The Splintered

Salt the Earth

I was 20 when the world ended, worrying about trivial things like college and if my boyfriend and I would get married. Five years later, I'm leading an army of 50 across the world to save who we can bury who we cannot.

"Whoa."

I said holding up a closed fist as my troops stopped marching, all of us in Sanada armor with horned helmets. Only difference was I was on a horse, she neighed at me with fear and a small attitude. She's brown but I figured from the virus it made her fur slightly purple too, but strong legs.

"Easy Hera..."

I whispered gently stroking my hand on her mane, something was up but I didn't see any abominations in the area. My sensors weren't going off either.

"Tetsudo!"

All 50 of my warriors rallied into a human dome formation, the new shields we acquired is a big help. I stepped off my horse to see some trees tussle up ahead on this path. Unsheathing my katana, I focused my eyes seeing a human form with my echo location but abominations are getting more clever every year. I got in a defensive stance and waited for the person to emerge.

"I come in peace! I come in pe-"

He face planted into the mud so hard even I had to wince for that one, I moved out of the stance but kept my sword drawn. I yelled.

"State your name and purpose! I'll give you about five seconds."

His eyes widened as he sprawled up to his feet but he said clearly.

"My name is Ezra Katz, I don't know my purpose or how I came to be back on earth. I was taken 5 years ago during the alien attack."

Listening to his heartbeat he was either telling the truth or believed it was certain in his heart. Walking up to him I placed my katana tip on the base of his neck, looked directly in his eyes and said.

"If you are lying to me, I will separate your spine from your waist do we understand each other?"

"Yes understood."

Ezra nodded heavily as I sheathed my sword turned to my warriors and said.

"At ease."

They returned back to their marching positions, giving them sign language to 'return back to camp' they turned and marched back in formation. I climbed back onto Hera, extended my hand and said.

"Hop on Ezra."

He took my hand hesitantly but climbed up behind me as I rode off deeper down the path till we reached a small clearing with a neighborhood transformed into a fruit garden. Ezra was reaching for poison ones so I slapped his hand down and glared.

"Don't touch anything."

With that he put his hand in his pockets, it was only now I was intaking his outfit. They were of alien nature but human too, cloak shirt and pants were greenish white but the lower half was navy blue.

"Can I ask a question?"

"You can ask a question, not three million."

I replied turning to the one house that was still standing. I tied up Hera on the horse stand I installed a couple days ago, then climbed off. Ezra tried to get off as gracefully as I did needless to say it didn't work.

"Come on greene."

I muttered pushing into this abandoned but familiar house, it was mine after all. I just haven't been inside even after clearing the abominations from this area. Sitting down at an old soggy kitchen table, Ezra sat cross from me. I pulled out some beef jerky offered it to him, he said no thanks, as I pulled off the mask to reveal my face. He was expecting to see someone else I could see it in his eyes, but he blinked it away and finally asked his question.

"Where is Anthony?"

Chewing on some of the jerky, I looked up as the sunlight coming in through a large hole in the roof. The vegetation was eating this place alive. Then again I have been inside, a nasty bunny abomination came in through the roof-

"I know you know where she is-"

"Easy buckaroo, who says I know who she is?"

I cut off Ezra as he sighed scratching his head with urgency, his curly hair grew down below his ear and his beard was viable but groomed at least. He enunciated.

"Where is she?"

"She's dead."

Ah ah don't look at me like that, I'm doing this for a reason all right? Even if I wanted to develop anything with Ezra again, which trust me I don't, I can't feel anything anymore. The only valuable sensation I get is killing abominations.

"Dead? How do you know?"

"After the virus had killed 80% of the population, and abominations were being culled from the planet. Memorials we're built for the ones we've lost, she was on it."

I replied finishing the piece of jerky I pulled out from my utility belt. Ezra was in total denial, his eyes darted back and forth. I saw the sweat steam down his forehead but he said.

"You weren't there, so there's still hope-"

"Ezra, hope gets you killed, trust me."

Standing up, I stretched a bit as Ezra asked.

"What's your name?"

"You can just call me Commander or sir."

"Okay commander, now what?"

Smacking my lips, I pulled out a particular type of salt and threw it into Ezra's face. He coughed and tried to rub it off but I was checking if it was hurting or he was just surprised from the impact.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Ezra screamed at me as I chuckled happy to know he wasn't an abomination.

"I don't trust you, or your untimely appearance, so take me back to where you came from."

"What-"

"Obviously you found your way to me, where did you wake up?"

Ezra's eyes widened as he thought about it then said.

"In a barn."

Untying Hera, and putting my helmet back on, that was our next destination.