Witches and Devils

Venable

Almost two years had passed since the bombs dropped, Michael and I had begun visiting outposts to see who or what we could dig up and causing as much chaos as possible along the way. When we killed the witches at Cordelia's little academy, we didn't find her, Myrtle Snow and a handful of others. Michael believes that they are hiding out in one of the outposts, too weak to live in the world after the bomb went off and too scared to face us alone. We had been to all the other outposts across the country and found nothing, just a handful of world leaders in a whimpering state, which was entertaining if nothing else. The trip from place to place takes forever, since we have to travel by horse. Michael doesn't want to exhaust my powers with Cordelia still out in the world. But once we find her and kill her, all of her power will be mine and then Michael and I will be unstoppable.

I look out the window at the dense fog that has been on the ground since the bombs went off and sigh. "What is it, my darling?" Michael leans over to me and places a hand on my knee.

I look over to him, "I'm just tired of going from place to place looking for the Witches."

"I know," Michael nods, "I am as well. But we will find them. And then we can rebuild the world in my image."

"Our image."

"Of course," Michael nods with a smirk. In the months since the bombs went off, Michael's hair has grown out. I've offered to cut his, as I do mine, but he refuses. Soon we pull up to the last outpost, the academy in California where Michael and I met. As we do, we put our masks on so that we don't frighten those inside who come out to greet us. Michael gets out of the carriage, before helping me out. A woman walks out to us, Michael just shows her his badge, "we need to speak to Ms. Venable."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Langdon," as the woman looks to me I show her my badge as well, "Ms. Sinclair."

Michael and I walk toward the entrance to the outpost and he gestures back, "tend to the animals."

Michael and I walk into the outpost, getting 'cleaned' as they call it once we remove our coats. When we walk inside a woman with a cane and red hair approaches us, "Wilhemina Venable. I'm in charge here."

"Of course, you are," Michael smirks.

"You don't sound like you believe me."

"Why wouldn't I? Seems like you've done a wonderful job." Michael begins to walk around the room, while I sit next to the fireplace, "the walls are still standing. Your people are still alive and healthy. Which is... quite a feat, considering." Michael walks over to me and lifts my chin with his fingers as I look up to him.

"Considering?"

"That three more Outposts have been overrun," Michael turns to Venable, "and the remaining three wont last through the year."

"Why are the two of you here?"

"Because it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens to you. The good news is there's another facility, a sanctuary. This one's completely impregnable and stocked with enough supplies to last a decade."

"You're here to take us there." Venable smiles.

"Hmm. What do you think, dear?"

I shrug, " I don't know, doesn't seem like anyone is any fun around here."

Venable chuckles, "fun? Says the girl in the party dress."

I play gasp, "ohh... I'm so hurt," I chuckle.

Michael turns back to Venable, "we have been assigned to evaluate the people here and select the ones most worthy of survival."

I stand and walk around Venable, "we could take all of you... or none of you."

"Those who make it, live. Those who don't... end up like our horses."