The Elim Conspiracy

Chapter Six

Selene offers me a make shift bed in a spare room at her base. It's a few tattered blankets and pillows, but I'm grateful for it nonetheless. She tells us Harlow Street is quite a while away, so we'll leave tomorrow morning at first light. She thinks it may be a weeks trek at most. Nightfall is soon upon us, and after sitting by the fire together in silence as we warmed our hands, we retreat to our beds. The door closes behind me as I enter the narrow room, pulling off my shoes and placing them neatly together beside the bed. My feet are swollen and sore to the touch, but this isn't anything out of the ordinary. I wrap a blanket tightly around me, despite the late spring weather, hoping to seek some comfort from it. I had never felt at home anywhere for as long as I can remember, but tonight I feel further away from home than I ever have. The only light in the room comes from the moon peering through gaps in the bordered up window. The translucent white light illuminates the splintered floorboards that are covered in dust and grime. I let my eyes close, the uncommon silence dragging me into a deep sleep.

In the early hours of the morning, Selene saunters ahead of me accompanied by Ben at her side, catching up on whatever they'd missed whilst they were apart. We had gathered a few of her supplies from the base, but she didn't have much to spare. I clutch my half filled water bottle in my hands, mentally reminding myself to save it for when I desperately needed it. I trudge behind them, trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but I can't help doing so.

"She's good Selene, I promise"

"Sounds like someone has a crush on the new girl"

"I do not!"

"Okay little brother, if you say she's good then I believe you, she's good"

Selene turns around to face me. I immediately drop my eyes to the ground, hoping she hadn't caught me listening to their conversation. I drag my feet across what's left of a broken concrete path, still feeling a little sore from the hike up here.

"Hey, Mai?"

I let my eyes cautiously lift from the ground, meeting hers. She gives me a slight smile, which I can tell is hard for her to do. I glance over at Ben, who gives me his signature wide grin. Selene gestures for me to come closer to them, so I jog on up to her.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen"

I answer, even though I'm not actually sure how old I am. I tried to keep track of the days after everything ended, using a tally in an old notebook, but I was estimating the dates by the end of the year. I could be anywhere between 14 and 16, considering the world ended roughly five years ago, when I was turning 10.

"Ben's sixteen, just about. So you were both babies when this started. I'm twenty one and I struggled to survive, I can't imagine what you both went through. Do you have a group?"

"No. My parents died when it all started, I've been alone since then"

There's an uncomfortable shift into silence. Everyone adverts their eyes to the surroundings, shuffling awkwardly as we move further down the path. I wonder if I should say something, to soften the mention of tragedy, but before I can speak up, Ben sets his hand gently on to my shoulder.

"I'm sorry that you lost them like that. I lost my parents before the end of the world, but I haven't seen my siblings since the blasts. I don't think they made it"

I place my hand on top of his, softly rubbing my thumb across his knuckles. He gazes at me with glossy brown eyes, and still manages to smile. In that moment, I can tell that smile was meant for me. I haven't met a lot of people in the short time I've been alive, but I truly believe that Ben is one of the kindest people to exist.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry you lost your family too. Before I met you I hadn't seen another person in two years"

"At all?"

He staggers, stopping in the middle of the path. His mouth hangs open in astonishment, and I can't say I blame him for his reaction. It's not like I tried to stay away from people, in fact, it was probably the opposite. I roamed the streets every day looking for any signs of life, but, to my dismay, there were none left to be found. I began wondering if I was the last person left on Earth, but then I came across Cane's dad in the supermarket. I had forgotten what it felt like to be around other people, it seemed foreign to me.

"Yeah. I walked around a lot but I didn't see anyone, until yesterday. I met Cane's dad, then the kidnappers, and then you"

I explain for what felt like the thousandth time. Ben continues to gape at me, dumbfounded by my statements. I try to ignore his expression, feeling uncomfortable with the attention to my life. We carry on walking, nearing the end of the forest ground.

"You're with us now"

Selene tells me. I look up at her, but she continues to stare straight ahead of us. People are usually easy to read; their speech and movement give their feelings away if you look close enough, but, Selene, she's different. I can never tell what she means when she says things, because her behaviours conflict her words. Even as I'm watching her now, her face straight and emotionless, I can't tell what she feels. I don't think I'll ever be able to. I brush it off, returning my eyes to the forest.

"And hopefully Cane"