The Lost And The Wicked

Chapter 6

Hello, everyone.

Hope everyone is having a happy weekend.

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Chapter 6

I continue down the lonesome street for another half-hour. Besides the frames of useless vehicles and a few scattered pieces of trash, I’m alone on the street. Fractions of Commander Lark’s cryptic message replays in my head: If you are hearing this message then you have deciphered the code and are indeed human. It is imperative that you flee. We fought bravely, but Earth has been lost. Run, run and keep humanity alive.

The words “Earth has been lost” replay over and over in my head. It can’t be true. There have to be some survivors somewhere, someplace. I have to find them. Then perhaps I can get some answers. Who attacked Earth? And what did the commander mean by indeed human?

The answers might come to me much sooner than I expect, or at least that’s the thought that crosses my mind when something moves near a wrecked van. It’s so dark now that it’s nearly impossible to tell what it is.

“Hey, who’s there?” I shout. The figure straightens a bit and takes off, causing my hopes to skyrocket. I knew I wasn’t alone! “Hey wait up. I mean you no harm.” I run toward the shadow.

I quickly lose them in the pitch-blackness. Whoever’s out here with me is fast, really fast. But they’re also clumsy. The sound of trash cans falling over comes from a nearby alleyway. I bolt toward the noise. I got them now! I stagger a bit as I move into the dim alleyway. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

No, I have to do this. This person might be able to explain what’s going on.

“Hey,” I whisper this time. “My name is Mandy Glau. What’s your name?”

A soft whimper is the only response.

“Are you injured? I got a first aid kit.” I cautiously reach for the trash can, but before I can grab it, a shadow jumps out. Not toward me, but away from me. The shadow takes off in a flash. Before it can escape the alleyway, it crashes to the ground, and I finally get my first good glimpse of it. I can hardly believe my eyes. It’s not a person. It’s a dog! A Siberian husky to be exact.

The poor thing picks itself up but only limps a few steps before it splashes into a puddle of water.

“Hey, don’t be scared,” I say, as soft-spoken as I can manage. “I’m a friend.” Flashes of Butter-boo, my beautiful Maltese puppy my dad gave to me, invade my thoughts. I had to leave her behind when I left Earth, just one more thing to thank Captain Glau for. “Where are you hurt?”

The dog whimpers again and licks its hind leg. I crouch slowly. I don’t want to startle it. It puts its head down. It seems to trust me, not that it has much of choice in the matter, I suppose.

As I reach for the dog’s scrawny leg, I notice a faint-colored collar with a tag around its neck. It reads:

Cupcake Duchess

2721 Bernard Street

If lost please call

(619)555-2911

“Oh, you’re a girl. And what a beautiful name, Cupcake Duchess.” I continue talking as I pull the materials I need from the backpack. I’m not sure if it’s calming her, but at least it serves to dissolve my jitters. Luckily her wounds are not too bad. Her two hind legs have a few bloodied scratches, perhaps from a brawl with another dog. Or maybe she got her legs stuck somewhere. Regardless, I clean her wounds with water and wrap them with a clear gauze tape. Throughout the entire process, Cupcake Duchess stares back at me with sad brown eyes.