Defying Death

Chapter 2

"Oh, I didn't see you child thank you," she said in a croaky voice.

She hunched over and started shuffling towards me. I pulled her closer to me so that we could use body heat. What can I say I was experienced.

"Cold times aren't good for old bones" she murmured. I just put my hand on Beatha forehead to find a layer of sweat coating it.

"She looks bad, you are such a nice older sister for taking care of her. How long has she been like this?" she asked

"A few months, but it has become worse these past few days".

"Where are your parents", she asked.

"They died, I'm a muddy," I explained. She didn't look repulsed the way people usually do.

"Oh, I was a muddy too," she replied. I couldn't believe it, I mean it how was her date not out. As if she read my mind she smiled at me a warm toothy one that made her already wrinkled face even more crinkled.

She clucked her tongue before continuing, "It's a lie, there's no such thing". She must have seen my face as she chuckled and said, "they made the dates up so they could control, they didn't want the low to live that long" she hissed out the word 'low' bitterly. My jaw was on the floor. I think I dislocated it, I literally heard a click. She didn't have to explain who the 'they' were, I knew that it was the dreaded government that turned out to be evil masterminds that brainwashed everyone.

"There are more like us, up north. They could help your sister. You should go, otherwise, you will have to hide, there are people after you. There are a few groups of them around your age up there. A days travel. There'll be a hefty price on your head." she said.

Just as she finished I heard the fast-paced sound of someone running. They were muttering something. They suddenly stopped and looked down and let out a string of colorful curse words. If you could call them that.

"Fork and bells, where the stick is that doe?". Translating at: "Fucking hell, where the shit is that bitch?". Nice right? I had graduated in Flavius curse words a few years back.

Flavius was wearing dark clothes and he must have heard something as he slowed down to a tiptoeing pace and reached down to grab something out of his pocket. I hadn't noticed that I was out of the hole and hidden by the shadows until a gnarled boney hand reached up and grabbed my finger. I looked back to find the old lady. She pulled me closer to her height, she was surprisingly strong compared to her appearance. She whispered into my ear "trust no one even him, head up north, the devil too was once an angel". After she said that her silhouette melted into the shadows.

"What's your name?" I whispered into the night, I was only met with the squeaks of rats in the gutter. It was like I had completely imagined her, it was possible it wouldn't be the first time that I had delusions because of the lack of food and warmth.

I felt the creeping feeling of someone behind me. I turned around so quickly that I felt dizzy and weak before I righten myself I tripped on my own feet and tumbled to the ground. I sensed the hesitant air of someone reaching towards me and then pulling their arm back. My mind went all fuzzy and black. Before I went out completely I pointed Flavius to the hole. "Beatha" I mumbled then I blanked out.