Mirage

Chapter 6

Two months later.

The floor was damp and cold, every movement a disgusting reminder that she was not sure if she was laying in vomit or piss. Or worse. These raiders kept all the children and teenagers in Cages that were barely large than a chick coup. They were literally sleeping and stepping atop of one another twenty-four seven. At least when they weren't being drafted to the fighting pit.

All the way here the raiders would stop by various settlements, taking the children and teenagers. Judging by how far they had traveled and how close to the coast they were, Mai assumed they were somewhere in California. Her mother had shown her pictures in an old travel book she brought home from scavenging one day. Mai remembered being mesmerized by the pictures of the ocean. In her current predicament, she was less enthused.

Kids who didn't make the cut or who lost in the arena were thrown into the waters for the water life to feed on. They needed strong fighters but also needed them small enough and fast enough that they could be used for scavenger runs if needed. Something to give them an edge over The Highwaymen.

The way the Raiders spoke of these Highwaymen made them sound like the boogeyman. A boogeyman with an army of motor vehicles at their disposal. Mai could only get so much information from eavesdropping. From the sounds of it, they were moving westward leaving only ruins in their wake. Mai's stomach churned as she thought of her parents and her other extended family. They had no idea what was coming, and here she was, drafted into some sick fighting arena so these Raiders had a fighting chance.

At least the fights were only once a week, meaning she only had fifty-two chances of being selected.

Judging from the moon's position, it was half past midnight. Mai was snuggled up against the two friends she had made during her captivity here: Scorch (as he liked to be called) a jumpy but pretty stocky built boy roughly her age. He figured with a name like Scorch and his size, the other children would not bother them. Then there was Bee, short for Beatrice. Bee was a small little thing and probably one of the youngest kids here, at most ten or eleven years old. Mai took to Bee like a moth to flame, trying to conceal her own fear by acting maternally to the scared girl.

As Scorch lay sleeping, Mai read quietly to Bee the Captain America comic she had brought with her the day she was snatched up. At least the raiders were kind enough to allow them to have one personal item. Kept morale up as they would say. Most of the writing had faded due to her recent conditions so Mai had to make up the story as she went along

"So then, the Captain raised his shield and with all his might, hurled it at the Red-skull." She spoke excitedly but careful not to wake the others.

"That'll teach you to mess with America." Her voice deepened, trying to mimic what she imagined a man in an American flag costume would sound like.

Bee giggled as she wiggled closer to Mai, "You'd make a great superhero."

"You think? I'm not sure if spandex is quite my style." Mai mused, making Bee continuously giggle.

The laughter was short lived as footsteps approached, crunching the leaves beneath them. Mai and Bee hurriedly his the comic as two lights beamed through the cage. Three raiders stood just outside the cage, their faces obscured by gas masks or sack hoods.

"Alright maggots! Wake up!" One raider began to shout.

Quickly, the cage stirred to life. The children scurried like little cockroaches trapped inside a jar, standing attentively.

"There's been a change in plans. Bossman wants two fights per week now, starting right now. Supplies are low and we need to weed out the weak."

The children began to murmur amongst themselves. Mai's stomach twisted as Bee took hold of her hand.