Thirst. Hunger. Savages. Savages everywhere. Ziku and his allies must survive the Barrens. A new world conquered by "settlers". Creatures, people, disease, and more thrive in the land that was once called Earth. Issues within families beg them to c...
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1
The sunlight shined through Ziku's blue curtains, enchanting the room with a calming color. The usual alarm sounded on his phone, but today Ziku was awake before it. He sat up and stretched, listening to the usual blaring tune. After a few seconds of yawning, he rose and walked away from the bed. Ziku glanced at the clock, 6:45. He slowly crept to his washroom, turning the handle of the door. The same routine for the past eight years, after he was adopted.
He let the water run, filling up the sink. He watched the rising liquid, reflecting his black hair mess, and brown eyes dull, like always. The eyes that went through many sleepless nights. Ziku dipped his hands in the freezing water, waking up the rest of his body. Grabbing his toothbrush and paste, he proceeded to brush. Silently, (that's how he was taught) never make any unnecessary sounds. He rinsed his toothbrush under the stream of water, placing it away and left the room.
Ziku walked the long hallway, connecting the rooms to each other, stained windows adorned the walls. The sunlight creating dark shadows in the corners, but dazzling patterns on the crimson rug that Ziku paced on. He reached the stairs, noticing the usual stoic father walking down the spiral steps. His mother already at the bottom, with a smile and laughing with the menials.
Ziku's eyes hardened, Such lowlifes shouldn't be allowed to act casual in front of mother, he thought. Ziku followed his father down the stairs, eyes glaring at the servants. A maid that was currently talking with his mother saw that Ziku was coming. She quickly scampered away, off to clean something, anything. Ziku's mother quite confused on why the woman went away until she saw Ziku. She sighed, clearly distraught on where she went wrong as his mother. Maybe it was because of her husband, or that incident a few years back.
The quiet family walked to the dining room. The usual scent of food hit Ziku's nose. Italian, Japanese, American, and other styles of breakfast was laid out on the table. Ziku knew every single one by smell, along with everything else in the world. He had a peculiar sense of smell. His father and Mother sat on opposite sides of the table.
Ziku sat in the center of the dining table, his parents in silence, waiting to see what would happen next. He looked around the room, just as he did almost every day, he preferred to listen rather than talk.
His mother broke the peace and sighed. "Anything new this week, dear?" she asked, as she began to cut a breakfast sausage with her knife.
"At school?" Ziku questioned, shocked that he was asked.
"What else, dear?" his mother continued, chewing her food quietly. "Uh, um... I might join a club." He fibbed, with relief drifting off his back. He stared at his father, signaling him to join the conversation.
"That's good, interested in anything?" his mother further inquired.
"Nothing so far, mother. I was only thinking about it for a week," he continued, gazing at his father in disappointment. Come on! He thought to himself, hoping he could get away with the white lie.
