Melancholy of a nightmare: Aged Alliance

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.

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."

Melancholy of a nightmare: Phase of the newborns

Drea waddled her way out of the pond onto the moss covered banks. She then sat up on the pavement reaching her extremely heavy backpack. As she looked in she found a half eaten granola bar she was pleased to finish, a candy and water. She refilled her water bottle from the pond and washed herself up. Walking to the house's debris and scavenged for any leftover weapons she could use. To her fortune she found the glistening metal of kitchen knives standing out against the charred furniture and green foliage. She wondered if she could knife throw; and planned on developing that as a skill. She put most knives in her bag and tucked one in her boot. Strapping her rack-sack onto her back she started walking through the overgrown city streets. If she could find an ammunition store here, she could probably find a working a gun. She still wished she had her .44 magnum she used to kill greed, arrogance, and envy. She did not want to lose upon her aim practice and scanned the stores- most of them destroyed already- around her. Just then, she found herself getting lucky as she reached a police department. If she knew her facts right, she could find a stock full of guns and ammo in there and no one would mind!

She approached the front door and swung her rock heavy bag into the front door waiting for the glass to shower upon her. And then she watched as the bag hit the glass and swung back but the door remained unmoved. Who was she kidding? A police department office would obviously have bullet proof glass. Just then she saw someone inside move; walk past like a shadow. It caught her off guard and she hid under the bush. Was her next enemy onto his killing spree already? She tried to peek through and suddenly found herself staring into a pair of crystal grey eyes across the bulletproof glass of the station. Reflexively, they both screamed and sprung into attention. Were there more survivors? Was this more than just an endless world consisting of just her? Then on catching sight of eachother, Drea and the boy in the blue hoodie and grey eyes, walked closer towards the door. As if pulled to him senses, the boy swiftly opened the locked door waiting for Drea to walk in. As she stepped closer, he pulled her by the hand and knocked her face down on the floor all in one movement. "Get  off me", she screamed as she tried to squirm out of his clasp; but he was too strong. His knee was placed right at the small of her back and sent shooting pain to her head if she moved. "Don't move", he yelled back as he pulled off her back pack and lifted her hair to touch the back of her neck. "What the hell are you doing?", she screamed, struggling more to move out. He then immediately got up lifting his hands in the air saying, "Sorry I had to check for if you were one of them." Drea got to her feet shoving him hard screaming, "One of who!?" "Calm the heck down! Sorry if I can't trust any human looking person ever since the mutagens", said the hoodie creep. "Okay look smart ass, I have no idea what you're talking about or who are the mutagens or whether you are sane or not; but touch me again and you're dead." He looked at her puzzled and said, "You really have no clue do you? I'd tell you if you were nice but oh well..", he replied slyly. "Really? After all this time I see one human and he has to be a cocky weirdo in an oversized hoodie that ironically has life written on it?" He smiled and said, "The name's Noah, and you shouldn't be so sure yet that I'm human." Drea sensed he knew a lot more than her and thoughtfully replied, "Drea. What do you know?" Lifting an eyebrow Noah said, "Very upfront of you. But to tell you inshort, this is what is happening: I don't know what the world has been like for you, but since the storm, it seems as if I've been the only person on the planet. I keep teleporting to these new surroundings and have weird things that call themselves anger or agony or envy fight me; as if I'm killing every negative emotion." Drea exitedly interrupted, "Me too!! All these impossible scenarios and I just keep fighting. Like an endless video game with unrealistic perks! Every time I close my eyes something changes, and I can't tell anymore if I even remember how to blink." Noah continued, "Yes exactly! Oh and to help you with that, you can now blink normally." "Now?", asked Drea. Noah replied,

I skipped a step. What I mean is, all this had been happening with me too. And after I previously killed anger I woke up in an apartment across the street. I blinked several times before I recognised someone that was looking at me. Feeling too ecstatic I ran to Jen, my girlfriend, and hugged her feeling myself cry. She smiled and asked me to stay away, said she was changing and had lost all. Confused I looked at her growing pale and she turned lifting her hair showing me her neck. Black veins rose against her neck and as I touched them she screamed miserably. "Stop it!" she snapped. She then screamed, "Don't touch them. It fastens it all!" "Fastens what?" I yelled at her frustrated and confused and she explained, "They will come for you and get you. You won't know when you see them but they have them too, some of them rising into their brain and skull and eventually the eyes, like a network of black veins." "Who them Jen, who!?" "I don't know who they are goddamnit! They look like us, talk like us, and dress like us! They are everything you have been fighting but only that look like you! And if you lose, you are one of them Noah. Go before I kill you." I said I wouldn't and she screamed asking me to. When I didn't move she touched her neck screaming in pain and I watched the nerves grow. Attracted by the noise, a gang of 7- mutagens as Jen named them- appeared and tried to break through the door. "Run now Noah. They can't kill me any further", she said as I found myself on my feet running towards the window. "Don't jump!", screamed Jen. "You can't be superman anymore. Be safe and have a good sleep, now that you can." she said with last smile and wink. I figured I'd die this time if I jumped out of the window and so ran my way down the fire lane. A lot happened- Being chased by 7 mutagens, killing people that ooze black blood and finally running into this place. Guessing it's bulletproof I locked all the doors and remained here trying to think of everything she said. I couldn't jump off bridges anymore that means, and like she said, when I closed my eyes nothing changed. I felt fatigue again, and when I woke up from my sleep I felt my entire body pound in ache. Next few days I explored this place, found just one gun sadly and a left it on the couch I sleep in. I found food for now, but it will soon run out and then it'll be hunting again.

Drea stared speechlessly, trying to take in all the information. The only thing she could think of saying was, "Sorry about Jen." He shrugged and said, "She did her best to help." They sat in silence, in their heavy reality for a moment after which Noah said, "I have canned corn. You could eat and then take a nap." "Thankyou", said Drea, already feeling comfortable in the company of another human. They both had been lonely for too long, just like every other person on the planet. They talked about their battles as Drea munched on canned corn not to think of how she tasted the brine in it. Before sleeping she took off her bag and was about to take her boots off but remembered about her knife, so she just left them on.

Drea woke up to loud noises of people running and things being thrown. Some one was frantically screaming her name. What was his name? Noah! She tried to wake up and her head pounded. Suddenly she recognised a sound. Shots were being fired and Noah was screaming for help. Still disoriented she got up running across the unlit hallway screaming for him. She followed the sound of the chaos and came face to face with one of them. Just like Noah had said, black veins curled up his neck and into his temples. The mutagen looked terrifyingly intimidating and soullessly pale. Drea couldn't react and saw Noah pulling him off her. She then tried to think again and dived right into the battle against the mutagen. He was strong, fast and wild, and even both Noah and Drea together couldn't knock him off. Running around the place trying to slow him down Drea immediately realised they made a mistake. Where they landed was exactly where the last gun in the station remained- the couch in Noah's makeshift bed. The mutagen spotted the lustful metal with minimal resistance got his hands on it. Before she knew, the bullet ran through Noah, and Drea's hand clutched her boot knife that had stabbed through the mutagens heart. In less that three seconds, the ground turned into a slump of two dead bodies and she watched Noah's red blood mix with the mutagens black fluid. Her vision blurred and her head ached and she kept repeating sorry to Noah. She said he fought well and she lifted his head and closed his eyes. She even looked at the dead Mutagen as tears streamed down her face; his veins were disappearing and he remained as a pulse-less creature; his blue eyes slowly returning as Drea shut them saying he had fought well too and she was sorry this happened to him. He deserved better than to be made a mutagen. She slipped Noah's gun out of his lose grip and turned to Noah saying, "I promise, every bullet through this one, is for you." She slowly walked away from them and picked up Noah's bag on the way out. It was heavier than hers and she was happy to know why- It was a bag full of bullets. Picking up her own bag on the other shoulder, Drea ran out of the police station that had turned into a grave. This was a new age, the age of the newborns and only the strongest would survive.

Melancholy of a nightmare: Back in time blazes

This time she opened her eyes to an empty back-lane of a busy city street. Dilapidated buildings filled her sight and the smell of mould made her sick. She soon sensed she was alone in the deserted city, "What a surprise!" she sarcastically shouted! Turning in a full circle to scan her new location, she reflexively put her hand inside her bag. Then she realized her gun was missing. With a heavy sigh she swore and started looking for a home she could loot. Conscience wasn't least of her worries in days like these. She would have left money in these homes; if only money mattered any more, or if only anyone was still alive. It often crossed her mind that she was the only person left amidst this vast nothing, people once called Earth. One month seems so long back. Ever since the invasion, no one can know which world is real. One month ago -or what she thinks was a month- she was sitting in the middle of a park and picking on an ugly blade of grass. After that everything went dark and light at the same time. The world around her dissolved into black nothing and strong white light blindingly approached towards her as she screamed and fell to her head. It felt as if she was struck by a million streaks of lightning all at once. She woke up to the world as she knows it now; new, torn apart, vague and never ending. Does the Earth in it's physical presence even exist any more? She could only hope there were more resistance groups against the soul sucking evils of these wrecker times. Her earlier days into this new nothing were wasted into crying about the loneliness. "Everyone bears their own cross Drea," her mom would say. She just didn't know it would be this lonely. She tried to think of something else. Self pity only made things worse. Pulling herself atop the nearest railing, she welcomed herself into the dust covered residence. It was a small lofted apartment and looked like it could have belonged to an avid reader. She went still at the sight of an entire wall stacked with books. Books were a rare commodity, and she could do anything to keep those with her. Excitedly she started scanning through the apartment to search for the largest possible bag she could find. She emptied her bag on the floor before her. Pulling out a camping bag, she stuffed the bottom with seven books and then stacked her supplies atop. Next, she ran into the kitchen and stuffed her bag with a box of granola bars. She cooked herself some canned soup for the night and fell asleep on the damp wooden floors as she looked at the night creep in.

This morning she woke up due to intense heat. It felt like the entire Earth could be on fire and still not burn as hot. The heat waves made her nauseous and she could almost taste her canned mushroom soup dinner. She splashed some water on her face from the already leaking kitchen faucet and peeked outside the window. She reflexively ducked as she saw the tree opposite to her window bust into flames and then disappear. She knew what this meant- it was time for her next battle! As quickly as she could, she grabbed her heavy bag and swung out of the apartment window. It was a short way to the ground if she jumped. Like most times, she would probably survive anyway! So just like that, she jumped off the hot metal railing and bid her goodbyes to the lofted apartment she already felt attached to. She started heading towards the source of the heat. With each step she felt herself getting dizzier. After good five minutes of running in the burning heat she crouched on the cracked cement roads. And then she saw it. The smoke started coming out from the cracks and quickly hugged her in their red sheet. "Oh I thought you changed colours!", she said sarcastically again. She was now dizzy and short of breath and blurred in vision. "C'mon you can do better than that!" She yelled in anger. As she coughed and walked through the dense red cloud she could see a figure waiting for her. It looked like someone covered in flames. "Are you going to fight me missy? You know this is a whole new level of dangerous now." echoed the figure. Drea kept quiet. She was smart to realise that this time it would be easier if she didn't say a word; this time her enemy was anger.

Her first thought was to empty her water bottle on the blazing figure. However as she thought more it only sounded stupid! She would be left with no water and it would only aggravate the enemy. Calmly, she sat on the floor. He laughed. "Why aren't you killing me?", she asked. "You aren't even gonna try?", replied anger. She smiled and nodded a no. The heat around her increased, her head ached and she felt dehydrated. Sweat stung her eyes and she coughed up blood. Not wanting to worry, she slowly sipped on her water. "Move you maggot!", screamed a voice on the other end. A blazing ball of fire flew right past her, instantly burning her shoulder. She screamed in pain but didn't stand up. Tears burned in her eyes and she bit her lip to not scream more. Another one approached, and this time she didn't flinch; she decided not to. The ground beneath her shook and fumed and she was rolled onto a burning pavement. Still not moving, she stood up and found her place on the ground again. Finally, with a dry throat she spat out the words, "Give up." The voice now raged, replied, "You cannot control me! You are a slave to my character! I am the demon inside you and you feed it each moment you fight back!" Looking straight towards the source of the voice Drea spoke, "You are only powerful as long as I fight. As long as I rage. You cannot kill me if I don't let you win. What if I don't feed that demon. What if I eliminate your presence from me all together? What are you gonna do then?" The ground roared again and more things around her fell into ashes. This time she got up and started walking right into the mouth of this blazing home. "What are you doing?", screamed anger. "Destroying your very presence from me." she said as she felt the first heat of the flames. Closing her tear filled eye she ran into the home. She didn't know if things would change for the better when she would open her eye this time; but she gave it a chance. A blanket of heat and stinging burns covered her. She might have screamed if her throat wasn't so dry. When she opened her eyes she remained laid down on a rock in the middle of a pond. A little shocked at first she stood up to not fall in. And then all at once she felt the presence of every cell in her body and jumped into the pond feeling utmost relief. When she looked around it had all changed. The burning home was ashes, the pavement covered in moss and greenery all around her. Her backpack remained untouched on it. She decided to spend some time cooling herself in that pond before she would carry on. She had killed anger.

Melancholy of a nightmare: The beginning

She waited under the heavy rock, and heard her heart pound at the same pace as the horses she heard running around. With each breath in, her lungs screamed with the red toxic fumes. The hooves stopped. This was her chance. Slowly she shifted her weight to her right leg and shed a red tear of pain. Then with utmost caution she pulled out her .44 magnum and fixed it between her palms. Not the best gun for her range, but that was all she had found when she had last looted the abandoned hut. She slowly stepped out from where she could see him now. Clad in green, he sat on a red horse and held a green bow in his hand. There were many more horses around him, but he came alone. Drea took a deep breath and then ran towards the crowd of horses as fast as she could. When they saw her, they all ran towards her with all their strength and speed. This was the moment; it was a do or die situation and she would never know unless she took a chance. Within an instant she dropped herself to the ground. The impact knocked the air out of her and she scraped her knees. But ignoring the pain and pine needles, she looked up at the horses that were approaching her with wide eyes. She fought back her tears and clutched the gun tighter in her hand. Then she saw it happen; she saw them slow down. With each trot their pace decreased; so slow until one stopped next to her and the others right before her eye. Amazed at how easily she could control things, she started crying and stood up wiping her tears. In an instant she hopped onto the horse in front of her and watched the others file behind her horse. She called out to her green enemy and pointed the gun at him. This time she was closer, but she wasn't sure of her shot. Before she could react he left an arrow in her direction and she jumped off her horse and rolled on the ground to dodge it. It was war and it was on. In the next two seconds she was on the horse again and chasing after Mr. Green. Her hair flew out of her damp ponytail and sent cool breeze through her neck. She aimed and shot. It missed. As she braced herself for the approaching arrow, she hopped onto the horse running next to hers. With a little difficulty she positioned herself again and looked for a running green haze. Raising her gun, Drea shut one eye and shot again hitting his horse. She screamed and stopped her horse. Drea never wanted to harm the horse. She got down and closed her eyes. She knew what she was doing would only make it more difficult, but she was learning to pay for her mistakes. When she opened her eyes the horses were gone. All but the horse she had hurt. A green figure stood before her. She couldn't see his face but felt energy being drawn out of her. Without a second thought she pushed her gun into her little sack, ran towards the nearest tree, jumped and kicked on the bark and caught onto the first branch when the force lifted her upwards. An arrow barely missed her swinging legs and with every ounce of strength that remained, she pulled herself up on the branch. She hugged it and caught on tightly for balance. She could feel the weight of her gun in her sling pack and her legs failed to hold her still. She was shivering of fear and felt the warm tears stream down her face. She climbed higher into the tree until the arrows couldn't reach her anymore. The branches creaked under her foot when she bent down to look for him. Then with a sudden gush of air and a swift arrow slid past her. The movement shocked her and she tripped. Her reflex got her fixed onto the closest branch and she saw her gun slip out of her sight. A sinful laugh echoed the dark canopy and once again, she closed her eyes and let go of her grip. When she opened them she stood right in front of the green face phantom, in a red cloud that itched her skin. Her limbs took over her and within a second she was on him, fighting his blows and kicks. Then with one firm grip on his faceless head, she twisted the life out of him. "Goodbye jealousy", she muttered and watched him disappear along with the disappearing red clouds. Drea dropped to the floor in exhaustion and closed her eyes again to kill her next enemy. 

Dualed!

Could you imagine what a conversation between 2 sides of your brain would be like? Or ever wondered what it would be like to peek inside someone's brain? Everyone knows girls are complicated, and most of the time no one has a clue of what they are thinking. But what if someone did?  Well Pia's head has 2 sides. While it is undetermined which one is right, and which one is usually left out, (ha puns!), both still have quite an impact.  One side of her brain -Side P- is for Park; her intelligent and charming but pale history! The other side, Side K is for Keith, her new and flickering love interest. And down here, is a usual day in Pia's life.

Pia: "Like O-M-G girl! He caught my hand today!"

Nita: "Sparks? Felt 'em? Saw them? Made them?"

Pia: "See now that's the issue. My first thought was Park. Every time anything like such happens, my first thought is Park. Keith can't even make me feel half as amazing as Park did."

Nita: "You cannot be serious? Really babe, him? So you basically like 2 guys?"

Pia: "Don't judge me."

Nita: "I'm not! Just clarifying!"

Pia: "I like Keith only until he doesn't say anything related to me. But besides that he's fun to talk to."

Side P:

Pffft that's a lie. I mean really, that's your standard? From liking a charming guy who practically read your mind to a cold and boring half wit who looks like he's wearing the stuff old Aunty Jolly gave him on Christmas seven years back?

Side K:

Are you telling me Park is handsome? No offence, but it’s nice to be honest sometimes.

Side P:

Fine I admit Park wasn't Thomas Macdonell or Heath Ledge, but that doesn't mean he was not charming. He has, you know.. that flair. The way of getting on you. That..something.

And that perfectly placed scar. 

Side K:

A scar? A scar is what is making you think of him again? Geez get you priorities straight!

Nita: "Pia? Earth to Pia! Anyone there? Hel-lo!"

Pia: "I'm sorry. But yeah, Park is definitely annoying. I mean always was right? Pffft and ugly."

Nita: "You weren’t even listening. Grea! I said Park was cute, not ugly or annoying. Oh did I tell you he recently got some crazy award for a mini invention of whatever?"

Side P

Ha see exactly! Beauty and brains baby.

Side K:

Oh please. Keith is so stupid it's funny and cute.

Side P:

Exactly- he's stupid. Park was cute and funny, and still not stupid. Plus does Keith even know you are thinking of him right now? Bet he doesn't, otherwise he would have half smiled since he's looking in your direction anyway.

Hell yeah, you know that half smile. Park's half smile and microwave eyes! 

Pia: "Oh yeah? Another win huh? That's cool. Anyway I'll call you back later okay? Keith is coming my way. Love ya." 

 I need to stop thinking so much. 

Keith: "Ssup?"

Side P: 

Such a lame way to start a conversation. Plus he didn't even smile, let alone be a half smile.

Side K:

He has the half smile. Probably one better than Park's.

Side P:

Oh how lovely! Does he have an assured future, degree, goal and achievement? I doubt so!

Side K:

He is pretty smart F-Y-I. He can program stuff and made his own computer.

Side P:

Correction- Is in the process of making his computer. Plus learning how to make a PC from the internet isn't a skill.

Pia: "Hey! Nothing much. I was just talking to a friend. So now that you're free, let's go slay a dragon!" 

Keith: "Uhhhh let's not. Since we both are so lazy, let's just sit and read instead."

Side P:

Obviously he missed the hint there. Everytime she said it to Park, he immediately understood she was in the mood for doing something crazy, like an adventure or a long journey or eat food!

Side K:

Okay, get this straight. Not all people are smart or Park or can read minds. Sometimes she needs to be more articulate, U need to stop undermining Keith like that!

Side P:

I'm just being honest! At the end of the day we r both Pia's brain and we need to let her know!!!!!

Side K:

Keith's cute.

Side P:

.................yeah so?

Pia: "Ok that's cool too." 

Side P:

Keith may be smart, but he has his limits. Gawsh seven awkward minutes of silence. And what is Pia doing? Listening to me sing Daisy in and you think about who made God. You think Keith will ever be able to have a conversation so deep? You think he will ever even appreciate the song Daisy for that matter?

Side K:

Daisy is just a song. Park only liked songs with lyrics! He would never like daisy either. 

Side P:

Oh yeah? Well what about finding the answer to life? Park would do that while singing a remix to Daisy and a song with hell deep lyrics.

Side K:

Keith is not so stupid!

Pia: "What is the meaning of life?"

Keith: "I don't know."

Side P:

Pffft. See. Now you see? And you call him smart. Try asking him the recipe for Mac & Cheese, that he may know!

Side K:

Hey you racist. Shut up. He just isn't the philosophical kind. He's realistic okay?

Side P:

Yeah right, realistic! His answer was "I don't know"! He could have said any crap. Pia is so dumb she thinks all crap is something to ponder about. Park would've done that. You know he already has. Hey remember that time when she and Park were sitting on that bench and imagining if there was a parallel universe...

Side K:

No one cares!! Gawsh cut Keith some slack will ya?

Side P:

Basically this is out of his league you mean?

Side K:

It's just stuff he doesn't care about.

Side P:

Exactly, he doesn't care. He is so cold. I bet he doesn't know Pia is thinking so deeply. She is staring at a God sent grass for 10 minutes now and he hasn't said a word. So yeah, he's too indifferent.

Side K:

It's just that he leaves her alone

Side P:

That is an excuse for being unobservant and Park possibly being better. Anyway, where were we? Ya, that time on the bench. Oh wasn't it also when they last held hands? You know I've been thinking if Pia misses that..

Side K:

You are an arse, you know that right?

Side P:

Hahaha basically means you know she misses him.

Side K:

Park's a jerk

Side P:

Well obviously he is. Maybe why two of us even exist in the first place. Matter of fact- Pia can't be expecting anything from Park. It just will never work. Matter of fact as well- she will never find a dude as perfect. Until of course she finds Mr. Forever.

Pia: And until then I'll just deal with 2 brains.

Keith: "Said something?"

Pia: "No. I mean yes. Wanna go home?"

Keith: "Sure let's leave senorita."

Side K:

Awww he held her hand again.

Side P:

Remember when Park called her senorita..

Side K:

Holy!! $%^&#&* shut up!!! Live in the moment!! 

Side P:

That's what Park believed.

Side K:

And so he left!

Side P:

Ouch

Side K:

Yeah so shut up! You're crazzzy!

Few More:

And that's Pia's brain. It is of course my first attempt with semi- comic stuff and would love to hear reviews. All in all, that's girls! Either compare the entire mankind with one moron or wait an entire mankind for one moron. Until then, hang on! :)