This War of Mine: Strength in Numbers

Them

About 2 hours later Stacey found herself in a very quiet neighbourhood, only a few miles from the edge of the city. A small section squished between the rebels controlled zone, and the militaries mine zone. Stacey had heard stories from people who had survived wandering into the militaries mind field. Apparently the rebels controlled half of the state of Graznavia, if the rumours were to be believed. The military had lain down a mine field blocking the rebels from advancing any further, so that this point it was a giant stalemate. This neighbourhood just happened to be caught right in the middle, which was why no one had tried to loot it before. During the first weeks of the conflict this had been a war zone, and most of the houses had shell damage of some kind, but a few stood tall against the grey sky. But it had been a well off neighbour hood, with people of means. And that meant supplies that Stacey and everyone else back at the house sourly needed.

Of course that also meant seeing the cruel realities of war at its finest.

———————

Stacey rechecked her pack as she sat under the staircase of the third house she had searched through. So far she had found lots of potentially good items, but nothing that was on the needed items list that Cupid had given her earlier. She quickly ate a ration bar, touched her crowbar, and then took out the items she had found earlier in the house.

Making another hole in between the rubble and house foundation Stacey placed the potentially useful items she found inside. Stashing like this made it easier later, only she knows where the stashes are. Sliding a few pieces of wood and some rocks in front of the entrance Stacey heaved a sigh and slowly stood.

Slipping out the side door, she crept along the side of a fence, always on guard, watching and listening for signs of human life. Finding a hole in the fence she carefully maneuvered into the next yard. Thankfully the combination of rubble and remaining plant life made it easy to be undetected, but it also meant that anyone else who could be scavenging here would not be easy to spot as well.

Stacey got to the back door, and found it locked. For a few moments she waited, listening to the world around her. A few birds could be heard, a dog barking off in the distance, and the constant sound of something burning near by. But no signs of human activity.

Stacey took out her crowbar, and started the agonizing process of getting the door open.

———————-

The next three houses were more fruitful, for different reasons. All three had food, but one had a stock pile of food, another had the tools Mark needed, and the last one had an assortment of militaristic items. Stacey made sure to hide these items well before she left the houses and continued on.

Getting to the end of the block Stacey turned down the side street and found something that had not been on any of her maps, a small grocery store.

She gave it a hard look, and crouching low, crept towards it. She circled to the back, and upon arriving at the back door found the lock busted and the door partly open.

And then she felt a sharp piece of steel against her throat.

————————-

"Are you a rebel?"

Stacey shakes her head no.

"Do you work for the military?"

Stacey shook her head no and gave off an inaudible chuckle. She did not look like she worked for the military.

"Why should I believe you?"

Stacey shrugged.

A moment passes and then the knife comes away from her neck.

"Don't try anything funny,"

Stacey nods again as she turns to she who she is dealing with.

A young woman stairs back at her with hard eyes. The young woman gestures for Stacey to go inside.

Looking back at the door Stacey shrugs again and enters.

"Come on out kid, it's safe," The young woman calls softly and a young man no more than 13 years old appears from in between some shelves.

It had been a long time since Stacey had seen any living children in Pogoren.

"Hi, my names Stacey, what's your name?" Stacey asks, smiling wide at him.

He does not respond, instead looking at the young woman behind Stacey.

The young woman shrugs, and wanders further into the store.

"Bruno," The young man says softly.

"Nice to meet you Bruno," Stacey says with another smile.

Bruno's stomach growls at that moment and he looks sheepish.

"It's fine," Stacey says with a light laugh, going into her pack and pulling out one of her ration bars she hands it Bruno. "Have this, it tastes good, and it's pretty filling too."

He quickly stars wolfing it down.

"Good," The young woman says, reappearing near Stacey, and dropping a backpack at her feet. "Take him with you."

Stacey gives the young woman a confused look.

"But Kat..." Bruno says, reaching for her.

"No buts, I said I'd take care of you until I found you someplace better," Kat says waving him away.

"How can you be so sure I have some place better?" Stacey asks, a look of surprise flashing across her face.

"I've been following you for the past few hours, you hid the stuff you found which means you are coming back for it," Kat says glaring at Stacey, hands on her hips. "And no one who's scavenging for their own survival stashes the stuff you hid."

"Logical," Stacey says with a look of surprise and a nod. "Ok say I do have a place, why just leave Bruno with me and not come too?"

"Look just take the kid, he's weighing me down anyway." Kat says crossing her arms. "I'd be better off by myself anyway."

"None of us are better off alone," Stacey says standing tall.

Kat continues to glare at Stacey.

"You want a better place for Bruno and that is admirable," Stacey says looking Kat in the eye. "But the last thing he needs is for the only stable person he's been with up till now to run off. And I'm sure you could use a few days rest, a couple warm meals and some time to get your thoughts together."

"Look lady stop talking like you're some kind of shrink..." Kat says putting her hands on her hips.

"I can't stop talking like a shrink because I am one," Stacey says pressing forward. "If you hate being there thats fine, but at least give Bruno a few days with you to adjust, and then you can take off to wherever you want."

Kat makes a contemplate face, like she's weighing her options.

Looking over at Bruno she asks. "What about you kid, what do you want to do?"

He looks at her in earnest and says. "I want to stay with you Kat."

Sighing Kat crumbles a little. "Alright shrink, we'll do this your way. But I an't talking to you about my problems."

"That's fine," Stacey says turning back towards the exit. "We need to get going anyway, it's going to be a long walk."

——————

Stacey had Kat and Bruno grab items from some of the stashes she had made up. Making sure to pack more food, and grabbing a couple of handguns, and a rifle that she had seen before. Getting back to the house was a little bit more work, but Kat proved to be very light on her feet and Bruno was quick to do what Stacey said. They made it back to the yard just as the suns rays started peaking out over the horizon.