Fahrenheit 452

~Chapter 3~

'Rhode..Rhode..; weird name..' Clarisse thought. 'A nice one though.' "When we get to the city," Rhode spoke up "I want you to stay close but out of the way. We don't need you getting hurt or taken. And people need aid." "Okay..." Clarisse replied. "And you want to keep me protected why..?" Rhode looked over at Clarisse."Because there's something special about you. That's why they were holding you there. Not just because you're not considered 'Normal' in this society but there's something else about you that they noticed and wanted to figure out." Clarisse furrowed her eyebrows. "I'm honestly confused. What would I have as a person that would make me so special? Or extraordinarily different from everyone else? That makes no sense." She concluded.

As they continued to walk, Rhode slowed a little and turned his head to the side; listening. "What?" Clarisse asked. "Hush." Rhode replied in a whisper. Soon a deep growl, and the sound of metal clanking appeared behind them. Rhode quickly pulled Clarisse in front of him as he unsheathed a vulcan handheld Gatling minigun( firing 2,000 rounds per minute) from under his black coat, and turned around to face the mechanical hound. Clarisse grabbed onto Rhodes coat and slyly peeked out around his body to look at the hound.

"Don't you fucking dare, you pathetic hound." Rhode said as he centered his aim. The hound continued to growl, staring; analyzing. As it crouched into a hunting position, like a spider ready to strike. Rhode put his finger gently on the trigger, prepared to fire. Clarisse quickly slinked back behind him and covered her ears. Suddenly the hound attacked. Launching itself forward and as quickly as it started, it had ended. Rhode pulled the trigger, blasting the hound with hundreds of bullets, the hound falling hard onto the ground.

Clarisse peeked out from behind Rhode and looked down at the hound. A blue liquid seeping from where the bullets penetrated it's body "What's the blue stuff coming from the hound?" Clarisse asked in a whisper as the hounds mechanical body started spasming. Rhode replied, "It's a poison. After it gets inside the body, of anything, it makes the muscles uncontrollably and involuntarily contract. It only lasts for a couple minutes. Then it kills you." "That is if the bullets didn't do the job first." He said as he smiled and put the gun back in it's holster underneath his coat. Looking at the hound one more time, then at Clarisse. Rhode shrugged, turned around and preceded to walk towards the city.

Clarisse followed, "So.." Rhode glanced down at Clarisse and raised an eyebrow. "If you don't mind me asking." Clarisse said as they began to  walk through a field and the city grew closer; looking up at him. "What were you doing there? In that building?" Rhode sighed as he pulled a cigarette out from behind his ear and put it between his lips. Pulling out his lighter as he covered the front of the cig with his hand and lit it. He took a drag and exhaled, as he responded, "I was a guard. Or..,security if you will." Clarisse furrowed her eyebrows and slowly nodded, "Did you ever escort me to the 'Big Room'?" He looked at her with a blank expression but she could tell there was irritation. "Once." He replied. Clarisse nodded slowly; thinking. "You doing alright Clarisse?" Rhode questioned as he took a couple more drags. "I'm alright. A little exhausted, but alright." She responded, nodding. Rhode put his cigarette out and stuck it back behind his ear; then reached into his coat.

 He pulled out a flask and handed it to Clarisse, "Drink this." "What is it?" "Vodka." Rhode said; smirking. Clarisse glared at him; "Really Rhode?" He looked at her. "No Clarisse; I'm fucking with you. It's water. Just drink it."  As she continued to glare at him, she took the top off the flask, smelling the liquid inside. Hesitantly taking a couple gulps and handed the canister back to Rhode. "Thank you." She said. "No problem" He replied as he took a few gulps himself and stuck the flask back in his coat.

"Hmm.." Clarisse pondered as she looked at the sky. A small bird flew overhead and she smiled. Rhode looked down once again, eyebrow raised. Clarisse looked at Rhode and began to speak, "So what I was curious about. About me being 'different.'" "Mhmm," Rhode mumbled; half listening. "I know you were a guard. But.., did you happen to know why they thought I was different. What was it about me?" Rhode sighed once again, looking down at Clarisse and ran his hand over his face. "Not the time to say. Not the time for you to know Clarisse." She looked at him, puzzled. "Well why not?" "Because it ain't." He retorted. Clarisse huffed. "Alright. Fine." she spat. There was then an animalistic growl that came from Rhode. Clarisse silently gasped and moved away a couple feet.

Rhode looked ahead, scowling. Focused.

They were coming to a tree line. Through the vast woodland of trees, they could see the city in the far distance. Clarisse looked ahead, then up at Rhode, and back through the trees. Rhode unsheathed his mini gatling gun from the holster and started to venture forward. "Common." He said. Clarisse obeyed, full of anxiety; and followed close behind.