Anaria

Anaria gazed out across the wintry horizon, her fingers stinging with frost. Her breath was a fog before her eyes as she surveyed the countless empty buildings. The setting sun shimmered against the litter of broken glass, twinkling like glitter. Anaria rubbed her nose, warming it against the cold, as she watched for people.

Not just any people. Her people. After the countless wars that followed the virus, many of the people of this faithful city had turned savage, overcome with an insatiable desire for human flesh. Not to mention the mutations that came with the virus, making people quarantine within their homes, or die in the streets.

She lifted her rifle again, peeking through her scope, waiting for something to appear. She spotted a few mutants along the southern side of the streets, noting their colorless faces. They weren’t quite zombies as the books described. The people weren’t undead. They were very much alive, but no longer could they feel the cold biting into their flesh.

Anaria did another sweep of the streets, silently praying to whatever entity was left to listen. She shivered as a frosted breeze cut through her layers. In different times, she would’ve been inside, wrapped up in a warm blanket by a fire with a book in hand.

She scanned again, silently cursing to herself as they stumbled towards the storefronts. Anaria shivered again as the wind whipped against her. Her shoulders tensed as she placed her finger against the trigger. The metal bit into her flesh as she counted back from ten.

It was as if time slowed with her counting as she breathed deeply. Her pupils dilated as she concentrated on her target. Her gun practically an extension of herself. She would’ve been useful in the war.

The rifle’s kickback didn’t startle her, her eyes watching the body as it slammed back into the ground. She watched as the other cannibals began to fight over what was once their comrade. Anaria used the scope to search again.

This time, her sight was on a store. Three people stepped out, their heads all pointed to the mutants. “Come on,” Anaria whispered. “Move.” Their arms were filled with what she had no idea. She could only hope they had cleared out whatever supplies had been left.

Thanks to the new predators, most of the wildlife had gone extinct. She tilted her sight back to the mutants, taking out another one without a blink. The last remaining cannibal didn’t even notice there was more to hunt. It had its food therefore it was satisfied.

Anaria lowered her sight as she shivered, her body recalling the freezing temperatures. She hurried down from her perch, slinging her firearm over her back as she sprinted towards the front door. The library no longer gleamed with thousands of books on every shelf. Sadly, they had to use them for kindling for warmth. The setting sun filtered in through the windows casting a ghoulish light, guiding her down the stairs. Without hesitation, Anaria pushed everything out of her way. The chains she had wrapped around the doorknobs slid down with a noisy slither. She pulled the doors open, a rush of wind following the others’ charge as they passed. She jumped out of the way, nearly being run down. The doors were shut and Anaria rushed to fix the barricade. Another pair of hands helped her, their findings left to the floor. With the barricade completed, Anaria took in what was brought back. The others carried their findings to the makeshift firepit, dropping them into a large pile. Anaria helped the younger woman who had dropped her cans to help barricade the door. She was new to the group and didn’t talk much. Then again, Anaria reminded herself, neither she. She hadn’t even bothered remembering any names for fear of attachment. The women nodded at each other in silent gratitude, carrying the supplies between them. They dropped everything in the pile, not minding if the cans were dented.

Anaria slipped the gun off, setting it beside her place on the floor. There were only four of them. Anaria was the only one among them who knew how to hit a mark from a distance, making her the deadliest shot. It was an agreement amongst the group. They’d scavenge for supplies while Anaria kept watch.

“Nice work on those cannibals,” one of the men said, raising a can in a toast. “Really saved us.” The group mumbled in agreement as she shrugged, brushing the compliments off.

”Just doing my part,” she replied. She sat on the chilled floor as the men searched for more books. They came back with a hefty bundle, dropping them carelessly to the floor. The pages flapped in the draft and they began to tear them up. She stared at the pile, her eyes widening.

“Wait!” She exclaimed, causing for everyone to jump. Anaria rarely spoke, much less shouted at them. “Where did you find that?”

The males glanced at each other and then back to her. “I pulled books from the shelves?” One of them asked, confused. “Where else would I have gotten them, we’re literally in a library right now.” Anaria’s eyes twitched with irritation at his sarcasm.

“I‘m aware,” she replied in a low voice as she approached the pile. She knelt down and carefully grabbed the book in between her fingers, picking it up. Their eyes remained locked. “I believe I’ll keep this one.” The men glanced at each other and nodded their heads solemnly.

“Whatever you want,” the younger male said, his voice wobbling with cold. Anaria turned around, marching back to her place. She lowered herself onto her sleeping bag and in the light, she read the cover. “To Kill a Mockingbird.” She closed her eyes and held the book to her chest.

The men went about their business while the other woman sat across from Anaria. She watched her in contemplation, curious of the book’s sentiment.

”It reminds you of someone, doesn’t it? From before?” The woman asked in a timid voice. Anaria tucked the book into her sleeping bag, glaring. Anaria watched as her eyes softened, the growing fire casted little light within them. “I have a daughter...her name was-”

Anaria raised her hand and the woman’s words ceased. “Look, I’m sorry. I get it, you lost your family and that’s very heart wrenching and all, but telling me your sob story isn’t going to earn you my rations.” Anaria’s voice was stern and cold. Her biggest rule was to never allow yourself to grow attached. Allowing attachment meant allowing for manipulation, something no one had time for.

The woman nodded her head, glancing down at her trembling fingers. She began to softly sniffle, her lips curling back into a cry. “My husband took her when the war was getting worse back East. There was only so much room on this truck that was supposed to take people somewhere safe...he left me to die.” The woman’s voice dipped up and down with tears as she spoke.

”Why are you telling me any of this?” Anaria asked, silently begging for the woman to stop. Their eyes met and it was like a hot piece of lead sunk into the pit of her stomach.

“Because I’m going to die out here,” the woman replied quietly. “My daughter is going to spend her life thinking her mother abandoned her when things got tough, but that’s simply not true. I’ve been out here searching for her, trying to find my way to her...but I already know my fate is sealed. If I cannot make it to my daughter, then I ask of you...” She trailed off, realizing she had also never bothered to learn names.

”Anaria,” she answered, her voice shaking. “My name is Anaria.”

The woman smiled, tears still trickling down her face. “Anaria...that’s different but beautiful. I’m Leona.” They exchanged an awkward chuckle. “I’d appreciate it…if I don’t make it...if you’d give my daughter this.”

From her shirt she produced a heart shaped locket. Anaria reached out, the metal warming her numb fingertips. She opened it and saw two pictures inside. On one side was a wedding photo of Leona in her dress, smiling happily. On the other was a photo of Leona with a little girl cradled in her arms. Anaria nodded her head, a tear slipping from her eyes.

“On my honor,” she replied. For that’s all anyone had left in this world. Honor.

That night the group went to sleep, their dying fire unlikely to last the night. Anaria slept fitfully as always, constantly up to do rounds on the entrances, exits, and food supply. She carried her rifle as she went to her perch. The night air bit into her exposed hands and through her scope, she scanned the streets.

The mutant was gone, its waste left behind. Anaria remained there, huddled up against the building until daylight came. It’d begun to snow and as she stretched, her heart jumped in her chest. Anaria had spotted a horde of mutants working their way toward the library. Anaria cursed herself for missing the oncoming ambush and snatched up her rifle, sprinting down the stairs. She nearly tripped over herself. The men were chatting quietly amongst themselves. “We have to go!” Anaria screamed. She jumped over the dead fire, hurriedly throwing things into her knapsack.

”What why?” The older one asked, his voice dazed

”They’re coming,” Anaria replied, her voice trembling. “Dozens of them from the looks of it. They’ll be on us any minute, so we need to move now!” Leona stirred from her slumber, Anaria’s ominous news hanging on the air. With no hesitation, the men began to tear their campsite apart, stuffing all they could carry into their knapsacks.

Anaria shuffled as she hurriedly tied her knapsack shut, her sleeping bag barely attached as she put it over her shoulder. She froze when she saw Leona, her hair falling out of her hat and her face grim. “We have to go. You need to pack what you can. You want to find your daughter? You can’t do that if you’re dead.” Anaria chastised herself for being so cruel, but alas it was the truth. The time had come for them to run, not sit around, waiting to be overrun by monsters.

Leona shook her head sadly, a gold chain dangling from her fingers. “I won’t make it,” she said, her voice quivering. “You need to go. Keep heading to the Northwest. I hear Washington has a safety camp there. That’s where I was heading.” Anaria’s jaw dropped in surprise. The men continued to pack, quickly making their way to the door.

”You can come with us,” Anaria protested. “You’ll make it, I promise.”

Leona shook her head, her face sad. “Not unless you can cure my cancer.” The words shocked Anaria. “I told you I wasn’t going to make it. You must go. It won’t be safe for you to travel alone...just find my daughter. Give her this and tell her mommy never stopped looking.”

Anaria nodded her head solemnly as she took the locket. She slipped it around her neck and without another word, she grabbed her firearm and rushed for the door. She forced herself to keep going forward. The horde arrived minutes after Anaria stepped out. They heard the glass shatter and Anaria froze in place. Her stomach wrenched as Leona’s screamed. She wanted to turn back, but forced herself to keep going. She allowed a few quiet tears. By some miracle, they found a car that hadn’t frozen in the unforgiving elements.

The two men rode up front while Anaria rested in the back, her rifle cradled against her. She pulled the necklace from beneath her shirt. She studied the pictures and cursed herself for allowing a moment of weakness. Now, she was going to Washington in search of a child who may not be alive. What a world.