John

John moved from shadow to shadow, slowly approaching the four story building. It looked mostly intact and a good place to rest the night, but that meant that others might think the same thing. It didn’t hurt to be too cautious these days.

He had been a teenager when society fell. Those times before “The Fall” had been like a dream. A secure home, family, food, a safe place to sleep, even clean water, those things had ceased to exist in John’s world. Now it was a struggle to survive each day.

John approached the back door to the building. It was open and dark inside. John crept up to the side of the door and listened. He felt exposed next to the door, but he didn’t want to just go in without knowing if someone else was already there.

It felt as if someone was watching him from down the street. He was too exposed. Gripping the piece of pipe he used to defend himself, John tumbled into the door, rolling to the side quickly and coming up on his feet, ready to fight!

He saw an empty hallway. The dust on the floor indicated no one had been in this way for a while. Still cautious, John moved away from the doorway and further into the building. It would be best if he could find a room on the second floor, high enough to be safe from others, but low enough to escape by jumping out a window.

His eyes soon became accustomed to the darkness inside the building. It wasn’t totally dark, as light came in through windows and doors. Everything was a shambles. Obviously the roaming bands of looters had already gutted the place. John was surprised they hadn’t torched it as well, but he wasn’t going to complain.

John found a stairway to the upper floors. He slowly went up, stepping on the edges of the stairs in case one squeaked. He peered over the landing, no one was there. Another hallway with rooms going off to each side.

He explored the rooms, and settled on the third one on the left side because the door still worked. He didn’t have much, but what he did have he spread out to make camp. He kept everything within arm’s reach, he might have bare seconds to grab everything and go.

Sitting down, John ate some cold jerky and drank a bit of water. Tomorrow, he thought, he’d have to find more. Having finished his meager meal, he stretched out facing the door. He’d already propped a lose board up against it. John knew it wouldn’t stop anyone, but it might give him time to get away.

The sun was almost down, the light fading. He lightly dozed, waking at each small sound. He could hear the rioters and looters, mad roaming gangs of crazies, enjoying themselves further away in the distance. The smell of the fires and smoke faintly reached him. He could hear the pigeons on the roof settling in for the night. Maybe he could bag one later. There weren’t many of them left in the city, good thing they bred quickly.

John suddenly came to full alertness. Something had made a sound. John listened closely. Someone was downstairs on the first floor. John checked his pack, had he left anything out? The stairs creaked! Someone was coming up!

John slowly moved to the window. Now he risked looking down at the street below. Fortunately, there was a car parked under him. It’s burned out rusted hulk would make a good landing place if John had to jump.

“Hello?” a young sounding female voice softly said. “Are you here? I saw you come in.”

John froze, unsure of himself. Females were rarely alone. Most found safe places to stay or joined the crazies. She sounded alone, John couldn’t hear anyone else. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t knife him if she got the chance. The world was unkind to females.

“Please, I’m alone and unarmed.” She said.

Right, John thought, only a fool believed that. More likely she was trying to lure him out.

“Look, I’m hungry and thirsty. I can trade if you want.” She went on.

She was almost directly opposite his door. John threw caution to the wind and moved quickly. He jerked open the door and grabbed her arm. Pulling her into the room, he tossed her into a corner. Keeping an eye on her, he resecured the door.

John turned toward the girl. He held his finger up to his mouth and said, “Sssh, your talking will bring the crazies down on us both.”

John crossed the room and pulled her up. She was young and looked skinny. John suspected she hadn’t eaten in a few days and her lips were chapped. She trembled in his grip. “Please,” she said, “Don’t hurt me.”

John patted her down for weapons. He didn’t want her to shank him as soon as he turned his back. Finding nothing, John let her go. She collapsed back down on the floor, too weak to cry.

Though he didn’t have much, John pitied her. He broke out the rest of his jerky and water. He extended them out to the girl. She looked hesitant, but grabbed them and started to gobble the jerky down like she hadn’t eaten in a month.

“Not so fast,” John whispered, you’ll…” Sure enough, she started to choke. John pounded her back a few times and the offending piece of jerky came out. “Slow down, take your time.”

John looked her over as she ate. She didn’t seem to be a crazy, in fact she was fairly well dressed. Her cloths were in good shape and she had matching shoes. She didn’t have a pack and wasn’t carrying anything. Her blond hair was dirty, but her finger nails looked almost prefect, as if she hadn’t struggled much.

John had heard rumors of enclaves where civilization still existed. He didn’t believe them. Any place like that would have drawn the crazies like moths to a flame. Food was getting scarcer and winter was approaching. Just because they were crazy didn’t mean that a few of them couldn’t think.

When she had finished the last bite, she handed back the canteen. John checked, sure enough, there was no water left. He’d have to find some water and use his still to make more. He’d have to find something dry to burn, smoke would bring the crazies. It would take all day. Maybe it would rain.

“I thought you said you had something to trade,” John said. The girl looked sheepish. She reached up and started to unbutton her blouse. Just as John had suspected, she was going to try to seduce him. John admitted to himself, it had been a while and she was good looking, but he just couldn’t afford to be intimate with her. Best case scenario, she’d get him naked and her friends would break in. Or maybe she’d just kill him when his defenses were down. She’d probably done this kind of thing to many others.

John noticed a flash of gold between her breasts. “Wait! What’s that?” He asked.

“What?”

“The gold around your neck.”

She pulled out a small heart shaped locket, one of those you open up to reveal a picture. It wasn’t probably worth much, but it was something.

“I’ll take that for the food and drink.”

She hesitated, but reached behind her neck to release the clasp. Reluctantly she handed it over.

John opened it up and sure enough, there was a picture of a smiling young guy in it. “Who’s this?” John asked.

“He was a boy I knew. We were in love. The people we were with didn’t approve so we ran away. He was killed a few days later protecting me.” She stammered.

“Yeah, that happens these days.” John answered. “There is a room, last one on the right, almost as good as this one. You can sleep there. Take my blanket, I know where I can get another.”

“Can’t I stay here, with you?”

“Ha! No, I don’t think so. You’ll be safe enough down the hall.”

John opened the door for her. After a quick glance both ways down the hall, he let her slip out.

“Look, I don’t know where you came from, but I suggest you go back there. The streets aren’t safe for you.”

“Thank you.” She turned and walked down to the end of the hall. She stopped before the door John had mentioned and looked back. She had a sad look in her eyes. Without another word she opened the door and entered.

John waited about half an hour, then packed up all his things and snuck back out on the streets. It didn’t pay to be nice these days. Still, John looked back, it was nice to dream. He looked once more at the locket, then shoved it into his pocket. He’d have to find another place to rest.