Restless

Havoc

Lydia lays on the couch watching the tv. She aimlessly drifts through the channels until she reaches the news. The latest update of the seven o'clock news was about lockdown at a local lab. Many officers and ambulances were stationed outside the laboratory.

The entire building was cordoned off by caution tape and vehicles. Many officers were talking vehemently into their radios. The entire area looked confused and uncoordinated. Scientists were taken out on stretchers, some were visibly in pain and bleeding.

"Look at this," Lydia says, a little shaken by the vivid images of the photos of the victims.

The victims themselves were obviously hurt in a strange way, as if attacked by savage animals. They had bite marks on their bodies. some were dead, but ... some were not as lucky. Some had their entire stomachs ripped open, blood and gore seeping out.

Those who lived with the injuries were in an unimaginably intense pain. Some were obviously going to die from their grievous wounds. Others may live with intense care, but in the end it was very grim and gruesome.

Lydia watched horrified at the screen.

Charlie came up behind the couch and said softly, "That's enough for one night." 

Lydia curled up a bit. "What could have possibly done that?" Lydia said, on the verge of crying. "They said they kept animals in there, and no one really knows what goes on in there, but how could animals wreak such havoc?" Lydia said her lip quivering.

Charlie stroked her hair. "Don't worry about it. They probably tested some large animals, like lions, and they had managed to get loose and turned on their captors.

I bet that the injuries aren't even as bad as they look," Charlie reasoned.

Charlie went around the edge and got on the couch with Lydia. Charlie took Lydia and held her. Charlie knew that Lydia has been through a lot and has a lot of pent up feeling, anything could set her off. Losing her mother in an accident ... It was hard on everyone who knew her.

She was always a loving, caring person. Even with a father that wasn't around often, and being in his company was enough to make one run away, Lydia's mother had made it all right.

Lydia's mother lost her life in an accident involving the same company that owned this lab just a month ago. She had apparently drank water that had been contaminated by unrefined medicine and had died when the overdose had run its course.

It was so sudden. We were just with her the day before her death, visiting her. She was just gone in one fateful accident. I'll be here for her. I won't let her down. "I won't let you down," Charlie whispers as he holds her tight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thomas and Randy ride over to a new restaurant that had recently opened. The place had a reputation of having good food that wasn't too bad for one's health. Randy drove with his ball cap snug on his head and one hand on the wheel.

Thomas rode shotgun with one arm outside the car with a big grin on his face as the wind whipped alongside him.

"That was a great movie! My favorite character was the one with the silencer on the end of his gun. Every time he nailed one of the undead, he was all like, 'Die zombitch,'" Thomas says enthusiastically.

Randy chuckles and said, "You really thought it was that good? I don't think that was what you really enjoyed."

"What are you saying? It was a good movie," Thomas says, defending himself.

"You seemed to really get into talking with that Ashley girl," Randy adds.

Thomas splutters, "She is just really easy to talk to! I know her from class."