Beyond the Maze

Chapter 6: Ruins

The streets of that city were an absolute ruin. Withered trees, rubble, pieces of metal and glass everywhere, garbage, papers, the streets, and roads had large sinkholes and holes in the bitumen and tiles and the buildings were devoid of their facades that stood up showing the nakedness of their insides. and its foundations. Every hint of progress made by humanity seemed to have been diluted like some sugar in a coffee; there was nothing left. What was once a prosperous city was now collapsing under its own weight as the immensity of the desert devoured it little by little, as if nature were reclaiming a land leased in the past.

"It's as if the echo of a war still resonates through the streets of the city," Newt stammered as he looked everywhere, as if trying to find signs of life and civilization.

"I don't understand why WICKED would release us into this damn joint, without even knowing if we're in danger from a war or not," Minho blurted out as he clenched his fists.

"Calm down Minho," Aris snapped.

"I can't! I can't calm down when we are about to perish from starvation and dehydration! These shucked shanks only want to kill us" the Asian boy was angry, "they don't care what happens to us, and they must also revel in our suffering since they are watching us, I'm sure.

"That may be true, but we can't let panic take over now," Newt intervened to try to lighten the matter.

No, Newt, no. You can't come and tell me to keep my composure when you know very well that you think exactly the same as me.

The wind began to blow lightly through the streets of the ruined city devoured by the desert. The small grains of sand rose with the blow and scratched our skin like small sharp, prickly crystals.

We were on a wide avenue with two lanes for each direction of traffic, raised sidewalks and sections of garden and trees on the same sidewalks. It was a rather gloomy panorama, and a dark aura embraced the confines of the ruins that still stood, marking the last vestiges of ancient humanity.

"Minho, listen to me," Newt repeated, putting his hand on her right shoulder. You're still the leader, do you understand me? If you collapse, the platoon will collapse with you, so do me a favor and try to calm down, open your mind and relax a little," Newt finished. Let's rest for a while and eat something.

"You go, I want to take a look around the scene and make sure no one is ambushing us," he stated as he walked towards an intersection, which had several traffic lights down on the ground.

"Where do you think you're going?" Minho asked, startled.

"I think I said it very clearly," I said with my arms open.

"You can't go on an adventure out there alone".

"Of course, I can."

"You stupid slinthead," the leader growled as he murdered me with his gaze.

"Don't worry, Minho, he has more field experience and will be able to examine the terrain and determine more threats and details that we would miss," Newt said, trying to calm things down.

"Yes, listen to Newt and don't worry so much, because in the end I'm going to start thinking that you do care about me, in a minimal way," I said between mocking laughs.

"You're stupid, but I don't see why you shouldn't go alone," Minho growled, "well, with any luck we'll end the day with a mouth to feed."

"Whatever you say, Minho."

"Bah, you get on my nerves. Let's see if your circuits don't rust with the sand or something similar," he said in a frustrating and angry way.

I began my march along the city avenue, toward the unknown. The cloudy landscape imposed itself before me, between the buildings, as if it were warning me that the enemy was prepared for a preemptive attack. I didn't like that situation, but I had no other choice.