Aloners

Can You Talk?

I jolt awake.

My body is heavy and unresponsive. I hear nothing but the ringing in my ears. I ty to open my eyes but can't. I can't remember anything. After uncountable moments, enough sensation returns to my body be able to feel something soft on my back. I'm laying on a bed.

The ringing slowly fades, leaving me in silence. Again I try to open my eyes this time more successful (more or less). It feels like starring into the sun. Hot enough to melt my eyes. I immediately snap my eyes shut.

I take deep breaths until the pain turns to numbness, I try to remember again.

I remember walking by the sea.

Remember the people passing by, enjoying the summer sun.

Remember the boy who almost run into me while trying to catch a frisbee.

Remember my phone ringing.

It was an unknown number.

Suddenly I'm back in darkness, laying helplessly on the bed. I can't see anything but the world is spinning. My min collapse in itself, the darkness getting even darker.

I'm drowning in unconsciousness and can't do anything about it.

******

When I finally woke up, I was coaxed by a deep and smooth voice.

''Mornin' sleepyhead''

This time my eyes fly open. But I Barely have time to take in the shack I seem to be in, instead I lock my eyes with the silver-blue ones of the man standing above me, gun pointed strait to my forehead.

I bolt upright. He doesn't even flinch – just keeps his gun steady with narrowed eyes and a small smirk playing on his face.

''Well, isn't this just improper? A pretty boy sleepin' in MY bed and I don't even know his name: What would my mom say? I guess she'd probably say to blow your brains out before you get any dumb ideas.''

This guy is definitely going to kill me.

But I'm not the type to go down without a fight. Offense is the best defense as they say.

I launch myself on the guy and tackle him backwards.

'' Shit! '' We both fall but he takes the worst of it, his head cracking loudly against the hard floor, even as he coils in pain, he never let's go of his gun.

Taking my chance, I run for the door.

Bursting through it I get outside.....

And stop.

There was nothing, no street, no building, no people, the only thing that is there is an endless horizon of dirt and rocks. There was just ..... nothing

''Thanks for waitin'. ''

Sharp pain spreads from the back of my head, making me fall onto my knees, gasping.

A big and rough hand grabs the back of my neck, keeping me in place. The cold muzzle of the gun pointed on your head again, at the center of the pain.

''In my whole life I have never seen one of you guys run like that before. Sorry to be such an hardass, but I can't let you just comin' and goin' whenever you please. Don't fancy getting' gutted in my sleep, you understand.''

The moment stretches into an eternity in which all I can do is just kneel and wait for death.

But after a while, I realize that it's not the adrenaline or fear making the time seem to stop. The guy with the gun....is hesitating?

''.... Any last words?''

I open my mouth, but can't say what I want to say. The only thing that I get is a small gasp. And suddenly I'm aware of the raw and flaming pain in my throat.

...oh no. I... I can't speak.

I can sense the guy moving from behind me and open my eyes.

Now he is standing in front of me, gun pressed to my forehead. He is starring down at me with a wild expression, thin brows knitted together like he is trying to figure out a complicated question.

And the next thing he says makes me frown in confusion

''Hey, gimme three fingers.'' He continued staring at me. I was so confused but still did as I was told and hold up three fingers and with that his eyes widened and for a moment I thought they would fall out of his eyes.

''.......''

''...Fuck''

''Fuck. Fuckballs. HOLY SHIT.''

He leaned in until his nose was touching mine. I could feel my face going red. His eyes where fixed on mine, as if searching for something. All I can do is stare back, breathless, waiting. And whatever he is searching for... he seems to have found it.

''You're... Human.''

Slowly he lowers the gun and steps back. Backing away, in unsteady steps, he makes his way back into the shack.

''You... should come in. Have a look at the bump on your head. I... I promise I won't hurt you.''

With that he disappeared back inside. I slowly get on my feet and look around. The wasteland stretches for miles, as far as the eye can see, empty and foreboding.

******

After some time of mindlessly staring I follow the guy inside.

''C'mere and turn around'' He gestures me over and makes me turn around and puts his large hands on the back of my head, parting my hair to have a better look on the damage done by his gun mere moments ago.

''Well... good news is that it's not bleeding, bad news, there is a second head growing back here.'' He says, a little amused. When he let's go I turn around just in time to see him spin around, facing away from me.

'' 'kay, my turn! What's the damage?''

I reach up to his silky black hair, parting them to find quite the bump. But no blood.

''Well, Doc? Will I survive?'' He turns back around and I give him a thumps up with a small nod

Moments ago he wanted to kill me and now we are checking each other for wounds, I am so confused.

''That's good then. Heh, we really did a number on each other, huh?'' he said with a quiet chuckle, for what I couldn't help but feel weak for.

''......'' ''So...now that we know that you are not dying...you wanna maybe...put a sheet on or something?'' He said, and why is he blushing.... why should I put on a Shee-

Following his eyes and look down on my body and just then noticed that I am split naked.