The Rouges

the next few strides. But no matter how badly it hurt, I pushed through it. There wasn't time to complain or feel sorry f

tly swallowed in blackness. While their dull humming lights weren't bright, they were still glowing. In all honesty, it almost put them at a disadvantage. As I stood in the dark, my well-adjusted eyes could s

violent, but n

ny lives, proving hard to contain and weapons of mass destruction weren't such a great idea now that we were quarantined to such a small land mass. Most other modern day weapons would debilitate your target, slow them down, or render them unconscious. But here in Tartarus we aimed to kill. Knives and guns have been killing successfully for thousands of years,

ladder made a decent bridge. The wood landed lightly on the other side and I began to move steadily across before they returned. The wood creaked and shifted slightly under my weight but

ghtly to the surface. I moved with ease to the second glowing skylight on t

give to taste that freshly baked bread... but unfortunately food like that was not worth the risk of getting caught. MREs and canned supplies were the safest choice. They were

ulated movements, I slid through the open pane and transitioned expertly to the exposed bea

s not to l

this choreographed dance of sorts for another three beams until I reached the old water supply pipe running from t

he looks of it two of them were nearly fornicating in the corner, while a third proceeded to stuff his face with some kind of meat. The bullring in his nose

ies. The woman's long black hair was shaved on the sides before cascading into a waist length ponytail. Be

ed to the back wall, I scanned the shelves for what I needed. I knew the herbs were

way forward in a crouch. People's eyes naturally searched at the avera

riven couple was on the move. I dropped to my belly behin

rom me!" The man growl

im a rude hand gestur

toppled backwards grabbing at his hand. Catching her by the throat, he smashed his face to hers claiming her lips as she struggled. Then, with

r, but to my disgust he grinned a

each other, I crawled forw

ere I expected them to be. There were some I recognized like ginger root, garlic and rosemary. Those I didn't, I knew The He

nd headed for the back wall. Something rotten filled my nose. Turning, my b

for scraps and these animals

shook wit

filling my bag. As my fingers nimbly worked their way up the pipe and my leg screamed in pain, I smiled. The heavy bag resting against

nning to seep through my makeshift bandage. The Healer's hut was an old abandoned water tower on the city limits. She had broken off the

tone. A minute later, a hatch opened. I stood perfectly still. I knew at that moment a gun was pointed at my head. If I moved too fast or appeared to be a threat, she would sh

ng to the air, a faint scent of rot lingering on it. The room was nearly as da

ice spoke in broken English from

g the rope ladder up and trapping myself in this metal dome with her. As much as I det

bag as I closed the hatch.

umped its contents out on her table. My portion of the fo

erings. "Ya mus' be in need of sometin

ably a double batch this time." My hand reste

e room gathering things in her withered hands.

entrails. Dropping a pile of jars and rags next to me she yanked up my pant leg with surp

bandage, pulling some of the scabbing sk

smelling cream over the raw skin. While the stench burned my nose, the

smile at me. "See d

then began collecting the jars intended for me.

lacing them in my now nearly empty sack. With impressive st

her one of the romance no

"I see ya s

ep breath of fresh air as I watched the hatch close. We both got something of benefit and no one died. It was a good trade. Wi

e nearest building, knowing the back

r stuff. Casually, I leaned back against the behemoth gargoyle perched on the side of the building, letting my feet dangle precariously over the edge. The sky tonight was clear; even

gh as most buildings, there was also some kind of force field above that. I used to think about jumping off a building to try and clear the metal walls below, but after witnessing a bird fly into the force field, that thought quickly died. The invisible electrified fence shocked the poor

anymore. There was nothing left to lead to. What wasn't wasteland was toxic water and what wasn't toxic water was wasteland. Even Tartarus was a mere fleck of its former self. What was once a prosperous city was now just bla

fingers, ready to fling it when a comm

nd of distant gunfire as I rose to my feet, followed by the Ravager hunting cry. They were tracki

ively turned in its direction. I could see the Ravagers' torch lights glowing in the distance. From the sound of it, they were closing in o

tiny shadow moved into the light fro

only a

er long mousy hair clung to the small cherubic face as she search

red to her und

ling backwards she scrambled away darting down the nearest alley. My gut clenched. I

pace, they sauntered to the mouth of the

ld me. "Leave her, thi

g, bounding forward when my feet connected. Just one more rooftop and I would be upon her. I sprinted for the back corner of the building where I knew there was

ly cut off. Scanning the dark alley I caught a glimpse of movement behind an overturned dumpster. She was only about ten feet in front of me. I began calculating my jum

the narrow opening. There were about fifteen of them, the glinting metal and shaved heads making it nearly impossible to del

etting caught wa

eps down the alley, dragging the sp

you want to play with us?" The girl huddled further

The blade flickered for an instant in the darkness before burying it

oll my body forward. But I had underestimated the force of my fall. I rolled out into the center of the alley, stopping in a low crouch as fourteen and a half sets of eyes fell upon me. My gun was drawn and firing before they could react. Darting to the side I ducked behind the dumpster as bullets began

The bullets were beginning to eat through the rusted metal. It wouldn't be much longer befo

still scream

ight just let you live." A fem

n to shake in

ed in a calm voice back to her. It was a farce, my only knife was

s you first princess, I won't be so g

rl off the ground and ran for the corner where the drainpipe was. If I lifted her high enough there was a led

hands found their grip. The humming was getting louder, the tone nearly unbearable. The sound stopped ju

ere behind me. This was not the work of a gun. A brilliant white light swallowed the alley, searing my retinas

inted from my body. Nothing moved, even my che

was

p body. The Scavengers were already upon me,

how it happens, this is how I die. All of

*