A Second Chance

Toby

In the bottom of the chest of weapons there are blankets. Thick, wool blankets. I grab one out and take it to one of the bed bunks on the pod. The place I call home. The place I've been sleeping in for the past trip I just went on. I layed back and attempted to get comfortable. But all I can think is 'Where are all the people?' 'What happened to the world?' 'What will I do?' As I close my tear filled eyes I hear a rustle from somewhere inside the pod. I sit still, holding my breathe. 'Rrrrr' There it is again. I stand up and reach for my gun. I move forward silently, listening. 'Aaaaf' What is that? 'Grrrr' Is that, a dog? Then that same, black dog jumps out from inside the open trunk "Ruff" He barks. "Sshh" I put down my gun and go up to pat him. He almost jumps into my arms with excitement. "Hey, buddy!" He licks my face as I try to push him down. "What are you doing here?" I ask him. He justs continues to wag his tail and look at me. "Okay well, however you got in, you have to go" He sulks a little and his hears droop. "Sorry" I softly say. I open the large pod door. 'woosh' it makes a loud noise. The dog jumps a little and runs to hide behind behind my legs. I step to the right and he follows. I step to the left and my eyes travel from the sight that is outside to the poor puppy sitting next to me. His stare glued to the cold foggy view outside. He stands and paces towards my bed, I had just woken from. He jumps up without flaw and circles around 2 times before he lays down in a tight ball of fur. "Hey! That's my bed" I shout. I stomp over cheekily, hands on hips. I get there and then stare him down. His eyes look up and then slowly close. I sigh heavily. "Shove then" I push my hands underneath his body and move him to the side. Pull up the sheets and I jump in. Now settled and comfortable. His body was radiating heat and smelled a little. I stroke his wired feeling hair, mangy from the hell he's probably been through. "Hey, since you aren't going to leave me alone, how about we name you" I listen for a response. But all I hear is his soft breathing. "Good night, Toby" I place my head on his back like a pillow and fall fast asleep. 

*

"Woof!!" 

"Ugh?" I wake up violently. "What?" I ask my new friend. "Roof!" He barks again. "Shh, shhh" I hush him as I start to go back to sleep again. "Grrrr" He growls. "What is it?" I sternly ask. I stop talking and hear rustling from outside the pod. "Oh" I wisper. Realizing that my new dog friend must have heard something before I did. I listen more carefully now. The footsteps peer closer, getting louder. Sounds like there is more than one. I jump up from the bed grab my gun and hide behind corner. Toby followed after but was seen by two man shaped figures as they stepped onto my pod. I poke just the side of my head around to look, my curiosity got the better of me. My green eyes shimmer as they shine two torches around my pod. Toby is sitting obediently right in front of them, they just hadn't notcied. They both move their torches to him, and walk straight past. Not caring. "phew" I let out a small puff of breath. Their shine of light comes close to my corner. I quickly turn back around and return to my hiding position. After the light went past me. I checked again. Their faces were covered with masks and wearing a full body suit. One had a gun slung around his shoulder and the other had a weapon I had never seen before with two spikes coming from the top. They walk around inspecting everything. One of them picks up my gun and studies it, keeping it in his hands as he walks more. The other soldier finds my back pack that was still full of stuff from my recent journey. He picks it up with the end of his gun and tips all of the stuff out on the floor. Then moves robotically to the trunk on the back wall. He notices the padlock is unlocked and he opens it. He summons the other soldier over and they both peer into the trunk. One picks up a grenade and studies it. Throws it back in then one of them lifts the trunk up and out. I gasp a little. How would he be able to do that? The trunk was heavier than me. Meanwhile the soldier holding my gun walks over to my bed and notices that the sheets are pulled back and the pillow has a dent in it from my head. They give each other glances, seeming to talk telepathically. Then turn their backs towards me and leave my 'home'. When I hear a rover's engine starting I come out of my hiding spot and rush to the window to spy on them again. I watch them disappear as they turn a corner on the street. I walk a few steps outside slowly. The cold wind blew in my hair. My body shivered. I went back inside, closed the door this time, and sat on my bed. Toby sitting at the end. "Who were they?" I wondered out loud. "Were they even human? Do you think they'll be back? Should I prepare for a fight? But they took all my weapons!" I start panicking. Toby scruffs a little and then lays on my lap. My hand runs down his back. "Aaaahhr" I yawn. Then try to get some sleep.