The Post-World

Chapter Eleven

After traveling for nearly 4 hours we stumbled upon many small ponds and streams but nothing drinkable. Avon was beginning to get frustrated and Illia was struggling to calm him as he helped lead us with William forward.

When I was starting to loose my own patience and almost took a drink of one of my last waters Henry pulled my into the brush.

"Henry, what are you doing?!" I pushed him off me.

He brushed himself off. "I scouted ahead and you won't believe what I found." He stood up and offered his hand to help me up.

I declined it and stood up myself. "Why did you not tell everyone then?"

"We are headed straight for it so we will all see it and I don't want to ruin it for them. It could potentially ruin moral." He went on as if he made sense which he did not.

"Well show me then." I motioned for him to move forward.

"Okay I'll show you." He pushed branches out of his way and we moved around and ahead of the main group.

As we traveled I talked. "So why were you scouting forward?"

Henry was leading me up a hill. "Avon warned me this morning that I need to show my usefulness if I want to get anywhere in the group so I took up scouting. Its what got me to rank 3. "

"Why not tell Avon about what you found then?"

"This is not the kind of thing that proves its immediate usefulness. I don't think its to anyone's advantage." He answered as he stopped. "Alright... I don't know why I didn't actually tell him... I just... Want to be a step ahead of everyone for once..."

"Henry, it doesn't help anyone to be dishonest like this." I said.

"Let's just forget about this..." He looked ahead. "Everyone is going to find it soon anyways..." He took my arm and led me into a small dip in the ground, then up again.

It was... Incredible. The forest had grown so dense from decades of no human interference that I couldn't even see it from the sky ship when the window was opened. My father spoke of it as if it was just as simple as a sunset or the lights on the ceiling. A road. Black with the bright yellow stripes, it looked brand new.

"It's just a road but wow... Isn't it amazing?" Henry commented.

If I didn't know any better I would question if it went on forever. But I knew it didn't. Still... Fascinating to think that humans once held such a grip to slice through the wilderness like this.

"It is incredible." I placed my foot on the road to feel the solidness of the asfault. "The others are going to freak out over this."

"It seems to be fairly new. No holes or cracks... Must have been just laid since before the cleansing." Henry looked down the seemingly endless black streak. "Lucifer... THIS is what they sent us down for. They want us to bring it all back. The huge buildings and busy roads. They want it all back."

I sighed. "I know Henry... It's a lot of pressure..."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "You're a smart person. You have very high marks. But you don't try to assert yourself. That's a really respectful thing but its always going to keep you down."

"Henry, I can't do anything here. We are all just getting to know each other and things are going to be stressful at first but it is not as dire, socially as you act. William and Avon both are excellent leaders. I'm sure they will do what's right." I started to turn around.

Henry pulled me back. I shot around and pushed him on the ground. "Don't... Fuck with me Henry. I don't want anything to do with your conspiracies." I offered him my hand to help him up. "Just pull your weight and we can all get along."

He pushed my hand aside and stood up. "You know Lucifer... You aren't going to make it with rivals like me. And if thing go south for you, don't expect me to have your back." He brushed against me and left to rejoin the group.

***********************************************************************Sorry for the short chapter but there is a huge one coming up soon. And I will start adding lore chapters to help clear up certain questions regarding the world. Ask me a question and if it is not a critical plot point you may get a chapter. To clear up how the rank numbers work I will publish the key. Thank you and PLEASE COMMENT ME LORE QUESTIONS! I HAVE ALL THE DETAILS!