"God it smells. I hope there's something useful in this dump." James grunts as he makes his way through the dilapidated building.
"Why is it wet? It hasn't even rained in years." James grimaced as he stepped on a puddle.
"These were my favourite boots. God dammit." Shaking the grime of his shoe he makes his way through the building.
Three oclock. Movement.
"It's just a rat Michael." James points as he goes on his way.
Confirm. Resuming Scan.
" See nothing to worry about. Now help me find some food Aurora must be starving."
Oh My GOD. She is isn't she? My poor baby. Hurry up James!!
"Not so loud. Damn. You're giving me a headache Adam. She'll be ok. Alice is with her."
She must be hungry as well. OH! LOOK! Cans right there in that room.
"Not so loud! Agh." James shakes his head as he walk into the room.
"Nice find Adam. Now what do we have here." He picks up a can and shakes it as he dusts of the label.
"Probably beans. Aurora won't be happy."
Happiness is irrelevant. Nutritional value is Primary. Take it.
"Yea yea. I know. She still wont be happy." He picks up the cans and stuffs them into the bag.
But Aurora hates beans. Isn't there something else.
"We'll find out later Adam. Now we need to leave."
Movement at your eight.
"Dammit. Raiders?"
Can't confirm. Lay low
"Thanks Leo."
Anytime.
"Let's wait for them to leave. I think its time we met up with Alice. We've been out long enough."
I wonder how Alice is doing on herend. She should have checked in by now.
"She should be fine Neo. I gave her the gun before i left remember?"
Yea I know. Thanks for that by the way.
"No Problem, anytime.Now for those guys." He whispers as he slowly stands to peek outside the window.
"OVER THERE!! I SEE SOMEONE!!"one of the raiders shout out as they point at james.
"FUCK!!" James bellows as he sprints through the building looking for the exit.
Take the next left up ahead.
He twists left and slams himself through the door. Heart hammering." OK! What now?!"
Go down the stairs and through the door two flights down.
"How do you even remember the layout?!"
That doesn't matter right now. You're being followed.
"What?!" He stops and looks behind him " How did they get up here so fast."
"Contact. North side. Cut him off."One of the raiders say as they chase after him
James you need to move. NOW.
"You don't have to tell me twice!!" He sprints down the staircase and quickly opens the door.
"Where to now?" He asks as he looks right and left not knowing where to go.
Go right and take your first left.
"You're the boss!!" He sprints down the hallway and suddenly stops as he hears hurried footsteps.
"Fuck they're already here." He says frantically.
In the room quick.
"Like I have a choice." He quickly goes in keeps quiet.
"He should be here. Search the rooms quickly. He has a bounty on his head and i want to cash in."
The steps grow hurried as doors are slammed open and objects clatter on the floor.
"Hey Leo, what's the gameplan?" He whispers
Quiet.
The footsteps grow closer and silence. James sees faint shadows beneath the door.
"Agh. I was hoping this would be a calm food run."
Prepare yourself here they come.
His breathing comes in short breaths as James stands up.
"Leo —" It's ok i've got it. And James feels himself sink into himself. Suddenly he takes a deep breath and his shoulders relax. He gets into a standard boxing stance and waits. There's a tension in the air as he waits. The door is kicked open and that's his chance.
Leo pounces and strikes one down with a hit to his jaw and he's down before he even knows what's going on. The others seeing one of their own taken down so quickly are shocked but regain composure just as fast.
Leo creates distance between him and his prey and dodges the first raiders attack as he lets the second hit him. He jabs at the first and lands an elbow on the second. They come at him like a wave but Leo isn't one to be shaken that easily. He dances between them with such precision and elegance they can barely touch him. Striking one after another they fall to the floor immobilised. He is efficient. He is untouchable. Leo lives for these moments and suddenly there was one.
"What the fuck!! What kind of animal are you!!" The last raider shouts as he scrambles back trying to create distance with Leo.
"How did you find us?" Leo grunts as he stomps on his fingers.
"ARGH!!! Come on man. I don't know." He cries " We just got a message with your picture and a total. They said dead or alive. I have no idea who sent it."
He looks up begging him to let him go. But all he finds is a stone face with no emotion. Like this is routine to him and his breath catches.
"Then you're useless."
He slams his head to the wall effectively deforming his face and knocking him out.
Leo takes a deep breath and he staggers as his breathing starts to speed up and shoulders tense.
"I'll never get used to that. Thanks Leo you're a lifesaver." He looks at the bodies on the floor " They're not dead are they?"
No. Just incapacitated.
"Thank GOD. Now lets get back to them its almost nightfall."
He takes slow and unhurried steps out the building, bag slung across his back. The buildings are rustic, vines growing on the walls, windows broken, none of them look lived in and as he makes his way to their location the supermarket comes into view.
The parking lot is abandoned save for a few rusty cars and a van right by the door. He walks in and scans the space. He makes his way through the maze of aisles, head on a swivel as he looks for her.
Where isshe?!
"No clue Adam. Alice! Aurora!" Suddenly he hears shuffling and his breath catches as his posture goes slack and he goes on one knee. The familiar sinking feeling envelopes him again.
"Daddy!!!" A small voice calls out.
"My princess. There you are, Daddy was so worried." Adam sobs as he hugs her tightly to himself.
"Funny Daddy." She giggles.
Adam looks the girl over as she ruffles her white hair and removes the rubble stuck to it. He looks her over and sighs as the girls hazel brown eyes meet his own.
"Aurora! You need to be more careful." A more sophisticated voice calls out.
"It's ok Alice its just me." Adam calls out.
"Still. You spoil her too much." She says as she smiles to herself.
A woman with identical white hair comes into view. She is about 5 foot 6 with blue eyes and a heart shaped face. Her smile reaches her eyes as she approaches him. She studies him for a moment.
"You find anything out there Adam?"
"Just some cans. We think its beans." He says as he ruffles through his bag removing the cans and showing her.
"Ew! Beans." Aurora grimaces as she pinches her nose shut and sticks her tongue out.
"I know princess. But its ok i'll make it just the way you like it." Adam whispers to her as he lifts her up.
"Really Daddy?" She asks with stars in her eyes.
"Of course." he says kissing her on the forehead.
"Adam we need to go back home." she sighs out as she looks at the state outside.
"Yea. Lets go home." He says as they walk to the van.
Home huh?