The Decay

Chapter 61 - Out Hunting

61

...55years ago...

Thomas looked at his daughter, Molly, named after her grandmother. She was twenty years old now and she had her mother's piercing blue eyes and brown hair. Isha came out the front door of their home to greet both of them. At fifty, she was as beautiful as ever, at least in his eyes. Molly was about to go with her friends out hunting. She was talented. The party of four consisted of herself, two of her friends slightly younger, and Mark, a twenty-one year old boy with scruffy dark-blond hair and gray eyes. His face was handsome and he was both tall and lean. Thomas thought they were friends, but Isha knew that look. They might look like friends but they were more than that.

They headed North, away from the settlement which was the best direction to go due to the little radiation in the area. It also lead to a clearing which was ideal for spotting animals. A very mean-looking dog was out hunting as well, but it quickly became the pray rather than the predator as the four gathered in on it. Mark was an excellent shot with his bow. Barely taking aim, he sank an arrow directly into the neck of the dog. It whimpered briefly and collapsed on the ground.

The youngest of the group ran over and started skinning the dog. When he was finished they moved ahead, deeper into the field. There was surprisingly little game today.

'This is strange?' said Mark. 'What?' replied Molly, as if she hadn't realized herself. 'We've only seen a dog out here,' he replied.'Maybe we should extend out hunting area beyond the usual,' suggested the youngest one. Mark shook his head. 'I don't think that's a good idea. We don't know what's out there,' he said. 'But Mark, we can't go back with this alone,' pointed out Molly, gesturing towards the carcass of the dog. Mark shrugged. 'I still don't like it, but fine. Which way?' 'East,' replied Molly. 'East? Why East?' he asked.'Because look at these tracks. They're heading in that direction.''And these too,' said the one who hadn't said anything yet. 'They're going in the same direction.' 'East it is,' agreed Mark.

Some fifteen minutes later, they discovered some old ruins. 'Shall we take a look?' asked the youngest one. 'No,' said the other three in unison. 'We aren't here to put ourselves in danger. We hunt for food and get home,' added Mark. 'But...' The complaint was cut short by a gun shot. Before they realized what was happening, another bullet fired reached the youngest one's neck and she collapsed, clasping where the bullet hit. Molly screamed but Mark pulled her away towards cover. The young boy left quickly followed them. They hid behind a broken wall, with no idea what had happened. Then Mark saw them. Two men wearing the same uniform with a strange symbol on the left sleeve. Not far away from them, searching, no doubt wondering where they had gone hiding. They stepped over the body of their friend, as if she was just another carcass and were heading in the right direction.

As quick as lightning, Mark got up and fired an arrow which hit one of the men straight in the chest. He grunted and fell over hard, but the other one had his gun ready and fired at Mark. Two fast bullets. The first one missed him narrowly but the second one caught the top of his shoulder. He fell down behind the wall trying not to shout out in pain. Molly grabbed her knife while the third kid dragged Mark away from the wall. As the man approached their hiding spot, she charged out at the man, her body pumping with adrenaline. The man might have seen it coming but her momentum knocked him off balance. As he was on the ground he tried to reach for his gun, but Molly's knife sank into his neck repeatedly as fury enveloped her. Her friend was dead, her lover had been shot.

It took both Mark and the other one to pull her off the man's body.'It's... it's over Molly. It's over,' said Mark, hugging her tightly, ignoring the pain in his left shoulder. They took all the belongings of both downed men and ripped the icon from one of the uniforms before heading back home. The Y-shaped icon would be a bitter reminder of this day.