REBIRTH: SEVEN DAYS BEFORE DOOMSDAY

EVOLUTION

The moment I opened my eyes, I could not stop smiling. Just with the absorption of one core, something within me had changed, permanently too.

Even though there were no visible physical changes, I knew that I had evolved. I could feel it from every inch of my bones. I slowly unclenched my fist even as I kept smiling.

Even with that small of a movement, I could feel the change in my body. My bones felt stronger, so did my muscles. And when I clenched my fists tighter, I could feel that my fingers now had far more strength than they had ever had, even after the apocalypse started.

But that was not the biggest change. There was something else that had evolved, my power.

Even though I hadn’t pushed my senses inward, I could still feel just how much my power had grown. If I was able to lift about ten kg earlier, now, I could lift more than double that.

And that was just from one core.

I stood up, rolled my shoulders and immediately realized that my body now felt lighter, and much faster. When I turned my head, I could hear birds chirping in the distant trees.

I could even distinctly hear the sound of footsteps approaching me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was – Harris.

When I finally turned to face him, he was staring at me with a blank expression on his face.

I could tell he had so many questions, but I was not done looking through the changes in my body, so I looked down and stared at a small stone on the ground.

Without much effort, and without even raising my hand, the stone floated up until it was at high level with me.

My smile grew even wider, with this new change, my knife was now far more dangerous. Everything I did, from walking, to smiling, to even breathing, they all now felt effortless.

Before I had absorbed the core, I would have needed concentration to do something this simple. Now, it was effortless. Another stone floated up to reach the first stone, then another, then another. It didn’t take long until there were ten stones flying around each other.

And even then, I still didn’t feel much strain.

"Kara." I didn’t know how long I was lost experimenting with the changes in my power, but eventually, Harris’ voice pulled me out of my thoughts,

I turned around, and he was staring at me with wide eyes, as though I was a ghost, “What is it?” I asked, trying but failing to wipe the smile off my lips.

“I know you are enjoying playing with your powers,” he whispered, before pointing toward the dead creature. “But what the hell was that?”

I glanced at the large rodent and shrugged, “It’s a Ratjaw."

"A what?" He gasped,

"A Ratjaw," I repeated, and began to take multiple steps towards the carcass. "They are going to be pretty common once the apocalypse starts."

Harris stared at it. “That thing is going to be common?" he gasped, still clearly shocked, “How are ordinary people even going to survive that? And please don’t tell me tigers and lions are going to be mutate too.”

I paused for a moment, my smile wiping off my face as I replied, “They won’t survive it,” I answered, and his expression immediately went solemn, “And yes, every creature on the planet is going to mutate. Even plants.”

Harris's expression darkened, “Did you know there are going to be mutants even now?”

I shook my head, “No, I am as surprised as you are. I knew we were going to get them. Of course, I just never knew that animals were already mutating.”

Harris spent the next couple of minutes being quiet. I could tell he was still processing everything I had told him.

"The apocalypse hasn't even started," he finally said.

"I know."

He kept silent for a couple more minutes before he let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the Ratjaw. He waited another minute before he pulled out the phone and dialed a number.

"Bring a few men to the property," he said, the moment the call clicked. "There's something here that needs to be removed."

When he ended the call, I was staring at him with raised brows,

"How are you going to explain the massive rat creature to your crew?" I asked,

He shrugged. "I'll figure something out when they ask.”

I looked at the creature again.

"You're just going to tell your workers that they should not worry about the giant rabbit with red eyes and teeth like knives lying on your property?"

"Something like that," he answered, shrugging again.

I didn’t know why, but I burst into laughter.

Harris smiled faintly and he walked towards me before standing inches away.

We waited there for a while before several of his workers arrived, all ready to work. But the moment thye spotted the creature, all of them froze in fear.

Harris had to assure them that it was alright before they could get close to the creature. They clearly wanted to ask so many questions, but Harris shut them down before they could.

I stood back and watched as they carried the carcass away. When they were done, Harris turned to face me with a smile on his face.

"Now that it’s all done with, are you ready?”

I blinked, “Ready for?”

"To finish the tour, of course," he answered, stretching out his hand towards me.

I nodded, let out a smile, and took his hand. I didn’t know why I took his hand, it just felt natural.

This time, we moved much slower in case we got ambushed again. Harris showed me everything he possibly could, and when we were done with the tour, I knew the island almost as much as I knew my own home.

By the time he finished leading me around the island, the sun had begun moving lower in the sky. We stood near the farmhouse, looking across the property.

I took a slow breath and let out a smile as I watched the sun begin to set over the horizon. This was my home now, my fortress, and my future.

And despite everything that I was feeling, I felt hopeful.

I was still lost in my thoughts when Harris turned to face me with a suspicious smile on his face,

"Now that we're done looking around…" he whispered, “How about I take you to dinner?”

I froze.