Captured in a Dream [COMPLETED]

Alive

AN: I already brought in some parts of the manga because I think it's really important for the story's processing. I also mixed the series and manga a bit so it will suit the story a bit better, hope you don't mind ~

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It is surprisingly silent when you wake up. All you can hear are birds and the rushing of the river in the distance, but as it seems, no one else is up so far.

Your back hurts, but it's nothing compared to your shoulder. It has been a while since you've slept in a car, and finding a comfortable position with your injuries has been pretty tough. While you can't say that it was a good night, you're optimistic that you will get used to it with time.

Not that you'd have another option since the Beach burned to the ground. Instead of warm hotel beds there are cars to shelter you from rain and insects, and instead of hot showers, it will only be the cold water of Tokyo's rivers. No cooled drinks and warm breakfast, but bottled water and whatever canned food someone is able to find. With some luck, one of you will probably even be able to hunt something down, a rabbit or frog or maybe a bird.

But the Witch Hunt taught you one thing: all the luxury means nothing if you don't value your life. Because the few of you are lucky enough to be alive, and it's a gift that has to be used.

You get out of the car and stretch yourself as good as possible. Your wound has been properly cleaned and bandaged by now and you try to follow Chishiya's advice; to move the arm as early as possible so it won't get stiff. It's not much you can do without crying out so far, but better than nothing.

This day, you want to try and clean the hoodie with some washing powder if you are able to find some. But right now it's still too early, because morning is cold and you need the hoodie to keep warm. You sit down on the ground of your makeshift camp and take a water bottle. There's not much left, and you will have to roam the stores today to get more.

As the morning progresses, more people wake up and join you. That Tatta-guy even manages to make a fire and boils water in a battered pot for coffee. It tastes terrible, but it's caffeine after all.

"So many people have left since last night..." One of the other guys says, and you nod, looking around the cars. It's easy to understand why they had to go, but is it possible? Running away from the memories?

"But it doesn't matter where they go, the memory won't fade", the guy continues, as if he has read your thoughts. "What do we do from here on?"

Yeah, what now? You want to search for Chishiya, but there's no clue where to start. Besides, it's necessary to focus on surviving right now. Going back to the basics, living on without the Beach providing everything. How did you manage to survive before you joined Hatter's Utopia? You can't even remember.

Though it's the basic skills that are important now. Knowledge of how to make a fire, how to find edible things in the wild that Tokyo has become, how to keep yourself safe from underestimated dangers. The Borderlands know many ways to kill someone, and a simple cold can quickly turn into a deadly fever if one doesn't know how to keep warm.

"It might be easier if we just get killed. The dead never have to feel this anxious. They have nothing left to fear..." Tatta mumbles, but you quickly shake your head.

"No. I think the dead would think different about it. We are alive, and we owe them to fight on. It's the least we can do to honor their sacrifices."

Sure, your words sound great. But it's hard to actually think that way when the images of the Witch Hunt don't even leave your mind for a single second. Is it really fair that out of all the people, the few of you were allowed to survive? Then again, it has never been clearer than now that life is not about fairness. It gives and takes without a system, and all you can do is to make the best of what you have.