Downfall

Chapter Six

                                *EDITED*                                        Ava's POV

     I hated but liked the town of Cactus. Everything was dead. There was hardly any shade. Barely any water to drink from. It was so fucking dusty, I felt so gross after coming back to the little abandoned cabin I had found. The only thing I liked about the town, was that it was literally in the middle of nowhere. On the week-long journey here, I ransacked any abandoned or empty house or shed with hopes of finding old clothes or even canned food that I had no way of opening unless I used a knife or rock to smash it open. I gave more of the food I found to Tilly and Ruby than I ate myself, because they were more important. 

     It's been three years since the horror of that day at the ranch. I still have nightmares. Everyone's lifeless bodies sitting up and telling me how it's my fault they died or how could I let that happen to them. I have become a proficient thief. Stealing from houses in the middle of the night. I have collected quite a few small weapons that I can use if need be. My favorite being a pair of old shears that have just the right amount of weight to easily slip into someone. I have a few throwing knives that I could use. Those are strapped to my person at all times. A sickness of Cholera had just gone away from the town when I got here. There's still people who are on the verge of death just laying in one spot for days. I try to help them, but they've given up. While I have given up both mentally and emotionally, My physical person hasn't let me down yet. My mind has become worse every day. I'm so full of anger and hatred. Not good qualities to pick up, but it's easier than crying every five seconds. I vowed to never give a shit about anyone other than my horse and my dog.

     I gave up trying to sleep. It's pointless if every time you close your eyes, you see the people you cared deeply about dismembered and carved into. I touch the right side of my body where the brand I had from my father was. I had stolen some numbing herbs from the doctor's office in one of the towns on the way to Cactus. I used one of my throwing knives to slice as much of the skin off as possible. It left a pretty brutal scar but, I'll take that over what used to be there. My shoulders are completely healed, thank goodness. I have learned which plants and herbs can do the most basic healing and I carry them around in little glass vials that I also stole from the doctor's practice. Ruby always comes with me to town when Tilly decides she wants to run away from me every time I want to catch her. Today was one of those days.

     "Come on Ruby, lets go see what we can steal today," I say, slightly out of breath from chasing Tilly around the small fence I built around the cabin. She sticks as close to me as possible on the walk to town and I couldn't feel more protected. After securing my dirty hair into a braid, I pick up the empty sack I hide by the windmill to put all my items in that I steal. My favorite time to go is when it's pitch black outside. The only lights are the beautiful stars and the flickering lights of the lanterns that are lit. After setting down the bag with a soft thud, I quietly command Ruby to stay put, pointing to the spot next to me. Moving nearly silent, I slip into the saloon and go behind the counter. If I squint I can see a few bottles of unopened alcohol. I try to look for anything else, but no luck. With a quiet sigh, I slip out of the saloon, carefully closing the swinging doors.

     Next, I go to the back of the genera store and gently twist the door knob. Unlocked. Like always. As I shove my pockets full of various canned foods like peas, baked beans, corn, there's a few loud thuds in the next building, causing me to freeze. To calm my panicked heart, I silently maneuver myself to a window, making sure Ruby is staying out of sight. I see the faint glow of her eyes under the windmill, her body blending into the shadows it provides. I let out a sigh of relief and grab a chocolate bar for myself and some salted meat and as quietly as possible, leave the general store through the back. I almost make it to the windmill when I am suddenly yanked by my braid, falling onto the ground.