Survival Mode

Chapter Two

Past the town of Burkland and inside an abandoned home, Shellington Bjorgman sat at an old, rusty table looking over an entire map of Burkland itself. He took up a pencil and drew a circle over a specific location with it. A small smile came upon his lips as he lowered the pencil and rubbed his hands together. The location they would be scouting that day had been decided. Shellington looked up to see a good friend of his, Tweak Harrel, preparing breakfast. Although, the two weren't the only ones sharing the disregarded home. There was another good friend of Shellington's who sat in the isolated living room, Kwazii Young. The final person - who in the world knows where he could be - was Tunip Bjorgman, Shellington's only remaining family member.

Tweak let out a low sigh as she inspected the small breakfast before her. It wasn't a lot, but the four had barely any money to spare. She rubbed her hands together and looked to the two men nearby. "Alright. I have breakfast prepared."

"Thank you very much, Tweak." Shellington stood from his chair and cupped his hands around his lips. "Tunip! Breakfast time!" In a whim, the younger boy dashed into the room to eat.

Tweak crossed her arms as she watched the three boys devour the small portion of food she had made for the four to share. "Well, well. Aren't you three seeming a tad bit heedless?" As usual, the young woman was ignored by her fellow crew mates. She let out another sigh before retreating to the kitchen. She was thankful to at least see a little food leftover in the pot. She scooped it onto a plate and came to the table. Once she had situated herself, Kwazii spoke up.

"Well Mr. Bjorgman? Have you any plans for us today?"

"Sure am glad you asked, Kwazii." Shellington shared a brief smile with him before turning to the map laid out on the floor. He lifted it onto the table and spread it out before pointing to the location he had circled minutes earlier. "My plan was to take a brief trip to town to fill up on food supply and maybe a few other things. Then possibly, we could take a quick visit to the laboratory. How does that sound?"

Kwazii gave him a saddened sigh. "Shellington, must I say it again? It's impossible you could receive a job from the famous laboratory. They want high quality, and us - we aren't high quality at all."

Shellington shook his head. "I can assure you this time I could receive the job! I'm telling you, Kwazii. We're going to be rich in only a matter of days!"

Tweak shook her head sadly at him. "Shellington, stop. Don't you get it? We are poor, misfortune misfits. What makes you think you'll ever receive a job application from Mr. Wilson?"

Shellington looked down and began to fumble with his thumbs. "I...I could do it. I could provide for us. I only need a little faith, assurance, and encouragement from you two. It's all I beg of you, please."

"What about me?" Tunip looked up from his breakfast. "I could help you out, Shellington. After all, you are my -"

Shellington grumbled and banged his fist against the rusty table. "Shut up, won't you, Tunip? All you ever do is bother me - most specifically, us - about how much you could help out. Have you ever succeeded in that, Tunip? Well, I have some news for you, little brother. No, you have never succeeded in that. With that being said, won't you shut up for once in your lifetime?"

The table grew utterly and uncomfortably silent. Tunip lowered his head and forced out a sigh. "Yes, sir. I...I'm sorry for bothering you. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll head to my room for awhile."

Once he had left, Tweak glared at Shellington. "What the heck was that, Shellington?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tunip is your own brother! Significantly, your younger and only! You have no absolute reason to be so harsh on him. Sometimes, possibly, Tunip can be a tad annoying, but he only wants to help us out. When was the last time you allowed him to?" Shellington was silent for several seconds. Tweak huffed quietly before standing from her seat. "Specifically what I thought. Now, if you'll excuse me as well, I'm of to see if he's alright." She exited the dinning room and came to Tunip's closed bedroom door. She knocked quietly on it.

"If you're Shellington, please don't enter."

"No worries, it's Tweak." Tweak opened the door and shut it behind her. She came to the bed and sat before Tunip. "I'm sorry, Tunip. I know how hard things have been on the two of you since you lost your parents. Shellington has improved with his behavior, you can tell. But, I do agree with you, he still isn't the same I knew as a child."

Tunip refused to look into her eyes. "Often times, he has a big ego. I couldn't help but notice that as well."

"You'll have to learn to accept he's upset by the loss of your parents at sometime." Tweak let out a soft sigh before glancing to the younger child with a smirk. She added a light chuckle in her tone as she spoke. "As for you, mister, you could use a lesson in learning when to not be so convincing!"

"I'll try." Tunip giggled. "I will try."