Tainted Lenses Part 1

Chapter 2 - The Voice of the Wind

"Breakfast for any of you miserable folks that rely on me to administer the nectar of life!" The familiar sound of Minka cut upstairs from the floor below.

Hammond was already gone, so I got up and got dressed with a new energy and curiosity. Something was happening now, something that I felt was going to bring so much more happening in my life. I wish I had been careful what I wished for.

The novelty of Zelie had slightly worn off during the previous night, but a few people sat away from the clump as everyone drank from her company.

I looked around, searching for someone else to talk to and spotted Haven, and came to sit next to her at the stools as always. She turned to me.

"Oh? You're not fanning over the newcomer?"

I chuckled. "She may be awfully curious, but I don't know much about her right now."

"You don't know much about me either. So why do you always come here?

"What are you talking about? You were the one to greet me here, to be my friend."

"You do realize that you truly cannot know anyone in this place? No one knows what you ever did before you came here. Anyone in here could lie to you about their past. They could've done anything and you don't know. And have you seen the things the people bring, the objects only meant for them?"

"No, what is wrong with having personal items?"

"Nothing. It's just... There are odd things in the sanctuary. Odd things in the cellar. Odd things in the rooms. There's something wrong with all of this and I hope to find out what it is."

We ate the rest of the meal in silence, her and I, old friends. But she was right, neither of us truly knew anything about the other despite all we had talked about. All of our old conversations.

After breakfast Minka made an announcement.

"I'm afraid to tell you all, though you probably have already figured it out, that we need to find supplies. So, today you all will be going out in search of provisions for our survival. The hunt will begin right after we all are finished eating. "

There was murmured agreement from the ground.

"And if any of you are lazy stupid idiots who want to stay here and help with everyone's early deaths, we will hate you forever, but you are free to do that if you have a good reason. Botot, you're fine to stay."

The old woman gave a grateful nod.

Haven and I stood up and handed Minka our plates.

"Oh, and by the way y'all, I'll be here," Minka called out to the slowly rising crowd, "If you need anything or find anything, bring it straight here. Does that sound good?" The crowd murmured an acknowledgement.

"Everyone, get in groups of 2 and start heading out. We don't have any time to waste."

Beckham started for Zelie who was grabbed a bit too soon by Rosalina and changed his course to Hammond. Weston joined with his wife Roseanne, Foxton joined with Wilmer, and I was left with Haven.

"Well, off we go to save the sanctuary!" I said, patting her on the back. She gave me a sideways glance.

"Sure."

And the two of us left out of the building for one of the first times in the history of the sanctuary.

We began to walk aimlessly for a time when Haven mumbled something about having forgotten a certain thing, what it was I didn't catch, and she jogged back to the building as I waited where I stood.