World War 3 that's how I got to where I am today, half of the world's population is gone. People are trying to survive now by any means necessary. There is no government either, people joined up created militias and armies, rules go like this, if you aren't in one you're against them. So now I roam around walking through different towns on my own I can't say I haven't had to hurt some one to get what I need.
Right now I hiding out from a militia that's been chasing me because I stole some of their supplies, I've been running down the east coast towards South Carolina because I heard that they had a city that was "peaceful" that didn't tolerate violence, if you caused it they kicked you out and sent you on your way. So if I got there and found my friends they wouldn't be able to get at me. I would be safe from harm, that's how the plan goes anyway.
I'm in Pennsylvania now and I have a long way to go. Before I can get there though I will need a mode of transportation, as in I have to find or take a horse, cars stopped being used a long time ago because there was no more gas to fuel them.
I shouldered my way out of the makeshift door and started walking towards the nearby gas station I spotted earlier, if I was lucky there would still be some canned food or even a container I can fill with water to drink. Down the first aisle all I saw was some dust and a few spoiled vegetables and other perishable foods. However, in the next aisle I spotted some canned pears and a small plastic milk jug that could easily become a water bottle. As I pulled my bag off of my shoulders a shoe caught my eye, it looked to be connected to a leg too. Slowly I walked over to the shoe peeking out and said,
"You can come out I am not going to hurt you," Slowly the shoe moved until I was staring at the small form of a hungry little boy. I raised my hands in the air and said, "Look, see no weapon just me and my bag." It seemed to comfort him more because he looked a lot more relaxed. He was a skinny little boy who looked about nine; he had green eyes and black hair. He was wearing (I cant remember what they are called but the stereotype farmer wears them.) with a red shirt. Slowly he spoke up and asked,
"What are you doing here,"
"I am running from some bad men," I didn't want to frighten the little boy so I didn't give him the full story.
"Oh...Are you talking about the army lookin' guys that come through here every few days?" He spoke in a way that was beyond his years.
"Um...yeah actually I am," I paused wondering how much I should tell him, "Do you know when they will be back?"
"They'll be here tomorrow," He responded, "They are looking for some kid that escaped from one of their camps," hmmmmm...so they are actually looking for me. That means that I should leave tonight during the dark hours, it'll be even harder for them to find me. I reached for the pears and the milk jug but his hand stopped me,
"Those are mine...unless you let me come along with you to the utopia down south," I don't know what to say to him. If he comes he would slow me down and could get killed, but the militia thinks I'll be running on my own not with another person. If I take him it will be riskier but safer at the same time.
"You can come but if you slow me down one bit you'll be on your own," I say as the tiniest smile appears on his lips, "but you'll need to do as I say so you wont die, because if the "bad men" catch us it'll be very bad for the both of us,"
"Ok...deal?" he said smile still there
"Deal," we shook hands, as I went to grab the pears and jug he came around the corner with a bag full of cans and two small water bottles tied to the straps. I reached into my own bag grabbing a role of twine and fastened the empty just to one of the many loops on my own bag.
