Ghosts of the Shattered

Emmaline stood at the corner of the forest. She stood on the side that many dared not wander. The “dark space” most survivors called it. Emmaline called it a sanctuary; she called it home. The forest was the one place she could be herself. She wasn’t judged or defined by her appearance. For when she left the edge of the dark and stepped into the bright sun, others would judge her. Emmaline was a survivor, one of the Ravaged, within death proximity to “the blast” that changed the world. The immense radiation caused millions of deaths, and those that survived had to fight for life. For in the dark, the monsters hid—those who were altered and deformed by the effects. But Emmaline had a saving grace. Her “picture perfect” solution, she called it. It was a locket. To anyone else, it looked like a dingy, scuffed up, dime-store find. But to Emmaline, it allowed her the ability to walk among the “regs” without being judged. You see, those that were close to the blast were the targets. The Leaders wanted to eliminate a particular population for they disagreed with the lives they led.

“This is the way things are.” Her mother used to say. “We have to keep to ourselves, and the Leaders will leave us alone.”

“But they didn’t leave us alone, did they, mother?” Emmaline said under her breath as she clasped the locket around her neck. The strange pin-pricking sensation began, and her scars disappeared within a few breaths. She held up the locket, peered at her reflection, marveling at her appearance. She considered herself one of the lucky ones. Even with the pain that would come after wearing the locket for more than a few minutes, at least she still had her mind. She could have become “Shattered” – those who survived in the blast zone but lost their minds. Not quite what some called Zombies, but not a “reg.” Some turned almost feral; Attacking anyone who came close.

Emmaline was lucky. Her locket allowed her to pass in both circles. Unfortunately, the light came with a price. As she walked toward the village, the pain from the transformation was beginning to increase. She was used to the lower level of pain and could now wear the locket for up to two hours before it became unbearable. She had her people waiting on her back in the forest. As close to family as you could get these days, and they needed the herbs she could get in trade for the meats she had in the pack on her back.

The market was the only reason she ventured this far into town. The Regs gave her the creeps, except Blane. She could stand to be around him. He was kind and always willing to help her when she came to town. She was afraid of what his reaction would be if he knew who she was. They may not have a strong link, but she wanted his friendship.

She came around the corner and spotted Blane at a market booth. Her lips tilted up at the corners. She couldn’t bring much of a smile to her face due to the pain from the locket. When he turned and saw her, he gestured her over.

“This is the best trade you’ll make today, E! I already got ol’ Grady here happy as a frog in a pond full of flies!” Blane said, smiling. She made her trade with Grady, and she and Blane began their traditional walk together. Emmaline never let him walk her too far because she didn’t want him to judge. Today she wanted to show him; it was time. Emmaline considered her options. Do it now, or wait until they reach the field? She was so preoccupied deciding she didn’t see the band of Reg boys coming around the corner. Fagan, the wrangler of the group, snagged the strap of her pack catching the chain of Emmaline’s locket, wrenching it from her neck.

The pain ceased as Emmaline looked at the ground where her locket had fallen. Confidently, she raised her gaze to Fagan. “Haven’t you seen a girl before?” The question didn’t come from Emmaline; it came from just behind her. Blane stepped next to her and shoved Fagan, grabbing the pack as the boys looked stricken.

Fagan yelled, “We don’t want your kind! Ravaged Scum over here!” Blane grabbed Emmaline’s arm, sprinting towards the trees, her locket forgotten in the dirt. They didn’t slow until they were a few hundred yards inside the dark space.

“Well, since you’re here, would you like to meet my family?” Emmaline asked.

Blane smirked, “I thought you would never ask.” They reached a hut among the trees. Emmaline called, “Kris, Lane, Cyaira! Come out, guys.” Looking around in confusion. Only her items were inside, placed around as if there should have been other items alongside. “Where did they go?” She said as she came back out looking for Blane.

He was standing on the side of the hut. He glanced over his shoulder, “Em, are you okay? Maybe you should take a look at this.” Blane pointed at a circle of stones in front of him.

Emmaline walked to his side and looked at the stones, seeing three names carved into the surface of the center stone. LANE – CYAIRA – KRIS.

“But this doesn’t make sense.” Reaching into her pocket for the heart-shaped locket, only to realize it was missing. She never was without it. It had been her comfort since she found it mere days before finding her three companions. “They were here this morning.”

Realization hit her suddenly. She had found them after she found the locket. Maybe the locket worked just by having it in her possession, just not the way it was when she wore it.

“What does this mean, Em?” Blane asked.

“I think it means we are all shattered,” Emmaline replied.