People of the Nykia

Chapter Four: Empty Cities

   Theirfootsteps echoed through the desolate streets. Broken glass from decades ago crunched underneath their boots. Majari felt as if at any moment the ghostly towers above would crumble on top of them, which was entirely possible due to their current state. A giant blackened screen hung loosely from the front of a skyscraper with broken windows. Every nerve in her body was on edge and ready to fight, her palm rested on her concealed pistol. The entire city had been built around it’s terrain. Skyscrapers rested on low rolling hills, adding to the city’s ‘unsafe as hell’ factor.  The only splash of color in the dead landscape were the faded red papers that fluttered through the air and across buildings.

    Majari plucked one out of the air, its fine edges crumbling in her fingertips. Even though it was faded and water damaged, it was still easy to read the giant letters.

                                                        EVACUATION!

THIS TOWN IS UNDER TEMPORARY BUT IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. ALL CITIZENS ARE TO BE OUT OF THEIR HOMES BY THIS EVENING AND ARE TO MEET IN THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER, WHICH LOCATION WAS DISCLOSED IN THE LAST TOWN MEETING. IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND AND DO NOT KNOW OF ITS LOCATION, PLEASE FOLLOW THE CROWDS OR ADDRESS A CITY HALL MEMBER. PLEASE ONLY BRING MINIMAL BELONGINGS. DO NOT PANIC.

                              WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK HOME IN NO TIME ☺

     “Right,” Kamau said, reading over her shoulder.“‘Temporary’.”

     Majari just frowned.

     Kamau poked her cheek. “You ok?” he asked.

    She smacked his hand away and averted her eyes from the red paper. Tossing it behind her, she began walking again. “Of course. This kind of stuff happened all the time back then. You and I both have seen enough to know that.”

     Kamau shrugged. “I know. But you seemed quite concerned.”

     Majari kept walking. Like you could tell that when I have my goggles and bandana on, she thought, the words forming in her throat. She bit her tongue. He probably could, they way she could tell when he was distressed or uncomfortable even with his uniform on.  That’s what you deserve for only having one friend.

    “They’re everywhere aren’t they?” Kamau asked. “The rats. I’ve seen six already since we entered.”

     Majari wiped dust off of her goggles with her thumb. She hadn’t even noticed the rats. She was too busy taking in the metal giants that were likely to cave in at any moment. With the unfinished buildings leaning on either side of her, she felt trapped. A huge rat scurried across her vision leaving tiny prints in the dust.

       “Disgusting,” she muttered.

       “Quite,” Kamau agreed. “It’s worse than usual.”

      Red papers fluttered at their trudging feet. Kamau hummed beside her in sync with the wind’s eerie rustle. An Majari tilted her head to the sky, sniffing the air. As a gentle breeze blew by, a faint but familiar scent filtered in.  “Kamau, verify something for me.” she said as she looked forward again.

      “Sure. What is it?”

      She inhaled once more to be sure. “Is this death I am smelling?”

     Kamau lifted his nose, then nodded. “Yeah. It’s old though; very faint. Common for war towns but stronger than I would have guessed, considering the likelihood these people died in an underground bunker from lack of supply. I’m quite surprised you were able to pick it up.”