The Wasteland

Prologue

We all sat in a circle. To my right was Sam, my best friend. To my left was Cadence, my second best friend. To Cadence's left was our dog biscuit. We found biscuit after a raid night while getting supplies from the local general store. We all stood up and held hands. I looked around and said "We lost a good friend today, Brady, he was killed during a raid. It was my fault. I wasn't watching his back" Sam put her hand on my shoulder "it's not your fault Church, you couldn't have known" she said. I felt a tear roll down my face but I quickly wiped it away. "We should all get some rest. Brady wouldn't want us sitting here all day" I turned and walked over to the door that led to my personal room. I turned around and nodded at them letting them know I was okay. I walked into my room and shut the door behind me.

The next day....

We all sat at the table eating our breakfast. We had deer jerky because that's all we could make right now. It was cold of course. No warmer than 36 degrees Fahrenheit. We needed more gas for the generator to warm up the bunker.

I looked at Cadence. His face was blank as he ate. He didn't much care that Brady had died. I turned my attention to Sam. She had been upset about it but never really knew Brady personally. She was more upset that I was upset than anything.

After we finished eating we all prepared to leave for another raid. Now we're all efficient killers, side effect of the wasteland. Sam used a medium ranged AR-15. Cadence used the same weapon and I used a bow and arrow, and a short sword. I preferred to be the silent one. Which is strange because I was the leader of sorts in this group. I also had a bamboo staff just in case.

We all put on our gas masks and tightened them around our face. Then we covered our body in thick clothes for it was to cold outside not to and if the gas touched our skin it would burn it and then rot it away. We called the gas outside "Agent X". Agent X was a sort of shield for our bunker. It protected us from unwanted visitors.

Once we were all suited up and ready. I gave Cadence a nod and he opened the first door. We all stepped into the small hallway that led outside. He closed the door and locked it. He turned and nodded, letting us know we're good to go. I nodded back and started walking towards the door that led outside. As we reached the door Sam stepped forward and silently opened it. Gas started flooding into the chamber but the decontamination system vented the gas out. We all walked out and I shut the door behind us. After I locked it I heard the click of a gun's safety going off.

"Hands in the air and turn around slowly unless you want your friends to suffer the same fate" a voice said from behind.

I turned slowly with my hands up. Cadence and Sam were on their knees. They had guns pointed at their heads. It was the same group of raiders that had killed Brady. They wanted all of us dead and they somehow found us.