Cruel by nature

Chapter 1

"Shit", I close my eyes and curse under my breath, "shit, shit, shit."

Opening my eyes again, I scan through the room I've turned completely upside down. Various bottles and boxes of pills and different medicines are scattered all over the floor, but I've already checked their labels. Twice. They're all useless to me.

I've already taken what little I might need, but the one thing I risked this whole break-in for is nowhere to be seen. Clearly, someone else was here before me.

I'm not surprised. I mean, why wouldn't they be? It's each man and woman for themselves, and when you're on the run, medicine should be amongst the top of your priorities. If not, you'll have two choices to pick from if you get sick; surrender or die.

I'm not willing to die, but I'd rather live out the pathetic excuse of my life in freedom rather than as a captive in a society where I'm seen as a lesser being than the rest only because I'm human.

I curse once more as I gaze into the empty cabinet where the birth control pills used to be. The empty space is staring back at me tauntingly, reminding me that I need to find a new pharmacy - quickly- unless I want to test my luck and increase my chances of getting caught by a million, if not more.

Realizing that I have no reason to stay any longer, I throw my backpack over my shoulder and make my way out of the closed-down store. As soon as I step outside, the wind grabs a hold of me and nearly forces me back inside, but I persistently pull my jacket closer to my body and make my way towards the empty road ahead of me.

It's only a month or two until winter comes around, and I'm dreading it with my whole being. The weather is already cruel enough with constantly strong winds and rainstorms, but the winter is known to be merciless, especially for the ones of us that refuse to surrender. Every year, when the winter strikes at full force, we cease in numbers. Either because we're caught against or will, or because we surrender in order to gain shelter from the deadly cold.

Life as a fugitive is harsh, and each day is a struggle on its own. Some of us find comfort in each other, whilst some travel alone. It's easier that way, being on your own I mean. It's less people to look after, less mouths to feed and less traces left behind. The only downside is that it gets lonely, quickly. Most of the people I've encountered throughout the years have traveled in small groups, often with no more than three or four people. The reason I keep saying that we travel is because it's extremely difficult to stay at one place for too long. They - the creatures that now rule the world - are everywhere and nowhere, frequently claiming new territory. As time goes by, more and more of the land we wander through is lost to them, and the more they take, the more we suffer. We're constantly on the move because we simply have no other choice. Stepping foot on their territory is dangerous, because they don't like sharing. Not even for a few days, let alone minutes. I've heard stories of humans trying to cross marked territory, and they rarely, if ever, end well.

Leaving the road behind me, I make my way into the forest. The sun will only be up for another hour or so, and I'd like to make it back to camp before it's completely gone. The temperature drops at a fast rate, and I quicken my pace, eager to warm myself in front of the fire I'm sure awaits me.

My cracked knuckles stings as I take a firmer grip onto the strings of my backpack, and I hiss in pain. I used to have a pair of gloves, but not anymore. Now, it's a luxury far out of my reach. I would've sneaked into a clothing store if I thought it would be of any use, but seeing as the war happened years ago, most of the abandoned cities and buildings have either been emptied of all their valuables, or destroyed. Besides, it's dangerous to lurk around in the abandoned cities for too long, for they know we humans ought to go there sooner or later. We do our best to live off the land, hunting and gathering whatever we can, but all the supplies and medicine we have is from the towns or cities and when we run out, we're left with no other choice but to try our luck in the empty towns scattered across the land.