Remnants

Chapter 8 - Ali

Ali walked alongside Mira and Eri as they moved beyond the protective bounds of the village and into a world she'd only heard about in whispers and tales. The morning sun climbed higher, casting soft light on a world that was both breathtaking and haunting in its broken beauty.

Their path led them through a stretch of forest where towering trees formed a canopy overhead, riddling their path with shadows. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the earthy scent of moss and damp wood. Birds flew through the branches above, their songs the only sound against the eerie silence. Every rustle among the leaves made Ali's heart thud with anticipation and a touch of unease.

As they emerged from the thicker woods, the scenery began to change.

Ahead lay the remnants of what looked like a once-great city, its skyline now jagged with crumbling buildings piercing upwards into the sky. The roads were cracked and overgrown, covered with all kinds of growth. Concrete and steel mixed with the lush green plants, acted as a reminder of nature's resilience. Rust-covered vehicles stood abandoned, relics of a world that was once full of life.

But, against this backdrop of nature's relentless reclamation, painful reminders of the past were scattered, contrasting the beauty with scenes of suffering. Here, among the verdant overgrowth and fractured structures, lay the bleached bones of those who had once lived in the city's bustling heart. Dried and scattered, these skeletal remains whispered tales of sudden ends. Abandoned belongings scattered along the city streets, worn shoes, rusting bicycles, and tattered scraps of clothing all served as haunting mementos of past lives. These remnants, both eerie and poignant, littered their path with the sense that this was no longer their world, and that danger lurked in every corner.

Ali gasped. She saw the remains of what looked like a little girl, lying across the street. She tried to avert her gaze, but couldn't look away from the faded pink dress and the doll the skeletal hand still held. She felt a knot form in her stomach at the thought of this little girl losing her life so early, unable to see what the future had in store. A tear fell on her cheek as they moved past the remains. Ali muttered a silent prayer for the little girl and all the people who had their lives cut short when the world ended.

Mira saw her reaction and held Ali's hand, "Don't think about it too much. I'm sure they're all in a better place now," Mira whispered to her.

Ali bit back her tears and steeled herself. This was the world they lived in, a world filled with nature and beauty, but also with pain and suffering. A world that was no longer theirs. She sighed and continued walking, trying to get her mind to stop thinking about the haunting scene.

Eri scoffed and walked past them. Ali's eyes followed her but she decided to let the matter go.

I'm glad I'm not as cold-hearted as you are

As they moved across the city, Ali saw Mira scan the ruins, looking for any sign of movement. Ali watched her as her brows furrowed with every sound they heard, her hand moving to the hilt of her weapon. Seeing Mira being that serious made Ali a bit nervous, but it also comforted her to think that Mira was always ready and would be there to protect them.

"I guess this is as good a time as any for me to discuss what we could encounter on our travels," Mira said as they walked along the ruined city.

"You mean the mutants?" Ali asked.

"Yes. There are some dangerous wildlife we might encounter, but the greatest threats by far are the mutants," Mira replied.

"What's there to know? They're fast, scary, and want to kill everything. You just have to kill them first," Eri said, shrugging her shoulders. Ali looked at her and raised an eyebrow.