Pandora - Evolution Gone Wrong

By Christie Nortje

On 21/12/2012 a deadly ancient virus, we now know as 'Pandora' escapes from deep beneath the earth crust. After a minor earthquake hits. Lying dormant for centuries this ancient killer once responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, spreads fast through the oceans of the world contaminating and killing, every living ocean faring creature.

Seeing it as a subsequent feast, starving humans welcome the thousands of fish washing-up on shore. Pandora now becomes airborne moving south, riding the winds to all four corners of the earth, and sweeping across the planet like a curse, devouring everything in its path. Destroying all life, bringing about our destruction. Like a silent stalker, it attacks the elderly and sickly first; striking them down like a bolt of lightning. Then moves on to the rest of the population, killing 99% in under a month. Leaving only children under 16 and pregnant mothers behind. Those who survive retreat to the sewers. Those that do die don't stay dead for long they comeback.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781471074882

Book preview

Pandora - Evolution Gone Wrong

Pandora -

Evolution Gone Wrong

Christie Nortje

On December 12, 2012 at 12 am e.s.t. just as scientists predicted the end of the world starts as an ancient virus escapes deep beneath the earth’s crust after a minor earthquake. Laying dormant for centuries this virus; now known as Pandora kills 99% of the adult and animal population, leaving only pregnant woman and children behind to survive alone. Those adults and animals who die don’t stay dead for long, they comeback they comeback change, more vicious and brutal. Ready to eradicate all the survivors, ready take over the world. I am Zamora teenage survivor and this is my story.

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2011

ISBN: 987-4710-7488-2

PROLOGUE

(Zamora's POV)

December 21, 2012, 12 am est. just as scientists predicted the end of the world starts. According to doomsayers and the Mayan calendar, 21/12/12 would be the end, the last day of the world. Little did we know just how right those paranoid few were? We dismissed their predictions as paranoia and fable. Even when we had the facts before us in black and white, seeing our own planet deteriorating and retaliating before our very own eyes. We continued to ignore the signs and the warnings, until mother earth could take no more.

On 21/12/2012 a deadly ancient virus, we now know as 'Pandora' escapes from deep beneath the earth crust. After a minor earthquake hits, somewhere so deep beneath the South Atlantic ocean, that not even scientists can't pinpoint the exact location, nor do they care too, as it's size a lowly 3.5 magnitude on the Richter scale doesn't warrant any further concern. Lying dormant for centuries this ancient killer once responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, spreads fast through the oceans of the world contaminating and killing, every living ocean faring creature.

Seeing it as a subsequent feast, starving humans welcome the thousands of fish washing-up on shore. Pandora now becomes airborne moving south, riding the winds to all four corners of the earth, and sweeping across the planet like a curse, devouring everything in its path. Destroying all life, bringing about our destruction and the end of days. The end of life as we knew it. The beginning of hell on earth. Like a silent stalker, it attacks the elderly and sickly first; striking them down like a bolt of lightning.

Then moves on to the rest of the population, killing 99% in under a month. Leaving only children under 16 and pregnant mothers behind. We all expected the end of the world and our destruction to come from a smorgasbord of cataclysmic events. For instance volcanoes, floods, earthquakes, world wars and meteors ravaging our planet. What we didn't expect and weren't prepared for was what came next. Those who survived Pandora's rampage, retreat to the sewers, abandoned mines, mountain caves and storm bunkers. Divided they hid, trying to survive alone, some led by pregnant mothers, not understanding what was happening.

Those that do die succumbing to Pandora, don't stay dead for long they comeback, they comeback changed not human any more despite some human features. They comeback: stronger, more vicious, and vindictive. Their prime-evil instincts rising to the surface, ready to eradicate, completely all signs of the previous inhabitants. All signs of us the last survivors of the human race. So it starts some call it the rebirth of earth and the natural evolution of man. I call it world war III, the fight for survival of humankind. Pitting families against each other, father against son, mother against daughter.

CHAPTER 1

(Zamora's POV)

I'm Zamora, teenage survivor and leader of the human resistance. Seeking other survivors, ready to fight, reclaim what we've lost. It's been 3 months since Pandora swept across the planet creating a sadistic new race. Without any adult’s basic services like water, electricity, sanitation, medical and disaster relief were the first to go. If ever we needed these services, it was now. In the darkness and stench of the sewers we hid from roving and ravenous hoards of creatures we call 'changelings'. Plundering and pillaging the city above us.

While only sounds of soft whimpering could be heard below their stomping feet. The older children like me had to take charge, we couldn't stay down here forever, watching the young ones starve and freeze to death. Thus was formed the three pillars we would base our new life on. We divided ourselves into 3 groups: hunters, soldiers and caregivers. The latter group would stay behind with the soldiers setting up and creating a new home for all. Taking care of those who couldn't take care of themselves, protecting them from harm.

The third group would search not only for water and food, but also for other survivors andbring it all back home. We've been living together with the changelings for months now; avoiding all contact sharing what little resources was left. We created laws that would divide us from them, keeping us safe. To live one by day and one by night. Contact amongst the two species was completely forbidden. I'm not saying we liked sharing and hiding, quite the contrary, but still we obeyed. Coexisting in peace for the sake of our own survival and for the fact that they were much stronger than we were.

We would only go out at night under cover of darkness. It seemed they didn't like the darkness for some reason. Finding the streets littered with burning cars and debris. Smoke bellowed into the night skies. Ash fell like snow, covering the earth like a blanket. Once statuesque buildings where great men once lived now stood around hollow and empty. We're surprised to find them roaming about at night keeping to the shadows we watch them dance and scream around huge flames lapping at the sky. It was like a ritual taking place, a barbaric ritual of scantily dressed changelings.

Strange rags hung from their exposed bodies, barely covering their unmentionables. Their hair matted together in small strands, hanging around their horrid faces like braids. Their yellow serpent like eyes glowed as they grinned at each other exposing sharp jagged piercing the sky with their chanting. We took full advantage of their trance like state to sneak right passed them. 'Lucky' we thought as we gathered provisions.

It seems we're lucky tonight. Arkana, second in command whispered to me as we crouched hiding like cowards behind a large burned-out SUV.

Yeah, it seems like they've lost the last bit of humanity they had left, I whisper in return.

I wonder what they're doing, dancing around like savages in the middle of the night? Eldor, one of my team says rubbing his eyes. Your guess is as good as mine, but now is not the time to try and figure it out. It's almost sunrise so we better get going. Arkana take your team and scout the South side of Wellington ave. for food and survivors. My team and I'll take Washington. Get what you can, we'll meet back here in 20, I order and with a nod of his head they disappear into the darkness.

Eldor you and Matique take those 2 stores over there, Curns and I'll take these two here, I say before turning around.

Oh and Eldor be careful, and be prepared for anything, I leave him with some causionary yet encouraging words. Little did we know at the time, not only was that to be the last available food and water supplies that we'd find, but the changelings weren't plainly, mindlessly dancing around either. No, on the contrary they were actually preparing for battle, battle with us. It seems we weren't so invisible, untraceable and undetected as we thought we were.

CHAPTER 2

(Zamora's POV)

Their hunting instincts had become so acute and specialized since the change that they spotted us a long time ago. However, left us, as there was more than enough food for all. It's only when their population started growing and food supplies started dwindling that their greed, vengeance and curiosity started overtaking them. They wanted to know more about us, more of these strange invaders. At first, they only followed us, observing us, learning our every move then reporting back to their leaders.

They decided that they now wanted what little we had, worst of all they weren't afraid to kill to get what they wanted. It would be better for them if we were gone, not only gone, destroyed, dead the human race eradicated. These changelings creatures that crawled out of the primordial ooze, but a few months ago that had overtaken the earth, spreading like a curse across our planet. Taking-over what was never theirs, breeding, multiplying like rats. Able to have multiple offspring within weeks, now they wanted it all.

We pass nervously between the isles of the supermarket quietly gathering what we can. We place what little we could find into our backpacks. There wasn't much left, as they had gotten there before us. Eldor and Matique meet us with their meager offerings.

This is all we could find, Eldor holds up a small bundle.

Don't worry we weren't lucky either. I just hope Arkana's team got more than we did, I say concerned, waiting for them to arrive. Blissfully unaware of what was happening at that very moment down below in our nest.

They came like thieves in the night, catching our sentry's off guard, knowing we'd be no match for them. They plundered and pillaged, slaughtering everything, taking only those not dead or injured. Upon our return, we find the entrance to the nest unguarded.

What the hell's this? Where's Unka? How could he leave his post? If I get my hands on him! Arkana barks angrily.

Chill, okay? Unka would'nt leaves his post. We all know that! Something's not right, I say worried poking my head in, but it's Eldor that climbs in first.

What can smell that bad? he complains. 

Dude it's a sewer, it always smells bad!

Matique retorts behind him .The smell grows worse, rising from the pits below. A foul odor like that of death. I hear a gasp come from below and when I look down, I see Matique standing covering her mouth, horror painted across her face. I find Eldor hovering over Unka's lifeless body lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Good God! What happened to him? I hear Arkana say jumping down behind me.

Zamora, I don't hear the children! he says concerned, averting our attention. We all listen and when we only hear silence, we start running toward the main nest. The solid steel drainage door lay dented and bent to one side. Inside it resembles a battlefield, plagued by the bodies of the innocent, children laying scattered across the floor, while rats crawl about feasting upon their flesh.

Oh Christ Venge noooo! Arkana cries as he storms off to find his younger brother, leaving the rest of us to search amongst the dozens of stiff corpses for survivors. A loud cry alerts us to Arkana's findings as we rush to his side. We find the most horrible site I've ever seen in my life, it actually makes my hair stand on end and my stomach turn.

CHAPTER 3

(Zamora's POV)

At first glance, I thought it was an animal hanging upside down from the ceiling. Patches of hair hanging from its body, completely stripped of its skin, but upon seeing Arkana's expression as he walked across the room toward me, with only the sound of dripping blood. I finally conclude it must be his brother Venge.

Arkana, I'm so--, I say placing my hand on his shoulder before