AWAKENING

Chapter One: Prologue

Maybe I overreacted?, Maybe it's for the best?, Maybe all good things come to an end? I thought that maybe if we made it to the green zone we'd be alright, but once again I was wrong. My own judgement got my best friend killed. Those damn raiders killed her. I had just loaded my rifle and slung it over my shoulder. Maybe I can do some good by heading back out there in that terrible world, Maybe. I got up off the log and looked around. "Such a wonderful place" I looked around taking in my surroundings and listening to the sounds of what was left of the old world. The sounds of birds chirping filled my ears. The soft wind blowing against my face as the sun's light hit my face. I kneeled and took off my backpack and place it in front of me. I pulled out a box of matches. "Maybe I can do some good, but where's the fun in that. I lit a match and throw it towards the tree that had been covered in gasoline. It went up in flames almost instantly.

    If that doesn't bring the raiders back, I don't know what will. I thought to myself. I got up and trekked back about a mile east. The way the raiders walked after executing Sam. Rest In Peace my friend. The only thing I had left of her was a picture taken back before we left our home camp. She was amazing, the best damn marksman I've ever met. We had trained hours learning hand to hand combat and marksmanship. We had fought raiders, killed screechers, and fought giant behemoths. We were unstoppable, or at least that's what we believed.

    I listened for any shouting or gunshots but nothing, only the crackling of the flame. The smoke rose high above the treeline and almost touched the clouds. It was beautiful. That's when a shot rang out and everything went black.

    When I came too I looked at my right shoulder. A bullet hole, "great" I said to no one but myself. I sat up clenching shoulder and looked for my rifle. It's gone. I looked up. "You gotta be shitting me" it was stuck in the damn tree. A good rock throw should bring it down. I glanced around and saw three raiders running towards me, weapons up and ready to kill. I got on my feet still holding my shoulder and looked for my bag. I saw it about twelve feet away from me under a bush. I ran to it. They saw me running and opened fire. The shots hit the trees around me sending woodchips in my direction. I slid when I got close enough to my bag. I opened it and started digging for my .44 Remington Magnum I stole from the raiders camp about a year ago. I felt around and eventually found it. I pulled it out and looked at how many shots I had, only six shots, great. I got up and ran further through the now burning forest. I had my bag but not my rifle.

    I came upon a clearing and there was a tree in the middle. It was calm and open. Perfect, I'll take cover behind the tree. I sat and waited for them to show up. Roughly a minute later they showed up trekking carefully searching for me. I had since climbed the tree and set up shop there. I had my gun trained on the guy in the middle, poor bastard never had a chance. Five shots remaining and two raiders left. The others ran for cover, almost flanking me. I need better cover.

    I looked to the right waiting for the raider to poke his little head out. He did. A shot rang out and graced his face, he spun and fell, dammit. I turned my focus on the second raider and he had tried running around the tree to flank me. I quickly aimed my gun in his direction and fired. Four shots left. He dropped down and the bullet missed. He got back up and kept running in my direction. I let off another shot, three remaining shots, I was shocked. I relaxed my body and took in a deep breath steadying myself and let out another shot. His head exploded and his body kept going for another four feet. It dropped right at the base of the tree, Two shots left. I climbed down and walked over to the second guy I shot. He was still alive. He was laying on the ground holding the side of his face and holding one hand up begging for mercy. I nodded and holster my gun. I bent over him. "Shh, it's OK. I'm not going to hurt you." I lied. I pulled out a machete and lifted up my hands clenching the blade and used all my force and weight and brought it down right between his eyes. I pushed it in and twisted.

    I stood up breathing heavily. "Where was Sam's mercy?" I said quietly to the lifeless body below me. "HUH?! WHERE WAS HER MERCY" I started kicking his head until it concave inwards. Maybe I went too far? NO!  they deserve no mercy, I'll kill them all, every last one of them, I'll burn their towns. I'll burn everything.