APOCALYPSE: WHEN THE PAST RETURNS

Chapter 6

Fear settled over the room.

Leah stared at the ancient book on the table, unable to forget what Adrian had told them. The creatures they had learned about in science books were returning, and the full moon was bringing something far worse.

Sean was the first to break the silence.

“We have to tell the mayor.”

Adrian lifted his head from the machine he was working on. “What?”

“The mayor. We have to warn him and everyone else in this city.” Sean's voice grew louder. “We can't just sit here and wait for those things to start attacking people.”

Leah nodded quickly. “He's right. Even if they don't believe us at first, we have to try.”

Sam glanced between them. “And what exactly are we going to tell them? That extinct animals are coming back to life? They'll think we've lost our minds.”

“Then we'll make them understand,” Sean snapped. “At least we'll know we tried.”

Adrian stared at them for a moment. He understood their fear, but he also knew how people reacted to things they couldn't explain. He tried to convince other scientists that something was wrong, only to be dismissed because of his father's reputation and his own theories.

Still, the teenagers deserved the chance to try.

“Fine,” he said at last. “Sean, Leah, go to the mayor. Tell him what you've seen and ask him to warn the people. Tell everyone to store enough food and cover every opening in their houses. Windows, doors, vents—anything a creature could use to get inside.”

“What about you?” Leah asked.

“Sam and I will finish the time machine. Jake, you stay here and help secure the house.”

Jake straightened. “I'll cover every opening I can find.”

Adrian nodded. “Good. We don't have time to waste. We need the machine working before the next day is over.”

The words made Leah's stomach tighten. Two days until the full moon. They had almost no time left to prepare.

Sean grabbed Leah's hand and pulled her towards the door. “Come on. We have to hurry.”

“Be careful,” Adrian called after them.

Sean paused at the doorway. “You too.”

Then the two teenagers disappeared outside. For a moment, Adrian watched the door after it closed. He wanted to believe that the people of Evergreen City would listen, but experience had taught him otherwise.

He turned back to the machine. “Come on, Sam. We have work to do.”

The municipal office was crowded when Leah and Sean arrived. People moved in and out, discussing ordinary problems. Nobody looked worried. Nobody suspected that the world they knew might soon become unrecognizable.

Sean pushed through the entrance, with Leah close behind him. “We need to see the mayor!”

The receptionist looked up from her desk. “Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but this is an emergency.”

“What kind of emergency?”

“Please, just tell him it's important,” Leah pleaded.

Something in their expressions caught the woman's attention. After a brief hesitation, she picked up the telephone. A few minutes later, they were ushered into the mayor's office.

Mayor Harry Wormwood sat behind his desk, reading a document. He looked up when they entered, his expression impatient. “What is this about?”

Sean stepped forward. “Sir, you need to warn the people of Evergreen City. Something terrible is coming.”

The mayor put down his document. “What exactly is coming?”

“Extinct animals and plants,” Sean replied. “They're returning, and some of them are dangerous. We've seen one ourselves.”

For several seconds, the mayor said nothing. Then he leaned back in his chair. “Extinct animals?”

“Yes, sir,” Leah answered quickly. “We know it sounds impossible, but we're telling the truth.”

“And you expect me to believe that creatures which disappeared thousands of years ago are suddenly returning?”

“We do,” Sean said. “You can come to the forest and see for yourself.”

The mayor's expression changed. “The forest?”

“Yes. We'll show you where we saw it.”

Mayor Wormwood glanced towards the window. Beyond the buildings, the distant line of trees stretched across the edge of the city. For a moment, he appeared to consider their request. Then his face tightened. “No. I'm not going into a forest because two teenagers claim they've seen something impossible.”

“Then send someone who can check!” Sean insisted.

“Listen to me.” The mayor's voice hardened. “I have a city to run. I cannot order people to panic because of an unverified story.”

“It's not a story!” Leah protested.

The mayor raised a hand to silence her. He looked at them again, noticing the raw desperation and pale terror in their faces. Though he didn't believe their wild claim, something in their absolute conviction made him hesitate to just throw them out.

“What do you want me to do?” the mayor asked, rubbing his forehead.

“Warn everyone,” Leah answered. “Tell them to store food and cover their windows and other openings.”

He let out a long breath, wanting them out of his office. “All right. I'll step outside and speak to a few people in the square, advise caution. But if this turns out to be a false alarm, I expect you to explain yourselves.”

Sean nodded immediately. “Thank you, sir.”

The mayor gathered a small group of residents in the public square. Some came out of curiosity; others had heard rumors. Leah and Sean stood before them, facing dozens of questioning eyes.

Sean took a breath. “Please, listen to us. Something dangerous is coming to Evergreen City. We don't have much time, and we need everyone to prepare.”

A man near the front folded his arms. “What kind of danger?”

“Extinct animals and plants,” Sean replied.

Laughter broke out among several people. Leah felt her cheeks grow warm, but she stepped forward. “We know it sounds unbelievable. But we saw one of the creatures with our own eyes.”

“Then where is your evidence?” a woman demanded. “Do you have a picture? A video?”

Leah opened her mouth, but no answer came. They had no photograph. No recording.

Sean looked around desperately. “We're not asking you to believe everything. Just store food. Cover your windows and doors. Protect your homes.”

“Enough!” someone shouted. “You're wasting our time.”

People began turning away. Leah's heart sank. “Please! You could be putting your families in danger by ignoring us!”

A uniformed officer pushed through the crowd. “What's going on here?”

The mayor turned towards him. “Officer Marcus, these two claim that extinct creatures are returning.”

Marcus looked at Leah and Sean as though they had wasted his afternoon. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Sean replied.

Marcus let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Do you two watch too many movies? Things like that happen in films, not real life.”

“Officer, we're telling the truth,” Leah insisted. “Please, just listen.”

“I've heard enough. You're frightening people without evidence.”

“We're trying to save them!” Sean shouted.

Marcus stepped closer. “And I'm telling you to stop. Go home before this becomes a bigger problem.”

Sean's hands curled into fists, but Leah caught his arm. “Sean, please.”

Then a familiar voice spoke behind them. “Leah?”

She turned. An older man stood a short distance away—Mr. Sinclair, their neighbour and a photographer who spent much of his time exploring forests. He had always encouraged Leah's interest in science, but now his expression was cold.

“I never expected this from you,” he said.

Leah stared at him. “Mr. Sinclair, please—”

“I thought you were sensible. But now you're standing here telling people that extinct creatures are returning?”

“Because they are!”

He shook his head. “I was convinced you would make a good scientist one day. Now I'm beginning to question that.”

His words hurt more than Leah expected. “Mr. Sinclair, why would I make something like this up?”

“I'm not saying you're deliberately lying. But spreading fear without evidence is irresponsible.”

Sean stepped forward. “Then come with us to the forest. See for yourself.”

Mr. Sinclair gave him a look of disbelief. “I have no intention of following two frightened teenagers into the woods.”

“Please, believe us,” Leah begged. “Whatever you do, stay away from the forest.”

He ignored her. “I'm going there now, actually. I have a photography job to take care of. I'm taking my son with me. I won't be gone long, and I won't let ridiculous stories stop me from doing my work.”

“Your son shouldn't go with you!” Sean protested.

Mr. Sinclair's expression hardened. “That's enough. I know how to look after my child.” He turned away.

Leah reached for his arm, but he stepped out of her reach. He walked towards the exit with his son beside him, leaving Leah staring after them.

Officer Marcus moved between them. “That's enough for today. Go home.”

Sean looked at him angrily. “You're making a mistake.”

“Perhaps,” Marcus replied dismissively. “Dr. Adrian Cole has filled your heads with nonsense. Take it up with him instead of frightening the city.”

Leah and Sean left the square with heavy hearts. All she could think about was Mr. Sinclair and his son walking among the trees, unaware of what might be waiting.

“We have to get back to Adrian,” she said. “Maybe he'll know what to do.”

By the time they reached Adrian's house, the evening light had begun to fade. Leah knocked urgently.

The door opened almost immediately. Jake stood on the other side, sweat on his forehead and dust covering his clothes. Behind him, the windows had been covered and furniture moved to block openings.

“Finally,” he said, stepping aside. “Where have you two been?”

“We tried to warn the city,” Sean answered.

Sam was bent over the time machine, while Adrian examined a bundle of exposed wires. The machine was almost complete, its metal frame standing firmly in place.

Leah stared at it. “Does it work?”

Adrian looked up. “It starts. But some connections are still exposed, and I won't risk using it until everything is secured.”

Sean dropped into a nearby chair. “We have a problem.”

Adrian studied their faces. “Let me guess. Nobody believed you.”

Leah looked at him in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Because I know this city. People don't believe something is dangerous until it reaches their doorstep.”

Leah told him everything: the mayor's reaction, the crowd's demands, Officer Marcus, and Mr. Sinclair's decision to enter the forest with his son.

Adrian's hands stopped moving. “Mr. Sinclair went into the forest?”

“Yes,” Leah replied. “We begged him not to go, but he wouldn't listen.”

For a moment, Adrian said nothing. Then he turned back to the machine, his jaw tightening. “Let's hope they get out before dark.”

Outside, the last light of evening disappeared behind the trees. And deep within the forest, something ancient had already begun to stir.