A Volatiles Claim

Patching Up a Pilgrim

            "Damn, so they didn't make it after all..." I say with a grimace, looking down at the mutilated bodies of the two male survivors from my group.

After I woke up all safe and sound in the nightrunner's hideout I made my way back to the corner store to see if they were there after they didn't answer my calls over the radio. They didn't make it far from the entrance, only ended up making it around the corner from the entrance before they were caught. And as bad as it sounds, I am thankful that their packs weren't taken or lost... after all that is what we came here for so it would be a shame to just leave them here.

Once I was sure that all three bags were secured to my own, I began the somewhat short trip back to the Bazaar. Taking the rooftops once again, I allow myself to think about how life was, or more specifically, how painful and boring it is. Some people would say 'be grateful that you are alive' and all that, but is it worth it now? Most survivors have managed to make their homes on the tops of buildings, sometimes inside of them if it's safe enough, or in the Bazaar/Inner Loop. People fight over everything, either from stupidity or out of desperate need. I've patched up so many people from their fights with other survivors, Renegades, and even PK all over what little they had. And just the other day a thug and his crazy friend took over the only water tower in Old Villedor! Now, people are hoarding water because we won't know if we will get any more if we are unable to pay Joe and Jack's outrageous demands for supplies each month.

And that's just the human aspects of the downsides of living in a post-apocalyptic world. The greater more deadly reason why living now sucks is that infected practically cover every square inch of the city. The biters are easy to take care of, but it only becomes a problem if you managed to get surrounded by a hoard of them. Virals are a pain in the ass to deal with because, unlike the biters, not only can they run, but they can also climb, leap, and are capable of almost animalistic fighting behavior. The same can be said for all the other special infected, from the Hulk-like Goons to the chaotic witches that appear at night. The bottom line is that you are always in danger, whether it be from infected or other humans, even at all hours of the day and night.

Surviving on the other hand depends on who you ask. Some people take on roles like how most did before the fall, like doctors, farmers, shopkeepers, and leaders. I'd say that most who take on their roles are either happy to contribute to the community for safety and familiarity or use it to distract themselves from how terrible life is now. One day your surviving family and friends are here, the next they could be eaten alive by the infected, become part of the infected population, killed by survivors or PK, hell basically anything could happen. With limited food, water, and supplies, each day is a struggle to just get out of our makeshift beds. People and places smell like absolute shit from no plumbing, showers, and the ever-present smell of decay. Almost all of the power from generators are used to keep the UV lights powered on at all times, air conditioning is pretty much illegal with how much power they use. And modern medicine has gone back to using herbs and other things (with the few rare instances that one finds surviving medicine from before The Fall) to combat diseases and illnesses.

I let out a sigh as I near the front entrance of the Bazaar, mumbling my final train of thought out loud. "I just want to experience something new, something that justifies surviving in this hellish world..."

Showing the guard my biomarker, I am allowed through the gate and immediately pick up the loud chatter and music inside the Bazaar. While it's comforting to hear, I've always wondered how volatiles and special infected haven't been attracted to the noise. Like, during the day maybe a few biters will swarm the sides of the outer wall, but how come Goons, Witches, or Volatiles seem to have no interest in investigating the loud noises in the center of the district? Oh well, guess even then I'm grateful that they are brainless when it comes to that.