Promises and Belongings

When I was a kid, I was always scared of the rain. Thinking about it now, I laugh at the idea of hearing thunder and running to find my mom and hide under her legs. She'd even smile as she thought it was so cute. She was never annoyed that I had the fear. Unlike my dad. I stopped running to him for help when after the last time I ran to him he picked me up and placed me outside the house saying, “You can sit out here as long as it takes for you to smarten up.”

Mom found me outside when she got home and after that day I couldn’t even run to my dad if he wanted to, as mom told me dad had moved back in with his own mother.

Smiling as I hold her old locket in my more mature hands, I laugh at the ageless memories sitting in my head as the rain pours around me, the clouds a sickly black as radiation seeps from them. Mom would’ve been proud I think, but now at least she doesn’t have to see what the world she once thought was pretty had become. War had broken out destroying almost everything we loved and now all that remains is ash and a mangled idea of what was once democracy. “Ah, Courier!” A strained voice echoed out for me, a deep whine shaking out as a breathing apparatus was sucking and exhaling air.

Howdy Baron.” I called back while quickly making my way to the large figure of the north's ruler. “I heard you have a package for me?”

“Ah that I do, a very special package!” He laughed back, beckoning me to a shack where seven others stood guarding whatever laid inside.

Walking in, I got it. I immediately understood what the baron’s stress was about. “This is the last descendant of the old world's last ruler, someone called a queen.” The Baron’s raspy voice croaked out, a faint smile heard through his words. “And hopefully someday, she’ll rule this new world too.”

“I uh, don’t really get all this old world stuff.” I chuckled back, looking at the infant being held by another one of The Baron’s guards that I hadn’t noticed before. “I was just a kid when the world fell apart.”

“All I want is for her to be safe, and…” The Baron started “I know you, no matter where you travel across this world, are safer than most others. So, I want you to take her.” He finished, tears noticeably rolling down his face and he ran a hand through the young queen's chocolate brown hair. “I’ll miss her, but it’s for the best. She can’t know until she’s old enough though to decide if she’s going to rule.” Turning back to me and handing me a small notebook. “Keep this safe, don’t let her read it till its time.”

And with that, he left. A small, heartfelt smile tracing his mask covered mouth as he and his guards made their way back to the frozen northern empire. Looking at the child now left with me, I hoped I could fulfil a friend’s promise.

Years have passed and I have to say, she’s definitely gonna be a new queen. I, in all my years of travelling through this lost world have never seen a stronger, more independent woman. And now there’s me, older than ever. 15 years after I got the new queen, almost 40 since the world changed. As me and her approach what was once known as the city of lights, now nothing but a city of darkness, I barely have to speak a word as Angela does all the talking. For only 16 years of age, she is a fearless and charismatic talker. “Who tries to enter this fine city of shadows?” A booming, hidden voice calls out from above us.

“The courier.” I reply, “And I have a package for Mr. President.” I laugh at Angela as she snickers at the nickname she used to call the King of the South when she was younger.

“You may enter, Mailman.” The voice laughed back, the glare of a telescope shining at both of us.

“I might have to call you that myself James.” Angela laughs, her smile hidden underneath her bandana and hood

“Shush, only you know my real name, and I really don’t want them getting that on me.” I quickly snapped at her, looking around as I tried to see if anyone had heard what my name was.

“Sorry.” She mumbled, looking at the ground as we made our way down the deserted main road of Las Vegas.

“Ah, Courier, so happy to see you again, now if you wouldn’t mind…” The King’s crooked smile glared into my eyes, “freeze.” At those words guards surrounded me and the future queen, throwing us to the ground as they roughly searched us, tearing the small crown I had given to Angela from her head, and ripping the heart shaped locket I always kept on me from my neck. “Belongings… Something that I had taken from me, and I shall take from you, until you bring mine back to me.” The King of the South laughed as me and Angela were dragged by the shoulders and thrown out of the city walls.

“How are we supposed to find something if he never told us what he’s missing?” Angela yelled, kicking the hot desert dirt up as she walked in circles angrily

“We just need to run…” I started, looking around frantically, “We need to get out of his kingdom and run, it’ll be okay.” As these words leave my lips I hear them, the howls. “Oh, we need to run now!” I yell, grabbing Angela’s hand as I try to run from the mutated creatures that roam the Mohave.

“James, Dad, I can’t keep running.” I hear Angela’s tears running freely down her cheeks as she tries her hardest to keep up.

“Don’t worry sweetie, you will learn someday.” I tell her, tears rolling across my cheeks as I stop running and try to push her forwards, feeling the teeth of what was once a mountain lion sink into me.

“Angela walks slowly towards the gates of New Las Nevada, a sly smile crossing her cracked lips. “Stop, who goes there?” A young voice cries out, a rookie trying to stop an expert.

“Tell the king he has a visitor.” I calmly yell back, “And make it fast.” I finish as I slowly adjust my hood and bandana, making sure to hide my features just as my father did before me.

“Who exactly are you?” The King of the South's booming yet elderly voice bellowed out from the throne he sat on.

“I’m the Courier your highness. The new Courier.” I yell, tightening my fist as the memories of that night flow back through my mind.

“You’re that girl that was with him aren't you?” The old voice that lived in my nightmares spoke, fear now seeping from his own voice.

“You’re right Mr. President…” I smile,

“And you have something that belongs to me.”