6 Years Ago
May 5th, 2069
0600 CDT
Brackettville, Texas
Rachel Cooper's Point of View
“Another headshot, Pa!” I say as I reload my sniper.
“You’re a better shot than yer old man now!” Pa says in awe.
“I learned from the best!”
“I’m proud of you, baby doll,” he says as he hugs me.
Target practice in the grassy field before work is always so excitin’! Today’s my lucky day! I can feel it.
“Well, we better get to work. Remember…” Pa begins to say.
“The early bird gets the worm!” We say.
Jinx! Ha-ha! Pa is the best!
*
11 Hours Later
1500 CDT
*
Hooray, Sally’s ‘ere! You’re always lurkin’ round these parts durin’ my evenin’ target practice for some weird reason.
“Sally!” I say to her.
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“Ew!” She says.
“I have brought you an apple as a token of my appreciative friendship!”
“One, we’re not friends. Two, I don’t want anythin’ from trash like you,” she says as she walks away from me. “You probably poisoned it so you can steal my guaranteed apprenticeship spot.”
So mean…
“Sally, I promise, the only thin’ it’s poisoned with is my love and affection for you!”
“I’d rather die of lethal poison!” She yells.
“Sally, please!”
“No! Stop botherin’ me!”
“But you’re the only girl in Brackettville my age.”
“So? That doesn’t mean we have to be friends, Rachel. I don’t like you, so get o’er it.”
“Why don’t you like me?”
“Because you’re ugly, annoyin’, and… and you smell like corn!”
Corn?
“Oh,” I say.
“Yeah, oh! Now stop botherin’ me. Just because we’re the same age, same sex, and have the sameish hair color, doesn’t change the undeniable fact that I’m better than you.”
“What does skill have to do with friendship?”
“You dumbass. I’m high class, and you’re stinky garbage. I can’t allow myself to associate with trash like you if I wish to become an apprentice.”
“But!”
Owwww. She pushed me.
“I said, leave me alone!” She screams in anger.
But you were ‘bout to trip on that rock. I was tryin’ to save you.
“I’m sorry, Sally…,” I say.
“Hmph. Fucking crybaby. Nobody likes you, Rachel, so do everyone a favor and kill yourself.”
“I’m sorry, Sally…”
“Ugly skank,” she says as she walks away.
Nobody likes me? Is that why I don’t have any friends? No. That can’t be true. But it is true, Rachel. I have no friends because I’m ugly? And annoyin’! I hate it. I hate it! I hate myself! I’m such an ugly girl! Nobody will ever like me! I’ll never have a friend! I’ll just, I’ll just end myself, so I never bother anyone with my annoyin’ and unattractive face ever again! You’re so ugly and stupid and smelly, Rachel! Just kill yourself!
I’ll just cut my wrist with my knife. Like this!
Gasp! My blood, so much blood is oozin’ out of my wrist! What the fuck did I do?! It freakin’ hurts!
“Rachel!” Sally screams out in fear as she quickly runs towards me! “Kill it!”
Yikes! A zombie!
“H-how did it get past the soldiers, Sally?!” I ask.
“Who fuckin’ cares?! I dunno how to shoot, so hurry and kill it before it eats me! What the fuck happened to your wrist?!”
What’s wrong with you, Rachel? You know better! No matter how hard things get, life is always worth livin’ and fightin’ for, so why end it early?! But this ain’t good! I’m ‘bout to… pass out. I only have… one chance. Lord please… please forgive me.
“Move, Sally!” I say as I push her out of the way.
Another… headshot.…