“Thank God you’re awake, thought I’d lost you” suddenly I was awake; I was lying on the ground as a woman was patching up my wounds, whispering. “Shush be quiet….They might hear you” she adds as we hear a bone chilling screech from the distance. “What the hell happened?!” I asked as I was struggling to breath with all the injuries whilst staying quiet at the same time.
“Radiation Storm, you know how much of a bad news it is, let alone those damn flying muties tryna eat us” she replies as she finished putting bandages on the abrasion on my thighs, she gazes on my face for quite a second. “Hold on a minute, you’re the new kid right? What was your name again?” “Morganne…. Morganne Vu” I replied.
“Can you walk? No, Can you run?” she asked me before I even got the chance to thank her and ask what her name was, “….Yes” I replied. “Good, you know how to fire a rifle? Of course you do!” She adds as she gave me an M16A1 rifle and a couple of 5.56mm magazines. I didn’t get the chance to respond once again, she hands me the weapon with pure confidence assuming I can handle it properly, not even considering the fact that I’m new to the job in the first place.
“Originally, there were like 8 of us, but then it’s just you and me” she says as she was packing up the medical kit she used on patching up my wounds. “Damn muties really took a toll on our numbers; at least they didn’t lay their filthy claws on our goods I suppose” she adds whilst tightening the strap on her helmet.
She is well aware that our cover is not going to last that long, my body starts to shiver as I try to stand up, The consecutive screeches I hear is increasing in numbers whilst getting closer and closer. The caravan truck is a little far from us. “We’re going to make a run for it.” The woman says without any fear and hesitation, “Y’see, these guys have exceptional vision, we can’t see them but they can see us, despite all the dirt, mist and darkness caused by the storm, so sneaking wouldn’t do us any good”
“Here’s the plan, brace yourself. See that Caravan truck over there? It’s a bit far but I know we can make it. It’s our only ticket out of this Shithole after all” she adds as she loads her machine gun whilst strapping herself with ammunition belts. “You’ve done this before?” I asked, as I still doubt that her plan would even work. “A couple of times, to be honest!” she answered confidently. Me knowing she’s a veteran on these sorts of things took a little of my doubt away. “I’m ready when you are” I answered. “On the count of three then.” I took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh, I grip my weapon firmly.
“One….Two….Three!”
As we left the covers protecting us from the airborne horrors, my heart began pounding heavily as I hear the screeches getting louder and louder. I tried to remain calm as we ran as fast as we can. “HERE THEY COME!” The woman shouts as she aims and open fires in the sky. I hear rounds being fired consecutively by her machine gun as we were running. “GET SOME!” she shouts whilst laughing like a maniac, I admire the fact that she can still laugh even at times like these.
I watch in horror as I see dismembered bodies of our fellow caravanners lying on the ground, the feeling of fear and anxiety almost made me trip. Suddenly I hear numerous screeches and flapping of wings from another direction. “9 O’CLOCK!” The woman shouts, there were more creatures approaching on our left! I aim my rifle and began to open fire. I can’t see any of them due to the dirt, mist and darkness caused by the storm. I was startled when suddenly; one of the creatures attacked me out of nowhere. The impact was so great that I got dizzy for a while and the helmet got removed from my head. I was down to my knees, my body was frozen for a moment, but I can’t give up now, we’re so close! I put all of my remaining strength to get up and run despite all of the injuries I have. We made it.
The woman started the engine and we drove away as fast we can. I sigh in relief. She checks if the goods are still intact through the trucks center mirror, fortunately, it’s still are. “That’s one hell of a first day ain’t it rookie? BAHAHAHAHA! I’m sure you’ll get used to it soon!” The woman said jokingly as I was still trying to catch my breath. “Anyway, How rude of me to forgot! Name’s Ren! Ren Josephine Macready! You can call me Mak, Ren or Josie for short!” she adds with a tone of enthusiasm on her voice. “We’re almost home, don’t worry! You can take a rest and call it a day anytime now! You wanna listen to some tunes?” She reaches an audiotape on the glove compartment and puts it on the player. Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin started playing as we cruise to the vast desert of nothingness.
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I was so tired I fell asleep during the trip. I was woken up with sound of the town’s gate whirling contraptions as it was opening, giving way to the caravan truck. The Scrapyard is a small settlement here in the wasteland, it ain’t much but it’s home. I’ve been here for as long as I can remember, it’s where I learned how to eat, sleep, read, write and fire my first rifle. There are quite few people living here, but despite the few numbers, settlers are true and honest to one another, we support each other through thick and thin, there would be no one to look after us but ourselves after all.
I was immediately taken to the clinic to get my wounds and injuries patched up. “Oh My… What happened to you dear?” Dr. Sakurauchi asked me with a concerned tone as she was cleaning and putting medicine on my wounds. It was a little hard to speak properly since the medicine she’s applying was a little bit painful. “Yeah… We got caught in the middle of a Radiation Storm on our way back, we lost most of the other guys but the goods are safe” “Radiation Storm?!” she responds in shock, she rushed to her drawers and immediately gave me a dose RadX and Radaway. “You’re making me worried Morganne! Be careful next time! Gosh! I told you Caravan Guarding was a bad idea!” she adds as she finished patching up my wounds and injuries.
I left the clinic after saying my gratitude to Dr. Sakurauchi, she’s the only person in town who possess medical knowhow, She cares for the well-being of everyone that’s why she never ask anything in return for her services. As long as there are sufficient amount medical supplies and equipment available, she would help you to the best of her ability. I’d say that she’s a living gem.
As I left the clinic I overheard Ren and Mr. Darkwaters arguing. “What the hell Macready?! You lost 6 of your men?!” Mr. Darkwaters said angrily. “Meh… It ain’t my fault they’re dumbasses, they were well armed and equipped yet they failed to protect themselves… at least the goods are safe and sound!” Ren answered. “Wha- Are you hearing yourself right now?! People were killed Macready! PEOPLE WERE KILLED!” Mr. Darkwaters said out of anger and frustration. “Seth. Seth. Seth. Calm the fuck down will ya? It’s not like we force these people on to the job, they are well aware how much pain in the pass this job is but still decides to join because of the wage, that’s why we never ran out of recruits! Youngsters would try anything these days!” Ren answered. She then glances at me “YO ROOKIE! C’MERE!” she shouts out of pure excitement and enthusiasm. I approached both of them.
Mr. Darkwaters looked at me for a while, his angered expression turned into a concerned one. “What happened to you out there?” he asked. “Tell ‘em Rookie” Ren adds. “We got caught in the middle of a radiation storm on our way back, we we’re attacked by mutants, the flying ones, believe it or not” I said. Suddenly his concerned expression turned into fear as he tries to process what I just said. “Mu-Mutants? Radiation Storm?” Mr. Darkwaters replied, as his voice began to shake, his body trembling out of fear. “Told ya! Anyway…Where was I? Oh right! Pay up!” Ren adds. Mr. Darkwaters was stunned, he hands us the money and left without saying a word, his body was still trembling as he walks. 25 caps was not bad, it was more than enough to say the least.
“Way to go rookie! How the hell did you shut him up?!” Ren asked. “I think he got scared when I started mentioning mutants and rad storms…I dunno” I said. Ren wheezes as she hears my response. “You didn’t tell him that?” I added as Ren continues to laugh hysterically. As a kid, I never really believe on monsters nor mutants as such. I always think that they’re just made up stories to scare little kids; I never would’ve expected to see one, to kill one, to be attacked by one.
I’ve been thinking about what Ren said earlier while I’m lying on my bed. It’s true that some people may do it for the money; Life in this dead planet is hard and I’d be lying if I’ll say that’s not one of my reasons. Though, growing up in such confined and limited space made me realize that there’s more to life than this, this can’t be my sole purpose. That maybe making contact from the outside world by taking such a dangerous profession would offer me something worth treasuring for, a reason that will make life worth living, now that I think about it, I doubt if this dream of mine would ever come true considering what just happened lately, maybe I’m thinking about it a little too much? I can’t give up just yet can’t I? It’s getting late; I should probably take a rest and call it a day.