The Spark

The thing.

They stopped paying attention to me now, not seeming to care I was there. It was not like I was going to attack them now anyways. The creature started banging on the door, startling me a bunch as the three scavs ran to hold it closed as it was the only thing between us and the creature. But instead of joining them I readied my revolver and pointed it right at the door, putting my KA-BAR away so I could hold the gun firmly in both of my paws. I called to them.

"Let it in!" As soon as that gate opened, I was going to shoot it, its not like it was strong enough to keep the thing out for long anyway, It was flimsy and weak.

"Are you insane" The larger human called. Maybe I was, I didn't really know what we where dealing with here but I'd done my research before I left the bunker.

"Do you have a better idea, your gate is flimsy as shit!" they held it for a moment, before finally nodding to one another and jumping backwards towards me.

With paws firmly holding the only thing standing between life and death I waited to see a glimpse of it, as soon as they where out of the way the thing busted through, it seemed to be somewhat human. But mutilated beyond belief, its jaw was unhinged horribly and its hands where instead replaced by blades of a green madly texture and it was decomposing horrifically, its torso had a massive hole revealing its insides, what wasn't entirely gone was rotted beyond repair. I lined up the shot for its head as It let out a screech, looking right at me and took the shot, its head exploded open to reveal another set of teeth as its blood, or what seemed to be blood splattered across the open gate and all over the ground. I reacted fast, pulling the hammer on my revolver back again to prepare the third round to fire. This time I aimed the firearm at its chest, hoping that'd cause some damage and again pulling the trigger. As expected, red liquid exploded from where the bullet landed and the creature was knocked to the ground, the scav with the spear took his chance to thrust it into the monsters head-mouth, finally killing it. We all stopped for a moment to breathe as I kept my weapon firmly in my grasp, but just at my side now, when everyone was finally over what we had just witnessed the three looked up at me.

"Want to trade?" He asked.

"Sure" I answered.

I ended up leaving that conversation with a gas mask that fit me in case of a storm in return for some water, they must've been out there for a while if they where that desperate, I don't know if they associated with the man I killed, I assume so. I'm just glad that they didn't know I was the one who killed him. As soon as we where done I skipped what was left of this town and continued on. Each step became heavier as I saw more and more of those fleshy rotting roots, I was getting closer, all I needed to do was follow them and I'd reach the source. I assume my theory is correct now, I haven't seen any parasites after the outpost I had traded at, I took a moment to sit down and eat some of the rations I had brought with me, sitting here I thought:

"Why do the outsiders want to help us? Do we have something they want? Or maybe they're here to kill us and take what we have. Either way we're dead, so this is our best shot at survival."

I thought back to the bunker, where they coping well after I left? I was a simple labourer, but I still had friends and people I cared about. I hope they're safe. I needed to rest but it wasn't safe here, I'd be eaten alive by the ground itself if I slept here. My limbs are tired, I need to sleep somewhere. So, I decided to keep moving until after only the lord knows how long I came across what was a building and decided to sleep amongst the rubble, it was far from comfortable, but it was a lot safer then sleeping on the ground. That night I was plagued with visions after I finally managed to fall asleep, flashes of a gruesome growth and horrors I could barley understand and then I awoke with the images still fresh in my mind, I could tell that I was getting closer, but I still had a long, long way to go until I could let them in.

Ofcourse, after some rations and a drink of water I continued across this baren hellscape for hours upon hours, I wanted to sit down and take a break but the need to be someone kept me going, I'm surprised I still feel this way after all I've endured so far. But then is saw something weird, was that a bunker in the distance? It looked a lot like the one I left. I cautiously approached it with my handgun raised, or at least by my side until I got to the door and pulled. Nothing happened, of course nothing happened, it's probably been sealed shut for years. As I turned to leave I heard the sound of metal screeching to see the door opening on its own. With my gun held firmly in my hand I saw two armed men standing by the now half-open bunker door, they wore black uniforms with light green cuffs, they held what seemed to be bolt-actions rifles and helmets with balaclavas hiding their identity, they just stared at me before the one on the right of the door that was now fully open spoke

"Well are you coming in or not?"

I continued to stare at him as he seemed to get impatient. I went to speak before another man in some scrappy looking Armor emerged.

"Welcome to the black-market kid! Where you can find anything that can be brought"

This must be a trading post, never heard of that before. But seeing that they hadn't shot me yet they clearly had no intent to shoot me, but something felt wrong so I kept the gun in my hand. I needed more supplies though, I was nearly out of Ammo for my revolver and the gear I had clearly wouldn't cut it, I need a better firearm and maybe some Armor or padding, anything really.

I followed the slightly armoured man into the bunker, it was a marketplace, a mix of people and furries that were selling everything from food to weapons. I ended up losing the man who was leading me and decided to take a look around, he was probably off doing his own thing. After handing over some water for ammunition and then some food for some more water I came across a stall that was selling Armor pieces and for some reasons flares, that's a weird combo. After talking to the man for a while he explained to me that flares where a useful method to evade those parasitic creatures.

"If you have a flare lit the things won't get close to you, it's a necessity to have at least one of these when wandering the wasteland, but it'll cost you!" He gave me a toothy smile as I ended up giving him some of my medical supplies, the alcohol and in return I was given around 3 flares.

I learnt you could also stay the night, but I refused the offer as I was short on supplies now, after reloading my revolver and handing over the empty cartridges for some crackers I left, walking out into the harsh hellscape yet again.

I don't know why I even left my home, at this point is it worth it? If soldiers with Armor and guns couldn't do anything how could I? I guess I really don't have an option anymore, its not like I could go back anyways. Speaking of bunkers I should have stayed at the black market, it was getting dark but I don't think I had enough to stay for a night anyways. Oh well, I'll need to find some destroyed buildings to spend the night in. Honestly now I'm getting closer I'm getting too scared to sleep, the thought of something happening in the night almost makes me sick, I'll either need something to keep me awake or I'll have to find a safe way to rest. Maybe I'll collapse or just die of exhaustion, who knows?

After finding another place to sleep I was awoken through the night by a number of sounds, but nothing seemed to bother me but that didn't help me sleep. As day finally arrived I dragged myself from the cold damp hiding spot and stepped into the mud with a squelch. Thank God I brought some actual boots with me.

Eventually, after a lot of walking I came across some more rubble of what used to be before everything went to hell here. I took my weapon out of its holster and cautiously looked around, flinching at every single sound. There's a lot of rebar here if you know where to look, it was used in the foundations of the walls but it could probably be of use some point so I piled it up into my almost empty bag, I came across no living people but found the corpse of one of my own. A soldier who'd fallen during combat. He was wearing a damaged light vest and a standard issue helmet, armed with an assault rifle. I took what supplies he had, putting on the vest that had some ammo in its pouches, all for the rifle, I of course took the rifle and a few other neat trinkets, now feeling a little bit safer I left the destroyed city. There was nothing left here for me anyways.