flawed

s e c o n d

Phantom_Island
year 02 post great shock
•••

Chelsie POV

"Get back here, you!" I laughed, chasing little Finn as we crawled away from me, high-pitched giggled echoing through the room.

"Noooo Mommmyyyyy," he shrieked, the worlds still foreign to his mouth.

"Oh yes, Mister. No running around with a bare bottom!" I scooped him into my arms, blowing raspberries into his tummy as I carried him over to the changing table, slipping a diaper under him than closing it with skill that came from experience.

For a month after the Shock things hadn't been going so well.
It was a world of kill or be killed- and dangerous gangs had begun to rise from the ashes of our destroyed civilization.

I had been living under a bridge, struggling to find clean water and food when Yulia found me.
To say I was relieved to see her would be an understatement.
She brought me to this island, a journey of several weeks. I didn't question where she had found the boat, I didn't question anything.
I gave birth to little baby Finn a month later... he became a light in the darkness.

"Mommy?" Finn mumbled, looking up at me with his wide blue eyes as I set him on the ground.

"Yes, darling?"
He wobbled on his feet, not quite able to walk yet.
"Tie Lia?"
"Where's Auntie Yulia? I'm not sure, muffin. Probably getting munchies."
"Chies?"
I smiled. "Yes, that's right. Munchies."

Finn crawled off the go play with some of his handmade toys and I looked after him, a bittersweet smile tracing my face.
I had wanted so much for him.
And it was all taken.
Destroyed.
But I could still work with what I had, I could still raise my baby boy.

•••
District_103
year 02 post great shock
•••

Emma POV

"Em. What did you bring in today?" Vince questioned in his usual gruff voice, a muscled arm resting casually on the crude table he sat behind.

I pulled out a bag of jerky, and a couple cans of beans- tossing them towards him.
He caught them effortlessly, grunting.
"Well done."

"You know it, cap," I saluted jokingly, slinging my combat staff over my back and entering the shelter, where fires had already been started for warmth.

"Em! Over here!" Logan shouted, gesturing towards me wildly.
I rolled my eyes and laughed softly. Nothing could bring that boy's spirit down.

Weaving through the various groups I sat down between Logan and Dani, tousling Logan's long dark locks as I did so.
Dani took a bite of stale bread, and I could hear the crunch as she chewed.
"What'd you bring for the boss today?"

"Three cans of beans and some jerky, stole it from some cocky assholes. They had no idea what had hit them."

Logan snorted. "I know the type."

"You are the type," Dani scoffed.

I chuckled, poking at the fire with a stick and staring into the flames in thoughts.
I was yanked back to reality when Dani jabbed me in the side.
"Hey! What was that for?" I snapped, my head whipping towards her.

"Didn't you hear me talking to you?"
"Obviously not."
She shook her head. "I was just commenting on how you would know what happens when you don't bring your share in. We all remember that one time..."

Oh yes.
That.
When I had first joined the Rattler Gang I had been soft around the edges, an emotional mess, and quite honestly a walking disaster.
One day I didn't find any food, and I payed for it.