Fallen Star

Chapter 1

“How much fuel we got left?” A man dressed in a heavy wool coat asked a pale woman.

“About a gallon, not even enough to last us a few days.”, the woman replied in a somber tone.

“Damn it. What about the refinery, you check that recently?” The man asked harshly, nearly knocking the cigarette out from between his peeling lips.

“Nothing, we burned through all the remaining oil last month. If I’m thinking correctly, all heating and power will shut down within the next few days.”

“Where we gonna get more then? Aren’t the vendors nearby all out of stock?”

“Of course they are, the shortage hit everyone. Nobody was saved from it, not even those who stockpiled it.”

“Great…. hold on, don’t we have a share in an oil derrick a couple miles away?”

“Sure, but I rode out on our last good horse yesterday, found it dry like everything else around here.”

“You got coin on you?”

“I always do, why do you ask?”
‘
“I need all of it, I’ve got a plan to get us some oil.”

“What exactly are you implying? This isn’t one of your ‘masterplans’ again is it?”

“No, I wouldn’t want to repeat last time I tried that.” The man stated as he tightened a valve on a large insulated steel pipe. He eyed the woman fondly and briskly walked past her once he was finished servicing the valves. Quickly he turned back and extended his arm toward her. “The coin, I need it before I leave for Cera Station.”

“Fine, spend it with good intentions though, that’s the last bit of pay I’ll get for the next couple weeks.” She frowned and reached into the pocket of her insulated trousers to pull out two small silver disks. Each coin left a chill on her hand, even with the heavy gloves she was wearing. Placing the currency into the man’s hand, she watched them shine dimly in the light of the nearby oil lamp. The man began turning away from her when she blurted, “Hey Rich.”

“What’s wrong?” The man asked as he turned around to face the woman.

“Stay safe out there, I heard from Tabby that the bandits have been dismembering travelers recently. This world’s gotten so grim in the past 15 years. Also, don’t let the cold get to you, it’s quite a bitter way to go out.”

“I’ll watch for them and I’ll make sure I keep my torch lit throughout the journey. Seems colder than usual lately, by the way, you got an extra can of Heat I could bring along?”

“Sure,” the woman slipped her hand down to her belt and pulled a small aluminum can off a utility clip. She tossed the canister into Rich’s open hands. “Keep it close, the cold has never really been kind to the ignorant.”

“Thanks, Seb, if I can, I’ll find somebody cheap to help us get the turbines moving again. I’m tired of constantly struggling to find fuel.” Rich stated hopefully as he finally turned away from Seb. He pulled a long metallic rod from his coat and struck it against a rough patch that had been carelessly stitched to his sleeve. In a sudden eruption, the end of the tool drew a flame that lit a great distance around him.

Holding up the great light, Rich walked cautiously on the frost below him as he found his way towards their stable. As he drew near to the stables, wind knocked upon his woolen sides. Surprise and disdain filled him then, for wind was uncommon, but was extraordinarily destructive when it appeared. The sound of rattling crowded the air as the metal that constructed the stables shook violently. 

Once he reached the door of the large structure, he inserted his hand into a thin slot located on the right side of the door. Clicking sounds bounced around from the inside of the door as Rich slowly rotated his hand to the left. His grip tightened on the torch while the wind grew increasingly stronger, threatening to rip it out of his hand.

White light poured out from behind the door, piercing into Rich’s eyes and causing him to close his eyes immediately. A small bout of pain shot through his skull as his eyes were forced to adjust to the sudden change in brightness. The thick iron door continued to slide back into a position between the walls of the stable as Rich stumbled inside, still rubbing his eyes.

Warmth showered his body as he began to look around the stable, viewing rows of empty pens and those with rotting corpses of horses within. Putrid smells drifted into his nose as he drew a scarf away from his face. Though he expected the horrifying sight and smell after not being able to feed his workhorses for weeks, he peeled back in utter disgust and replaced the scarf over his nose. A small muscular horse stood alone in a pen towards the back of the stable and shook violently.

Rich stared into the pitiful eyes of the starving horse as he picked up a small iron bucket of grain. The horse watched carefully as he brought the bucket towards the horse to feed it. Once the bucket reached the animal’s pen, it leaned its head over the edge of the gate keeping it contained. Bits of grain dropped over the sides of the bucket while the horse’s mouth smashed into the loosely packed particles. The horse, as it eats, continues to lean its head into the bucket of grain, consuming every ounce of it. Rich nearly came to tears at the sight of the starving horse, though emotion remains absent from his face; realizing that if he becomes weak if this horrifying world, he may never recover from the tremendous loss of sight through irrational blindness.Another concern that sat upon Rich’s mind was a loss of hydration, being that clean water was difficult to find.

Once the horse was fed, the bucket was nearly empty, he pulled the bucket away and placed it on the ground near the gate of the horse’s pen. He drew his hand toward the deadbolt that kept the gate locked and pulled it loose. The chain dangled lightly downward, tapping against a wooden post. Standing solemnly, the horse stared at Rich in surprise, though it was nearly in fear. It had been starved and the only one to blame for such abuse was Rich, despite it being forced by circumstance.

Rich pulled a saddle from the ground and walked into the pen with the horse. He forced the harness up and over the animal’s back, wrapping it around the horse’s emaciated body. It shook lightly, as if being near Rich induced terror. Placing his foot into the stirrups that were now settled, he mounted the animal and took the reins delicately into his hands.

As the pair moved forward, Rich bounced the thought of the horse’s survival within his head. He found it unlikely that the poor creature would be able to make it even half of the six hour journey to town. ‘Stranger things have happened I suppose, though I doubt in the capability it has to get through tthis trip. Not to mention the affect ice has on a horse’s hooves.’ Rich let out an anxious sigh, knowing he may never come home, exclusively because his horse would probably die on the way and he’d freeze with it. ‘Or worse…’, Despite his attempts to calm himself, anxiety shook him from within, plaguing his brain with thought. ‘Bandits, damn it. I’ll be lucky if I end this journey with my head still attached.’