Survival

Alaric

My anger is white hot, I stalk back through the forest, I know exactly where I'm headed. The Dome. I like to be near it sometimes, imagine how much better life would be. A place where it isn't a struggle to survive. I see the house and Hanna calls out.

"I'll be back later Han" I shout and stomp right past the house. The sand is cracked and dry, luckily my water bottle is full. I wipe the beads of sweat from my head, take a sip of water, then I carry on. I see the faint gleam of the huge dome, it's so big I'd never be able to make it all the way round. I carefully step over some rocks, when I see someone, laying on the floor by the edge. It's a girl, wearing a poufy dress, blonde hair falling down. She's from the inside. I look at her, her small body crumpled into the foetal position. I walk up to her and nudge her side with my foot. She moans and sits up, looking at me, it's rather terrifying. Black smudged around her eyes, blood dripping from a cut on her head, red smeared around her mouth.

"Are you okay? I'm pretty sure you aren't meant to be out here" I say crouching down.

"Yeah, I know, but here I am, by choice" she says sarcastically.

"Sarcasm won't get you anywhere, what's your name?" I ask crossing my arms as I stand up.

"Why should I trust you, aren't you going to kill me or something?" She says getting to her feet, but I notice a slight limp as she does it.

"You're not that important sweetheart" I say, I instantly disliking her, she talks back too much.

"I'm Faria, and you are?" she says pulling her dress up.

"I think you're lying, you don't strike me as one to give in that easily" I say propping a foot onto one of the rocks. She groans and crosses her arms over her chest.

"I don't know you, so why would I tell you?" she says wiping the blood from her head, she doesn't even seem fazed by it.

"Fair point, but if you want to survive you should stick with me" I say shoving my hands into my pockets.

"How do you know I won't survive?" she says wiping her bloody hand on her dusty gown.

"Because I've never seen a Creptian survive before, out here I mean" I say, she deserves to know that she'd die without me. Sometimes I'm too nice for my own good.

"They really do throw them out" she says in disbelief.

"Why do they throw them out, I've always wondered?" I ask, curiously.

"If a person is Insurgent, like me, they throw them out, my sister threw me out" she says bitterly and kicks the air.

"Harsh" I say feeling kind of sorry for her.

"I still don't understand why they think I'm dangerous" she says walking around in a small circle.

"Well, you'll never find out I guess" I say getting my water sheath from my belt.

"Have some water, the heat will kill you alone" I say handing her the bottle. She takes it tentatively and sips.

"Not bad" she says taking a deep gulp.

"It's water, what did you expect, does it taste different in there or something?" I ask pointing to The Dome.

"It's cleaner, that's for sure" she says and hands it back.

"We should go" I say and start walking, I hear the clunking of her shoes behind me and she is standing by my side.

"Are you hurt? Apart from you head?" I ask looking at her head.

"I'm fine" she says looking back at me.

"I have some clothes back at home, how old are you?" I ask, she looks young.

" Seventeen" she says picking her dress up so it doesn't drag on the floor.

"I'm eighteen" I say honestly, telling her my age won't hurt. I won't tell her my name, or Caleb's or Hanna's, I will just use our middle names.

"My name is Elrick" I say hoping she buys it.

"I think you're lying" she says smirking.

"Well Faria, let's just go by these names, agreed?" I say, beginning to get agitated.

"Whatever Elrick" she says waving her hand dismissively. I push her and pin her down.

"You're lucky I'm agreeing to save you, don't push it" I spit out, her eyes stay steady, her breaths calmed and controlled.

"You know, I've killed one of you before" she says, trying to scare me.

"I'm not scared of you, you're just a little girl" I say laughing.

"You did not just call me a little girl" she squeals.

"You're really not helping yourself there" I say, biting back another laugh. Before I know it, she's on top of me, she hits me in my jaw.

"Don't insult me again, or I will kill you and I won't even think twice about it" she says and I'm stunned.

"Hmm, maybe I underestimated you" I say as she gets off of me, she scoffs and ignores me. We continue to walk and I see the house and I hurry.

"Hey Rick" Hanna says, thank god she has that nickname or Faria would know my real name. Hanna spots her and rushes off to see her, she's far too delicate.

"That dress is beautiful" Hanna exclaims.

"This is my sister Zakia" I say pointing to Hanna, she gives me a strange look but she knows to play along, Caleb stands by my side.

"I'm Raid" He says stepping forward, I'm also glad he's smart enough to catch on.

"Well thank you Zakia, it's rather annoying right now though, I'm Faria" she says extending a hand, maybe Hanna is just happy to have a girl around.

"Let's go inside" I say and usher everyone in. I go to the small chest next to my bed on the floor and get out a pair of black pants that are quarter length and an off white shirt with a black part near the neck, and a pair of boots I stole from a dead female Creptian. I hand the clothes to Faria and she goes into the dining room to change.

"Who is she?" Hanna asks.

"I found her by The Dome" I say simply.

"Why did you bring her back, you never bring them back" she says her hands on her hips.

"I don't know, it just didn't feel right leaving her there" I say shrugging, I don't know why I brought her back. She walks out in the fresh clothes and hands her dress to Hanna.

"You can have this if you want, make it into a new dress, I don't mind, it will just bring back bad memories" Faria says standing more comfortably now.

"Thank you" Hanna says, she's never had a dress before.

"I need to go check my snares, you, with me, I don't trust you here alone with them" I say looking at Faria. She nods and follows me out, we go to the first snare, a rabbit hangs by its feet.

"You know how to hunt" she says fascinated.

"How else do you think we'd survive?" I say coldly.

"I know how to hunt" she says studying my snare.

"Oh really, and when did you learn that?" I say, she can't hunt, why would she ever need to?

"I was born with the ability to survive" she says shrugging.

"Aren't we all?" I say, everyone wants to survive.

"Everyone in the dome is programmed to train doing something, to have a special ability, mine is survival, kind of glad of that now" she laughs.

"Thanks for being so nice to my sister" I say referring to the dress.

"I have two little sisters and two little brothers, I know how to treat them, although the one that pushed me out here, I don't think I should treat her how I treated your sister" she says, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm going to get back in there" she says calmly.

"If it kills me" she finishes.

We go back in silence.