The Wasteland Chronicles

Chapter 5

The sun was setting. Down the ash hills, sliced in half over the barren landscape. It's rays still ever beating down onto the wasted countryside. A slight breeze emerged from the ebony clouds, whistling past the rolling SUV. As the SUV came to a bumpy stop by the side of the battered highway, Jasper immediately raised questions. "Why the fuck are we stopping? We need to keep moving!" he engaged in aggression so quickly. Harlow cowered down, shuffling up closer to Tara as not to be felt under his angry breath. "Chill out, man. We're stopping for dinner. It's sundown," replied Connor, in a calm yet assertive manner.  Connor bit his lip and shook his fist out of Jasper's sight.

Connor leapt out of the SUV, closely followed by Tara. As he placed his fingertips to open the boot of the SUV, he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder. Spinning in sudden shock, his heart was relieved to see Tara staring at him. Despite the relief, he felt a clear presence of anger and frustration from her. "We have to go back for them," she whispered to Connor, her anger turning into a pleading expression, "My sister is back there... Please." Connor looked into her eyes, feeling the begging coming from them. His gut wrenched and his heart was suddenly beating faster.

The word 'please' rang through his ears, and he sighed at last, "Fine... But don't tell Jasper." As he turned to open the boot. She nodded and got into the SUV. Connor searched around the boot, pulling out some cans of beans. He then searched for a can opener, but was given dissapointment and slight anger when he couldn't find one. Instead, Connor unpacked a jar of pickles and five snack bars. He took one last look at the food supply, feeling some security in the plentitude of food. By his estimate, they could go another month with the non-perishables they had.

He slammed the SUV door behind him, nesting into the drivers seat. He rationed out an energy bar each, and popped open the jar. As the group unwrapped their various flavours of energy bars, Connor picked out and ate some pickles. He cringed, he never did like the taste - too salty and bitter for him. But he had to eat now, being picky wasn't much of an option. "Oi, pass me some pickles too. Fuckin' starving," demanded Jasper. Connor rolled his eyes, and Tara glared at Jasper a little. Connor passed some pickles forward, which he devoured quickly. Eventually he surrendered the jar to Tara, who distributed them evenly.

Connor smiled, rubbing his stomach. He could eat more, a lot more, but he had to press on now. He pressed on reverse, swerving the car in the direction back to Dunedin. "Woah woah woah... What the hell do you think you're doing?" protested Jasper. Silence wavered around the SUV, as Connor sped down the road back to Dunedin. Tara shook her head at Jasper, and held a timid Harlow close. Jasper snarled, and picked up the shotgun from under the SUV seat, aiming it at Connor.

Tara screamed, drawing Connor's attention. "Pull over and go back!" Jasper hissed, pumping his shotgun. The barrel aimed clean at Connor's head. Jasper glared, as Marlon grabbed his arm hopelessly. "Please, stop!" he wailed, as the commotion increased. Harlow began sobbing, holding onto Tara for her life. Connor snapped, screaming at Jasper. "We're going to get my friend, and Lily's sister. There isn't jackshit you can do about it! You're fucking trouble, and you can't stay with us any damn longer!" He raged, pressing down on the acceleration.

Jasper shot the gun, shattering the glass and the recoil pressing him into the seat. Tara screamed, curling over Harlow in a protective manner. Jasper yelled in frustration "Are you too dumb, or just too blind to see? You saw those two, they got surrounded. They're dead, Connor." Connor grunted "We'll go back..." he admitted in defeat. The SUV swerved back on the path away from Dunedin. Tara blinked, as tears streamed down her face and onto Harlow. The two held eachother together, their sadness taking a pull on Marlon and Connor.

Jasper kept the aim on Connor, as he carefully tried to navigate through the shattered glass. The glass that hadn't scattered away was clustered at the bonnet, glistening on the sunset. Half an hour later, the group sat staring at the road, a tense atmosphere looming. Darkness slowly overcame the land, as Connor struggled to see. Suddenly a demonic howl shook their ears. Connor yelled, before the SUV smashed. A ringing echeod in their ears, as Connor fell unconcious.

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Four Months Before Hell

"Happy birthday baby girl!" she cheered, looking at her beautiful daughter. Harlow blew out the nine candles ontop of her bright pink cake. She cheered, and jumped up and down in excitement, her ash blonde hair swaying as she leapt in the air. She smiled, a big happy smile and looked up at her mother. Her mother took a picture of Harlow, who was ready to burst with excitement. She rushed and hugged her mother "Thank you mummy!" she exclaimed.

Harlow giggled as her mother told her how cute she was. Her friends, who were also eight or nine, came and cheered for her. Her cramped apartment barely fit in the amount of guests who came to celebrate her party, but she enjoyed it nevertheless. Rushing to the living room, the small parade of children chased eachother in a game of tag.

Knock, knock, knock! The apartment door had visitors. As her mother opened the door, Connor and Hana were beaming with enjoyment. "Sorry we're a little late, we got Harlow a little something. Can't let her ninth go without us, right?" Hana chuckled with Harlow's mother. The two stepped in, laying the present wrapped in unicorn paper on the dining room table stacked with the rest. Hana went into the living room. She briefly looked at Harlow from the doorway, and smiled. Her heart was warmed by such a refreshing sight.

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Present Day

Tara screamed, grabbing for her butchers knife. Marlon jumped out of the car, as Jasper followed quickly. He blasted shots out, as Connor lay unconcious in the drivers seat to be cushioned by an airbag. Tara was sweating, she hushed Harlow (Who was a nervous wreck by now) and ran out into the highway. She looked at the steaming bonnet and flashing headlights, and gulped. She turned to the menace - Hellhounds. 

Jasper shot off his Remington, tearing the demonic creatures in two. They let out dog-like howls, but influenced with an inhumane screech. As they were shot, they let out sounds as if a demon had been exorcised. Marlon attacked them with his knife, swinging desperately. He was pounced upon so easily, his thin figure knocked down like a domino. Jasper yelled in rage as the demonic dog sunk it's hungry, sharp fangs into Marlon's sweet flesh. A ripping sound echoed as the skin from his shoulder was torn clean off.

Marlon teared up, whimpering. His voice was completely lost as the hellhound feasted, snapping it's vicious maws so it could swallow his skin. Jasper shot the best in it's stomache, causing it's black guts to splatter all over the dying Marlon. Tara and Jasper looked around, the hellhounds had been cleared. Scattered corpses across the dirty road disgusted Tara, but she bent down over Marlon's body. He raised his arm in a frail manner, while tears streamed down his pale face.

Tara picked up his body, grunting. She gently placed him lying down in the back seat of the SUV. She slung off her scarf and wrapped it around Marlon's open wound. The grey scarf soon became bloody and a crimson shade of red as she wrapped it tightly. Jasper bit his lip and shuddered, watching over his lover. Connor slowly opened his eyes, looking around. He was bleeding and bruised in his forehead, as his head spun around. Tara opened the door and began dragging Connor out, sighing.

She looked around, noticing an RV. She smiled and jumped inside, noticing it to be completely abandoned but with the keys still in the ignition. She lay Connor on the sofa, and Jasper put Marlon in on another sofa. As the two were forced to pair together, they loaded in the various food supplies. Tara quickly moved into the drivers seat, much to Jasper's disdain. The moon popped over the other side of the dusty hills, as the sun vanished into oblivion. There was an illuminous tinge over the landscape, as the RV started up and zoomed down the highway...

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Author's Note

Sorry! I know it's Saturday, I just had some stuff to do and didn't get time to get around to begin writing. I'll get on writing more to prioritize, and release every Friday as promised.