Curiosity Killed the Cat

The End is Near - And It Tastes Like Chicken

Katerina's POV

I tentatively look behind my shoulder as Jason walks away, who seems very reluctant to do so.

"I've heard stories of how you came here. I don't know if they're exactly true, considering rumors get warped on the hundredth time heard," Carter says, attempting to make small talk.

It takes me a few seconds to realize he's talking to me. I shake myself out of thought. "Oh, yeah. A few weeks ago I ran away from inside the Walls. Jason and his group kidnapped me and I ended up here."

A smirk forms across his face as he winks. "It's a good thing too. This place was starting to get boring."

It seems like it takes forever to walk down the damp, dark hallways. It's almost sad to think Carter spends most of his days in here working. We stop at another metal door, which I hope will be the last.

As we enter, the sounds of tools and all sorts of things fill the air. I'm so lost in wonder that it makes me jump a little when a hand is shoved towards me.

"So you're the new girl! Oh, it's so very nice to meet you! I've been waiting so long, but it seems like the work never ends!" A girl chirps.

I blink a few times in confusion. She's covered in ash and soot, like a bomb exploded in her face. Which it probably did, thinking about it. But she grins just the same.

I return the smile. "Katerina, but you can call me Kat. It's nice to meet you."

"Kat? Like the animal? I think I'm going to call you Katerina. I'd feel awful calling you an animal, even if it's probably spelled the wrong way. Am I talking too much? Oh, I hate when I do that. Sometimes, people walk away without me noticing. I'm so glad you haven't walked away. I know that we're going to get along just f--"

Carter clears his throat, stifling in a laugh. "Anyway, this is Scarlett. She's one of my partners."

There's something I really like about that chatterbox. One of the rules back home was "don't talk too much." It may seem as selfish. Most of the rules are seared into my brain. They don't seem to go away. I suppose it will just take time.

Carter gives me a tour, naming all the bombs and what exactly they do. I imagine all of these plummeting on to my family and neighborhood, destroying them out of existence. I keep quiet about it, remembering how defensive Jason became.

When are they planning to bomb them? The thought almost brings bile to my throat. They can't just do that...

"Oh! Look at the time. We'll go up with you for dinner. It'll be nice to take a break for a while," says Carter.

Four other people (including Scarlett) follow us up. Scarlett chatters about how her parents surprised her with a kitten once. I have no idea what a cat or kitten is, but I pretend I do.

The camp is filled with teenagers, with the youngest 14 and the oldest 19. The disease was probably supposed to wipe out the elderly, but took out the children as well. They wanted to strip away this camp's leadership and guidance. But it seems like they're doing just fine without them.

I plop down across from Jason with my tray. He looks up slightly, then scowls. "Why aren't you sitting with your new friends? I'm not your escort anymore, remember?"

I roll my eyes. "You don't have to be my escort to sit with me. They're a bit loud anyway."

He raises an eyebrow. "And I'm not? Hurtful."

I smile a little, studying the white piece of meat on my plate, which is apparently chicken. We only used those animals for eggs.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" I ask, glancing up after a few minutes.

He grins. "It's a surprise."