After Artemis

Chapter Four

(Hello again, I'm sorry about the delay with this chapter edit took a little longer I had some stuff keep me away from the story is all. So...Heres chapter four...again. Tomorrow will be chapter Five then Chapter Six by Wednesday. Thank you for your patience. Also, Tomorrow at some point I'm going to get rid of the original first chapter and take the "Revisited" part out of the titles, I dont want new readers getting confused but if you have any objects then please leave it down in the comments. Cryptic out! and Happy Reading!)

"Max"

"hm...case...no"

"no? what did you say no for...*sigh it's time to switch we have another couple hours on the road and I'm tired"

"fine...how long was I asleep for"

"About an hours and...45 minutes give or take. It will be another hour and 15 before Fallen city and then another 4 until Central"

"alright. Pull over so we can switch"

An itch starts to spread around my neck right underneath the stupid cipher

"damn it"

"What's wrong?"

"This stupid chip you had me put in the cipher dock is making my neck itch"

"Well don't scratch it, I'll look at it when we get back home"

"Easier said than done"

We pulled over at what looked like a...I'm not sure actually... the sign is too far gone to read, the buildings face is bare from the dust storms. Case pulled into the open space beside a giant metal roof that looks like it collapsed on its side years ago, I think this place was a "gas station" at one point in time. There's been no gas for use for centuries though everything is solar powered now our at least in the wastelands it is. If you go far enough east you'll reach a forest where they use electricity, but that's Demon territory and any human that enters becomes either slaves or food, so yeah not really an option. The door to the A23 opens brought me back to reality. I turned my head to see an annoyed Case looking at me.

"It's not happening"

"...What's not happening"

"Just leave it alone"

"Ya know you think, very little of me" I stepped out of the A23 and began walking around the front. He already knows what I'm going to do, so naturally being discovered naturally I'm just going to listen...Na. The moment I made to the driver side of the A23, I start walking towards the broken doors of the station.

"Max! I just said don't go in there! we have a job and are already behind schedule. Four days to turn the bounty in and we already have to spend the night in Central"

"Calm down, this is a dead zone plus we need food and water. I'll be right back quick in and out, I have my gear on anyways I'll be fine"

Anyone who would see me now would be utterly confused as to the reason for my attire but hey I like it. My Gear consists of a black cloak that hugs at the waist and is lined with silver button straps going across the chest, it what Case found me in. The cloth is made from a compressed fabric that hardens when struck, it regulates heat, it is the only indication of who I am and what's inside me. Freaks are given then in order to protect ourselves from others like us in the area. Because of this, It has earned the name of the black veil, it is a symbol that the one wearing it marked by the virus and will only bring death. It also acts like a sore thumb out here though as anyone who sees it instantly knows what I am, and one of us walking around means we escaped from the area. I don't remember much before Case found me so I have no idea how I got out but I still wear it outside safe zones after all its is the best protection anyone can get. Moving on the boots I have are specially designed for sprints, with metal pegs coming out of the bottom as you apply pressure giving the wearer more momentum when taking off. The welding goggles I wear are not issued to freaks there issued to engineers, apparently, when I was found I had them in my hand coated in blood.

The blood wasn't mine.

The doors to the stations howl into the building as they open, almost like a damn alarm to whatever calls this place home, if anything calls this place home. I took a quick look around but the station had been ransacked, someone was here before me and judging by the claw marks on the floor they were found. The shelves are bare and piles of sand are everywhere, there's nothing noteworthy though. Cans and a few empty water tanks...wait...what, what is that smell! It's horrendous. I look towards the back room of the station. leaning my head against the door to see if any sign of life can be heard from the other side. I slowly pushed at the metal, the doors are unlocked. The metal of my shoe ting as I take steps and the smell hits me in the face like a bat, I could feel my heart sinking. I found the cause of the smell. Following the claw marks on the wall, I could almost hear the echoes of the past. A loud scream and then silence, the claw marks stopped. A body no more than a couple of days old resided there its chest open wide. The Demons must not have been in too good of a mood.  The smell was too much; I can't stay here for much longer if I do I might not be able to hold my lunch. The flies are relentless, I...Can't take this. I turned around to head back out the doors but... I tripped, yeah way to go me.

"What the hell?"

Inside of the assassin sand pile that evaded my vision was...a paper... a paper with foreign symbols all over it, it's not English...Or was it? I can't tell I'm there moving all over the page...

"ahhhh" My head... what's wrong with my head! WHERE HAVE I SEEN THIS BEF---

"Max..."

I turned around and drew my pistol, pointing It at my opponent who dared to enter my space... then I paused.

"h-hey Case... sorry about that I must've banged my head on something, didn't know if it was an enemy getting the jump on me."

"what the hell happened in here."  He says almost judgmentally looking at the walls and the body as if it had done something to him.

I pointed to the indistinguishable pile of sand near the poor soul who tried to find refuge in this place but instead a final resting place. Case gave me a look of concern and then followed my hand to discover the piece of paper. I must have dropped to the floor.

"probably belonged to whoever this was" Case didn't take his eyes off the paper and slowing began to pick it up without saying a word.

"Do you recognize the handwriting?, I thought it was English but then...I don't know what I thought"

"Let's go"

"Wha--"

"now!"

I gave him a look of pure protest at his yell.

"I'm...I-I'm sorry l-lets go please, Max that body hasn't been here longer than a week it's possible for the Demon or whatever killed him is still around"

"Didn't help that you yelled at me"

"I know...look I'll drive the rest of the way if you want" He shredded the paper never breaking eye contact.

Then offered out his hand.

"No, I can't have you out of it as well, I think I saw a water bottle on the body I'll grab it and drive the rest of the way." I stand up without his help and grabbed the bottle. When I turned back around Case was already heading out the front doors. I reach up to the cipher dock and tapped the bottom.