Madman's Break

Welcome

We enter a small rustic town. Theres clothing lines strung up between home windows. Surprisingly kids are playing in the streets with laughter. Adults talking and smiling with one another. I expected a slum like town with not an ounce of happiness. I was so wrong as we make our way to this building everyone I see is happy. I look around in shock this place is living it's best life regardless of the circumstances.

   We make our way through Town Cada approaching a house. One story rundown building with boarded windows and "Town Hall" spray painted in red across the walls. We enter and there's a group of 6 people plus one dog. A man stands up, at least 6 foot and muscles popping through his shirt. This man reaches his hand out to shake mine and says "my name is Jason". I shake his hand his grip is firm enough my hand opens a little bit.

   He looks me in my eyes with a stern stare. "This is my town and these are my people" he says. Gesturing behind him to the group sitting down. He states " All these people play an important role to keep this town together". Everyone introduces theirselves, the first person to stand up introduces himself as Isaiah. He's about 5'8 long curly black hair that gets in his face, very soft features and a low tone in his voice. The next is Sam, standing as tall as Jason sporting a glare. The fourth person is Isobel, a short fiery girl. She can't be anymore then 16 but she has a crazy look in her eyes. The fifth member is Demetrius, he's about 5'7 and lanky. He's got glasses and a nerds hunch. The last person at this table is Hardy, he wears a long black overcoat with long black straight hair that covers his face while he looks down. He stayed quite the whole time trying a little to hard to be all mysterious. Finally but definitely not least a small muscular pit bull mix with the sweetest smile ever his name is Buddha a fitting name.

Jason starts talking to me " we are running low on supplies, enough for about 6 months after that we'll be to low to sustain everyone" he continues " we have to make it into the cities and start collecting from the cities". I look around and ask about the gas being poisonous. Demetrius steps forward "we a few gas mask that the teds use". I interrupt "what are teds". Isobel jumps up excited " I named the government people teds after ted bundy" with a huge smile on her face. Demetrius continues "we can use these to get in, I'm working on homemade gas mask we can get the last few things I need for my prototype while we are out". Sam hands me a mask with a grin on her face she tells me "just in case you survive tomorrow".

They give me a rundown of the plan. It's going to be me and Demetrius heading into town. Keeping our heads down we will move through the buildings and alley ways to avoid sight. He has a map of the city with a route drawn out. We will hit 2 hardware stores and one grocery store plus anything we see on the way. It was originally supposed to be Sam and Demetrius going but since I showed up they decided to test my abilities. We leave tomorrow night to Ponto City.

   They show me to a small house that I'll have a room in. Most people share houses with each other so I only get a room. As we are heading back I notice Buddha walking around. I walk over to pet him and he runs up to me with short stumpy legs and a waddle. He rolls onto his back tail wagging smiling with anticipation of a belly rub. I pet him for a while before moving on. Buddha comes and goes as he pleases going into the woods often no one knowing what he does.

   I sit down and check my bag to see what I have available for tomorrow. It's the same gear I brought just a few granola bars, two water bottles, a knife, and a gun. It's turning to sundown when I hear people chattering outside. I walk out the building and see everyone gathered around a fire eating. The community here is amazing everyone enjoys dinner with one another just to keep spirits high. I don't know how Jason did it but this town he has is amazing.

   I walk up to Demetrius and ask to sit next to him. He gestures me to have a seat so I do. Sitting on a log close to the fire we have our first conversation. I start by asking about the trip tomorrow and how he feels about me being the one to accompany him. He looks at me " you look capable enough plus you survived this long on your own so you have to have some sort of instincts". Isobel walks up with 2 bowls of soup and sits next to me. She hands me the bowl then ask " have you ever killed anyone"? A small grin appears on her face but I tell her I used to be in the military. She asks me to tell her all the details on all the murders I've committed. Demetrius tells her to knock it off then gestures her to leave. Isobel makes a pouting face but agrees and leaves us.

    Demetrius looks at me "be careful with that one she's not all there". I ask him what he means " she watched her parents get killed by the teds when she was to young. Since then she's been a little messed up and obsessed with murder". A look of shock on my face appears when he tells me. He continues "all of us have been through a lot so we don't judge one another here. This town has become a haven for all of us thanks to Jason". We finish our conversation and the starts begin to light up the sky. Eventually everyone goes inside and I'm left alone. Cold and in the dark I keep my gaze on the dancing lights in the sky. Buddha comes over from the woods for a cuddle buddy plus some attention. I spend about an hour petting Buddha while he rest his head on my lap and we star gaze together. I'm ready for tomorrow.