Blood of Mortals

Yirra

The girl sat across from me as I shared my food with her.

She told me of how her hideout with fellow humans was invaded by the androids.

This is why I don't survive in big groups.

"Everyone fought back, so they shot them all to death. Only I escaped."

Forgive me. I don't really care.

All humans have their own sad lives nowadays, but you don't see me weeping over it.

When she finished talking, I told her, "I'm sure that preserved brains of theirs have evolved them backward. They're less human than I've ever seen them."

She laughed at my side comment.

Once she calmed, she asked, "So what's human to you?"

That's a question I've asked a lot as a teen.

Now, I have my answer.

I replied, "Simple, you got your flesh and your motivation for survival. To add to that, you at least need a heart for fellow humans."

"Look who's talking," she said with a look of disapproval.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"Hey, you're alive, aren't you? If you were an android, I would've ripped you apart piece by piece."

She gave no answer, but I did know she wasn't convinced.

I took her back to my junk of a home.

Going straight to my bed, I readied myself to sleep.

She looked at me and asked, "So, where do I sleep?"

"Anywhere."

She laid herself down beside me.

"Tsk," I said and pushed her away.

"Anywhere but here," I continued, slightly annoyed.

She moved away to another place nearby then it was silent.

"By the way, I'm Yirra," she said.

"Verdil."

She tried to continue the conversation, but I ignored her and went to sleep.

She's so annoying.

The next day, something smelled good.

Yirra was cooking something and just began eating up.

"Breakfast?" she smiled.

I took the food and ate.

"Not the talking type I see," she continued.

I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks. I guess," I said.

After the meal, I went back to my spot and sharpened my blade.

Yirra worked up a shelter on her side of the junkyard.

Her creation fell apart every time.

At every failure, I smiled at myself and chuckled at her.

She looked at me, scowling and growling.

I laughed and stuck my tongue out at her.

Then I proceeded to sharpen my blade.

Later in the day, she skipped over to me and told me she finished.

Leaving my spot, I came to take a look before she'd annoy me any further.

"Pretty good," I told her.

She smiled, but I continued with an annoyed sigh.

"Making your place right beside a hill of junk is your one way ticket to the afterlife."

As I said this, I dislodged a piece of junk.

The mountain of junk collapsed over her place, completely destroying it.

She slapped me in the face and crossed her arms in anger.

Rubbing my cheek, I shrugged and said, "I just saved you from potential death. You're welcome."

I proceeded back to my spot.

By nightfall, she finally finished.

The only problem is that she made her place next to mine.