Chapter 1: A CliffHanger

Trekking the endless sands, the stopping of my uniformed boots gathered the attention of dusted grains which desperately clung onto the fabric of my denim colored pants–glazing its finer blue into a more clouded and judgemental sore. Minding no attention to its raspy song–I observe the once brimmed city of Dunbermont now forever plastered with a decade of neglect and frustrated winds. The mirrored windows of tall skyscrapers now gasp for every sense of rain drop to clean its edges from the decay of muck and abandonment. The rusted sheet metals built during the lasting events of the world's end; stains only olden blood and dying winds–now whistling the opened creaks and cracks. 

With most of the city buried–the ones who’re left around its capital fended for themselves and tried saving whatever system of governance that was left in the aftermath. But as if killing an insect, I didn’t hesitate an inch to pay any mind to the mass graves in front of me; instead I shoved my right hand into the holster of my pocket and pulled out a beckoned clip. An item that has once been used to connect two parts of a particular bag to carry small objects. For its origin–I am unable to remember; nor how its scrapy glinted circulator shudders the thoughts of my memories. Breaking my stricken pattern, my colleague Alaine questioned my sudden stoppage. 

ALAINE: Linden you com’in or what?

I looked with empty acknowledgement as I spoke.

LINDEN: Yeah, you guys go on ahead–

 Though before I finished, she sighed with displeasurement as she placed her hand on her head before speaking.

ALAINE: We have to drag you through the sand every time-you come last you know?

Being silent for a moment I just simply expressed.

LINDEN: Ah, sorry..

With my other colleague trekking ahead–Alaine somberly spoke once again. 

ALAINE: No, I’m sorry–it's just..I’m a bit irritated. 

ALAINE: Because we’ve been out here for days...you and Dax already know that I want to get back to them as fast as possible..

Observing the expressions on her face–the glint of anguish conveyed me to look towards her with an empty-full smile. 

LINDEN: Right, we should get going. 

Returning a genuine smile she turned and said.

ALAINE: Then hurry up before I eat half of your maple bar.

 I sigh with ridiculousness.

Making our way towards an unwavered destination; the voices of my colleagues mumble as the thoughts of my vision clouded from mystic dreams of a different reality. Shifting forms of forgettable memories and fake realities that aren’t binded by realistic rules. 

DAX: You guys want to play eye spy?

Once again breaking my convoluted thoughts–the sense of realism fluttered by and the sanded winds of the dunes rushed me as I took in the words of my other colleague, Dax. 

DAX: I’ll go first, I spy..something yellow.

Psyching a thought Alaine looked around for a bit before setting her eyes on mine. 

ALAINE: Oh! Lindens’ eyes!

DAX: Was it really that easy?

ALAINE: Piece of cake.

Then Alaine thought of something to look for before quickly passing the game onto my shoulders. 

ALAINE: Actually, Linden can go..

The quick silence found me as I tried thinking of something to name. Setting sights on what’s ahead–I soundly said.

LINDEN: I spy something gray…

ALAINE: Something gray..?

Then a quick beeping from Daxs’ radar catches Alaine’s attention. 

DAX: Well, looks like we’re here..

With the three of us staring at the crackled building in front–the silence of slight whistles howled never louder. 

ALAINE: Uh..you sure this is the place?

DAX: If you ever want to sleep in a ditch again–this is our best option.

Moving forward, Dax leads the minimal charge towards the ruined shelter which was once an apartment complex. Stepping through one of the shattered windows, we made our way into the building one by one–checking our surroundings for any signs of threats. 

On the wall to the right was a giant photograph of a family who’ve presumably lived here way before the catastrophe. To the left was a door which when opened led to another small room. 

Walking forward, Alaine soon waved her hand and asked me to observe something peculiar. 

ALAINE: Psst, Linden come here.

Finding what muddled epiphany she’s discovered; she questionaly exclaimed.

ALAINE: What is this?...Is it dirt..?

Silently observing–she falteringly moved the broken vase of ‘dirt’ to her side. It was then a stained note revealed its longed hiding from whoever created its unfortunate appearance. Reading the note to ourselves–we both looked behind us for where a crack in the wall laid sided by the door. 

With the sound of footsteps, Alaine has already gotten to searching the key near the hinges of the door. 

Walking out of the room opposite of her, my colleague–Dax quickly took notice of her actions, 

DAX: What are you doing?

Looking up–Alaine solidly exclaimed.

ALAINE: There’s a key.

Making my way towards the main door, the jaw tightly rattled as I tried my hand on the hinge that propelled its mechanism to strive downward. 

LINDEN: Looks like it's for this door.

Piering at me with contemplation, Dax just sighed.

DAX: Haah~well, there are some spare boards in the back–so let's get to work setting up.

Finally after a bit, Alaine clutches the key in her hand.

ALAINE: Got it!

Walking up towards the main door she unlocked it without a moment's notice. Grabbing some wooden boards, Dax orderly exclaimed

DAX: Okay, Alaine–go back and grab those cupped nails.

DAX: Linden, help me board the windows.

Grabbin the nearby rubble, Dax nailed each board into the rotten wood which housed the side of each window.

DAX: This probably isn’t the best fortification but it’ll have to do..

Almost without a care–Dax quickly left the room with more eroded wood and nails. Not a moment later he called out our names for assistance.

DAX: Hey! Linden! Alaine! Come here!

Grabbing some boards in the back–I left the room to help assist my colleague.

DAX: Linden, here–help me put these boards up on the top of this entry way.

Getting on my knees, Dax climbed onto my shoulders and stood tall with me as the stool to help him nail each deafening cry into the cracked wood. 

Thunk! Think! Thunk!

DAX: Whew..I dunno if these will hold but I hope this wood is just as good as any.

Getting off my shoulders, Dax moved onto the opposite side and gestured the same action.

As the door opened widely–Alaine, with boards in hand; left the room to assist in boarding up the rest of the entryway. As she left I stood silent in the room before remembering the broken basil vase which sat atop the decrepit drawer. Observing the ‘dirt’ from its shattered glinted remanence, I noticed its particular smell–or lack thereof. Feeling its texture with the index of my finger–the dryness of its being was like comparing it to a liberated plague; sticken its body under the base of my skin. 

Brushing off the dried ‘dirt’ I studied it for a little bit more before hearing a voice call out to me.

DAX: Hey Linden! Are you almost don-

Stopping mid sentence, he observed me before he exclaimed again.

DAX: Oh, what are you doing? 

DAX: Is..that dirt?

Staring blankly at him for a moment–I contemplated my thoughts before I spoke.

LINDEN: Yeah, although it doesn’t have a smell..

Reaching for something within his pocket–Dax pulled out a small translucent zip bag; and said. 

DAX: Hm–either way, we might need it, here.

Taking the small bag from the palm of his hand–I started to collect the ‘dirt’ with the cup that used to house the family of nails. Bringing it into my own pocket–it was then Dax and I walked out of the room to only see Alaine dozing off at the boarded entry way of the doorless double doors. 

Sitting down next to her–she would faintly lumber.

ALAINE: Is it time for dinner yet..?

With an observant look, I reached into my left pocket to only pull out two maple bars. Facing my eyes back to her I said

LINDEN: Well I only have two left.

Silently positioning up–Alaine hesitantly spoke.

ALAINE: W-well, we could always split them-

THUMP!

A loud sound of aged metal hit the wooden ground–minutely vibrated the settling dust. With the faint glow of fire, the discolored lantern identified Daxs’ hand; holding its piece.

DAX: Make sure you split them equally–so Alaine doesn’t eat the bigger parts.

With a reassured look–I stuttered to agree.

LINDEN: S-Sure, I’ll try to keep that in mind..

Breaking each bar into halves–equally, I handed one to Alaine then Dax. It was then Alaine looked at me with remorse.

ALAINE: Hey–Linden, I’m sorry for trying to..trick you..

Vacantly looking at her I just expressed.

LINDEN: Well–as long as you have strength, I don’t mind.

She puffed a breath.

ALAINE: You know you’re too forgiving sometimes.

With us finishing our ‘meals’ an extra piece was left over–but before we got to decide, Alaine proposed rock, paper, scissors. I refrained from the competition–as I wasn’t interested in a clear defeat. Not backing down though, Dax firmly accepted her challenge–but in the end, with her quick intuition and flexibility–she was able to win two out of three. 

Cheering in glee from half a maple bar–Alaines’ eyes wavered with joy as she chewed. With the evening–or presumed evening; coming to an end, we all sat quietly waiting for night.

DAX: So–you guys really believe there are people out here?

Rising with a question–the silenced hall gave way to conversation. With the both of us looking at each other, Alaine reassuringly said. 

ALAINE: Of course there’s got to be people out here, I mean–why are we out here anyway if there weren’t any?

Pausing still–Dax thought for a moment before speaking again.

DAX: I hope you’re right…