The Ruins

Chapter 2

"So where you reckon he'll be?" Mal explained as they headed downstairs, taking careful steps since the concrete is old, cracks everywhere and it's very dirty.

"Probably around Area 5."

Mal found a bit surprising when Edward told her the quarantine zone in this place didn't get too much damage from the destructive fury of the Lucius war and the end of the Flyer Frontier's Legacy.

Usually communities in The Ruins are destroyed from scavengers, how people become weak after Flyer Frontiers failed their duty and problems.

All this started from a day in October where the world change drastically. Everyone called it the Black Night.

The Black Night started around the southern parts of the Ruins - of Mal heard what was used-to-be-called United States of America or North America. There was suspicion of people being "sick" that caused the brain to be contaminated and giving the person aggressive behaviors. Suspects pointed from terrorist attacks, medical outbreak by being having a ill worsen condition, it can happen too - it was unknown. City by city, it spread too quickly. Every citizen was so scared: the whole city lights turned to the abyss, leaving only the fires light up yet smoke cover more making into total ominous black as chaos came and the "sick" people were eating each other. Billions of people have been wiped out, killing dozen from the widespread "infection", suicide's from the weak or the disbelief of losing people and having no hope, or maimed by the armies who were no use of help, unsure to tell a difference between infected people and healthy people.

Black Night wasn't talked about much because it causes people to remember the pain they went through, the struggle on seeing a whole new world changing into terror, to adapt their environment physically and literally, and the losses of someone they cared so deeply die upon them.

After martial law was declared, Quarantine Zones were set up by Federal Disease Recovery Agency (FEDRA) and the US military to protect the remaining uninfected population of the United States of America where all around in certain state has a quarantine zone and a community. They planned themselves to find a cure, to have a compound areas around every continent of The Ruins. These armies were called the Flyer Frontiers and they had a whole bunch of compounds around the States; each mission is getting people to work in different sections such as supplies, ammunition, scavengers. Train children to their work and become stern soldiers, and doctors trying to find a cure from the Infected.

Mal used to be one of the Flyer Frontiers. Let's just say she was somewhat born, and when she was eight-years old, a friendly and trustworthy soul took her out of the terrible path but still did a job to train her to fight, learn the environment, survive, and be cautious around anything.

That's when she and other survivors discovered the ugly truth. They can't find any cure, they trained children into killers by eliminating anything on sight no matter what, and the people were treated harsh, not enough ration dollars to sell or buy supplies, being abuse against their will, and fears of a man named Lucius whose had been a huge threat for the Flyer Frontiers. Lucius had hundreds upon hundreds of people willing to take each and every compound be destroyed or taken over by Infected. They kept going to next one until every one of the Flyer Frontiers were gone for sure.

Mal seen Lucius' destruction before.

Now, Flyer Frontiers are gone; some may have lived but forgotten of what they were before, so now today it's only been twenty-seven years after the Black Night. It's the Ruins, people now have to be willing themselves to survive without anyone, just like Mal as she was experiencing before and after she was born and learns a bit more as she grows up, hoping she might live more.

He leads her out the door, sun blazing her eyes as she adjusts theme and inspects her surrounds. Since the years passed and so called green house gases, exhaust gases, and such aren't being worked on, the world has been filled with nature. It had enabled nature to loosen its shackles.

When the Black Night came and years passed on, nature has grown over manmade things, showing old structures of what the landscape was before the Black Night now being overgrown by this beautiful nature. Mal looks at its wonders. A important person told her the landscape of The Ruins portrayed more than just itself, it shows on how it reflects man itself hanging on against the disease and its effects.

Yet no matter what condition they were in, the quarantine zone are still inhabited and functional for humans.

Mal navigates the quarantine zone, but only lightly: the landscape is manmade, urban environment. The place is obviously gritty and dirty. Buildings are old; the crumbling houses and overgrown buildings give a strong indication of what's to be found from here on out, and shows that this nature belongs into this place. With boarded up windows, moss - covered paths of cemented roads, walls, and climbing plants covering those walls, but as they head into a gruff looking guard opening the gate for them.

The alleyway is filled with slums, gathering around to get into a section of tables with supplies on those tables. Ripped blankets blocked the sun, bricked walls covered in grim and dust. The people ere in worse condition; she noticed how they even alive. Fragile movements, gaunt muscles that shown their bones through their skin, sweat dripping down from their forehead, dirt and blood covered their face, neck, and fingernails.

It made Mal distraught that these people had a choice to come into the Tradepost, however, they chose not to and willingly to die slowly. Their reason is reckless yet merciful. They lost everything; respecting towards the Flyer Frontiers was a beckon of hope, having large amount of groups, declaring there'll be a cure, and everyone was happy. Until the truth hurts and with no one to help them, they let themselves starve till death takes them.

Mal never in a slightest thought decide or think about taking her live for a weak purpose.

Crossing out, they walk through a two-way street. Far in the background stood all the buildings, glistening in beauty from the sun, some were still in standing position, two on either side were leaning on other, taller building. It's moving- dangerous if it somehow falls over and crushes, making a lot of destruction and noise for the Infected. Passing through charted bared wire gates (quarantine zones had a main way gate where you had your licenses and may go into only Frontier Area).

Getting into the Area 5, the place tells the story of Lucius's slaughter. Caliber holes scattered everywhere, burnt walls and building were in a crumbling state, abandon and empty cargo vehicles stood still, covered in moss and grass that's grown on the wheel and cemented ground.

Edward swings another gate as Mal immediately spots a figure lurking around and froze as Mal screamed a name.

"FITZGERALD!"