Alone

Daring adventures of a boy named Rex who traverses his post apocalyptic world searching for his past.

Alone. A word I have come to terms with. Many a night I have spent in my corner of the world. A word I have mastered but have yet to fully understand. How can one who has always been alone know the true meaning of the word when he has no recollection of the contrary? Everyday here is the same. Lock the doors, eat when needed, drink when needed, rid myself of waste when needed. And all time in between is spent thinking of that word. Alone. Thinking and writing on the wall. The room has a small stash of coal which I use to draw on the walls. My latest work is of a stick boy, alone. Sometimes at night when I lock the door I can hear them trying to get in. It is unnerving. They are there but I am still alone. My thoughts feel scattered, uneven, random. I do not remember why I am here or how long I have been here. I do not know what claws at my door at night, I feel I used to know but that knowledge seems to have been stolen and locked away from me. As I lay my head down this night I recall the word once more, alone, as the clawing at my door lulls me to sleep.

I awake to this day with an air of normality about myself. I get up to go get a can of food from the box for I am famished, but I find none. The clawing at my door has stopped. I open it a crack very slowly for I do not remember the last time I have opened the old rusting door. As I looked through the small opening I see the door leads to a long hallway full of discarded wheelchairs and flashing LED lights. I open it further to check for dangers, but finding none I gingerly step out and walk slowly down the dimly lit hallway. I wince as my bare foot slices on a shard of glass. The blood comes quickly and unforgiving like an angry stream. I look around frantically and find a dirty bandage roll next to an overturned gurney. I wrap it tightly and bite my lip from the pain. I continue down and enter a restroom to my right. I open the door slowly and peek through, seeing nothing I slip into the pitch dark room and close the door behind me. I fumble for the light switch and as the light goes on I stumble backwards and fall as I realize there is a body lying in the center of the room. It is the body of a young girl, she wears a green hoodie with torn jeans, she has brown hair and pale skin, she couldn’t be more than ten. I crawl over to the body and kneel over her. I check her pockets and find a picture of her and an older boy smiling, he has brown hair as well with a large crooked smile. He is much taller than her and holds her protectively. I take the picture and close the girls still open green eyes. I stand slowly and walk over to a mirror. All the time I have spent in that room has caused me to forget what I looked like. I touch the mirror as I see myself. Long unkempt brown hair, I am pale with a small stubble. I have deep green eyes, and that's when it hits me. Slowly at first, foggy images fill my brain. Me and that girl, Playing, fighting, a time when I was not alone, but in the images I wore a green hood as well, now as I look at myself I am in a blue medical gown. For a moment I am elated, than grieved by the obvious death of someone close to me, than crushed by the fact that I cannot remember why she was close to me. I look at her frail figure lying there once more and see she has a necklace on. It is a rope chain with a rusted teardrop hanging off of it. I take the necklace and put it on, I also see she has a small bag next to her. I open the bag to find a letter and a pocketknife, I wield the knife in one hand and keep the letter in the bag as I put it on. My time in this hole has expired, I must leave. I put the picture of me and the girl in the bag and look for any other clues about the girl. All I find is a note in her pocket that is addressed to Emma, the rest of the note is smeared in blood. I now see she has five vertical slices down her torso under her hoodie, suggesting it was put on after her death. I give this little thought as I move to the door and say a silent prayer and goodbye for the once loved Emma, I then open the door and move on to leave this prison I have inhabited for so very long, and begin my journey to search for my forgotten past.

The light burned. It had been so long since I had felt the suns warmth. It's golden rays highlighting my pale skin, showing my blue veins more clearly. I clutched the knife tightly in my hand as my vision started to steady. I was in a small... Small.... Square? I think that's what it was called. It had several pathways of concrete that where losing the battle against the greenery around them. Several trees loomed overhead, the grass was overgrown, showing many years of neglect. I took a step forward and look back. The building I had come from was a very large one in fact. The number fifteen was glowing at the top in large neon letters. The strange thing was that the building had no windows. But I could have sworn... No matter. I wanted nothing to do with this building any longer. I turned away and followed one of the paths, not caring where it took me. What did it matter? I was free. Free from confinement, free from the... things. I quickly forgot about the girl and continued onward. It was a bright sunny day and it was mine for the taking. As I walked I noticed the trees started thinning and the path became less overgrown. In the distance I began to see... sky scratchers? Is that what they where called... No no no... Scrapers! Sky Scrapers, that was it. They loomed in the distance beckoning. I quickened my pace, eager to explore this new world of mine. As I reached the end of the path I was confronted with a large wire fence and gate with a sign saying "Quarantine". I think that was a flower... I can't remember... I stopped caring and looked around for a way past. My efforts were rewarded with a retractable spade leaning against the fence further down. I ran to it picking it up and started to dig my way under the fence. Physical labor was new to me as well. I quickly tired barely even digging half a foot down. I sat down leaning against the fence exhausted. How would I ever make it across at this rate? I threw the spade over the fence in frustration. I heard an "Oof" from the other side and I perked up. "Who threw that?" I heard a voice ask. I sat there in shock unable to find my voice. "Well? Don't waste my time now I know you're there. Talons can't throw, and definitely don't use shovels." I manage a meek "I did" as a reply surprised at my own voice. "Well Mr. I, Why did you so rudely disturb my sleep?" the voice said. "I uh... well you see..." I said stammering, fumbling at my words that I have forgotten to speak. "No matter." It said. "Anyway, what the hell are you doing on that side of the fence? Are you crazy!? That place is a talon nest!" The voice said loudly. We then heard a loud screech from further down the path behind me. "S**t... That was too loud." The voice said quietly. "Well come on, I'll throw the spade back over so you can get out of there and avoid being torn to pieces." "I can't...." I said finding my words, anxious now with the now present danger. "Well why ever not?" The voice inquired. "I just can't..." I replied, feeling the sweat freeze down my spine. How would I ever get out now? I heard a sigh from the other side and a "Shnk" as the shovel was plunged into the earth from the other side. "Well I can't just leave you now can I?" The voice said as it dug hurriedly. I flinched as I heard another screech in the distance, this one closer now. The shovel continued to remove the earth under the fence in a mesmerizing beat, the beat of my survival, the beat that held the balance of life and death in its rhythm. I sat down once more staring into the forest behind me. I could hear a new beat now. One that sounded like footfall. And it was coming fast. I heard another bloodcurdling screech, this one I could feel. I saw the bushes up on the path start to rustle. "F**k! It's almost on us, just a few more..." I heard the voice exclaim as the spade beats quickened. I gasped as the thing that had been approaching burst from the brush, It looked like a nude man, but had no genitalia what so ever, and instead of finger had long razor sharp green tinted claws that scraped the earth as it ran towards me blood lust in its eyes. It leaped at me claws extended as I sat there stunned. "Done!" The voice yelled as a hand reached from under me pulling me forcefully under the fence to the other side as I gasp in surprise from a burning pain in my thigh. I fell backwards knocking over whoever had pulled me back as we both fell with an "Oof". "Well that was fun wasn't it!" I heard the voice say behind me as I turn to get a look at my savior. It was a girl, that much I knew for sure. My age by the looks of it. She had red hair that burned in the sunlight, and almost golden hazel eyes. She had sort of tan with a bit of milky white skin, no where near my white, which was kissed lightly with a few freckles on her cheeks. "What you staring at whitey?" She asked smiling. "I..." Began but was cut off by an angry screech and loud scraping noise from the hole that had been dug. I looked back and saw the green claws scratching under the fencing feeling for it's escaped quarry. It was then I noticed one of the claws was covered in a shining red liquid, I then looked at my leg and saw a large gash in my thigh. It's funny, the sensation of losing consciousness. It's so peaceful yet you are aware of the dangers, but in the moment you no longer care. As I fell back blacking out I heard the girls voice in the back of my head fading. "Ah hell. Now I gotta save you again, you owe me twice whitey" "I'm.... not... Whitey..." I managed, my vision fading. "Well that's what I'll call you until I deem it fit otherwise." I was almost gone now, Barely hanging on. The last words I heard before giving into the darkness where "Well my name is Melody, and welcome to the zone." and then black.

  In the darkness I lay. My head seeming to pound to the beat of my heart. The "Bum Bum" of life blood pumping through my veins the only thing left I could clearly perceive. It is in this darkness once again the word crept up on me. Taking my soul back into it's icy clutches. I screamed a silent scream. Wanting nothing to do with it again. I was free! I had escaped! Why was the world so cruel as to let me go than bring me back to the loneliness that had controlled my being for so long. I wept in silence knowing this was my fate. For my subconscious to just float here in the darkness. Waiting to die. Alone. I then felt a jolt. My eyes slowly fluttered open and shut quickly, my senses being overwhelmed all at once. The sun was still out, that I knew. I could feel it's inviting rays warming my skin. The numbness in my body slowly faded as I regain control. I quickly wish I hadn't. I let out a yelp as the pain in my leg reached me. It was the worst thing I had ever felt aside from being alone. Nothing is worse than being alone. Never again I quietly swore. "Looks who's awake!" I heard Melodys voice say. I tried to open my eyes, slower this time, and was met with the sight of an overgrown cobble rode rolling by. I looked around to gathher myself and take in my surroundings. I was riding in the back of a wagon. I had been covered in blankets and was surrounded by wooden crates. I looked under the blanket at my leg. The gash had been bandaged, and all the veins running down my leg were a sickly green. I felt the bile rise up in my throat. "You almost bit it back there whitey, you owe me. What were you doing on the other side of that fence anyway? I thought everyone had abandon barely knew anything myself. "Just... Sight seeing." I said once my voice had decided to follow my commands. "Strange place to sight see, being by a talon nest and all. Nasty things aren't they? They have a nasty poison too, you're lucky to be alive whitey." "Stop calling me whitey. That's not my name." I said irritated. "Well then who are you whitey?" She said. I looked back at her seeing she was sitting at the front of the cart steering an ox at a steady pace down the path. What should I tell her? This was a chance to reinvent myself. I could be somebody new, somebody not alone. "I'm... uhhh..." I stammered. Damn! Why couldn't I think of a name! "Exactly whitey. Now lay back, You're still weak and we still have a ways to go. It would be best if you slept the rest of the..." "No!" I interrupted. She looked at me confused. "I just... Can't sleep is all. I'm having some memory problems too. It would help if you could fill me in a bit." "Okay... what would you like to know?" She asked turning back to the road. I adjusted myself in the cart to a sitting position. Where do I even start? "Okay, lets start with where am I?" I asked squeezing my eyes shut from the pain of adjusting my leg. Why did it have to hurt so much? "Really? You don't know? You're in the Zone of course. Well the outsiders call it The Quarantine Zone, but I've never met an outsider and I've lived here my entire life." She shrugged slightly "I guess they don't much care for us anymore." Outsiders? Quarantine Zone? This was too much. "Okay... How far until we get to... wherever it is we are going?" I asked looking up to the blue sky. "It will be awhile. Ox cart isn't exactly very fast whitey, If you hadn't noticed." She replied. "Well... Could you start from the beginning? Just uh.. tell me everything." I asked knowing I sounded thick. But I had to know. "Well I guess so... It wasn't always like this so I'm told. I'm a Zone born, Meaning I was born after the zone was created. But those born before the zone, like my grandmother, told stories of how it was before all of this. According to the stories the streets we ride now used to be the veins of a glorious civilization. A beautiful creation of mankind. Endless spires reaching towards the heavens, world peace, abundance of food. It was paradise." She said this with a sparkle of wonder in her eye. "But who wouldn't want paradise? You see it might have been great for most people, but not everyone. And those who didn't live in paradise were jealous of those who did. There was a war, a chemical war. So many died." Her features darkened at this. "The uprising was led by a man named Septimus. Stories tell of him being a beast of a man. Towering at a height of seven feet with eyes that looked as if they could tear you to shreds in a single glance and hands and muscles that could comply." I shivered at this, the description leaving an imprint of fear in my mind. "He raided a bio lab in the inner city and released a deadly virus and several mutated lab specimens. The surrounding cities put up fences to keep the diseased people in, Creating the Quarantine Zone. That was almost a hundred years ago. Since then the disease has all but dissipated and those lab specimens have bred and mutated further. Creating the Talons you see today along with several other species. We lost contact with the outside the moment those fences went up so I think it's safe to say we were left for dead." She sighed deeply whipping the hair from her eyes. "The disease didn't kill everyone. I'm proof enough of that. But it did topple the metropolis that this city once was. After the death clouds had faded out of the ashes rose four factions, all wanting to take the city for their own. There is the Council, they are the remaining members of the leading force for the pre Zone city. They have a well trained military and a fortress on the northeast end of the city. They want to take back control of the city and restore it back to it's former glory. Meaning laws. Also meaning stay away from them because they'll probably arrest you for trespassing, or squatting, or some other bullshit reason. Everyone knows they only arrest people now for the free labor." "But aren't they there to help the people?" I asked shifting under the weight of so much information. "Only if those people follow every word their elders say. Anyway, moving on. Next we have the Chaos. Funny group that lot. Think of the exact opposite of the council and then you have chaos. Their soul purpose is to destroy the foundation of society and keep the world in dissaray. They live in the old prison on the south west wing of the city. Basically just a band of bandits and psychopaths." She said this with disgust in here eyes as her nose scrunched up in distaste. "So I'm guessing stay away from them as well?" I said trying to break the tension. "Oh you are learning ever so fast!" She exclaimed seeming giddy as the prospect. I worry about her sanity, she seems to take this crazy world around her with an odd numbness and only perceives the good. "Next on the list we have the mutants, muts for short. The muts have levels, there are tier one muts, Your basic Mole, or Deaf. Mostly harmless but can cause serious havoc in large numbers. I once had sixteen moles burrow under my wagon at once causing the tunnels to collapse! Took ages to get it out. Anyway, after tier one we have tier two muts. These are a bit deadlier. These include the Talons and Ferals and such. Stone cold killers, built and bred for the hunt. You got a taste of what those are like earlier." She said gesturing towards my leg. "We better get you to a doctor soon or the toxin will at best take your leg, and at worst take your life. Anyway.... where was I... Oh yes! Tier three muts, now these baddies are the scary ones. These include muts such as Sirens and Harpies, if you see any tier threes just run. Just run and pray it's quick." Her face hardened then quickly melted back into a cool smile. How could she do that? "Anyway, this faction of muts are spread all through out the zone but are mostly in the reprogramming centers like the one you where trying to get out of." "Reprogramming cen..." I asked but was cut off when melody stopped the cart suddenly. "We are here." She said with a big grin on her face. I looked around and saw we had stopped in front of a flight of stairs that led under the earth. How odd. "What is a Ubay?" I asked looking at the faded green sign above the stairs. Melody got off the cart and moved to the entrance where a silver bell hung from the sign. She rang it with four sharp pings and a dirty looking boy came up hurriedly from the depths. He wore ragged clothe three sizes too big and I couldn't tell his skin color on account of the dirt and grime. "'Ack so 'ast 'elody?" The boy said in the strangest way I had ever heard, Like his tongue was doing flips behind his lips as he tried to speak. "I was gone two days Bug. And anyway I brought I friend, tell Marcus I'll be needing an extra room for awhile." Melody told the boy as she reached into one of the many folds of her brown leather wear. "Oi! ou don tell me wot ta do ya skiv!" The boy proclaimed loudly standing on his tippy toes almost reaching the height of melodies shoulder. Melody then threw a card at him and he quickly went down to his normal height pocketing the card as quickly as it had hit him. "Ure ting love, won't be ah tik o ta clock." He said as he hurried down the steps, now giddy with his new found treasure. "What was that about?" I asked trying to stand up off the cart. "Oh that? That's just bug, he's a bit of a brat but good company when players are to be had." she said only furthering my confusion. "Whoa calm down there" She said catching me as I fell trying to stand. "You're still not good to stand just yet whitey. Here let me." She said as she picked me up carrying me to the edge of the steps and setting me down. "But we still have to go down the steps?" I asked wondering why she put me down here. "That we do whitey, but first..." She said as she grabbed a wooden sled from the back of the wagon and placed me on it, her taking a seat behind me securing me in her grasp. "We get to travel in style, hold on tight whitey. This may frighten you." She said with a evil grin "I think I can walk down just give me a few...." "Nope too late. Down we go!" She yelled as she shoved us off the edge and down the seemingly endless flight of stairs. We shot down the stairs like a bullet, Melodys hair whipping in the wind behind us, looking as if we had bright fire chasing us all the way down. I did not scream, I couldn't. The force from the air whizzing past killed any noise I tried to make. And we descended I saw the outline of a large, torch lit, wooden gate covering the entire passage where the stairs ended. It was quickly approaching, and from our speed, melody did not seem to intend on slowing down. "Hold on tight whitey, this might hurt." She yelled above the wind. I saw her reach into one of her many folds and pull out a metal hook. She wrapped an arm tightly around me, pulling me against her, and thrust the other arm high in the sky extending the hook. The gate was dangerously close now, close enough for me to start to worry. This girl was crazy! Just as it seemed there was no hope, right when I could smell the burning tar from the torches, Melody stood up with me in her arms and we where lifted off of the sled as it smashed right into the gate shattering into tiny pieces and cause a loud "Bang!". I looked up and saw the metal hook and caught on a hanging rope loop. Pulling us off the sled and saving our lives. As we dangled there I could here the boom still reverberating throughout the cavern. "Knock Knock!" Melody exclaimed letting go of the hook and falling with me in her arms from a three foot drop. An "Oof!" escaped my lips as we hit the ground. "Yea that's the part that hurts" She said smiling that insane smile. It was at this moment the gates slowly started to open with a loud creak. Melody grabbed my arm and supported me with her shoulder walking me to the gates. "Remember when you asked me what Ubay was?" She asked, I nodded slowly. "Well Ubay is home to the fourth faction, the Traders. And is, lucky for you, my home."

As we walked through the thresh hold of the gates the first thing that I noticed was the smell. My nose was assaulted by an assortment of aromas. Being in that room so long I had not experienced much variety in my food. All I had to eat was bread and water that was fed to me through a small food hatch in the door. So the smells hitting my nose felt like a physical blow. Smells of food cooking I had never imagined. I stopped taken aback and looked around. We where walking through a bustling city build into a train tunnel, the tracks went on for miles and the area around them went on for miles more. All around us where wooden merchant stalls selling assortments of food. Fruit I had never heard of, meats I had never dreamed of, and spices I could have never imagined. My vision was clouded by puffs of steam and smoke, water, at least I think it was water, was dripping from the ceiling all around. The dirt path ways where crowded with people, all bumping into each other fighting for walking space, and the noise. The noise was like nothing I had ever heard, so many conversations happening at once!

"Fresh mole here! Fresh mole!" "The finest bio meds in the zone right here! You f**k up and Ill patch ya up!" "Try your luck and win a night with this beautiful lass! All you have to do is get three in a row!"

I just stood there stunned in the dim amber glow of the many light orbs floating from the ceiling of the tunnel.

"You okay whitey? You look like you've seen a ghost." Melody said looking at me smiling.

"A ghost would be less loud" I said struggling to keep standing.

"Here, come with me." She said grabbing my arm and leading me through the sea of people.

"Not so fast!" I complained. "My leg is still hurt." She took a look at my bandaged leg and bit her lip.

"I was going to take you on a tour but I guess that can wait. I better get you straight to the Salty Claire." She supported me by my shoulder and slowly led me straight down the dirt path straight towards a three story wooden building with a hanging sign above the door stating "The Salty Claire.". The door way was hardly ever closed during the entirety of my gaze. People shifting in and out of the building endlessly, the people going in looking either sad or shady, the people coming out, if you could call it all, all seemed to have forgotten how to walk, I started to worry for them. What happened to them? Would they be okay? As we approached the door I spoke to an elderly looking man with thinning gray hair, and a large grey beard as he stumbled past.

"Are you okay sir?" I asked touching his shoulder softly. Genuine concern in my voice. He looked at me and said.

"Get your thieving paws off me you gutter rat, I ought to cut those sticky fingers off you little..." He was cut off on account of Melodys foot saying hello to the side of his head.

"Why did you do that!" I yelled at her as he fell to the ground unconscious.

"Well if you had been paying attention whitey, he was about to stab you." She replied pointing at his crumpled body in the dirt, a pool of blood already collecting near his head. I took a closer look and noticed he had his hand in his coat. I reached down and pulled it out, falling back as I saw his hand clutched a large knife. I fell to the ground breathing hard.

"Wha... Why would he stab me... All I did was ask him a question." I said startled. Was everyone here insane?

"That's exactly what you did wrong whitey, just stay behind me and don't talk okay?" she asked. I nodded my head speechless as she took my hand and led me through the doorway.

Now I had never been in a pub ,as I was later told it was called, before. So I did not know what to expect, but what I saw I definitely did not expect in the slightest. As we walked in I noticed the steam outside was nothing compared to he smoke inside the Salty Claire. The air stank of smoke, all different kinds. Some smelt like a warm summers breeze, while still other clouds smelt of rotting meat. It was a strange occurrence indeed. The place was dim, the lighting orbs set to low as if to calm the mood of the room. The walls were stone and the floor was solid wood. Round tables where scattered everywhere, men and women of all kinds eating and drinking, the murmur was loud but not as deafening as the ramble outside. In the corner of the spacious room was a small stage where a pianist sat playing away at a jovial tune, a man on a fiddle next to him following the beat. Melody led me through the forest of tables to a large rectangular table where two men sat on either side. I took a closer look at the table and noticed that the table had white markings on it around the markings all over the table where small metal soldiers, a war table perhaps?

"Group one land to position alpha" One man spoke and to my surprise the group of soldier in the white square nearest to him started to get up and move to a white circle a foot away from him. "Take defensive position. End turn." The man said. The man wore a black trench coat and a black hat, the hat tipped down hiding his features.

"Defensive position!, You idiot! I'll surely take you down in three more turns if you keep playing like this!" The man on the other end exclaimed. This man made no effort to hide his features. He was a pudgy short bald man with a long black beard. "Group 3 air to alpha." The man said as some of his soldiers, which I now noticed had wings sprouted up in the air and started to hover over to the same circle the other mans soldiers had stopped at. "Attack!" The man yelled giddily. "You really have lost it haven't you?" The man said grinning.

"Group one fall back." was all the other man said as his soldier got up and moved back to the circle behind them. Now looking at the board I saw that down the length where three rows of circles, and in the very center was one circle with a large A in the middle. Next to the players where four squares, two with regular soldiers, and two with flying soldiers. And next to that seemed to be velvet bags. For what those where for I could not figure out.

"What are we doing here?" I asked Melody but her only reply was to hush me and sit me down in a chair next to her to watch.

"You fool!" The bald man yelled once more. "Group three move up one space to attack." He said as his flying soldiers took flight and hovered over the other mans soldiers once more. "Attack!" The man said once more.

"Group one fall back" The other man said sitting back in his chair.

"Melody really I don't think..." I started but was cut off with a punch to the arm. Fine, she wanted me to watch I'll watch.

"All groups move up to attack" The bald man spit as all his soldiers on the board moved up and stood in front of the other mans small force. "Stop running coward, you're making taking your money too easy." The bald man laughed at this. "All groups attack" He said once more.

"Group three, Group four air move up two spaces." The other man said as his soldiers flew into position, effectively surrounding the bald mans troops. "Group two land move up one, supporting position." The man said as his other land units came together to make a formidable force. "All groups encircle and attack." The man said as his troops moved in to the bald mans and tore them apart.

"Defensive positions! Defensive positions! You stupid trinkets take defensive positions!" The bald man yelled but it was too late, his small army was torn to shreds. The bald man stood up angrily banging on the table. "You dirty cheat! I want a rematch!" He yelled spittle flying from his mouth.

"I think not Shamus." The other man said as he stood up and reached over to grab the other mans velvet bag. "I won fairly and you know it." The bald man pulled out a knife and sunk it into the table right next to the other mans hand.

"I f*****g dare you, you dirty lying cheat." The bald man spat. The other man just stiffened standing straight up.

"Pay up now or I'll take much more than your money Shamus." The other man said, a sinister tone entering his voice.

"F*****g try me." The bald man dared swishing his knife through the air. What happened next was a blur. The man in the trench coat swiftly moved to the bald man in the blink of an eye taking the knife from him and slammed the bald mans hand into the table holding the knife over his finger.

"Shamus I warned you. Now say you are sorry and leave before I add some digits to my prize." The man said slowly cutting the other mans knuckles to add to his words.

"O...Okay, Okay. Just let me go. You won..." Shamus said meekly as the man let him go.

"Now leave and don't come back until you learn how to lose properly." The man said. Shamus then walked out of the door head hung low in defeat. After Shamus had left the man quickly pocketed the bag on the table and put his troops into a rectangular wooden box. Melody then stood up and approached the man with me in tow.

"I never did like Shamus much, sore loser." Melody said as we approached the man. "He just can't accept defeat that one."

"Hello Melody. Bug told me you where coming. Brought home a friend did you?" He asked turning his head to me.

"Yea... about that..." She started but was cut off when the man held up his hand to silence her.

"I told you Melody. You can't keep bringing random zone goers here. It's not safe." He said adjusting his hat. It was at this time I could see his face properly. He had brown unruly hair and an equally unruly and brown beard. His face was broadish and his eyes where a deep brown.

"I know Marcus but look at him. Does he look like just another roamer to you?" Melody said waving her hands in my direction. I started to shift my footing, uncomfortably with all of this attention.

"No I guess not..." He said stepping closer to look at me. "What's your name kid?" He asked as I stepped back uncomfortable with the invasion.

"I uhh... It's..." I stuttered cursing my memory.

"He doesn't know it Marcus." Melody said moving to my side, I instantly felt better. I stood up straight feeling the support of Melody on my side. "But that doesn't matter right now. He took a talon claw to the thigh and needs a proper doctor and a bed." She said straightening herself to her full height. "And I will not take no for an answer Marcus. You owe me and you know it." Marcus scratched the back of his neck and sighed. Alright, I have a room upstairs he can use, I can get Rose in tomorrow morning to look at him. Will that do?" Melody replied by running up and hugging him tightly.

"It will do perfectly! Thank you Marcus." Marcus just pulled down his hat again and replied with a "No problem." He then turned to me looking me up and down once more. "But he can't keep wearing that gown, he looks like a pre zone mental patient. We can take him to a tailor in the morning after the doctor. Now go upstairs and sleep, you two must be exhausted. I just stood there utterly confused at what was happening. It seemed the world moved at breakneck speed and I just stood there, not as a participant, but as a spectator. Melody then took me by my arm and led me to the stair case on the other side of the room. She led me up the stairs into a hallway with many doors on either side, she led me to one and pulled it open revealing a small quaint room with a bed beside a window, I could see the lights outside start to dim, as if to signal everyone for sleep. I walked over to the bed climbing in exhausted. I had never felt bedding so soft before, than again I had never really felt bedding before. I started to close my eyes and relax when I felt the blanket move next to me.

"Uh... What are you doing?" I asked trying to keep my reddening face turned away as Melody got into the bed next to me.

"Uh, going to sleep whitey. What does it look like I'm doing?" She said curling the blanket around her. "Did you think I was going to sleep on the floor?"

"I thought you where going to sleep in a different room..." I said, my voice almost cracking, why was I so nervous? I didn't understand why I felt this way about her being so close to me.

"Marcus said he had a room available, a. Singular, not plural. Now shut up and sleep." She said smacking the back of my head as I pulled more blanket over me and shut my eyes tight. I quickly found myself asleep. Real sleep. Sleep I have never felt before, and it was good.

I opened my eyes slowly, pushing myself to a sitting position. I stretched my arms and yawned. I regretted it instantly. A sharp throbbing pain shot up from my leg. I lifted up the blanket to look at my leg. Angry neon green lines shot up my leg, they throbbed with fervor. I gasped taken aback. Was I going to die? I felt my heart fall into my gut. I started to panic and looked frantically around the room. Melody was nowhere to be seen. The door was shut and the lights were still off. How did they turn on I wondered. I slowly tried to stand. I yelped as the pain intensified as the foot of my infected leg touched the cold hard wood floor. I sat back down on the bed, beads of sweat forming on my brow. It was at this time that I heard a knock on the door. It slowly opened as Marcus peered in.

"You'll need this, can't have you walking around in a hospital gown now can we?" He said as he threw a black rucksack at my feet. "And make it quick, Rose doesn't like to wait. Oh, and no sudden movements around her, if you want to be healed instead of injured." He warned smiling as he tipped his hat and closed the door. I unzipped the bag and pull out some brown leather trousers, a green cotton shirt, tan leather boots, and a maroon hoody. I changed into these clothes and saw that my backpack had been placed at the foot of the bed. With a wince I gingerly stood up and limped my way over to it. I opened it taking out the knife and putting it in my boot for safe keeping. I then took out the photo of me and that girl. I stared at it for a moment, fingering the necklace around my neck. So many questions... I folded the photo and slipped that into my boot as well. I put on the backpack and walked to the door, I opened it slowly and walked into the hall. I was met by Marcus leaning against the wall by the door. "You ready?" He asked starting towards the stairs.

"I guess so." I answered as I followed him down the stairs and out of the pub. The street was empty. By the dimness of the light orbs I could tell it was still It was very early in the morning. The neon glow of business signs glowed around us as we walked down the streets, my hood up, my feet splashing in puddles of water caused by leaking from the caverns ceiling. "Where are we going?" I asked as we took a turn down a damp, dank ally way. Marcus walked up to a metal door in the side of one of the building and knocked three times.

"We're here." If he said this to me or the door I'm not sure. "Open up Rose, I've got a customer." He said pressing a button next to the door. I heard a faint buzzing sound, then a slight crackling sound as a voice on an intercom above us spoke.

"Bring him up to the camera Marcus, I wanna see him first." A female voice said on the intercom. Marcus gestured to a black orb protruding from the brick wall next to the door. I walked up to it curiously cursing the pain in my leg. The orb rotated slowly and a blue glow emitted from it illuminating my face in the dark ally. "Oooo he is a cutie this one is. Open your mouth from me cutie." The voice said excitedly. I looked to Marcus desperately but he just shrugged and point to my mouth. I turned back to the orb and opened my mouth slowly. The light intensified and a thing metal rod came and and pricked my finger, then a red beam shot out cauterizing the wound as a flinched turning away from the wall in shock. "Blood type... Inconclusive, Interesting. and look at this! Your DNA isn't even in a double helix! I've never seen anything like this before.... Oh my you're poisoned. How fun! Come on in cutie, you should be interesting." The voice concluded as the door propped open. Marcus opened it the rest of the way gesturing for me to walk inside. I walked inside slowly and was blinded by bright LED lights on the ceiling of an all white hallway. We walked down the hallway to another door, which we opened to find a spacious room filled with medical and science equipment. At a large control console I saw a pale women with short red hair. She turned toward us, her blue eyes shimmering in the artificial lighting, her cheeks spotted with freckles. "Ah! There you are!" She exclaim as she ran towards me. As she reached me the first thing she did was hug me tight. I was taken aback, but then flinched as a sharp pain came from my scalp. She pulled away with a few of my hairs in hand. "Lovely samples!" She exclaimed putting them into a plastic bag then into a pocket on her white lab coat. "So cutie, let's talk about the poison problem of yours." She said gesturing for me to sit down in a metal cushioned examining chair. I sat down gingerly careful of my leg. "So, I'm Rose! I'm one of the only doctors her in Ubay, good for you right?" She said smiling pulling a lever that violently jerked my chair back into a laying position. Marcus just chuckled leaning against a wall out of the way. "So where did you find this one Marcus?" She called to him. He tipped his hat and said.

"I didn't, Melody did. At any rate, what do you think the cost of this healing?" He asked

"Oh I don't know... Does he need his leg?" She asked prodding it with her finger. I slapped it away quickly as she pouted. "Guess so. Hmmm... Well I have a delivery from the wasteland I need taken care of. My last runner was... Well let's just say he didn't need his leg." She said smiling madly.

"The wasteland! Rose are you out of your..."

"I'll do it." I cut Marcus off. "Just fix me and I'll do it." Rose smiled at this putting on a pair of goggles.

"I like this one Marcus! Don't kill him alright? He could be more fun alive I think." She said pulling out a large syringe. "This will only hurt tremendously, but don't worry. I'm a doctor. Well sort of. I'm not old enough to be a full doctor yet but seventeen is close enough right?" She said giggling to herself as she pulled up my pant leg. "Now hold still, as I said. I would rather you not die." She then thrust the needle deep into my leg. I screamed. It was the worst pain I had ever felt, I could see a large hole in my leg as she pulled out the now empty syringe. But as quickly as it had appeared the pain vanished, along with the hole. The neon green lines in my leg began to fade and I felt strength return to my leg.

"What did you inject me with?" I asked flabbergasted.

"Nano bots, they go into your blood stream and sterilize anything foreign, along with ramping up cell production in afflicted areas. You should be fully repaired in about ten minutes, also the bots will stay dormant in your stomach until activated with a special type of protein. Now what do you like more? Chocolate or Caramel?" she asked reaching into a a brown bag at her feet.

"I uhh..." I stammered unsure."

"Well you get neither! Take some pure gluten tablets, take one of these when injured and those little busy bodies in your tum tum will spring into action and you may just live to come visit me again, which you will be doing cutie." She said with a wink as she handed me four clear pills. I put them in my boot and tied it tighter. "Now you should be good for now but perhaps a physical just to be sure..." She said reaching back into her bag as Marcus sprang into action.

"No that's okay Rose, we will be on our way. I'm sure he's fine." He said hurriedly helping me to my feet.

"Aw, okay than. You come back soon cutie. Remember I'm always playing doctor if you want to come by." She laughed smiling wildly. "I'll send the delivery coordinates to Marcus for you later, good luck my little runner boy." She said as she waved goodbye and me and Marcus left the building quickly.

"Hey you lived. That's good!" Marcus said patting my back as we walked out in the dimly lit ally. "Now I've just got to get you a mod and a way to travel and you'll be on your way to certain doom, isn't that fun." He said sarcastically."I'll explain the rest as the Salty Claire. Come on, Melody is probably waiting for us." We hurried our pace down the street, my mind racing. It was at this moment I noticed I had two shadows. What happened next was a blur. I felt a sharp pain and a crack as something hard and metal hit the back of my head. I looked to see Marcus standing there with a gun in his mouth looking at me defeated. My hands were roughly tied behind my back and a gag shoved into my mouth. I lashed out angrily at my attackers but to no avail. A bag was then placed over my head and I was picked up and carried, and then thrown into a cart. I heard the doors shut and the cart began to move. 

I then heard a shot, the sound rang in my ears for some time. I moved into a sitting position and struggled with all my might but the bonds would not give. I was a prisoner. Whose prisoner I
 can not say. But all I know is where ever I'm going it wouldn't be good.

I wake up as the wagon I am in hits a large hole in the road, jostling me awake and causing me to hit my head on the floor. I sit up slowly and painfully. My head throbbing and my eye's blurry. My memory fails me and I forget where I am. The burning pain in the back of my head intensifies as I feel the bump that has formed on the back of my head. I take a deep breathe and the memories begin to flood my mind. I then begin to panic as I realize where I now am. I had to escape, but we were moving and I had no idea where I would be. I had to wait it out and see what happens. I take out my gluten pills and see there are only two.

"Damn..." I curse to myself as I slide one back into my boot and take the other. The pain in my head instantly begins to fade. "Much better..." I mumble to myself. I may just survive yet. I move around the cart slowly, taking care not to bump into anything, attempting to make the least amount of noise as possible. Those men... Who were they? What do they want with me? I then noticed how very cold it was. Numbingly cold. I begin to shiver as my body begs for warmth. We were not in Ubay anymore I knew that for a fact. Suddenly I am deafened by a sudden popping in my ears. Popping... I remember what this meant... Only vaguely.. As I sit there struggling to recall the meaning of my ears popping I feel the cart stop. I can hear men's boot crackle on the ground as they walk towards the cart entrance. "Crackling..... They shouldn't be... Oh my god."

I say to myself terror rising from my gullet. It was at the moment that the curtain was pulled back that I remembered what the popping meant. Three men clad in fur covered garments and amber colored visors took hold of me and pulled me out into the frigid air. The popping was my ears adjusting to the altitude. I was high in the mountains somewhere. I didnt even know this place had mountains. I began to protest and pull against their grip. One of them quickly responded by stick a slender metal tube to my side, I fell to my knees from the pain. The device had shocked me! I slowly got back to my feet and protested no more. I was a prisoner and I had to deal with it. For now. The world was white around me, the radiant color hurting my eyes. Wishing I also had a visor I tread through the frost in my boots.

"Where are we going?" I ask the men. My only reply was a stern grunt and another jab to my side. "Okay, fine I get it. No talking." I say as I get back up from my knees once more. We then continued through the snow. I began to lose feeling in my hands. Where were we going? I wondered. The pressure of fear in my chest rising. As we traversed over the last hill of white I began to see the gleam of grey walls in the distance. As we got closer I noticed the barbed wire across the top of the wall, armed guards patrolling around the ramparts, seeming to guard a valuable resource. But what resource I have yet to know. We then approached the entrance of the wall, a small metal gate the size of a man, and opened it into a long dimly lit concrete hallway. They pushed me in and one of the men said briskly.

"Go down the path to the other side. Or sit there and freeze to death. I don't really care which you pick." He then closed the gate and I heard a deadbolt lock in place. Sealing my fate. I sat down against the wall, head in my hands. What was I going to do... Alone once more. Why must fate throw this my way. Why must the world forsake me so often. I check my person quickly and subtly as not to catch the eye of any cameras or eyes that may be watching and find I have a few items. My knife, still concealed in my boot. My last gluten pill, and the picture of Emma. I feel a slight twinge in my heart and I reach for the teardrop around my neck. I quickly shake this feeling off and prepare myself for whatever may lay ahead. I was so very cold. The bitter frost crept through my close, angrily assaulting my skin and embedding itself in my very bone. I shivered violently and slide the knife up my sleeve. I may need it soon. I then get on my feet slowly, the cold making any movement impossibly painful. I then begin to make my way down the seemingly endless hallway. I could see no exit in sight, but I did see the remains of those who could not bear to make it. Frozen bodies littered the path in front of me. My terror surged through me, it was too much. I almost fell to the ground. But then a strange calmness came over me. I began to walk forward. The erie grey walls around me feeling more and more like a grave than a prison. But I kept on. If I had any chance of surviving this it was at the end of this path. I kept my head up as I walked, not from confidence or hope, but because if I looked down and saw the bodies once more I believe I would lose my sudden bravery. The deeper I trecked into the unknown the more viscous the cold became. I then lost all feeling in my fingers and toes, my boots a miserable barrier from the torrent of chill. But I kept on. Because I knew deep inside if I were to stop would mean my certain death. I began to play games in my mind to keep my mind off the cold.

"One step... Two steps... Three steps.... Four...." I chanted in my head, arms crossed for warmth as I kept the pace with the rhythm in my mind. The more I did this the less the cold burned. But lord did it burn. It burned away at me like a raging fire of frost. My legs began to slow and the feeling up to my thigh began to waiver. After a few more steps I could control them no more, and I fell the the ground unable to get back up. This cold would certainly kill me, and I had no way to warm myself. I slowly crawled my way to the wall and leaned against it for support, exhausted from the effort. I laid my head back and shut my eyes. Just a little nap... Just a short little nap then I will get back up and carry on.... But I knew this was a lie. The cold was beginning to pierce my mind. Lulling it to sleep, promising me sweet dreams. And I wanted them oh so badly. Just a little nap..... I thought to myself. The darkness creeping all around me, swallowing my being as I drift into endless nothing.

"Hello? Are you dead?" I heard. Startled my eyes shot open and I scanned around, seeing no one. Wait... I knew that voice I thought to myself. "Yes you do! Good to know you remember me Cutie." I heard Rose's voice echo in my head. How? I thought wondering how this could even be possible. "Oh just those little nanobots I gave ya. I can control em from here and use them to hijack a ride on your brain waves. Letting me see what you think and respond in your head. So. Where the hell are you lover?" she asked. I don't know I thought. I was kidnapped and brought here. Can you help me? "Well, you don't seem to have control of you legs. Frostbitten I'm afraid. But I believe if I tweak the bots just right...." I heard as the feeling began to flood back into my legs, along with the pain. I let out a yelp as feeling came back. "There we are, and next to find out where you are. The walls are blocking out my signal so it's hard to pinpoint where you are, but at least I can talk you through your doom eh!?" She said with a chuckle. Yea, great I thought. "Oh hush, I'm just playing stud. I'll get ya outta here. But first you need to find a way out of this tunnel. Find the end and I can find where you are. Simple. Just don't die, and call me if you need me. Just think of a beautiful redhead with a smashing bod and I will appear." She said. Uh, anything else I can do? I thought turning a little red. "Oh okay, just think of my name and I will come. But don't call me for boring stuff, I want some action!"She exclaimed. I can see that I thought as I rolled my eyes. "Yea yea, go on and find a way out lover boy. You're no fun to me dead. Tata!" She said, the voice fading from my head. I got back to my feet with a stupid grin on my face. I may just survive yet. I set about my way once more. The further I came the less frost I saw on the walls. The air become warmer, and then drastically hot. what was this place, which was scorching inside but frozen outside? I came to a large circular metal door some time later. I was sweating by now and Had stripped off my cloak and tied it around my waist. The metal door stood ominously as billows of steam shot out from under it every so often. I stood there in front of this metallic obstruction dumbfounded at what to do. So I knocked. The door slowly began to roll to the right, folding itself into the wall as a large steam cloud accompanied its release. When the steam faded a figure stepped out to greet me. Sort of.

"Name." It said with a monotone voice without much emotion. I could hear a soft clicking behind the voice.

"I uh...."

"Speech pattern not recognized, Changing language parameters. Nombre?"

"No I don't speak..."

"English detected, inquiring original request once more before force is taken."

"My name is.... Rex. It's Rex." I say it again as if to prove it to myself.

"The name REX has been saved into the hive. Commencing scan." A bright blue light then shot out from the still receding mist. The beam roamed across me, from my head to my feet then back up again. "Gender, male. Origin, Unknown, Place of Birth unknown, date of birth unknown. Searching records for REX. Search concluded, no results found. Deactivating processing mode and distributing Happiness Collar." A thick grey disc quickly flew at me and clamped tightly to my neck. My hands grasped around the collar struggling frantically to tear it off. "Commencing branding."

"Wait wait what do you mean bra..." I was cut off by my screaming in agony as the collar suddenly became scorching hot around my neck.

"Branding complete. Commencing dispensing of motivation chip." I screamed again as I felt a needle come from the collar pierce deep in my neck. The needle deposited something then retreated back into the collar. "Happiness complete, retrieving collar. Have a nice day." It was at this time that the steam receded enough for me to the that the figure was a droid of some sort. It was made of a silvery materiel and had a humanoid figure. The collar unclasped and flew into the droids chest as a hole in it opened and closed to receive it. I felt my neck, feeling the burns and knowing instantly that a design was burned into my neck. Marking me. The droid left and I was left with a choice. Try to go back, or go headfirst into the pending hell in front of me. My choice was clear as I stepped through the threshold of the doorway. Into what would be my home until I find a way to escape. If I find a way to escape.

Author's Note

Not finished, just want feedback to see if it is worth finishing.