Chapter 34

For the first time in his life, William was watching this world from this perspective and safety, and years of context and knowledge from the ground and Outside stunned him. It shattered his point of view, giving him a new perspective. From the ground, it wasn't as bad. Now, it was worse. There was no hope. Destruction was far too spread out, and the further they flew, the worse it felt because of the southern flying angle that William didn't notice.

“First time watching such a sight is the most impressive,” Suddenly, Luke said to his right, shocking William with how steady he was standing beside him without the need to touch anything. His hands were in his pocket, eyes set on Outside. “Can you imagine this to be everywhere, or worse? Spreading in every continent? Nests are various and good, but Corruption is like the natural order of this era. Humans are gone. Walkers can't change everything. Who could?”

William shook his head and glanced back to the window. “I have seen plenty of darkness from the ground, including nests. From here, it is intense. Is it something that people are experiencing every day? No. But it's everywhere. Almost.”

Some parts of the horizon were bright, while the skyline above was without darkness or many clouds if it weren't for Fog scattered at the thousand-feet mark at the highest point. Any more would be insufficient. If there was something good, there was no Dark capable of Corrupting the sun or the sky. But the moon? William couldn't see the crimson glimmers and light hues of the moon.

“Yes. Even if we do care for these creatures, the damage is done. Healing takes time. Corruption is far too powerful and quick for Walkers.”

“Like destruction and healing, some things are easier to do than others.”

“You know,” Luke said, impressed and nodding. “There are not many youngsters who would tell that and accept it as fact.”

William wasn't proud so he didn't care for this praise. Silence spread when the two of them watched the window, unaware they were being watched by Anna, who was poking her head from the cargo area. “What a scoop... I am telling Mi-Yung for real. Ah!”

Luke glared at her, flashing an azure spark in his eyes in her direction.

She disappeared in a moment without William realizing.

“I am not a free Walker, William. To tell the truth, few are. It isn't right to be solo. Organizations of humanity need style and numbers. Organs. Walkers depend on power, or what one could have in order and might. It comes with numbers too, so do you want to talk? I promised you something before.”

William shook his head and said. “In a bit. How long will this journey take?”

“A lot of hours. Ten? There is a long way from the Roshwell to the Federation because of our situation that the most advanced helicopter in the world couldn't solve, so...” Luke slapped his mouth, figuring he was talking way too much.

“Hours? At this speed?! Where in the world is the Federation? Do you even have enough fuel to fly for ten hours?” William reclaimed his doubts and common sense of an outsider. Tanks eat and swallow gallons of fuel. There was no way this bigger machine was any less gluttonous.

Being surprised about this problem was sensible. How much fuel do camps have? Most of it was for securing the broader workings of the camps. Not some private needs, or workings of some vehicles for fun. Of course, this helicopter was different from its concept and origin.

Outside, fuel was rare and regulated. After all, the Federation provided the fuel; not the camps on their own. No one wanted to waste resources for nothing Outside, as most things were precious, albeit glaring inventions of humans from the old world.

“You know at least some things about this,” Luke said. “But you are not sure or aware of a lot of things. I can tell that. I never understood it. We should take youths like you by the arm at thirteen or less and put them through stress and much better teaching. Be it in the the Federation or safe havens, it would work so much better.”

“We have a thing called consent,” William mumbled, determining that he must've been around thirteen years old when he came to camp Roshwell, and he had many choices like going away before, or later. He refused them, knowing the camp was good, Dann was with him, and he was still young and looking for his parents. And with the training and lessons being under Miss Anderson's orphanage, how necessary was it to kidnap, or force these youths out? For some, it wasn't fine, and Miss Anderson never pushed those youths away if they didn't want to.

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It was sensible, albeit surprising for one reason. It wasn't cheap. Every representative would offer those children a great deal and refusing it wasn't clever. William knew that and still made his choices. It was his right.

But how about the rest of the world, the Federation, or numerous older Walkers who grew up in different circumstances? Luke shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Fine. You have a point, which gives me another question. Why have you not looked at or taken offers from the Federation? Miss Anderson works with us a lot. We would've known about you years earlier if you accepted some offer. Maybe. You would've found some answers for sure. I know that.”

“Excuse me?!” William turned his head and part of his body. “I had hope and lived Outside for years before I even understood what mattered. No parents, but... they were somewhere. I know they were.” He flinched and gazed back outside, sad.

Luke glanced if he was getting unstable, but that arm was calm, and emotions... not as fine, but not bad either. William left Luke wondering if his ideas were fine. Shouting and angry kids were one route to regret.

“False hope is a lie.”

“Shut up!” William grunted and felt his crimson moving. It was more like a thud. A little glow did escape his clothes, flinching Luke's eyes.

“I suggest you calm your emotions inside. No one wants trouble in the middle of a sky.”

“Then don't tease me.”

“Are you that unstable brat that some fear or what?”

“Tell this to this thing!” William shouted and pulled his right sleeve, showing him the storming sight inside his Emblem, moving and contorting his skin. It was fast, turning, and wavering at the same time, but nothing escaped its glossy prison.

“Want it written?” Luke said sternly and could imagine Zep laughing his ass off in the distance.

William took a deep breath and looked away after pulling his sleeve down.“Five orphanages. Seven camps. Many people. Numerous deaths. When I crawled from pasts or that camp a decade ago, who was I beside a child without a mother? My father was gone and my....” he flinched, remembering his disappearing Emblem, so he swallowed his words.

“You have your Emblem. That could guide you. Help a lot. Yours sounds promising. Great.”

William ignored him and watched further destruction below. “Young Walkers are raised better than some unfortunate orphans. I get why, and had to at least learn and teach myself some matters of Outside when I couldn't come to them. Without my parents, some people made sure that I wouldn't be completely clueless. I owe them this life even if many of them died or perished.” William explained himself and glanced at him again, now calm.

“I sometimes wish I was born as an ordinary orphan,” Luke added.

“Really? Children are not born orphans! They are forced by this world. People have to protect them.” It was his firm belief, and he wished nothing else but to see no orphans in this world.

“Your opinion is valid. Why not? Mine is mine. For now, you might get emotional and depressed, but you and I talked before and I get your picture. A promise. Talk to me, because very soon, we will travel through some places that will leave you speechless.”

“I am patient. This flight and Darks. What would surprise me anymore? Oh, perhaps seeing my parents....” He mumbled at the end.

“The ground isn't endless. Don't tell me I haven't said a thing.” Luke shifted his step aside and leaned on the wall, ignoring William, whose gaze reminded him of plenty of young Walkers, but deep down, it was different. Very different.

Walking back to his seat, he sat and decided to take a nap. Closing his eyes just for hours of peace was a luxury that Luke never took for granted.

After hearing him, William watched and watched some more. Then, Luke's words became reality hiding on the horizon. A view changed. Large crevices, valleys, and large craters spanning the ground well beyond the horizon, spread.

Unique and crazy Dark Fogs flew from many crevices and architectural madness around them, or within them. Most crevices looked like claw marks made into Mother Earth, reaching into the sky like torrential storms. The marks in the earth were much more savage. The surface was visibly twisted and dark, churring in dark flames, lightning storms, or red fire pillars, shredding hopes for remedy, looking like a battlefront and scars of the apocalypse. Mountains were destroyed, cities turned to rubble, and what was below the ground was not easy to see.

That went for hundreds of miles, if not more.

For a moment, William couldn't even seize his fear, for they were there. THERE!—In the fucking Zone.

Then, he panicked and seized his bag, hugging it. Holy shit! We came here?! Why? Luke.... Oh, he is sleeping? Why? That is fucking dangerous! Is flying over the Zone normal?

Glaring at him and looking worried was sensible, but nothing changed. No Fog would come at them at this high altitude because there was no point in reaching for the sun.

This sight of damaged earth went for many miles, and even some cities were lost within them, looking like ruins, big blocks, and a maze of aimless streets. William saw traces of Darks and their impressions, homes, or direct bodies. Shuddering, he clutched his arms, fearing they watched him and he watched them back. Noises returned. Pain seized his arm. He felt small, indignant. Afraid.

The Zone was an incredibly dangerous part of the Outside. William had seen it a few times. There were very dangerous Darks in here, walking, and looking notably even from this elevation. Some were gigantic, walking through Dark Fog, leaving thuds and footprints like giants. Those were like mountains, big blobs of mass, or beasts with glowing eyes and absurd physical appearances. And every one of them ignored the helicopter, living in the crevices, storms, or fighting.

There was a mayhem below. Wars happened every day. Darks did so themselves, on their own initiative, establishing their own societies, territories, and hierarchies. That, William knew. He knew Darks weren't just some nonsensical beasts. They ate people. They could gain sentience. Awareness. Become a better monster.