abelia-z

[abelia-z]

"So," I started once I was once again seated comfortably in my chair before the fire, "Why are you looking for a story?"

Therin paused in drying his hair. The new clothes were a bit big on him, but I had no doubt they would soon fit under my care.

"My father's people, the Hannan, are from the West," He started. I sat up, intrigued. I'd never really left my Woods, so I knew little of outside matters.

"More are coming here, to Giona."

I stared at him, "Why?"

"My father's people are treated poorly, almost no better than slaves. His people are coming to liberate them, and take over a portion of the country to make a new settlement for the Hannan where instead the Giona people are the ones no better than slaves."

I frowned, "How do you know of this?"

"I was in one of the taverns that belong to the Hannan, and as I was serving drinks, heard some clan elders speak of it. The Hannan that are coming are bringing some of their Gods. Immortals that have protected them through generations."

I started, "Immortals?"

I had thought I was the only one who had lived for so long. And to find that these may perhaps be even older? Amazing.

"Yes, fearsome warriors," Therin was earnest in his warning, "And they have decided Russet, the village is where they wish to make their settlement."

I scowled. As much as I was interested in getting to meet someone my age, I knew only one of us would be permitted to live here. And Russet was, beyond doubt, my village.

I glanced at the boy, now finger-combing his hair, "Why do you not claim your father's people as your own?"

He shrugged, "He does not claim me, and they do not claim me, so I don't claim them."

"Because you are mixed?"

"Yes,"

"What of your mother's people?"

"The same,"

I frowned, "Then who cares for you?"

"My ma did until she died a few years ago. Now it's just myself." He shrugged again, as though this tragedy had little bearing on him.

"And other mixed kids?" I asked.

"The same, more or less," He scowled into the fire, "Because we aren't pure, we're cast to the side, treated like dogs."

I stared into the fire, watching the flames dance for a while, "Tomorrow we will go into the Village."

[abelia-z]

To say I was surprised by the child at my doorstep would be an understatement.

I blinked down at the messy thing. They were almost tall enough to reach my chin, with black tangled hair that reached their waist. Their simple peasant garb was torn and muddy.

They didn't have shoes.

I frowned.

"Are you the Lady in the Woods?" The child demanded.

I blinked again, shocked at his daring, "Yes. And you are?"

"I'm Therin."

"Well Therin, aren't you an interesting one?" And he was. He had a pale olive complexion with sharp brows and high cheekbones. His eyes were slanted like a cat, but a shocking blue color. I'd never seen anyone who looked like him.

He bristled under my appraisal, "Yeah, I'm mixed. So what?"

I shrugged, gesturing him inside, "Mixed or not means nothing to me. I do not know what that means."

He stepped in, staring down at his muddied feet.

"It means my parents are of different races," He explained off-handedly.

"Races?" I walked over to a trunk, rummaging for some clean clothes, as well as some boots.

"Different kinds of people," He had yet to move from the door.

"Aren't you all people? When did there become different kinds?"

"They're from different places and have different languages and customs. Some even look different."

I nodded, "Then what's wrong with being mixed?"

"Tell me about it," He muttered, not explaining further.

"How old are you?" I asked, deciding not to press further.

"I'm fifteen," He said.

"Fifteen," I echoed, finally pulling out some clothes that would fit him, "And when was the last time you've taken a bath?"

"I dunked myself in the river two weeks ago. It's too cold to do so now."

"The river," I muttered, horrified.

He bristled again, "Not everyone can afford a tub and to heat water."

"I suppose," I gestured to my tub, heating the now lukewarm water inside, "I'll give you some privacy then."

He yelped, "How did you do that?"

I gave him a bland look, "I see my reputation does not precede me. Here, I'll put your clean clothes next to the tub."

Cautiously, he walked up to the tub and looked at it, "I knew if you were real, that you'd be powerful. But I wasn't expecting... This."

Amused, I asked, "If I was real?"

"Well, parents have been warning their kids about you for forever. Of course, I'd think you were just a story."

I sighed. I didn't mind my solitude, but it did sting just a little that I was made out to be such a creature as to warn children about.

"I'll wait outside while you bathe. Once you're done, we'll discuss why you came looking for a story."

[abelia-z]

I had lived in the woods outside of the Village for a while. It feels like I was here from the start when the trees surrounding my cottage were just saplings.

I was here before the people, and I'll be here after them as well.

Their prayers and worship had quickly turned to fear and warnings. I went from protector to boogeyman. A story to tell naughty kids to scare them into behaving.

It had been a few generations since any had dared to walk in my woods, had had the courage to visit my alters.

I preferred it that way.

[abelia-z]

It started innocuously enough. Just a power outtage at 5pm on a random Tuesday in February.

[abelia-z]

"I don't do anything with my life except romanticize and decay with indecision."

– Allen Ginsberg, "The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice: First Journals and Poems, 1937-1952"

[abelia-z]

I woke up to a violent urge to pee.

I sighed at the still-dark sky outside of the window and sat up.

I didn't want to risk getting into the other rooms I hadn't explored just for the luxury of a toilet, so I grabbed a flashlight and my gun before slowly creeping into the rest of the house.

I paused in the hallway, keeping an eye on Koya walking calmly into the living room. Making sure not to flash the light to the windows in the front of the house, I slowly swept the light around, making sure all the doors and windows were still shut.

I grabbed some paper towels on my way to the back door. Shutting off the light, I peered outside, making sure there weren't any Sick in my immediate area. I opened the door a little, just enough to stick the light out and sweep it across the back of the yard.

I let Koya out first, and after watching her for a little, followed.

I squatted near the door and took care of business, keeping my head on a swivel to make sure nothing was coming up on me from the sides.

Once done, I called Koya back into the house, locked up, and went straight back into the room we were using.

It was too dark to do anything safely, so I closed the blinds and went about cleaning my gun.

Once done I started going through my bags, storing some extra water bottles in one, and a couple gallon bags of kibble in another in case I had to ditch the car.

I decided at one point it wouldn't hurt me to find some extra ammo.

By the time I was done, light was just starting to peek through the curtains. I peered into the backyard before leaving the room. I checked the front yard before unlocking the car, watching it beep from the safety of the window.

I waited about 10 minutes before grabbing the case of water and taking it out. I checked both ways down the street before opening the back door and putting it in.

I went back inside and grabbed my bags, as well as the remaining bag of kibble, and put them in the backseat at well.

"Load," I told Koya, holding the front door open. She hopped in, climbing over the driver's seat to settle in the passengers. I quickly followed her in, pressing the lock button as soon as the door closed.

Gritting my teeth, I pressed the push-to-start button, flinching as the car rumbled to life. It sounded almost deafening in the quiet of the early morning.

I didn't wait around to see if that attracted anyone, throwing the car in reverse and pulling out. I did my best to stay North West, trying to find a highway to get on.

I'd lucked out yet again, the car had almost a full tank of gas. I had a little ways to go before I had to worry about finding a gas can to use for siphoning gas.

I had just gotten out of town, and onto I25, before Koya started acting antsy. I sighed, looking for a clear area to pull over.

I got out and stretched, watching as she ran around and did her business.

I was peering off into the trees down the incline when Koya huffed. I froze, pulling my gun and automatically switching off the safety as I tried to pinpoint where she was.

I found her staring at the front of a car a little ways in front of us. I approached, coming around the front in a wide arch, gun trained towards the front bumper.

I stared, watching the slow rise and fall of the man's chest. The Sick didn't breathe.

I looked him over, not daring to get too close in case he woke up and tried to make a grab for me.

His clothes were dirty, but I didn't see any blood.

He was skinny, as though a strong wind could blow him away, and covered with tattoos. Some on his neck and a couple littering his face. His hair, though shaved on the sides, was matted to his head.

I swallowed, glancing around again to make sure I wasn't being snuck up on before kicking a rock in his direction.

"Yo,"

His face scrunched before he sucked in a gasp, eyes popping open as he scrambled up.

"Stay down," I barked at him, waving the gun to get his attention. He froze half crouched in front of the car. Koya growled, circling back to me.

"I don't have anything," He rasped, voice barely there.

"I don't want anything," I said, "Just felt like I should tell you this isn't the best place to take a nap."

He blinked, "What?"

"You're out in the open. Anyone can walk up on you. And you're screwed if the Sick find you."

"Oh," He sank back to the ground.

I kept the gun trained on him, "You from that Walmart group?"

He tensed, eyes darting, "Nah."

I raised an eyebrow, "Really."

He shrugged, "I left. They're crazy."

I stared at him before shrugging.

"Don't move," I walked back a couple steps, before heading back to my car. I grabbed a couple water bottles and dug out some protein bars before heading back.

I tossed them to him, still maintaining my distance.

He stared down at them for a minute before scooping up the water.

"I'd drink that slowly, or you're gonna be sick."

He nodded, drinking in measured gulps.

"Why are you helping me?" He asked, his voice a bit stronger now, though still husky.

I shrugged. I wasn't a humanitarian, but it also didn't sit right to just leave someone to die if I could help. I guess there was a bit of Old World sentiment left in me.

"Koy," I said, backing up and heading back to my car. I got halfway there before she started growling again. I spun around, gun coming back up.

The man froze from where he stood by the front of the car, hands raised in the air.

"Help," He said, "Please."

I stared at him, "No."

"Please," He said again, stepping forward.

"Why should I?" I snapped, "You're just as big a threat to me as anything else."

He shook his head, "I'm not. Please, I just wanna get away from here... I can help you! Two is better than one, right?"

"We do just fine," I snapped.

"I can pull my weight. I know how to hunt, and fix cars. We can carry more supplies if we're together."

He was bordering on desperation.

I frowned at him.

"Koy," I called again, but she stayed still, watching him.

"Please,"

I stared at him for a long time, trying to take his measure. He let me, just standing there with his hands raised, watching me watch him. I cursed, gesturing him forward with the gun. He approached slowly, stopping to let Koya sniff him. She huffed, wagging her tail before trotting back to me.

Even though she was typically a good judge of character, I kept the gun in my hand as he walked up. He was stumbling a little bit, and I gestured to the water bottle still in his hand.

"You'll feel better if you finish it."

"I'm Raiden," He said, taking another swig of water.

I nodded, not offering my name.

We walked back to my car, and I loaded Koya into the back, snagging another water bottle and handing it to him, before gesturing for him to get in the passenger seat.

Once we got in and I locked the doors, I frowned down at my gun, not exactly wanting to put it away.

"I know it's gonna take a while for you to trust me," He said, "But I'm really not going to do anything. I'm just glad you're willing to let me come along."

I shrugged, deciding to put the safety back on and holster the gun before starting the car again, "Whatever you do, I'll repay in kind."

He swallowed, staring fixedly out the windshield as I started forward again.

[abelia-z]

I stayed away from settlements.

I had made the mistake back when everything had gone to shit, thinking maybe the military would provide protection from everything else out of the Safe Zone.

It had only taken a couple weeks for me to realize the safest place was by myself.

Whether it was military or self-made settlements, I was smart enough to avoid them at all costs.

I sighed, looking across the valley at the group that had settled in a Walmart at the edge of town. It would be a pain to go all the way around the town to avoid them.

And you had to go that far, 'cause if they caught sight of you they'd hunt you down until they're able to bring you back to do whatever it is they needed doing, even if you didn't want to go with them.

There was no just 'letting you go'.

I glanced down at Koya, a mutt I had impulsively picked up at the beginning, waiting patiently next to me.

"What do you think?" I asked her. Her tongue lolled out as she panted next to me.

"Yeah, they probably wouldn't even let you in the settlement," I told her.

"We're gonna have to go around. Maybe we'll find some food in some of the houses at the edge. We gotta watch out for the Sick though."

I glanced at the sun just breaching the top of the trees, lighting the sky a dusky baby blue and hazy seashell pink. It would take a couple hours to walk down. If by any luck we could find an abandoned house directly opposite the settlement to spend the night and be gone before they even woke in the morning. I just had to avoid them until I got to the other side of the town.

It took about two hours to reach the edge of town, and the closer we got, the more apprehensive I became. I hated settlements for another reason. The Sick. Zombies really, but I picked up the habit of calling them that from my time in the military camp.

Whenever there was a settlement, especially in a town, it was a toss-up if they had either attracted more Sick to where they were or if they had cleared out the surrounding area to make it safer to go out on scavenging raids.

I adjusted the straps of my bags crisscrossing across my chest as I stepped onto the open road. They were just heavy enough that it would hinder me if I had to run, but I didn't want to risk coming back through town to grab them if I were to stash them somewhere.

Koya's nails clicked on the pavement as we headed down the street. It was best to stick to the middle of the street. You never knew who was waiting in the shadows of houses waiting to run out and snatch you.

I kept my head on a swivel, going slow to preserve energy. My hand swayed next to the holster that held my knife. There was no way I'd risk a gunshot here. The Sick was drawn to sound, but so were people.

It was a little difficult to tell if I was heading towards the Walmart or not now that I was in the town and didn't have a vantage point to look from. I just kept going straight and taking streets that went left, hoping it would take me far away from it.

By the time the sky was in the middle of the sky, I was so on edge that my teeth ached. There had been a few times Koya had frozen, staring hard toward a shadowed doorway, or down an opposite street.

I worked to keep my steps light and measured. It was hard when every survival instinct I had was telling me to sprint as fast as I could away from this town, like a rabbit hearing the snap of a branch.

By the time we reached the edge, I was exhausted, almost tottering on my feet. The only thing keeping me going was the adrenaline pumping through me.

We entered a neighborhood that was more spread out. It had abandoned cars still littering the driveways and wrecked in the streets.

I paused, straining my ears even though I knew it was pointless. The Sick were quiet unless roused. But Koya didn't pay any mind, trotting happily from yard to yard, peeing here and there.

Seeing her relaxed helped ease some of my tension. I eyed a smaller house that still had a car in the driveway. If the keys were still in the house, Koya and I could take a break from walking and wouldn't have to risk sleeping out in the open for a few days.

I peered into the window at the front of the house. It was clean, with no signs of any struggle, as if untouched by the tragedy that had happened a few years ago. I rapped on the window, listening to see if anything moved in the house.

Silence.

I let out a breath I was holding. I walked up to the front door and tried it. Locked. Shrugging, I walked around to see if I could find a backdoor. Koya followed, snuffling along the ground.

The sliding door at the back was also locked, but the bedroom window next to it wasn't. I peered in, the lazy sunlight pouring in making it look warm and inviting. There wasn't any sign of someone in the room. Carefully I slid the window open, hoping up and carefully crawling through. I landed softly, teetering from the weight of my bags. I pulled my gun out, peeking under the bed, and then into the closet to make sure there wasn't anyone stuck in here.

I left the window open, just in case I needed to make a quick exit.

Slowly, I opened the door, peering out into the house. Luckily there didn't seem to be much of a hallway, with two shut doors. The rest of the house was an open concept and I could easily see that there weren't any Sick.

I quickly walked to the back door, letting Koya in.

I went over to the key rack by the front door as she sniffed around.

I stared at it in dumbfounded silence. There was a keyfob hanging right there. I snatched it, shoving it into the pocket of one of my bags. I noted the dog bowls in the kitchen and went snooping through the cupboards looking for the dog food.

"Ha," I breathed, smiling ear to ear at the bag of dog kibble. I filled one of the bowls and dumped some water from the bottles sitting on the floor still in the case in the other and watched Koya go to town.

I knew better than to open the fridge or freezer, instead continuing to scavenge through the rest of the cupboards. I found a stale box of Cheez-Its and not much else.

I took my snack and a couple bottles of water back to the room I came in from.

I came back out for the kibble, double-checking that I had locked the back door before taking Koya back into the room with me.

I locked the door to the room, shutting and locking the window finally before laying in the bed.

I sighed, feeling my back crackle as I sunk into the mattress. It had been almost six months since I had last slept in anything resembling a bed.

I munched on my dinner, watching the sunlight slowly fade into dusk on the ceiling before eventually being enveloped in darkness.

Koya snuggled up to me, sighing as she got comfortable for the night.

I was too comfortable to be weary and soon found myself drifting off. I turned my face to the window and let myself go.

[abelia-z]

It was a tight fit in the car with him and Koya, not to mention all our stuff.

I sighed, stretching my neck as I drove, softly humming along with the radio. We had hardly said anything to each other when we woke up this morning, but he had volunteered to read the map for me so I didn't have to keep stopping to check where we were supposed to turn.

We had made it to Wyoming a couple hours ago, and I was planning on finding some gas in Glendo.

"So, what did you do before all of this?" He asked, apparently deciding the scenery outside wasn't enough to hold his attention.

I shuffled my shoulders, "Not much, was trying to get into an overseas language program."

"What kind of program?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift to fully face me.

"Um... A Korean language program. You take the program in Korea at one of their universities with a student visa,"

"Oh, Korean? What got you into that?" He grinned toothily at me, "Kpop, right?"

I rolled my eyes, "Sure, I like the music. I also like the food and shows."

"That's a given. Were you hoping to find your own kdrama love story over there?" He laughed.

"Nah, I just really thought the language was pretty. I had been trying to learn it on my own for a couple of years but never got very far. So I figured going to the actual country might help. Immersive learning."

"Huh," Was all he said.

Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel I asked, "What did you do?"

"I was an influencer," He said simply.

"Oh? What kind of content did you make?" I didn't know why I felt embarrassed, maybe because he was somebody before social currency stopped meaning anything.

"Oh, uh... Thirst traps, I guess," He mumbled, "I'd just post stuff and people liked my face or my body and I gained a following."

I blinked at the road before awkwardly saying, "Like... modeling, right?"

He brightened, "Yeah, I got a couple modeling gigs out of it."

"So you must of had a big following then,"

"Yeah, a couple million."

I nodded, "Makes sense, you have a nice face."

He laughed, "You think so?"

"Totally," I slowed down to weave around a couple cars abandoned in the middle of the highway, "You even pull off the face tattoos."

He snorted, "Thanks,"

I blushed, trying to figure out if that was a weird thing to have said, "Um, so."

"So?"

"I thought most influencers moved to LA or something. What were you doing in Colorado?"

"I mean, not everyone moves to LA."

I bit the inside of my cheek. Admittedly, I didn't know anything about influencers . Embarrassed again, all I said was, "Oh."

"But yeah, I had moved there." He ran a hand through his hair, looking a little pained, "I was only in Denver for this clothing brand event. Then, all the planes got grounded. By the time I said fuck it and tried to get a rental car to just drive home, there weren't any available. I was stuck and everything just kept getting worse."

I pressed my lips together, "I'm sorry, that must have been scary."

His head popped up and he blinked at me before finally saying, "Yeah, it really was."

We rode in silence a bit more before I found a gas station I decided to try. I tried the pump just to say I did, before I walked into the gas station.

Raiden followed close behind.