Salvation

305

The cities were a harsh transition from the outside world. For those accustomed to sunlight and warm breezes, they would have had a hard time adjusting to the sheltered life in the cities. Thick, ominous clouds of ash hovered in the sky, blocking out any sun from illuminating the streets and buildings. It was a wonder the populace did not die of poisoning from breathing in the cinders, as the ash rained down like black snow, dusting the ground and other surfaces with a sickly powder. The city and its people had abandoned the luxury of colour, coming to match its grayish, dismal sky. It seemed that in their desperation to evade the vampires, they had come to live like the bloodsuckers themselves, leaving behind the sun to hide away in the shadows behind the thick city walls.

Amongst the bleak crowd, a young woman seemed to stand out among them. She had just recently taken to the walls, having traveled from the outlands to take refuge in the concrete jungles these people called cities. Her gently tanned skin seemed to stand out amid the almost sickly pale complexions of most of the civilians like a flame in the rain, dark waves flowing down her back and over her shoulders with a gentle bounce. Her eyes were a vibrant hazel-green, scanning her surroundings with an acute awareness as she shuffled through the crowded streets. She had moved into the walls less than three days ago, and at first she had dreaded the bleak atmosphere, but because of the skills she possessed she had managed to snag a job as a nurse in the hospital and rent out an apartment. It was hardly a fairy tale getaway, but it was the only place safe from the vampire menace. She had wondered briefly, as she entered the elevator to her apartment building, how they managed to keep the ash from piling up. Her thoughts were hardly on the world around her at that moment, and because she was currently shuffling around for her key she didn't see the person standing in the middle of the hall in front of the door next to hers.

"Oof!" She was abruptly taken off guard when she bumped full body right into him, and he let out a small grunt as well when their bodies collided. The next thing she knew she was falling clumsily to the hard, ashen floor, wincing as her tailbone throbbed from the impact. "Shoot, I'm sorry!" She apologized hastily. "I wasn't paying attention..." Her words trailed off as she looked up and saw who exactly she had bumped into. The first thing she noticed were the black robes, and then the faded cross tattooed across his forehead...

"I would be the one to crash face-first into a Priest." She muttered.

All she was met with was a blank stare.

"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that I'm from the outside. Most people see us as Godless heathens, so thats why I said...oh, nevermind."

"It's fine." Reaching down, he offered her his hand, and she noticed how he seemed a little surprised when she accepted it with a gracious smile. Once she was back on her feet, she dusted her clothes off and looked up at him with friendly eyes, but her smile dropped when she saw he seemed to be in some sort of pain. His facial features were pulled a bit taught, brow creased together in the telltale signs of discomfort, and when she glanced down she saw he had his hand pressed against his side.

"Are you okay...?"

"It's nothing." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a key and turned towards the door beside hers, and her face lit up with realization.

"Oh, so you're 304?" Smiling, she nodded behind her. "I'm 305. I was beginning to wonder who my mysterious neighbour was."

He looked at her.

"I just recently moved to the cities." She continued. "I figured it would be safer until the war was over."

He continued to just stare at her for what felt like ten minutes. His eyes were a warm auburn, which probably would have been striking in better light, and he haf handsome features. Granted, he appeared a bit worn, but it didn't come as even a slight surprise to her with the kind of work he did. She knew his body was probably littered with scars beneath the thick black clothing from fighting teeth and claw with the vampires, and for a moment she felt compassion for him.