Dystopian Future

Carrey found the candy-wrapper at the bottom of the can. It had already been licked, why did someone bother putting it back in the trash? made no sense. Maybe someone was watching to make fun. She peered around, which was insane she knew. Making believe felt better than absolute solitude. It was silent just another abandoned ghost city. She’d knew when someone was there; she always knew that’s how she’d made it this far. But that was a long time ago, when? No point counting time when you’re the last person on earth…maybe. She slung the pack across her back and kissed the locket, it was time to go East. Always East away from the heat try to find water try to stay alive. Three miles up the road she saw a bird. It’d be nice to have a gun but a bird meant there had to be water nearby. She hoped she wasn’t kidding herself that it wasn’t a stupid dirty puddle. It was the first anything she’d seen in weeks. It was better that way. People always wanted something. Animals, uh they’d probably all been eaten. She laughed. Thinking about her old self. That other girl who actually had pets and been to the zoo countless times. Don’t. Just don’t that’s how we get lost in the scape of yesterday. Months of that and all the dead, no reason to go there.

About late afternoon probably just before dusk she saw it. That big beige building. It was nothing special, just like a thousand others. But something. Her tummy tickled. stop that, is this a fakey or my mind playing tricks. No. Something there. Why? why am I looking at that. Is someone there? Are we playing that game. Maybe there’s a rat? maybe a dog. She was holding her knife in her right pocket. Yep I’m going in. I don’t want to, there’s nothing good for me in there but You know there’s a reason for everything. She climbed the stairs almost running why? there was no reason to. She didn’t bother checking the first few floors for some reason like she was drawn to the top or maybe she was really gonna jump off. Five floors. My luck the fall wouldn’t kill me and then I’d lay there wishing I’d just starved to death or gotten myself killed quickly. Yes all the dead are luckier than me. That took a long time to figure that one out. four apartments on the top floor she swept through the first two like a hot knife through butter. Scavenger. This was an art form at this point. working through what might have been missed in haste or hidden. That third door. Something different. the stickers on the door nothing special. As a joke she opened the cupboard in the kitchen. Literally lost her breath. I must be dead. I must be dreaming. two cans of food. Not even hidden. She started crying. That was dumb and she laughed at herself. Dropped the bag grabbed her can openner and her spork and sat right down there going at it.

She was lost in the flavor, the liquid it was some kind of tomato saucy spaghetti and lil meat things dream. it was wet and the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. Lost in the frenzy unguarded she looked up. How did she miss him? Was he there no he’d snuck up on her and he had a gun. “Put down my food” he said. He was probably only 13 dirty baby faced but weathered. Back in the day he’d pass for 17 “Street smart” they’d say. If they only knew. You grew up fast if you were alive here like a wolf. “Put it down or I’ll blow your head off” She moved slowly. He wasn’t a threat she thought either no bullets or if he killed her it would be the lottery anyway. It’s crazy she was happy to see anyone, and she’d had so many guns pointed at her she just started laughing but she put the food down, he cocked the trigger “Okay, okay I’m sorry here have at it I’m just starving is all, can’t blame me its food you know.” He finished the can in seconds with the gun on the table next to him. She flinched and he had it pointed at her again in a heart beat. Relax okay. I can’t sit still too long but I’m not trying nothing. What’s your name. No name okay. The guy that’s gonna kill you or get outta my house. Nervously but smiling she started fiddling with her heart shaped locket around her neck. “Jewlery? stupid girl, means nothing worth nothing.” “Yeah but everybody’s gotta hold something” this is mine. Cmon. My name is Carrey I don’t got no gun. I’m not gonna rob you. “You already did” He said. Well now that was just dinner okay. You here alone, got nobody else? ‘Oh my parents and grandma will be back soon, they’re picking up my cousins we’re having a barbecue” He was disgusted but he was glad to see her. She knew it. It gets lonely. You want me to leave? I’ll get up slow and be on my way. “No, now you know where I live. Where you heading to anyway?” She smiled “See I know you want me to stay, I do too, I’m not gonna lie. Shit I saw a bird today, never thought I’d have someone to talk to, put the gun down, you’re not gonna shoot me, even if you have bullets “Don’t think I won’t” I’m a good shot, that’s how I can get food. I’m strong too. You try anything. I was heading East, I don’t know why just following my path. That’s what got me up here. I knew there was something. She swept the gun off the table in an instant and had her knife on him. He was only an inch smaller than her but she was quick and he was scared. “You thought cause I’m a girl you could what? turn around hands over your head. “Take the other can and go. he said “Shhh quiet now don’t turn around or I will slice you right up.” It was quiet his face was against the wall and he was scared. Take it and go, don't have anything else. “There’s no bullets I knew it. sit down, I’m not gonna hurt you.” When he turned she was sitting back down, gun on the table chamber open. Running her fingers through the can to get what she could, “well don’t take it all now, I only got a little bit.” She smiled and slid the can across the table. “Have at it.” When he was done he looked up. “I do have bullets, a few anyway, haven’t seen anyone in forever and almost shot my toe off last time it was loaded. She laughed. I dropped the stupid thing. I hate guns.

That was three sleeps ago. Five days maybe, it was tough to tell. There was darkness and light still, but clocks were as worthless as money less even. When it was cold, money was a great fire-starter. Hell even a sock full of pennies was a great make-shift weapon. Regardless, she’d grown attached to bruh. But with or without him, it was time to leave. Back in that kitchen where this whole thing had started was going to be the finale. I want you to think about something and give it a chance before you say no. She said. “What is this ambush? like a game. Okay. shoot. “I think it’s time to move and you should come with.” Yeah I knew it. Don’t bother its all good. You leave whenever you want I’ma stay right here where it’s safe. “You’re not really safe though, someone else will eventually come along and maybe not be so nice. You can protect me on the way to the East. “Everyone leaves” he said “Nobody ever comes back or thinks about staying. Why? What’s East that’s not here? You stay here with me. I find food, you said it yourself I have mad skills an precipitation “Perception” He missed her already but he couldn’t leave, not when it was safe, not when everyone else was dead. Please stay, I’ll get more food. “She knew that staying wasn’t an option, but she’d already felt this loyal tinge and didn’t want to pull the disappearing act.

We need to stick together. I think it would be good for both of us, but staying here isn't the answer “Why not?” he said. Everyone wants to go somewhere else. Why not stay here. Stay. Make it work, leaving is giving in. I’m not letting go. I want to hear you but it doesn’t make sense and I’m not gonna play the I’m older than you bullshit because God only knows that means nothing. I can’t stay. My intuition and this locket is why I’ve made it this far, I stayed too long already trying to pry you away from here. Come with, it’ll be fun. We’ll do new shit. Try new things. He looked at her differently, I guess he knew they wouldn't be staying together after all. Not sad or scared just different. Everything dead is out there. I’m done with running. I’m fine right here, and so are you..you just don’t see it yet. She was torn but stubborn. Her instincts were never wrong ever. Even at the very worst she stayed alive and watched everyone else die one way or another. And yet as much as she knew her instincts said they needed to stay together, it was pressing that they needed to shove off. She opened the locket the single locket was broken hinged and now was two hearts. He was silent. He didn’t like what he saw but understood. They had to go. She closed it back together. The clasp held it back into one. He got a few things and grabbed an old blue bag and the last can of food and they were on their way. They didn’t speak for a long time. Nothing seemed to need to be said. He heard her breathing heavy and starting to hum. He’d learn to walk again and was trying to figure out how to run. She felt something different, something strange but familiar too. If they could make it to the woods before darkness there’d be good moonlight tonight, her outlook was positive.