Affinity

1: Books and Booms

It was mid-afternoon in the city of Johannesburg. Unusual for the rowdy city, things were eerily quiet. Almost as if the buildings themselves were holding their breaths.

Exactly one week ago, strange people who called themselves the Affinitium announced their co-inhabitance on planet Earth. And it has been exactly one week filled with fear and the anticipation of potential war for Mara Westbrook.

More prominently, she was angry that they couldn't have waited until she finished her doctorate before upsetting her -and the world's- monotonous routine.

So, while the world was panic-buying canned food, water and toilet paper. She was in her office, typing away at her thesis- ignoring the palatable tension.

The sun was just starting to pass its peak of the Northridge Emporium for Scientific Advancements building when a sudden hissing sound made her look up from her computer. Worried about a gas leak, Mara stood up. 

Just then, an explosion rocked the building as she reached for her office door, knocking her off balance. Shards of glass cut into her as the windows shattered.

It took a few seconds for her head to clear before she realised that the explosion either came from within her building, or one nearby. 

"No no no no!" Mara screamed as she frantically ran towards her lab bench where her precious samples stood, shaking from the blast. Dust and small pebbles of rubble rained from the ceiling, threatening to destroy years of research.

Skidding to a stop by her sample rack, her only thought was to save her work. Vial after vial, she stashed the small bottles in her lab coat, some almost slipping from her blood-smeared hands. 

The building rumbled as the lights flickered. She struggled to think as a siren started wailing nearby.

Now that she had her irreplaceable vials safely tucked in her pockets, she could hear voices shouting outside. She swiped the moisture on her forehead with the back of her hand. The need to get out overtook her.

She started walking to the door, careful not to step in the fluids seeping out of broken vials. Just left of her, she could see a notebook blackening and foaming black puss from the acid that's fallen onto it.

"I am not dying here. I worked too bloody hard to die now." Mara promised herself as she safely made it into the hallway. And then, as if her guardian angel hated her, the lights went out.

She blinked her eyes to adjust. Squinting, she could make out the flickering EXIT sign. Slowely making her way into the semi-darkness, she dodged rubble and broken furniture. 

Near the end of the hall, Mara found herself almost walking into blocks of concrete. "Shit!" The rubble almost filled the entire walkway. Glancing up, she found the culprit. The bloody ceiling collapsed. Forcing herself not to panic, she searched for another exit.

Remembering that there was a second flight of stairs at the opposite end of the floor, she turned around. Feeling a bit light-headed, she put a hand on the wall to steady herself. A few deep breaths later, she felt well enough to go back. 

Slowly climbing over folders and books littering the floor, she forced her aching body to move as carefully as she could to prevent the vials in her pockets from damage. 

A low moan from one of the offices grabbed her attention. 

"Hello? Anyone here?" She called out. She held her breath and tried to listen for an answer over the sirens outside. 

A cough from inside an office signalled she was not trapped alone. 

"I'm coming! Hold on!" She yelled as she pushed the door open with her shoulder. Luckily it opened easily enough.

Light entered the room from the broken window, making it hard to see through all the dust floating in the air. 

"I'm here," the all too familiar voice called out softly, before bursting into another coughing fit.

Mara's eyes widened as she took the scene in.

"Randy..." 

She stood frozen as one of her best friends lay trapped under a fallen bookcase. Jumping into action, she made her way to him. Crouching down she took his hand, her eyes scanning his injuries. 

"Randy, it's me. I'm gonna get you out okay?" His molten chocolate-brown eyes met hers in confusion. 

"Mara? What happened?"

"There was an explosion. I'm going to pull you out now." 

He nodded. Pushing books off his chest and arm, she manoeuvred herself into a squat behind him and hooked her arms around him.

She braced herself. 

"One, two, three!" She grunted as she pushed backwards with her legs. But the case was too heavy, she was barely able to move him an inch. Randy gasped for air. The dust burned her eyes. She felt lightheaded from the effort.

"Again."

"One, two, three!" She pulled again. Pushing with her legs, she put all her strength into getting her friend out. But he was stuck.

"Mara, it's okay. You go." He angled his head so that he could look at her.

"I can't leave you." She cried as she started sobbing. Red liquid dripped onto his shoulder. She wiped her forehead. Her shirt was stained with blood.

Randy started coughing again. 

"Mara, you-" He wheezed.

"Shoosh. Someone is going to find us and help." She scooted closer and held on to him.

He was struggling to breathe now. He rested his head on her lap.

"I'm so sorry, I needed to be here sooner. I need to help you. But I was too busy focussing on myself that I just-." She wept, unable to speak further. 

He squeezed her hand.

Outside, sirens grew louder and she could hear men shouting orders. But all she could focus on was how his chest stopped moving up and down.

***Oh no! Poor Randy. What do you think caused the explosion?

Thanks for reading!