Drea couldn't believe she had gotten into this again! How many of them were there? After her and Noah's previous encounter with the Mutagen, Drea found safe haven amidst the overgrown bushes of the already wild nature park. Here she could practice her knife throwing in peace, and live in the occasional company of wolves! However, it was peaceful only until she ran into one of those soul craving soiled bloods. He seemed new, thus less powerful and she could take him down after a good fight. Or let's just say she could outrun him to the gun; either way, she now always hid her own bag and carried Noah's along while she hunted for food. How ironic was it that now she was being chased by two Mutagens, had her only food and water hidden under a rock in a bush, and had to run with a minimum of 4 kilograms of ammunition on her back. She couldn't believe she had gotten into this again!
As she ran, she knew she was getting farther from the pond, her camp and the city. She didn't know this part of the woods well enough to take a diversion and she couldn't afford slowing down. She had lost the Mutagens, but only temporarily. They were on the run, and they would be at her back again at any moment. As she ran, she wondered was this all? This was her battle? Her enemy? Why hadn't she already won then? Her thoughts kept haunting her like an endless question. Earlier it was easy to believe she was alone; sometimes she even thought she was in a deep and long comma. She had read about people hallucinating and dreaming when they're in a state of comma. She wished that was true sometimes, atleast that way she'd either get well someday or have the cord pulled on her. Either would bring peace of mind. Wound up in these thoughts she stumbled upon a root and lost her balance, hitting the wet ground. Now that she had stopped she found it impossible to run again, her legs felt as if they were giving up on her. She got up dusting her knees and scanned her surroundings. Quickly she spotted a tree she could climb. Reaching the base she struggled to pull herself up with her backpack that carried the entire city of Rome. She was not even 4 feet above the ground and she could already hear movement ion her surrounding. "Hurry up" , she thought to herself pulling herself further up. The movement in the surrounding increased. As she cleared the thick fall of branches, she felt her heart stop dead and her feet and hands lost all composure when she saw him. In the quickest reflex Mattias caught her free hand and clamped her mouth so she wouldn't scream. She stared into his almost hazel eyes, shocked by fate. Her mind quickly assessed everything about him. Same firm balace, strong enough to hold onto both of them, quick in his movements and calm. Everything around her was happening so fast, and a million things were going through her mind at the moment. Mattias was the last person she would want to meet; even if they were indeed the last people alive on Earth.
As she ran, she knew she was getting farther from the pond, her camp and the city. She didn't know this part of the woods well enough to take a diversion and she couldn't afford slowing down. She had lost the Mutagens, but only temporarily. They were on the run, and they would be at her back again at any moment. As she ran, she wondered was this all? This was her battle? Her enemy? Why hadn't she already won then? Her thoughts kept haunting her like an endless question. Earlier it was easy to believe she was alone; sometimes she even thought she was in a deep and long comma. She had read about people hallucinating and dreaming when they're in a state of comma. She wished that was true sometimes, atleast that way she'd either get well someday or have the cord pulled on her. Either would bring peace of mind. Wound up in these thoughts she stumbled upon a root and lost her balance, hitting the wet ground. Now that she had stopped she found it impossible to run again, her legs felt as if they were giving up on her. She got up dusting her knees and scanned her surroundings. Quickly she spotted a tree she could climb. Reaching the base she struggled to pull herself up with her backpack that carried the entire city of Rome. She was not even 4 feet above the ground and she could already hear movement ion her surrounding. "Hurry up" , she thought to herself pulling herself further up. The movement in the surrounding increased. As she cleared the thick fall of branches, she felt her heart stop dead and her feet and hands lost all composure when she saw him. In the quickest reflex Mattias caught her free hand and clamped her mouth so she wouldn't scream. She stared into his almost hazel eyes, shocked by fate. Her mind quickly assessed everything about him. Same firm balace, strong enough to hold onto both of them, quick in his movements and calm. Everything around her was happening so fast, and a million things were going through her mind at the moment. Mattias was the last person she would want to meet; even if they were indeed the last people alive on Earth.
The stomping of the Mutagens grew louder and Mattias signalled her to climb higher. He climbed first and whispered to her to hand over her bag so that she could climb. A little hesitantly, she passed it to him as he lifted an eyebrow at learning its weight. Very quietly they climbed their way higher and deeper into the dense covers of the tree. On random branches she spotted a water-bottle hanging by it's clip, a suspended flashlight and an extremely small hiking bag strapped around a branch. She figured she had been trespassing his camp site; but honestly, he had done a good job of finding a snug as well as concealed living-ground. After placing Drea's bag on a branch across from him, Mattias comfortably sat himself on a branch . Drea took her place next to her bag. She spotted a back quiver with wooden bows hanging off a branch above him. She looked away when Mattias caught her looking at it. He pointed to another branch, showing her where the handmade bow was strapped. She only nodded. They both sat in motionless silence for what seemed like eternity. The mutagens walked past the tree seemingly clueless of the fact they were hiding up here. And then just to be sure, the two of them sat still and silent for another hour. Sitting there in a tree, facing Mattias made her palms sweat. It was awkward and unnerving. They both knew what they were thinking; there was a time when climbing trees together was a fun excuse for flirting with eachother. How many times had she wished they climb a super tall tree where no one could see them? How many times had he kissed her in the lamely capped tree behind her school soccer field. She felt suffocated in her own memories.
About three months back at the local rock cafe "Maquis", Drea would be playing her drums and Mattias would strum through his electric guitar while Nathan would sing. They had become famous as the "Guy who winked at his drummer girl in the middle of a melancholic tune" and Nathan be called the third wheel, only complimenting Drea and Matt's unmatchable musical combination. The three of them started off when Matt first moved to their neighbourhood. One evening while returning with her dirtbike she peeked into their garage and spotted a 1970 Norton Commando. Next to that, Matt sat tuning up its suspension. In an instant they struck a conversation, that turned into an informal introduction of their hobbies. They spent days in the garage; either playing with their fancy tools and machines or making music. Finally when they decided they could give the band a try, Drea invited Joanne's brother Nathan to join the "Night Light Angels". Joanne was a family friend, and over the numerous holidays spent with her family, Drea knew no-one could beat Nathan's high pitched voice; an interesting contrast to their punk-rock music. As much as she loved those times and assumed her and Matt really hit it off, she was hit by a sense of anger when she thought about how they ended. It not only ended them, it broke apart the band, Drea's friendship with Joanne and Nathan's trust on his sister or his best friend Matt. "What an arse" she thought, and then tried to erase the thought of him and Joanne making out in their band garage. She felt sick.
Overwhelmed by all the emotions, she strapped on her bag and started climbing down. "Are you sure it's safe?" asked Matt. "I might have left something down there and that could be dangerous. Help me find it?", she asked tactfully. She reached the ground first waiting for Matt with the gun hidden at her back. Then just like Noah had done, the moment he stepped down, still weak on his balance, she pushed him face down on the floor holding his hands behind his back and knee oh his upper back. "What the hell Drea! You're one of them! Ughhh you bitch and I thought I helped you! Why didn't you just.." he started rambling.
Drea partially enjoyed the fact that he thought she would kill him and so said, "If you shut up this will be faster. Now just take your hoodie off, remember I have the gun to your head."
"A little hormonally wild are we?" he said in a quirky tone. Annoyed, Drea pressed her knee harder in his back and he winced. "Shut up and do it, and I will let you loose", she said sternly."Fine Fine" he said slowly getting on his knee and lifting up the hoodie. Drea examined under his overgrown hair and then lifted up the gun saying, "You're clean. Put your shirt back on."
"You're clean?! What the hell do you mean? What was all that!?"
"You obviously have no clue do you?", she found herself quoting Noah. "Do you know how to distinguish between a Mutagen and a human?"
"You mean the branders? Well... just instinct I guess."
"In that case I'd have killed you long back."
Ignoring her remark he said, "Well excuse me for living in a tree. Besides I've never seen them up close."
"Exactly my point. You can't live in a tree all your life."
"Yeah and instead do things like asking people to undress. Hey Drea would you strip for me?"
Extremely irritated by his attitude, Drea pushed him against the tree and said, "This isn't one of your damn jokes. They see you, they kill you. They are relentless, cold and wild. And if you do not recognise them you are dead already. I'm surprised you even pulled it off this far."
"I still wasn't the one who was being chased by two branders. I chose a smarter hiding place and I have food and water which you don't."
This only made her stomach grumble but not thinking about food she replied, "I'm no coward hiding in a tree and making makeshift bows. I actually am fighting and hunting for survivors. The closer you are to the city, more the people."
"You are only closer to the scavenging branders that will also hunt the city. It's a call for death. How many survivors have you found Ms. Marvellous?"
"An unfortunate bastard who will get his ass kicked if he doesn't shut up."
"Oh the wild drummer speaks. Just like Joanne would call you.", retorted Matt hitting her weak spot.
"Do not talk about Joanne or the band. If there is anything I'd want her to be, it's dead. Preferably by me."
"That compliments your humanitarian approach to situations at hand. I think you'd lose against her."
Drea felt deep offence with reference to their past but calmly and sternly said, "It'd be nicer if you didn't teach me about being human. Everyone has a right to opinion. "
"Killing innocent people does not fall into any kind of human!"
"And that is your opinion!" yelled Drea.
After a long stare he slowly spoke, "You really hate me don't you?"
"More than I could ever hate Joanne in a lifetime."
"Then why don't you just kill me? I'm unarmed, and you have a gun I assume you are moderately good at. Atleast from this range."
Narrowing her eyes with overflowing rage, Drea said, "Kill you and end your guilt and misery? I'd rather have you die every day by simply being with me. Toil the hard days of hunting and working. Teach you the laws of natural selection. Killing you would make it too easy. I'm not a brander; I'll be deadlier. Finally, it will be you who will be vulnerable to the circumstance; you will need me."
"You reek of revenge. If we recall, you needed my help this morning. That makes it two more before you trade your life to me." said Matt, referencing to the rule of three. According to their battle games, in the rule of three, if someone saved your life three times, your life became theirs and you owe them forever. Unless of course, you save their life thrice. Lifting her gun Drea shot out a deafening bullet that intentionally loosely missed Matt's shoulder; he jumped in surprise. He turned and saw it land clean in a Mutagens heart, good 50 metres away. Matt started running up the tree while Drea ran towards the brander.
"What do you think you are doing."
"Join me if you like, but I'm killing the second one. They're the same guys chasing me earlier. And also, range and aim never bother me", she replied with a flair of pride.
Matt got off and caught up saying, "I don't have my bow."
"Take my gun and you better shoot the right person", she said handing him the gun. Then pulling out her boot knife they plunged into the bush coming face to face with the second brander. Drea threw her knife that missed him. She swore and shouted, "Matt shoot damnit!"
But in the meantime the brander had reached him and Drea had to run and snatch the gun from Matt's hand. The brander began choking Matt to death while Drea shot a clean hole through his spine. Matt cringed as black blood oozed out on his red hoodie and got up pushing the brander off and coughing. His eyes were wide in surprise and he was trembling.
"You check their necks and backs for Black Veins. I would not fancy you tripping for me pointlessly" Drea explained. She picked up her knife and closed the eyes of both the Branders. Matt just stood and watched, and then said, "Sorry for not shooting. I was a little shocked." Drea nodded and as she started walking away she smirked and said, "So is it one all or start on a clean slate? Won't be long before you lose your life." Matt smirked back and said, "One all". "So we start clean! Get your stuff and meet me at the pond", said Drea, with her intentional contradicting opinion and started walking back to her camp. Matt only grinned and said, "Coward! You're only afraid you will lose faster!" Noticing it made no difference to her, he finally said, "I'll be there. We began at 0."
About three months back at the local rock cafe "Maquis", Drea would be playing her drums and Mattias would strum through his electric guitar while Nathan would sing. They had become famous as the "Guy who winked at his drummer girl in the middle of a melancholic tune" and Nathan be called the third wheel, only complimenting Drea and Matt's unmatchable musical combination. The three of them started off when Matt first moved to their neighbourhood. One evening while returning with her dirtbike she peeked into their garage and spotted a 1970 Norton Commando. Next to that, Matt sat tuning up its suspension. In an instant they struck a conversation, that turned into an informal introduction of their hobbies. They spent days in the garage; either playing with their fancy tools and machines or making music. Finally when they decided they could give the band a try, Drea invited Joanne's brother Nathan to join the "Night Light Angels". Joanne was a family friend, and over the numerous holidays spent with her family, Drea knew no-one could beat Nathan's high pitched voice; an interesting contrast to their punk-rock music. As much as she loved those times and assumed her and Matt really hit it off, she was hit by a sense of anger when she thought about how they ended. It not only ended them, it broke apart the band, Drea's friendship with Joanne and Nathan's trust on his sister or his best friend Matt. "What an arse" she thought, and then tried to erase the thought of him and Joanne making out in their band garage. She felt sick.
Overwhelmed by all the emotions, she strapped on her bag and started climbing down. "Are you sure it's safe?" asked Matt. "I might have left something down there and that could be dangerous. Help me find it?", she asked tactfully. She reached the ground first waiting for Matt with the gun hidden at her back. Then just like Noah had done, the moment he stepped down, still weak on his balance, she pushed him face down on the floor holding his hands behind his back and knee oh his upper back. "What the hell Drea! You're one of them! Ughhh you bitch and I thought I helped you! Why didn't you just.." he started rambling.
Drea partially enjoyed the fact that he thought she would kill him and so said, "If you shut up this will be faster. Now just take your hoodie off, remember I have the gun to your head."
"A little hormonally wild are we?" he said in a quirky tone. Annoyed, Drea pressed her knee harder in his back and he winced. "Shut up and do it, and I will let you loose", she said sternly."Fine Fine" he said slowly getting on his knee and lifting up the hoodie. Drea examined under his overgrown hair and then lifted up the gun saying, "You're clean. Put your shirt back on."
"You're clean?! What the hell do you mean? What was all that!?"
"You obviously have no clue do you?", she found herself quoting Noah. "Do you know how to distinguish between a Mutagen and a human?"
"You mean the branders? Well... just instinct I guess."
"In that case I'd have killed you long back."
Ignoring her remark he said, "Well excuse me for living in a tree. Besides I've never seen them up close."
"Exactly my point. You can't live in a tree all your life."
"Yeah and instead do things like asking people to undress. Hey Drea would you strip for me?"
Extremely irritated by his attitude, Drea pushed him against the tree and said, "This isn't one of your damn jokes. They see you, they kill you. They are relentless, cold and wild. And if you do not recognise them you are dead already. I'm surprised you even pulled it off this far."
"I still wasn't the one who was being chased by two branders. I chose a smarter hiding place and I have food and water which you don't."
This only made her stomach grumble but not thinking about food she replied, "I'm no coward hiding in a tree and making makeshift bows. I actually am fighting and hunting for survivors. The closer you are to the city, more the people."
"You are only closer to the scavenging branders that will also hunt the city. It's a call for death. How many survivors have you found Ms. Marvellous?"
"An unfortunate bastard who will get his ass kicked if he doesn't shut up."
"Oh the wild drummer speaks. Just like Joanne would call you.", retorted Matt hitting her weak spot.
"Do not talk about Joanne or the band. If there is anything I'd want her to be, it's dead. Preferably by me."
"That compliments your humanitarian approach to situations at hand. I think you'd lose against her."
Drea felt deep offence with reference to their past but calmly and sternly said, "It'd be nicer if you didn't teach me about being human. Everyone has a right to opinion. "
"Killing innocent people does not fall into any kind of human!"
"And that is your opinion!" yelled Drea.
After a long stare he slowly spoke, "You really hate me don't you?"
"More than I could ever hate Joanne in a lifetime."
"Then why don't you just kill me? I'm unarmed, and you have a gun I assume you are moderately good at. Atleast from this range."
Narrowing her eyes with overflowing rage, Drea said, "Kill you and end your guilt and misery? I'd rather have you die every day by simply being with me. Toil the hard days of hunting and working. Teach you the laws of natural selection. Killing you would make it too easy. I'm not a brander; I'll be deadlier. Finally, it will be you who will be vulnerable to the circumstance; you will need me."
"You reek of revenge. If we recall, you needed my help this morning. That makes it two more before you trade your life to me." said Matt, referencing to the rule of three. According to their battle games, in the rule of three, if someone saved your life three times, your life became theirs and you owe them forever. Unless of course, you save their life thrice. Lifting her gun Drea shot out a deafening bullet that intentionally loosely missed Matt's shoulder; he jumped in surprise. He turned and saw it land clean in a Mutagens heart, good 50 metres away. Matt started running up the tree while Drea ran towards the brander.
"What do you think you are doing."
"Join me if you like, but I'm killing the second one. They're the same guys chasing me earlier. And also, range and aim never bother me", she replied with a flair of pride.
Matt got off and caught up saying, "I don't have my bow."
"Take my gun and you better shoot the right person", she said handing him the gun. Then pulling out her boot knife they plunged into the bush coming face to face with the second brander. Drea threw her knife that missed him. She swore and shouted, "Matt shoot damnit!"
But in the meantime the brander had reached him and Drea had to run and snatch the gun from Matt's hand. The brander began choking Matt to death while Drea shot a clean hole through his spine. Matt cringed as black blood oozed out on his red hoodie and got up pushing the brander off and coughing. His eyes were wide in surprise and he was trembling.
"You check their necks and backs for Black Veins. I would not fancy you tripping for me pointlessly" Drea explained. She picked up her knife and closed the eyes of both the Branders. Matt just stood and watched, and then said, "Sorry for not shooting. I was a little shocked." Drea nodded and as she started walking away she smirked and said, "So is it one all or start on a clean slate? Won't be long before you lose your life." Matt smirked back and said, "One all". "So we start clean! Get your stuff and meet me at the pond", said Drea, with her intentional contradicting opinion and started walking back to her camp. Matt only grinned and said, "Coward! You're only afraid you will lose faster!" Noticing it made no difference to her, he finally said, "I'll be there. We began at 0."
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