Sun rays flooded the blue sky. As two ragged stragglers limped along the rocky road, the golden ball of radiance glowed. The men hunched over with large wooden sticks to support their sunken bodies, but it didn't seem to help at all. A mixture of dirt and red charred skin covered their skin. Cooked flesh could be smelled if one got close enough. In addition to their cooked skin, their dirty brown hair also burned. It wasn't difficult to see their battered bodies beneath tattered rags. Slowly, one followed the other. Having reached the limit of his body, the straggler fell down with a thud.
The gravel and rocks stung his tender skin, causing him to cry. Blood, dirt, and calluses covered his soles. In the sun, his wounds burned even more.
Andrew shouted, “Get up! We're almost there! There's a town up ahead.” The leading straggler turned back. His head covered by half of the rags on his body, giving him the appearance of a hermit.
His voice lowered and he closed his eyes. “I can't.” He said.
“You-” His reprimand cut short when a low rumbling noise startled the two stragglers
The squabbling stopped and they turned towards the sound. Looking back at where they came from, it was barren. Their confusion, however, did not last long. A dusty black Jeep roared wildly down the rocky trail. The faces of two stragglers suddenly turned from surprise to joy. As they saw their last chance for salvation before them, their hands waved frantically. It crescendoed as it approached the beggars.
Even after the roof of the Jeep torn off, several young men managed to cling to the back and sides. Their blades and automatic machine guns gleamed with a warm light. Although their clothes ripped and ragged, they were still better than the two stragglers. As the engine roared louder and louder, the laughter subsided. Their eyes carried a hint of caution, staring at the two strangers.
However, the driver of the black behemoth had a stupid grin on his face, which annoyed the two stragglers. He was like the other men in the car in terms of his appearance and build. His distinct scar covering his right eye and jovial aura set him apart from the rest. He spoke in a light voice, ignoring the sorry state the two people were in.
“You walked all the way? Haha, that's amazing!”
His easygoing attitude enraged the two stragglers. The person who fell before growled at him in a low voice. His hostile tone didn't escape the rest of the men as they raised their guns and blades in provocativeness.
Their original rosy red color had drained from their faces. Still, they didn't back down, speaking to them in a lower voice.
“Are you taking anyone with you or not?” The straggler grunted as he saw a high-pitched laugh in response. The other men on the Jeep looked away from the pair before shaking their heads.
“Haha, of course, friends! If that's where you're going, we can take you there. Of course, there is no free lunch.” The driver still kept his silly smile, but had a crafty smile that sent a chill down their spines.
“What do you want?” The two lowered their heads, avoiding his gaze. With apprehension, they awaited his response.
“For you to join our group and fight with us.” The driver lowered his body until their eyes were level. He stretched his hand outwards, flashing the friendliest smile he could pull off. However, it had the opposite effect, as the two people became more wary of the stranger.
One of the stragglers asked curiously, “Who's your group?”. Hermit wanted to reprimand him once again for falling for the bait. His ears perked up regardless, looking inquisitive as he waited for his reply.
The driver smiled once again, but his sharp canines glittered in the blazing sun. “We're the Blue Wolves. We run this town, and we need you to get rid of some pests.” An element of madness and bloodlust laced his savage smile. The other men had the same smile, like a pack of hungry wolves.
Their gulps were audible. They cursed their misfortune fate even more when they met the crazy wolves. Their meek faces painted with sheepish smiles as they gripped the outstretched hand. They climbed into the truck and sat down.
Their bodies trembled.
Madness surrounded them. They wished the whole encounter was a bad dream and when they woke up. Once again, if the opportunity arose, they would gladly walk the rest of the way. As the two stragglers stared at the driver, they ignored the crazed looks around them. The still desert echoed with the booming voice he used to speak.
I will take you to the boss to get new names, so you can forget everything else in your life and live only for the pack.” The engine roared again, disappearing into the approaching darkness.
The two beggars instinctively looked at each other with wry smiles.
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One hour later, the black Jeep left and replaced with another. The engine didn't roar as loud, driving at a moderate speed. The car had its roof intact, but still was a dirty black. In the passenger seat, an elderly man sat in silence. His wrinkled eyes opened into narrow slits. His white hair ruffled in the cold gale, sweeping through his sparse strands. He turned his head to the young reporter next to him.
His jet black hair flowed like water. He had a sharp, almost dangerous face. Despite his lean build, he was well-trained and had a muscular body. He exuded mystery and danger from every angle. His deep ash gray eyes enhanced his aura even further. Anyone ignorant enough to look at him were stabbed with coldness. It was Bryan.
After looking at his side profile, the old man spoke in a feeble voice.
“Are you really a reporter? You seem rather young.”
"..."
Silence.
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Bryan answered him with a neutral tone, his blank expression even more intense than before.
“Yes I am, is that a problem?” he asked with piercing gray eyes. The old man felt naked before him, waiting for death. The air got thick; the old man started to breathe unnaturally. He answered with his heart lurching in his throat.
The elderly gentleman chuckled bitterly before staring out of the window before responding, “No, no, not a problem at all.” When he broke eye contact, the viscous air in the Jeep disappeared. There was silence once more.
Bryan turned back to the road before delving into his thoughts once more. The old man's words last night were still fresh in his mind.
Fuck, she's dead?
With their numerous dances between life and death, he somewhat expected it. Eventually, they would slip up. His cold mechanical brain could not fathom what surprised him.
She…killed herself?
Sylvia killed herself.
It was unbelievable to him. Not for once second. Growing up together, he knew her inside out. Angry, vengeful, shy, stubborn… The list was endless. But there was an unforgettable aspect about her, he would never forget.
Determined
Determination drove her. She would never end her life unless she wanted to die in dignity. Listening to the old man's story was different from what he expected.
She hung herself after finding out her partner had died.
In her room, they were stark naked. The two hugged the rough blanket after their passionate performance on the straw bed. Sylvia's flamed hair sprawled on Bryan's face. She rested her head on his chest, looking up to his metallic eyes. Bryan met her gaze with indifference as he stroked her hair with his left hand. His mind echoed the last words she spoke to him as her rough face stared at him with a stern expression.
“You're not allowed to die without my permission. Got it?”
He reflected on what went wrong with their arrangement.
I thought we kept our distance from each other. Did we get too close in the end?
Bryan never understood that emotions were uncontrollable. He couldn't stop her feelings for him from growing. Only after hearing about the circumstances of her death did he finally realize the 'issue'.
She fell in love.
His mind was a mess. To alleviate their needs, he kept her close, never crossing the line. His temperament didn't allow emotional bonds. Plus, he knew that one of them, if not both of them, might die the next day. He thus avoided becoming depressed or sad, hearing of her death. Despite this, feelings of regret and shock continued to grow in his cold heart. He would avenge her not because of love, but because of respect and the fact that they grew up together. His resolve was more firm than ever.
If it came down to it, he would kill everyone in that town, even civilians.
For Sylvia's sake. For his own sake.
The juxtaposed pair slept in the car for three hours before setting off on their journey once again. After another hour of driving, the border of the old town was in sight. Around ten minutes before they arrived, the old man spoke.
"My son would be perfect for your interview." He spoke with a slight smile.
"I thought you didn't want me to interview him" The warm smile couldn't soften the icy blank face of the man.
"You're a capable young man, unlike the other wastrels. I also know you're different from the others." The warm smile warped into a mysterious one which Bryan took an interest in.
As he was about to ask what he meant, two men with guns stood way in front of the vehicle. Bryan rolled down the windows as he slowed down to a stop.
The two men looked at each other, relaxing their tensed muscles as they gazed at the old man.
“Old Jacob. It's rare to see you in town these days. Are you here to see the boss?”
“Yes. I heard about the war months back and came to check up on him.” The young man nodded before gesturing to Bryan with his chin.
“Is he with you?” The old man looked at Bryan before answering.
“He is.”
The young men didn't doubt his words and allowed them to pass after convincing Old Jacob to put in a good word for them. He nodded impassively before Bryan drove into the eerie settlement.