Wasteland

Chapter Ten

Gigabit and Deesee-

 He sat in wonder. His name? What was his name? The more he thought, the less clear the words became. He could picture them in his mind’s eye, but his brain could not process them. Why couldn’t he remember? A long silence had drawn out since the question, but he finally knew his answer. Like a light bulb that has received a current, the name he had been called returned to him.

 “My name is… G-gigabit.” He stuttered slightly when he said the word, like his mind was trying to stop him, but his mouth had already received its orders. He watched the young boy nod slowly.

 “Well, my name is Deesee, nice to meet you.” Deesee said through clenched teeth. His head was still pounding from his beating, but it was becoming bearable once more. Gigabit heard the name and instantly could not resist.

 “DC stands for Direct Current, which is a form in which electricity can be channelled to power a device…” he spoke in a monotone, factual voice one that was not his own. A shiver rolled down his spine. That was not my thought, he told himself, running that revelation through his mind. Despite Gigabits pondering, Deesee was somewhat awed.

 “”Lectricity? How do you know about that?” he asked Gigabit. The feeling pushed over Gigabit once more, clouding his mind of everything but the reply.

 “Electricity is a form of energy that can be harnessed to power circuits which, in turn, can power an object as a whole… Oh shit” As soon as the definition ended the cloud dissipated leaving Gigabit to reel in what had happened.

 “What is it?” Deesee asked, pushing himself into a seated position. Gigabit blinked.

 “That was not me.”

 “What wasn’t?”

 “I didn’t say it.” Deesee looked confused.

 “Which bit?” Sighing, Gigabit replied,

 “All of it, the electricity stuff. It wasn’t me.”

 “Sounded like you…”

“Well it wasn’t. I don’t know, it is like there was someone speaking through me…” He trailed off. They were in silence while they both thought of what it could have been. A cry from outside broke the silence,

 “Bodies! They went this way! Move!” yelled a gruff voice. Gigabit shifted slightly.

 “We need to move. Can you walk?” he asked. Deesee mustered all of his strength and pushed himself up. He was about to reply with a “Yeah” but as he was about to do so, the world began to spin and his feet left the ground. The floor welcomed him with open arms and hit impacted with a heavy thump. He groaned in pain but Gigabit spared no time for recovery. He scooped the wire framed boy in his arms and bounded from their perch. Landing with his right foot, he felt no pain. Not even the jolt of ground shock coursed through his leg, just adrenaline. He began to run in a lopsided skip, as if one side was weaker than the other, but there was no time to think, only put distance between the raiders and himself. Another yell sounded out from behind them, but it was too late. Gigabit ran faster than the average man, even though he was lugging a kid in his arms. It was ten minutes of mindless running that ensured their escape, and it was only once they came across a cottage on the outskirts of the city that he slowed to a halt. The cottage was small but homely, a place of peeling white paint and mossy bricks. A path that may have once been made of gravel lead up to the small front door that had a corroded brass knob that looked barely able to turn. They passed a fallen mailbox as the once-gravel crunched underfoot. The porch creaked in protest as the heavy man stepped onto it, and carefully he flipped a deck chair upright with his foot and placed Deesee into it. The boy moaned as he rested his head in his hands, attempting to send the oncoming migraine away. With a fleeting look, Gigabit turned his attention to the door. It was made of a single board engraved with a flower twisting around the frame; its white paint looked as though it had spent years too long in the sun. Gigabit tried the handle but it wouldn’t budge, and for his efforts all he received was a sharp prick in his hand. His anger flared and he lashed out at the door with a flat footed kick. Anger dispersed and was replaced with surprise as the door tore off its hinges. He shrugged and returned to Deesee, retrieving him from his seat. He had finally given in to his migraine and had his eyes screwed shut in agony. Gigabit held Deesee close as he entered the house. It wasn’t grand, but compared to where they lasted camped out, it was nice. The door lead into a hallway with five doors, two on either wall and a last at the end opposite them. Floorboards cried underfoot and a stale smell wafted through the house as the first fresh air in years entered along with the strangers. The first two doors opened out to a neat kitchen that had faired the years of misuse well and a living room that looked as dead as the town. Cups that were absent from the kitchen sat in piles on tables along with a newspaper that looked as if it would fall apart at the slightest breeze. The third room was what he had been looking for. It greeted him with the reflection of his own self carrying the injured boy in his tree trunk arms. It was a mirror nestled in the back left corner that showed him his own figure.  It had gathered minimal dust over time, leaving its reflection clear and true. This was the first time Gigabit has seen himself properly since long before. He laid Deesee on a bed that was placed against the far wall beside an unbroken window with the curtains tightly shut before observing what he had become. Time had barely aged him, his hair was cropped short and stubble littered his prominent chin and cheekbones. The only part of him that had seemed to have taken the toll of time was his eyes. A deep green peered back from behind a stern look that barely flattered him. Through the studying of himself, he found that he was tired and that outside was growing dark. It was as the shadows began to grow taller and more prominent that Gigabit decided that he could steal a few hours rest before the sun rose and they would have to set out once more. So it was that he pulled up a chair to watch over Deesee and closed his eyes properly for the first time in a long while.