Children Of Doom

Chapter III: Salvation

The last thing I felt was Lilly's hands brushing through hair. The world was in black and white, I was sure I will never wake up. This was a happy ending, at least for me. I couldn't even feel pain in my last moments. I could just feel myself drifting away. 

Of course, that didn't happen. 

I found myself on a bed, in some strange looking industrial room. What was this?

To make things worse, my left hand was missing. 

I have seen a pleasant-looking elder man approaching me. 
I couldn't overcome my fears, so I fell from the bed and tried to hide under the table.

"What's the matter? I got you a coffee." The old man said.
"C-Coffee?" I replied curiously.
"Yes, sit down and drink. You'll need energy." He said.
"Thank you... t-thank you so much." I replied and started to chug down the coffee.
Not moments after I started crying, realizing my hand was gone.
"What's the matter now, crybaby?" The man asked.
I simply stayed silent and tried to cry less. 
"Ah, I get it. Your hand. All will be explained." He said.
"Who are you, and why did you help me?" I asked. 
"You were in a bad spot, kid. I help everyone I see that are in a need of help. Doesn't matter if they're good or bad people, but my gut feeling told me you won't give me trouble. That's why you are not tied up. Unlike that lady over there." The old man said. I looked across the room and seen a girl laying on the bed unconscious and tied up.
"What did she do?" I asked.
"Why don't you look at your hand." He said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"When I found you two, she was eating your hand. She was starving. Still, that doesn't justify what she had done to you." He said.
"You didn't tell me your name." I said.
"Nor I need to. People call me Spirit Of The Doom. I help people in need. You're lucky I found you. I'm afraid when you feel you're ready to go, I'll have to knock you out cold and leave you in a secluded location. I'm no good at helping others if my compound is located." He said.
"You're kidding me? Comparing what you did for me, that sounds like a piece of cake. Thank you. You can knock me out anytime." I said as I smiled.
"You seem like you don't belong in this world. I spend a good amount of resources bringing you back. My gut feeling tells me I was right to do so." He said as he smiled at me.
"What's your name, kid?" He asked me.
"Friends call me Weirdo." I replied. 
"Aren't you just a special little snowflake, Weirdo? The land won't be so forgiving in the future. I won't be there to save you. I barely managed to fix those deep wounds. It almost seemed like you stood there and took them. Well, people can be nasty. I wonder why they didn't finish the job? Maybe they left you to the Doom Hunters." He said.
"... I didn't wanna hurt anybody." I said.
He started to laugh like crazy.
"Even before this shitshow. I've never met a person who didn't fight back when about to be killed. You must be a comedian, Weirdo." He said as he poured me another cup of coffee.

I drank it and went straight back to sleep. I need to save energy in order to find Lilly again. 

"The person who did that to you is awake. Don't you wanna hear why she done it?" Spirit Of The Doom woke me to ask me a question.
I could see a girl on the other side of a room tied up to bed and scared. She didn't need more stress. I don't care why she did it. We'll both part ways soon.
"She is alive? Doesn't matter, I forgive her. I'm just glad she's breathing." I said as I turned back and tried to fall asleep again.
"You're alive? Thank God! I didn't mean it, I swear I didn't mean it!" She was addressing me. 
"You didn't mean what? Why are you glad I'm alive? I haven't done anything to help you." I said.
"I-I'm sorry. Did the Spirit Of The Doom told you what happened?" She asked me nervously.
"No, I assume the same people who attacked me chopped off my hand while I was unconscious." I lied, I don't want her to bear a burden of knowing she's a cannibal.
"Spirit Of The Doom doesn't lie to us. He never lies. Why so forgiving to someone who did that to you?" She asked me curiously.
"I'm sure you had a good reason. Grilling you about it won't bring my hand back. I'm just glad you're alive. What's your name?" I asked. She was polite towards me. At least she regretted what she has done to me and didn't try to kill me.
"My name is Mei. My parents were caught by doom hunters. I haven't eaten anything since the nukes dropped. In a bunker there was never any food left for us. After Raptors came and drove us out, we realized we were stupid not to leave the bunker at first place. When I lost my parents I was lost and hungry. Everything around me was either scorched to ashes or rotten. When I saw you, first I came to help you. I tried and tried waking you over and over again. I didn't know you were still alive. Forgive me, I cut off your hand before I ate it. I didn't know you were still alive. I was starving. I'm sorry." She said as tears were running down her cheeks.

I came over to her, untied her and hugged her.

"You tried helping me, didn't you say? There's nothing to be sorry for, Mei. If you wish, we can both go and look for my friends together. I am scared to think of you being alone." I said as I smiled.

She hugged me back.

"Forgive me. I'll do anything to make it up to you. I don't have anyone left anymore. I am so happy I can come with you." She said as she kept hugging me and not letting go.

"You two look like you're made for each other." Spirit Of The Doom said as he started laughing.
"What are you planning to do when you get out there, Weirdo?" He asked.
"Look for Lilly. She saved me, I know she's out there somewhere. I have to find her." I replied.
"As long as you don't get this kid over here killed. Remember, I won't be there to save you again." He said.