until the very end

part 3

I wasn’t naive. I knew my small victory on Hope and Skyler meant nothing. They would find a way to get back at me. How long would it take for their secrets to get out? Probably not long, knowing how fast news spread within the FAYZ. And then I would have nothing to negotiate about.

And they weren’t even the only enemies I had made so far.
I was absently throwing knives into a tree in an attempt to improve my aim, while trying to think of a solution. No matter how hard I concentrated, I still didn’t know how to activate this supposed power of mine. And even if I did, according to Diana I was barely a two-bar. Physical strength wasn’t my thing, so far I had mostly used my sharp tongue and emotional manipulation to get through life, but I was starting to doubt how far this would get me in a place like this.
I would need to change my strategy if I wanted to keep my brother alive. But that wasn’t all. I was determined to make the most of this place. I felt like this place was full of opportunities, but for some people they were easier than others. People who were gifted with telekinesis or superstrength for example. No, I would either need to drastically improve my fighting skills or find some stronger allies to protect myself. Maybe both.

I felt my mind wander off to this mysterious thing they called the Gaiaphage. No one seemed to know what it was, except that it was able to infiltrate people’s mind and make them feel terrible pain.
It sounded intrigueing.

I wondered if what Skyler said was true, if Drake really joined the side of the monster that was seen as the ultimate evil of this place.
I wondered what I would need to do to achieve the same.
“You look awfully serious for someone who is throwing knives at a tree.”

I span around to see a tall guy with messy black hair and goggles lean against a tree, watching me in amusement.
“What do you want?” I asked, immediately drawing my knife.
The guy put his hands up in surrender. “I mean no harm, fair lady. I just enjoy watching you mutilate that poor tree.”

I sighed, walking over to the tree to pull out the knives. Two out of three had hit the target. I was definitely getting better at this. “Do you not have anything better to do than bothering people?”
“I’m not trying to bother you. I think you’re good.” He smiled warmly at me. “I am Carl.”
“Great. I didn’t care.” I turned to throw the next knife.
“I think knives alone aren’t enough to keep you alive in this new world,” he commented.

I let out an experaged sigh. “Are you going to contribute something useful to this conversation, or will you shut up?”
“I can help you.” Carl pulled out a gun. My eyes widened.
“Where did you get that?”
He shrugged. “It’s not that hard if you know where to look. Although I suppose it’s only a matter of days until more people here will have one of these.” He winked. “The real question is… who knows how to use it?”

I studied him with a tilted head. “And… you are one of those who does?”
Carl nodded. “My dad taught me and my sister how to fight, from a very young age. I don’t like to use it. I don’t like violence.” It sounded like an apology. “But it’s useful to have one of these, just in case.” He threw me the gun and I caught it swiftly in one hand. He pulled out another. “I could teach you.” He grinned at me.
I bit my lip, pondering my options. This guy was, like most people, annoying. Him teaching me how to shoot would mean I would have to spend time with him and this would definitely give me a headache. But then again, if it would give me an advantage over other people… Skyler also knew how to use a gun.
“I mean, I guess it would be useful to know how to kill someone before they have the chance to kill me,” I said.
“Yay.” Carl threw his hands in the air, cheering as if I just told him he won the lottery. I rolled my eyes.
“But under one condition,” he said.
“What now?”
“I want to know your name.” He winked.

“Gwen Landwijk.”
“Unusual name.”
“Yeah, my family is originally from somewhere in Europe. I have never been there, though.”
“Isn’t Gwen a boy’s name?” He seemed intrigued.

“Yeah. My parents already had one daughter and they would rather have their second child be a boy, but then there was me,” I said dryly. “Luckily, they got an actual boy after me.”
“Ah. So they must be happy to get your brother then,” Carl said.
“Not really, considering the fact that they pretty much completely neglected the both of us and we wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for our older sister.” I smiled emotionlessly.
“Oh.” Carl didn’t know what to say to that. Good.

“So, anyways. Let’s begin,” I said.
“Right.” Carl put away the goggles.
“Yeah, why the hell are you wearing goggles in the woods?” I raised an eyebrow.
“They help me see,” he explained as he tried to put them on me. I dodged his hands.

“Hey, hands off my hair!”
Carl laughed as he ran his hands through my hair. “Who’s my pissed off bestie?”
I glared at him. “Don’t ever do that again.”
He handed me a comb. I raised my eyebrow.
“To fix your hair,” he explained.
“I don’t need to fix my hair. It’s already perfect.”
“Not when I’m around.” He grinned, but when he saw the cold look in my eyes, he tried to smuggle it in a cough.
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s begin,” he said finally.