Survival

Ciara Saving the Boy

I saved him. I think. I managed to run to him and be used as his personal crutch. He made it right in front of the door of the shop before he fainted and collapsed to the ground, I had to drag him inside, well at least into the doors entrance, he was a little heavy plus my strength was drained from walking through thick mud. I put a skirt from one of the racks under his head so he would wake up comfortable, if he wakes up. He's been about out cold for at least two hours, well I'm estimating about two hours. The rain was still coming down just as hard as it was from when I went to save him. The bucket I put outside was full by the time I had situated everything. I brought in the now full bucket and sipped it slowly at first, then I started chugging it because fresh water never tasted so good. I was so dehydrated it was like drinking water from Gods personally pond, it tasted and felt so amazing. Until I threw up from putting too much liquid in my stomach. I put the bucket back outside so it could refill. In these past few hours I've went through three buckets of water. I felt a lot better but I was still exhausted from hunger, the pains in my stomach never went away yet, but I've been able to ignore it. I was bored, as strange as that sounds. I thought entering the game would be harder, or I'd have to be doing more, but all I've been doing is sitting here drinking water and watching this boy. I watch his breathing making sure it's steady, his chest rises and falls in a slow motion, he looked peaceful and relaxed. He has a nice warm beiges skin tone, his hair was a dark jet black and he had a nice body too. Even when this boy is covered in mud you can tell he's very handsome. I've wiped his face when we first got here because there was mud caked on it so I had a chance to look at his features. He has a sharp jaw line and I couldn't help but gush over this attractive stranger. I wish he'd wake up so I could find out what he's about. But what if he doesn't even want anything to do with me, what if he just leaves without a word. I mean what if he's an asshole. No, I stop the negative thoughts, he will be thankful for me saving him, I mean who wouldn't be.

The rain dies down after another two or three hours, now it's a steady drizzle and the sun has set, night fall is approaching. The boy is still laying in the spot I left him in, his breathing is still slow but nothing to be concerned about. I sit and think about possibilities, if he doesn't wake up by tomorrow I will have to leave him behind. I can't wait for someone I don't even know. I'm glad I could help him out but he would be setting me back if I wait for him. I also think of food, now that the rain has died down I think I'll go scavenge and come back here when I find some food. I think of needing a source of light, fire, but trees are out of the question because they're wet from the rain. I'll have to find some loose floor boards or something in one of those houses. The sun was almost completely down, I got to do this fast or I'll be the one walking blindly in this town this time. I put my hood on again and walk outside, the rain was barley noticeable anymore because most of it has stopped. I jog my way to the diner down the now muddy road, it was strange, the mud doesn't feel as dense as it did when I was out here with that boy. I make it to the front doors of the diner, the building was a mint green colour with a burnt out neon pink sign on the top. Betty's Diner, wonder who Betty is. It was abandoned and old, a film of dust covered the booths and tables, and it smelt of moth balls. I walk past a juke box and swipe my finger across it as I do. The place was gross, spiders and bugs scattered the floor and walls, and there was a disgusting oder. I have a feeling I won't find anything edible here. I walk through the kitchen doors and the stench hit me first, then the sight of what was making the smell. A pile of dead animals lay on the floor, rabbits, deer, and birds. It was hard to tell what was all there because everything seemed to be covered in blood. I cover my nose and gag a bit. I wanted to run and scream and freak out but my survival instincts kicked in and I thought to look for the most un-decomposed animal and cook it in the fire I'm going to make. I search through a pile of rabbits and find one with its neck ripped out, but there were no maggots or bugs on this one so it was my only option for now. I carry it by the ears and walk out of the wretched diner. It was now even darker out, I run back to strip mall and drop of the poor rabbit by the door. The boy was still out. I then ran to the cluster of houses. I go for the nearest one, it was a small one story house. It was a dark forest green and has dark wooden doors and windows. I twist the knob and to my surprise it was locked. Everything had been unlocked so far. It felt weird but I knocked and waited a few moments, I didn't know what I was expecting but nothing happened. And I mean of course nothing happened, what did I expect, for someone to answer and ask if I'd like to come in for tea. I then smashed the window on the centre of the door and unlocked it and walked in. It smelt of moth balls and dust in the small little house, it seemed abandoned a long time ago like everything else. I see a stack of wood by an old fire place, this is a perfect place to spend the night I think to myself. It's a roof over our heads, a already built in fire place and cushions and old couches to sleep on. I start heading back to the strip mall I also bring fire wood just in case he's not up and I can't move him over here. I pick up a sharp edged rock being that we had no knifes just guns, I'd have to butcher the rabbit somehow. I also pick up two apple sized rock, I really hope my Girl Scout training comes back to me on how to start a fire without matches. By the time I reach the door my arms are sore from carrying this wood and I can feel I have a damn splinter in my palm. I drop the wood and rocks by the rabbit I left by the door and start positioning the wood and some old clothing from the store in the shape of cone. I pick up the two apple sized rocks and start smashing and grinding them together and sparks start to fly off them. The fire wouldn't catch for about fifteen minutes but once I had it going I butchered the rabbit and took the most fresh looking parts of the animal. It was completely pitch black out now, I can only see where the glow of the fire eliminated but nothing past the warming glow. I look into the store where I left the boy laying. He was gone! I dart up and walk into the store and look for signs of him. Silence was swept in the room, the only thing I could hear is my rapid heart beat. Maybe he wasn't as grateful as I thought he would be. I start backing up towards the door, I would rather have some light to fight if I needed to.
"Uh your rabbit is burning..." A male voice called out sounding very weak. I jump at the sudden break of silence and draw my gun from my jacket pocket. "Whoa there, saving me just to shoot me later is pretty twisted....funny though you're not pointing that in the right direction" his voice cooed in the dim lit store. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I spin around gun still in hand and ready to fire and my first sight is seeing the boy I saved in front of me. "I'm sorry if I startled you, but honestly can you put the gun down, if I was trying to hurt you I would've done it while your back was turned" he says. I'm in complete shock, this is the first time I've actually heard him speak since he cried out for help in the rain. I lower my gun but still keeping a tight grip on it. "You're awake....?" I say. "Yes I'm awake, and your rabbit meat is still burning" he says with a slight smirk. I look to see the my rabbit meat was charred with black and race to it quickly to try and salvage what I could. It was still edible but the flavour must be a little gross but any food right now would satisfy me. The boy sat beside me and turned his head in my direction. "Hi my name is Ty, thank you for saving me and taking care of me, sorry for startling you earlier I had to use the bathroom and went for a stroll" he smiled and I could tell he wasn't a threat, at least not right now. "Ciara, my name is Ciara....you're welcome....here's some food" I push a piece of meat on a stick toward him. We sat and ate in silence, listening to the sound of the night creatures and the low hollows of wind. I felt exhausted from the day, I began to feel my eyes flutter into sleep. I try my hardest to fight sleep but it takes over and soon everything was dark and silent. The last sight I saw was the boy covering me with a pieces of clothes.

***its been a long while since I've updated...sorry guys but I made this chapter a little longer then usual, I really hope you enjoyed it :) thank you for reading***