Safe and Helpful

Chapter Three: Freaks

Chapter Three: Freaks

Camel's POV

The two of us trudged through the wreckage, the chaos and destruction only getting worse the further we went.

"How long have we been walking?" Kit complained. "It feels like forever." She cradled Simon in her arms, the cat looking half-dead and sick.

I was pushing Cassie in her wheelchair, a damp blanket over her so she wouldn't dry out.

"Kit, shut up and keep walking," I snapped. "We have to find out what did this before it does it again."

"Who does this for fun?" Cassie muttered, shrugging the blanket closer.

"Psychopaths," I answered.

"We're psychopaths," Kit pointed out. "Nice ones, but still psychopaths."

"Shut up," I said.

We continued walking, struggling to get over fallen trees and debris. Whatever did this was powerful enough to take out the rest of the woods if they wanted to.

"The hell?"Kit mumbled.

"What?" I turned to her.

"There's, like, this, just..." she trailed off. "Nothing."

"No, no, tell me. What's going on?" I pressed.

Kit looked at me, confusion and anxiety in her eyes. "No, like literally nothing. There's nothing - no endorphins or emotions or any vibes or anything."

"Oh." I stopped, just as puzzled as Kit. "Is that good or bad?"

She shrugged. "Don't know. It's never happened before."

We started walking again, soon coming to this giant smoking crater.

"Holy shit," Cassie muttered, curling up.

"You can say that again," I whispered in awe. The crater was impossibly deep, smoke pouring out of it.

"Lemme woosh," I said to Kit. She nodded, taking the handles of Cassie's wheelchair.

I wooshed (or as many seem insistent on saying, "teleport,") to the bottom, stumbling when I got there. It always took a bit out of me, making me slightly disoriented.

I turned around and saw a huddling figure, quietly sobbing. The person was extremely dirty, covered in dirt and scratches. Their clothes were torn and battered.

"Hey," I said softly.

The person jumped and turned to me. His eyes were red from crying, his iris golden. He looked at me quizzically, confusion turning to anger.

"I don't want to hurt you," I said calmly. "I just want to help. Were you hurt in the attack?"

"Freak," he hissed.