Alone

3

Analynn held on tighter as the soldiers aimed their guns at me again.

"Wait!"

"Ma'am he is obviously infected we may not allow another step!"

"Stop! I look different now but I still think like you talk like you help people like you!"

I looked around and saw a few people I had known in my old life and a few from my current life. The mom and her little girl, Jack the amputee butcher, Miss West who always had cookies for the kids. They had all turned around.

"Is that Ronin?"

"Is he infected?"

"He doesn't look like he's attacking"

I put my hands on my head and got on my knees. I wouldn't give these people the monster they wanted.

"Leave Mr. Ronin alone!"

The little girl who lived in the apartment next to me ran out. Her small red dress flapped in the air as she stood in front of me. A few gasps of panic rang from the crowd as the girl ran towards me. I stood absolutely still and didn't flinch when she grabbed my leg. This seemed to calm the townspeople down.

"Yeah leave Ronin alone! He looks different but he's still a better father figure than my actual one." My friend Matty stood up and walked in front of me too.

"Hello Small Sarah"

I hadn't known the English word for child when I first met her so I called her small Sarah. The little girl in red had been patting my head. I laughed my metal teeth glinting. She looked scared at first but started laughing too. I picked her up and put her on my shoulders. She laughed like hell and clapped a lot. I stood up and started realize the world around with her.

*bang!*

A bullet ripped through my leg.

"Get back on the ground!"

"Ssorry"

I picked her up again and put her on the ground I went back to my knees and went to my knees.

"Let my friends pass they need help I will die to do that"

I heard a gunshot ring out once more.

"Stand the mother loving fuck down and let this man pass! He isn't attacking he's alive, sentient, even human!"

"Ash! That's enough!"

"Sorry Ma'am"

"The Bosak's will take him to the base for research and questioning. The rest of you will stay here until we exterminate the infection"

"Yes ma'am"

I felt someone roughly grab my arms and hand and bind them behind my back.

"Ow"

"Sorry Mister Ronin, I am not permitted to let your hands be out"

"No, I just could put hands behind my back if you asked"

"Oh sorry"

"It Fine, Uh I didn't catch your name"

"I'm Ela and the girl in the beret is Zofia, my sister we don't have a good relationship"

"Where are you taking me?"

"That's none of your concern infected"

"Thank you Six for the insult"

I saw the gun and could've dodged it but I decided to let the try and hit me. The pistol started to break apart when it made contact with my horns and the my forehead. I smiled at her.

"Sorry did I forget to mention that these cut through metal pretty easily."

I caught a fist to the gut for that remark.

"I don't hit a person who can't fight back, it determines what character you and I are"

Another shot rang out. I felt the bullet piercing my skull I fell forward. I didn't die but instead went into REM sleep while my body repaired.

"Nooo!"

"Analynn that thing was never your friend after it got infected it just wanted to eat you like all the rest of them it just had a brain that worked after death"

I tried to move but couldn't I could see but couldn't speak I could hear but not move my eyes.

"Bring the corpse we will let Doc do whatever he wants to it"

"No let him have a dignified burial, not a table and a locker!"

"Analynn I can have removed from this force at any show of defiance is this how you want your career to end!?"

"No..."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I thought nobody had noticed but then I saw Zofia pull her glasses down to look at me. She sighed before grabbing my legs.

"Let's get him out of here"

Analynn ran forward crying her helmet was off. The metal visor now covered in mud as she pushed people out of her way to get to me.

"Ronin! I'm so sorry!"

I smiled internally and let myself drift away for the first time in months.