The Search for the Last Flower – (Part 6)

The Search for the Last Flower, part 6 is now posted. I hope everyone is enjoying the series up to this point. I have to warn those who are seeing this post for the first time. This is a Horror/Sci-fi about zombies. If you’re a fan of the show The Walking Dead, or if you enjoy movies like World War Z, 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead, or Night of the Living Dead, you are definitely a fan of horror and zombies. But if the scariest movie you’ve ever seen is Beetlejuice––brace yourself. ;)

Don’t forget to read the previous installments if you haven’t done so already. ⇒  PART1 PART2 PART3 PART4 PART5

 

 

A strong set of hands hoisted Caleb off the ground. He opened his eyes and shrieked when he saw, through his smoky glasses, what held him. He fainted.

 

Dr. Smith sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes behind the mask he wore. Even wearing the fire retardant suit, the heat was intense. He smacked Caleb a couple of times, but he was out cold.

 

“I should have known if I wanted something done right, I’d have to do it myself.” He took Caleb’s glasses off and tossed them aside, so that he could place an extra mask on his face. He dressed Caleb in a fire suit, put him back on the ground, and picked up the metal box. He looked at the flower; it was already showing signs of withering from the intense heat.

 

Dr. Smith picked the flower. Even in the smoked-filled air, it emanated a calming, lovely fragrance. Dr. Smith thought he heard the tiniest whimper when he severed the stem, but quickly dismissed the thought. He placed the bloom in the box and sealed it. He looked at Caleb still lying on the ground. He grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “Caleb, wake up! We have to get going!”

 

Finally Caleb began to shift around. When he opened his eyes he cried out again, waving his hands in front of him.

 

Dr. Smith slapped him on the head. “It’s me, you idiot! We have to go now!” Dr. Smith grabbed Caleb by the arm, yanked him to his feet, and they rushed through the flames.

 

“My glasses!” Caleb yelled.

 

“You can buy a dozen new pairs when we get back home,” Dr. Smith grumbled.

 

When they reached the other side of the firewall, they both collapsed on the ground, flames still clinging to their fire suits. The rest of the team rushed over and snuffed the fire out.

 

Caleb wiggled out of the fire suit and tore the mask off his face. He inhaled deeply and coughed a few times. Panting, he saw that the tribesmen were still there and were surrounding a bonfire they had started. He got to his feet and walked toward them.

 

“Where are you going, Caleb?” Dr. Smith huffed while removing his fire suit.

 

“I’m going to give my condolences.”

 

Dr. Smith sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. “Well, hurry! We’re leaving soon.”

 

Caleb approached the elder and placed a hand on his shoulder, but before he was able to pronounce a word, the elder turned and yelled at him to leave. Caleb apologized and tried to offer his condolences, but the elder kept pushing him away, telling him to go at once.

 

Caleb looked into the fire the tribesmen surrounded. The young man, whom Dr. Smith had shot dead, lay in the middle of the fire pit, face up. His eyes were wide open and were a vivid yellow, even in the fire. The boy growled, wore an enraged expression, and struggled to leave the fire even as the skin on his body charred and melted.

 

Several strong tribesmen held him down in the fire with large tree branches while tears streamed from their eyes. When the elder noticed that Caleb was still there, he became very agitated and shouted a command to two of his men. The men grabbed Caleb by the arms and dragged him away. Caleb didn’t struggle. His face was pale, his teeth clattered, and his entire body trembled.

 

When the tribesmen approached Dr. Smith and the others, the armed men pointed their guns at them. Without flinching, the tribesmen let Caleb plop to the ground and returned to their burning ceremony.

 

Dr. Smith ran to his son and looked into his wide eyes. “Caleb––Caleb, what’s the matter. What happened?”

 

Caleb shifted his eyes slowly toward him. “Let’s leave this place,” he said in a low, hoarse voice. “Let’s leave now.”

 

Dr. Smith helped him up, and they walked away. His men trailed after them. Caleb stared forward, sightless, his mind unable to wrap around what he had seen in the fire.

 

Copyright © 2014 by Vashti Quiroz-Vega. All rights reserved.

 

Wood Burning Artist – BrandoJones (Brandon) on deviantART

 

Thank you for stopping by and reading today! I am very grateful to my readers and as a way to say “thanks” I will be having a Giveaway at the end of this series. I will announce the prizes on . . . wait for it . . . Halloween, of course! All you have to do to qualify to be a winner is to read my series, The Search for the Last Flower, and leave feedback in the comment section. :D