought time deciding if they should pack some rations, but that seemed a little too much for now.

When they step outside, the sight is hellish at best.

The red sky is ominous, and everywhere they look there are amorphous creatures with white masks. Some people are lying on the ground in pain. Some are dead. Many piles of black ooze stain the road. It looks like more things are dead than people.

"Why aren't there masks?"

It is Rachel that points it out first. All the black puddles are just that. No white mask in sight.

"I don't think that everyone was picked up, right?"

"We can't think about that now. We have to help"

Ian pause the mask discussion to make the group focus on what really matters. Soon after, they spot a man trying to fend off a monster with his bare hands. He sure knows how to throw a punch, but each time he hits the creature, more of its blood splashes on him. 

The group starts running to help. When they get near, Daniel sees that the blood of this creature is different from the one that they killed.

It doesn't look like the man is in pain, but each time he gets some of the substance on himself he seems to loose some will to fight. When they get there, the beast is choking him with a tentacle. Ian doesn't loose a single second and swings his bat. 

The bat hits the mask, making a strange sound, as if it hit a giant gong or a bronze bell. The creature stops and let the man free, turning towards Ian.

Fearing for his life like never before, the boy hits again. The bat impacts on the body of the strange monster and rips it in half. Another puddle forms at Ian's feet. 

This time, a mask is on top of the strange liquid.

Ian takes the mask and looks at it. Now he knows why Daniel wanted to take the first one. He killed that thing. He deserves the mask.

Daniel and Rachel help the man stand up, while Ian sees the word "LEADERSHIP" form on the mask he is holding.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Yes... Wha-what are those things? They are everywhere. Just... I need to find my family. Please."

Ian comes back to the group, and silently puts the mask in Daniel's backpack.

"What are you doing? That's piece of those... Things. Are you out of your mind?"

The man yells at Ian, clearly shocked from the events of the day.

"Mind your businnes. It's just a mask."

"Ian, please. We need to help him find his..."

Ian stops rachel mid sentence.

"Rachel, we have to find our families too."

The girl's eyes fill with sadness, but she can't argue. He is right.

The three and the man split after this brief conversation, and Rachel asks the boys:

"Why did you take the masks?"

Ian and Daniel look at each other

"I was... I thought it was the right thing to do."

"Yeah, it was the same for me."

Daniel and Ian can't really explain why they did, but Daniel tries to make it more logical.

"Well, you too saw that not every thing left behind a mask when it died. They must be important."

Rachel and Ian nod. It makes sense.

The three of them start to make their way towards Daniel's house. His parents should be there. Then they'll go to the sibling's parent's office.

They avoid the road, walking where the monsters are less likely to see them.