The city was as broken and hollow as the night Tallen had visited it, overcrowded allies making her feel claustrophobic, she refused to let it get the best of her though. The safe house turned out to be one of the last tall standing buildings, the blinking sign above the door spelling ‘Hotel’ . grabbing Jamie’s hand she took a deep breath before following an eager Andie into the lobby. The blonde haired angel was just adorable as she pranced through the debree, Tallen guessed she was roughly eight and wondered what Konner had been doing walking in the woods with her.
The place was a trash dump for all Tallen could tell, people’s broken possessions littered everywhere. Fixating her eyes ahead she avoided the piercing gaze of the girl who watched their every move.
”Hey Konner who did you drag in now?” She asked standing up, and to Tallen’s discomfort had a fully loaded AK-47 hanging off her bone-thin shoulder.
“Mind your own business Soph, they need housing.” He replied grabbing Andies’ hand and proceeding to walk up the stairs without hesitation. After a small push from Jamie, Tallen regained her senses and helped support his leg as they passed the scowling girl.
Upstairs wasn’t much cleaner, most surfaces had been spray painted on beyond recognition, and some doorseven had gaurds like the girl watching them menacingly. When they reached a door with the words ‘hate on the haters’ in colorful print Konner stopped. “You guys can chill here for a week or so, any longer than that and you’ll need to start contributing to the cause. I’ll let Evie know you’re here under my guidance so try not to burn the place down.” Judging by the look of pain on his face Tallen didn’t need to guess why the last people living here were kicked out.
“Thanks,” Jamie said shaking Konner’s hand before closing the door behind them. It was as if the world were spinning, nothing made sense, reality was just a myth. Something in Tallen’s mind screamed ‘get a grip!’ but she just barely managed to slump on the squeaking brown mattress before her mind shut down.
Nightmares followed, faces contorted swimming in and out of her vision. Darkness decended, until she was freezing all alone. Mollys face appeared pain echoing in her big hollow eyes. Shock filled Tallen hopelessly as she fell into despair, ‘why?’ she couldn’t think of anything else to ask as dry tears spilled down her cheeks. ‘Why is it always me? Why did they have to hurt you because of me? Momma? Why didn’t you fight? I need you!’ as her body numbed she closed her eyes trying to block out her darkest fears. Her brothers blood filled her lungs, her mother’s scream drowning all sound, Tallen new impeccably that this must be Hell. Its unending horrors left her begging for the end to just finish her off. ‘Please, Please I’m so sorry I promise I’ll keep my promise next time! Momma please forgive me,’ she begged kneeling, putting her head in her blood splattered hands. Then she felt hands on her shoulders, soothing almost had it not been for a small shove and the rush of wind. She felt her stomach drop, and then she was falling and not just a little; whoever had pushed her had meant for her to die once she reached the end of the bottomless pit.
Waking up with a scream she shuddered, ‘It’s just a dream Tal get a grip’ she reprimanded herself before taking a deep breath and shoving the thick covers off her sweat soaked body. Finding her way blindly through the cluttered room to the window she relaxed at the sight of the sky.
“You okay?” Jamie asked standing by the door arms crossed crutch supporting his leg. Nodding she leaned her head against the cool wall and looked at him.
“You?” she asked motioning to the leg with its new bandage, which looked more professional then her make shift gauze wrap. He nodded hobbling his way and stood beside her looking out the wind.
“I heard you scream, want to talk about it?” he asked sitting down in the rickty rocking chair that looked like it was to fragile to hold someone of his size.
“thanks but no, its complicated.” She mumbled back getting an understanding nod back, sighing out of frustration she looked around by the way the sun was casting long shadows made her think it was probably seven. “Hey do you know if they have food around here?” Tallen asked as her stomach simautaniously started growling.
Jamie grinned after combing one hand through his golden curls, “yeah down by the medical center, you hungry?”
“Famished” she replied feeling a smile spread across her face, something about Jamie always made her feel better. “Lets go.”
**I know Andie wasn't really in this chapter but I still love her innocence, hope you like the picture and enjoy the next chapter!
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Freedom Fires
Adventure{ On Hold -until I finish another story} In a world where nothing is safe, where the government is hunting down its own people, few have learned to survive. The frozen tundra of the north is nothing compared to the deserted cities of the south where...
