The Shade Rising by Ivy Bernat (fantasy books to read .txt) 📕

A group of scientists, while working on cross genetics, accidentally mutated a couple of humans. The corporation that the scientist worked for thought as long as they were kept out of the public eye everything would be fine, and it was, until the mutations escaped, and the human race quickly found out that the mutation was extremely contagious. In a week the pandemic had extended over the entire United States.

Eye color is the first sign of infection, they turned bright red, and even the pupil turns a dark crimson. Next skin color changes to a dark grey, hands and feet both becoming more like claws; nails became thick, jagged, and sharp. Jaws become stronger and wider, able to bite through bones and metal. Bone structure also changed, making them more adapted to running on all fours. Finally they also grow quite a bit: towering over seven feet tall.

Regrettably physical changes weren’t the only problems; firstly they forgot how to read and write, and then how to talk altogether; and then they forgot how to run and walk upright. They become barbaric; they were still very smart, but not humanly intelligent. They also become extremely aggressive, even to the point of attacking each other. Survivors quickly learned that they changed much faster under stressful situations; when they were angered or acting aggressive.

Years later, the survivors, have pulled themselves together the best they possibly could. Now they sleep in fear, carry loaded weapons, and kill their own mutated friends and family.

Humans call those that are infected the Shade.

 “Addison!” Camryn said. Addison looked up from her absent minded staring at the grass underfoot. Her mental fantasy melted away as the horrors of reality came rushing into focus again. A sense of dread returned as she took in her familiar surroundings. Like a common plague, fear consumed her thoughts. She wanted to close her eyes to the world around her but, even after all the years that have passed, her eyes remand wide open in dismay.

Overgrown shrubs and vines covered every surface; they mixed with long grass that blanketed the dark earth. Cement, rocks, and debris littered the ground practically unseen until stepped upon. Crashed cars engulfed the highway; they were empty, long ago abandoned by their frantic owners. The cars’ paint was faded and chipped; rust consumed every joint and edge of metal. Tall strong trees stretched along either side of the highway for miles.

Addison stopped walking and turned back to see Camryn running up to her. Camryn’s pant’s straps clinked as she ran, the sharp sound echoed in Addison’s hollow thoughts. Camryn’s dirty clothing stuck to her skin from perspiration. Her bag and shot gun were slung over her shoulder and bounced on her back as she jogged up to Addison.

“I have been shouting your bloody name for the last five minutes, where is your head girl?” She said. When she reached where Addison was waiting Addison continued walking.

It was a hot day outside and the sun was beating down on them. Camryn’s dark tropical skin glistened in the sunlight. Her dreadlocks were tied back in a ponytail under a dark beret. She was close to a foot taller than Addison’s five foot five inches.

“Oh” Addison said “Sorry. I was just thinking-” She stopped herself. ‘I was going to say “I was thinking about the past”’, she thought to herself, but she knew that Camryn didn’t want to hear that. ‘I guess no one really wants to talk about the past now’ Addison contemplated.

“Is there something you want? You know how I feel about talking.” Addison said while trying to shake off her thoughts.

“Nicholas wants to go look around for a working vehicle. He’s tired of walking.” Camryn said.

Addison let out a small sigh. “How you are ever able to put up with him, I’ll never know.” Addison said as she pushed her long brown bangs out of her face and behind her ears.

“Why couldn’t he come here and tell me himself? Now, I have to send you back to tell him that; ‘We’re all tired’.” Addison said in reply.

Addison had been tired of walking for hours by now.

Instead of waiting for his messenger to come back, Nicholas quickened his pace to a jog so that he was able to catch up with Addison’s stride. Nicholas and Addison had a sort of silent understanding with each other. It was a silent understanding because as long as he kept his mouth shut she was happy.

Addison favorite characteristic about his personality is that he loved big guns and blowing things up. She thought he must have been in the military at one time. Whether or not he actually fought in any battles was unknown to her. He also always seemed to wear camouflage pants and combat boots. Sometimes he even had the audacity to wear tropical flower pattered shirts with them.

“Well then do you want to carry my stuff instead?” He said. Addison looked over at him. Her eyes were tired; she could feel them tingling and was able to feel approximately how puffy they were. She tried to glare at him but out of laziness it just turned into a long creepy stare. “Don’t give me that face, my bag’s heavy.” He said straight faced, her stare apparently had no effect on him.

“Then don’t carry so many useless things around with you, and don’t send Camryn to talk to me on your behalf anymore.” Her words came out tired and unsympathetic. She was bored and her feet felt a thousand pounds heavier than they normally should have.

“My stuff isn’t useless. That’s like saying its junk” Nicholas said in protest. His voice was laced with whining; it seeped through his tone and scratched against Addison already raw nerves.

 “That is exactly what I’m saying.” She said in retort, trying to focus on her foot placement and not on listening to the same argument they seemed to have every single day.

“The point is we have been walking all day” Camryn butted in. Addison instantly understood then that Camryn wasn’t really talking to her because of Nicholas. Camryn too wanted to stop for a moment. A smile faintly fluttered her face and then disappeared just as quickly.

 “Guys, I know you’re tired. Do you think I’m not? There isn’t much we can do about it. The sooner we get there the soon we can stop walking.” Addison avoided eye contact while talking and instead glared at the grass slowly moving underfoot. Everyone knew that if Addison looked at them then she would give in.

Instantly and simultaneously they started to bellyache and complain. They were utterly similar in Addison opinion. They had both grown up in the 90’s. They had the same taste in music. They often had long discussions about movies Addison had never even heard about. Addison was positive that if Nicholas would ever read a book then they would even like the same kinds of books.

Addison’s ears had about all they could take from their constant out pour of pleading. “Why don’t you guys leave me alone? Go somewhere else and talk about how awesome ‘Back to the Future’ was.” As if Addison had just dumped oil on a flame, they instantly started to talk across her to each other. Almost as if they were trying to trap her in a bubble of continuous noise. They were laughing and making a racket about their favorite parts.

“Enough!” Addison finally shouted at them. Her brain had begun to pound at the front of her head. It was her brain’s way of demanding peace and quiet. Pain caused her plain facial feature to scrunch up and become distorted: it was affecting her vision, and causing her ears to ache. “Go bother someone else, would you guys?”

“Whatcha have a headache?” Camryn asked. Her dark eyes searched Addison’s obviously pain stricken face.

“I do now.” Addison said agitatedly, “Fine you guys, Five minutes”. Camryn whooped with joy, forcing Addison to flinch, pressing her bare palms over her ears. It was too late; the sound echoed in her ears and ran through her head like a festive parade.

“Oh, sorry dear.” She said motherly pressing her hand against the back of Addison’s head before Camryn rushed off to tell the others.

Addison slowly trudged over to the first vehicle she saw; it was some big dark blue car. She carefully examined the hood of the car for shards of glass.

Once deciding that it was clean enough, she took her bag off her back and placed it on the hood. Following the bag, she pulled herself up off the ground and onto the vehicle. She let out a long sigh as she lay back on the bent and dented hood.

Looking up at the sky, she predicted that it must have been about three o’clock. There were a few clouds in the sky that covered some of the calming blue color. The wind was blowing fairly strong. There was a large group of clouds to the north, just where they were headed. ‘I hope it isn’t going to rain tomorrow’ she told herself

Sitting up she yanked open her bag and riffled through it for some Aspirin. She noticed her bag had become cluttered and heavy lately. ‘Clean it out later today.’ She mentally noted sternly. Once she found the large plastic bottle she pulled it out of her backpack.

Camryn was there by Addison’s side and she looked at Jeremy as he walked up to them and leaned against the car door. Camryn turned back to Addison then looked down at the bottle in her hands.

“You’re not gonna take those are you?” She said stepping closer to Addison. Her eyes darted from Addison’s face to the bottle then back again.

“Yes, I was planning on it. Why?” Addison replied still holding onto the unopened container in her hand. She clutched it to her chest as if the bottle was the holy bible about to save her soul from eternal damnation.

“They probably expired years ago.” Camryn said forcefully taking the bottle. Addison’s face instantly fell apart as Camryn ripped the bottle from her hands. Jeremy thought about intervening because it appeared that Addison might cry. Camryn flipped it around in her hand until she found the expiration date. “Here, see, expires October, 2013.” Camryn said nearly shoving the bottle into Addison’s somber face.

Addison took the bottle back from her, opened the lid, and quickly swallowed two pills. Her brain seemed to be unhappy that she had not taken them earlier and angrily pounded once more. It hurt so badly she nearly chocked and gagged on the pills. Addison thought about getting some water to follow them up but her energy drained arms refused to move from their place. As Jeremy thoughtful handed her his bottle of water, Addison discerned that Camryn was swelling with rage.

“What do ya think ya doing?” Camryn bellowed. Her grammar and pronunciation always seemed to get worse when she was angry. “I can’t believe you just did that, do you even know what could happen?”

“Yep” Addison replied a little smugly, pausing as she took a large drink from