Salvation 2035

Chapter 15- Hope for the Future

『Abel』

     "Everything is in order," the middle-aged woman at the counter says, "so here's your room key. Enjoy your stay!" Her wrinkly, fashion ring-encased hand passes me the item in question. I must be honest, her dagger-like nails are frightening.

     "Thanks, we will," I nod. There's a strange musty odour wafting about in the office. It's probably the clerk's perfume mixing with cigarettes, perhaps? It's the kind of scent you'd only find in a place like this. Good thing we're going over to our room now. Never have I ever stayed in a motel or anything remotely similar to this. My family was from the upper-middle class, so whenever we went on vacation it would usually be in condos, hotels, or cottages. I can safely kiss those days behind.

     The three of us go back outside and up to the second level of the building. I grasp the deep myrtle, slightly rusted railing as I step up the metal stairs. The neon green doors greet me to my right, and the taupe curtains peek through the windows. Well, it isn't exactly five stars but I'll take it.

     It's a little tight, but I guess we'll have to deal with it. Two queen beds with pale green covers, a slightly outdated television mounted on the wall, a bright pink chair in the corner, a small closet, and a washroom close to the entrance greet us. The walls are panelled with wood and the floor is covered in cream-coloured carpet. Further in there's a small deck overlooking the desolate valley before us. We had to drive a little bit outward from the nearest town, so we're a little out of the way.

     "Just like in those old movies," Keisha remarks as she looks around the room. Tsuki has just sat himself down on the nearest bed.

     "Yeah, it's not too bad," I say optimistically. "But we don't have any food which is kind of a problem."

     "You know what we should get? Pizza!" Keisha suggests. "I've never had it before."

     "I could go for that. What do you want?" I ask her.

     "Uh, surprise me."

     "Alright. How about you, Tsuki?"

     "I could go for anything, really," he replies. "Actually I want some fruit. Not on the pizza, just straight up."

     "That's going to be a little pricey, but I whatever," I shrug. There isn't too much ash and radioactivity from the bombings in the south, but it's enough to make growing fruits and vegetables difficult in the natural environment. Also, we no longer import anything, so anything remotely tropical is rather difficult to come across. Of course, we have greenhouses to help replace that, but the crop still isn't as plentiful as it should be. It's near-impossible to find anything that hasn't been genetically modified anymore. "I'll head out now I guess."

     "By yourself?" Tsuki questions.

     "Yeah, so then it's not as suspicious," I answer.

     "Yeah, but you don't know how to defend yourself," Tsuki points out.

     "I won't have to if I don't get into trouble."

     "What if you do?"

     "I won't."

     "But what if?"

     "Just trust me, alright?" I say, exasperated. "I'm very good at blending in and not making a scene. Out of the three of us I have the most experience as a normal person."

     "He's right," Keisha pipes up. "And I'm real hungry so you best get going."

     "Way ahead of you," I grab the car keys and the hotel key and hold them up for everyone to see. "I'll be back in a bit." Tsuki locks his concerned gaze onto me while Keisha just waves bye.