The Final Chapter

As witnessed by Jenna Pitman

Sarah wants to end it. So do I, but she's the one with the plan. At least I think it was hers. I think she mentioned something like this. Before they took her. Or was it after? It's so hard to keep things straight these days.

They did take her. That much I know. As soon as they came in Sarah started to scream. Someone hit her and threw her over his shoulder. She wouldn't stop screaming, she was struggling but it was completely ineffectual. I'm sure at one point she had been strong but our weeks of near immobility had taken a toll. She was shrieking about how she didn't want to be one of Them, pleading with our captors to see what it was that they were doing. Then, as they were leaving the room she looked up at me quietly. Her eyes met mine and she mouthed "please." So I did.

I shot her.

It was only the second time that I've had to put down someone I care about but it was the first time that person was alive.

Of course they beat me for it. That was fine. I deserved it. I had killed Sarah. Granted, they would have done away with her in a much more gruesome way but that doesn't change what I did.

They didn't take me though, I don't know why. They just left me and went on to the next room to drag some other poor soul away. I had to stay here for days, unable to function really. They'd beaten me so soundly I was sure I would pass away soon. I didn't. I just healed as I slipped in and out of delirium.

I don't know when I first started hearing her. I think originally it had just been me apologizing as best I could, begging her memory for forgiveness. Then, at some point, she began to talk back. I thought it was just the pain and the delusion speaking but as the days wore on and I started to get better I began to realize that she was actually still here. She'd stayed to help me.

I never got another roommate; I think they were out of new recruits. They'd been a lot more picky about who they were taking away now. They started taking fewer of us to the outer rings.

I wasn't allowed out of my room anymore. I spent a fair amount of time looking out of my window and watching them as they herded people I didn't know up and down from the tree tops to eat and take care of bodily functions. Since they'd taken away my pistol and most of my knives I had little to do. They'd even taken away the books and things my old roomies have left behind. I got real acquainted with the habits of our little, dysfunctional community.

I'm not stupid so when Sarah suggested I fight back I knew what she meant. There was one weapon, one perfect weapon they would never suspect anyone of using. Why would you want to?

So I played along. I ate when they asked me to. I said nothing. I did nothing. Slowly they backed off. First they didn't come in with their weapons drawn and then one day they started sending only one guy in with my meals instead of a team. We would talk. About cars, about guns, about the mountains, about hunting. Like the good old days before any of this, before They came back. He eventually grew to like me and would arrive with juicy bits of gossip and news about the happenings of Haven. He would sit and talk to me for hours. It was not abnormal for him to get admonished for neglecting his other duties in favor of spending time with me. Didn't stop him though and I'm mighty grateful for that.

When he told me that the biggest order had come in and they would begin work on it that week I knew it was time.

They hadn't left me with much to carry it out but since they had been more concerned with how I might use something on them they never thought to take away everything.

It would be a crude job, a lot of blood and a long time coming. I can do it though. After all, it's not just for me. It's for Sarah, it's for Kathy, it's for Haven and it's for all of humanity. So I can do this.

If I time it right he'll just be coming in with breakfast. They'll be just bringing the first few rooms out to do their morning rounds and then I'll strike. They won't miss him until this evening. It won't be until the chaos of bathroom breaks and food that they realize they need an extra hand. They'll come up very upset and furious. They'll throw open the door.

And we'll be waiting.

I guess I should get started. I have a long night of dying to get done before the morning. Then it's done. Forever.

The Beginning - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - The End