The Flare

The Compound

       The trio slogged wordlessly through the soot blackened snow, the air between them thick with tension. It was an especially cold day with temperatures hanging around -35 degrees and the energy required to hold some semblance of pleasant conversation was more than they could spare. The razed land was blissfully silent other than their huffing breaths as they started toward the city.

       The three were making decent time as they crossed into city limits, that is, until Frank accidentally bumped shoulders with Mikey when ducking under a broken beam. It seemed the younger man's anger from the night before had coalesced into a massive heap that seethed out of him in that moment.
“You know, if it weren't for the fact that we need you to help Brendon, I'd beat your fucking ass, right here and now,” Mikey growled, his gloved hands balled into fists.

       Frank chuckled humorlessly, “oh, please, we both know you'd just run and hide behind Gerard at the first sign of a fight.”
“Come over here and find out,” Mikey dared, his face flushed with anger.
“Alright, let's do this-” Frank began, stepping toward the younger man.
“ENOUGH!” Gerard cut him off, “Brendon is laid up in bed, right now, so sick that he's hallucinating and all you two can think about is your stupid fucking egos. If you don't shut the fuck up and move, I'm going to kick the shit out of both of you.”

       Frank and Mikey's anger fizzled out and mortification took its place. Mikey's fists unballed and Frank returned to Gerard's side. With that, they started their long journey through the city.

       Even with Frank's shortcuts through the ruined city, the going became extraordinarily slow. They'd gotten almost a foot of snow overnight and with the exception of Frank, who was exceptionally light on his feet, they slipped and slid on layers of hidden ice below the snow’s surface.

       Gerard was exhausted by the time they reached the edge of the city and even Frank looked like he was ready for a nap. Mikey was prepared to ask how much longer they had to go when Frank grabbed he and Gerard and pulled them flush against a wall around the corner.
“What the hell?” Mikey demanded, fighting against his grip.
“What's going on, Frank?” Gerard inquired only slightly more calmly. He gestured for them to look in the direction they'd been headed.

       Gerard was amazed to see a small Mute child with a blackened, torn teddy bear clutched in it's claw-like hands.
“Why did you pull us back?” Gerard found himself whispering.
“I didn't want you to scare her,” Frank responded quietly, “or, you know, kill her.” Mikey looked disgusted at the small, deformed creature. Gerard, however, was ashamed that Frank had been right to worry. Just a day ago, they'd likely have killed her without a second thought.

       A little more than an hour had passed since their encounter with the baby Mute and they were much further into the city than either Gerard or Mikey had ever been. Gerard was surprised to find that the streets were cleaner in this part of the city and mostly unobstructed by debris. Paths had been even dug in the snow in some places, allowing for quicker travel. Gerard felt the way he imagined tourists had felt in Billie and Brendon's youth when visiting a new land.

       Frank, however, became more and more on edge as they went. His hand dropped instinctively to the shotgun in his coat and rested there as he scanned the area for threats.
“Keep your guard up,” Frank warned, “we're nearly there.”

       “Stop here,” Frank instructed after a few minutes. He lead them into a small makeshift guard booth with slits just big enough to look out of.
“What are we doing in here?” Mikey asked with distaste.
“You're staying here and keeping watch,” Frank said taking his shotgun from his belt, “take this. If they catch me with it, I'm dead.”
“Wait a minute, Frank,” Gerard urged as the slight man shoved the gun into his hands, “how are we supposed to help you?”