Embrace The Madness: Cataclysm

16. Deliverance (part 1)

[day 176]

Patrick woke to a wetness on his cheek. He opened his eyes to see the small, black and white puppy licking his face. The familiar texture of a dogs tongue felt welcoming for Patrick.

"Dingo!" Came the whisper of a small boy, who had messy, black hair.

The puppy turned its small head and waddled away, towards the boy, who gave Patrick a sour look.
Patrick didn't take offence, it was too early for him to feel those emotions.
He watched the boy lift the dog into his arms, which he hardly struggled with. The boy got bombarded by the dog licking his face to the point where his sourness became laughter.

"That's Diana's boy". Patrick turned to see Ozzy sitting in a chair next to him.

Patrick's response consisted of a confused look and a rub of his eyes. He also followed with a "huh?"

"Doesn't matter..." Ozzy looked down at his feet, "anyway! Breakfast!"

He got up and began to rummage in a nearby cardboard box.
At this point, the others had got up, though Noah hadn't really slept at all.
Ozzy came back with a can of corn which he had just opened, he also had a small plastic spoon.

"Just a spoonful" he said, handing the can to Patrick.

Patrick was taken aback by this, his hand, which held the spoon, hovered over the can.

"What?" Asked Patrick, "how the hell do you live off a spoonful?"

"We eat more than that" Ozzy retorted, "just... in moderation."

"Moderation?" Said a wide eyed Oliver, "my guy, you own these streets, there's so many of you, just go out scavenging."

He looked around at all the big, strong men and women in cutoff denim jackets and leather boots. But as he looked upon the elderly and the sick, he was beginning to see the bigger picture.

"No.. I don't.. no" Ozzy admitted.

"What do you mean?" Asked Rose.

Ozzy looked back at Charles, who sat by his table, talking with Jude. He then looked back and swallowed.
He leaned forward to the group.

"There's these guys. Assholes. Terrorising everyone, bunch of weirdos, dressed all punk-like."

Noah began to scratch his neck as his gaze drifted. He was in a deep thought.

"Blonde guy?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ozzy's eyes lit up and his mouth became agape. He mustered up a nod.

"Wait, you guys know him?"

"Yeah... yeah, he uhh..." Patrick had trouble discussing the topic, being that Oliver was right there.

"He killed my friend" said Oliver, who had a stone cold expression.

Rose sat there, her hands on her knees, a calculating look painted her face. The voices that continued to speak around her became distant, almost incomprehensible. She stood up, fists bawled and stormed over to where Charles was sitting. She could sense Ozzy pleading with her to stop, but she wasn't having it.

"Hey!" She exclaimed, "what's this I hear about you being 'terrorised' by a group of strangers?"

Charles turned, diverting his attention from Jude. He snapped a cold look at Ozzy, who had his head in his hands.
He didn't say a word, not yet, just squinted his eyes at her.

"Look at you," she turned around, pointing at all of the powerful-looking people, "yeah, Oliver's right, there's so many of you, why roll over like this?"