2036. 11 years after World War III. The planet is sick.
WWIII was the result of a new mineral that was discovered, in the pacific ocean, by an offshore drilling rig. The mineral called “Quarren” could be used as a source of fuel, the only difference with octane, and quarren is that quarren is an almost infinite source of energy, one gallon of quarren, on the average car could run 2601 miles, while octane is only 51. Plus naturalists really liked the new mineral, because it was not causing any pollution to the world. All the countries started digging for quarren, but only another pot was found, this one in the Caribbean, then the countries started to get desperate. They all wanted quarren, but it was nowhere to be found. They tried to buy it from one another, but every offer was refused. The conflict started, they started sending out troops, to steal the quarren frome the countries that did have it. The responses were nuclear bombs, then all there was, were bombs back and forth.
The world couldn't handle it. People started mutating, eating each other, like animals, or some wild beast from a movie. The world got overrun by them. People called them the ”Freaks”. The People who did survive the radiation are the ones that have more resistance to radiation,and a stronger immune system. They live in “Sectors”. The people are divided into different work classes, some get to choose, and others receive their class as a punishment, altho there isn't one person in charge, nor a government the people usually understand themselves, and the people who don't leave, but then the bodies are found. There is a group of people who call themselves the “Hunters''. They dedicate themselves to protect the regular people, and clear out sectors, for more space, more houses, more farmland, weapons, and of course, food, but not anyone can be a hunter. You have to be chosen by them. They always leave, in hopes of finding a new group, or more people, but they always come back empty handed. The other classes include the farmers, the sector security, the cook’s,blacksmith, the doctors ,and the engines.
-Xylo-
”Where are you taking me? Let go of my arm, it hurts.”
“Shut up! I don't want to do this!”
”Then don't! Let me go back. I'm IIIscared.”
“I can't, he wouldn't like that. I have to choose between your life, or mine.”
”Please don't do this, just let me go!”
“I can’t, he would find out. And wear would you go, and what would you do? It's not like you can do anything. That's why we have to get rid of you! You are a burden, like a pet that can't take care of itself!”
“Please, just let me go. I'll run away. They won't find out you let me go, just say that you killed like you were supposed to, and that a freak ate my body! Please let me go!”
After a few seconds the man's expression changed from anger to simpathy.
“I, I’ll let you go… ok. But promise me to run, and don't stop even if you get in trouble, just go! If you are lucky you would find a place for the night. And don't go east, there is a bad area that way.”
He squeezed my arm even more, and stared at my eyes for a long second.
“Don't turn back. If you do you will get both of us killed” He said as he let me go. I was in shock when he let me go…
“Run! Go away!!” he yelled. I ran. I ran until I fell of exhaustion, then got up and ran again.
It was getting dark now. I had no food, no water, no weapon and no jacket. It was getting cold… I am wandering the forest, with no sense of location, I don't even know how far I am frome that camp, and from the redshirted man with the gun… He was right, I can't fend for myself… I can't even do my job correctly, I can't even kill a chicken. How am I supposed to survive out here all alone?
Luckily I came across a wooden shack, but I don't know if to enter. What if there is a freak inside? How would I deal with it? I walk slowly around the shack, I can't hear any steps inside, or anything at all. The silence creeps me out. Then I hear it, the low whimpering… I stay still making sure I don't make a noise, I don't hear any movement, I only hear the soft low whimpering. I creep around the shack, looking for a window, or a whole, to peek inside. I find a small crack in between the wooden planks. I didn't see anything inside, but I can still hear the whimpering. I approach the door slowly with goosebumps on my arms, and neck.
A rustling comes from a brush behind me, and before I know it I'm inside giving my back to the insides of the schack. I don't see anything outside where I heard the moving leaves. Then I realize that I am giving my back to the room with the whimpering. I get goosebumps again. I turn around as slowly as I can, when I turn around there is nothing. The whimpering was louder, but it faded into silence. The whimpering is substituted by a low stedy growl. I look everywhere for the source of the noise, and find a can of beans, which is good, but it is not the source of the noise… The noise fades. I start to feel light headed. I sit down, I know I'm hungry, and dehydrated, and I have a can of beans, but I can’t open it, and I have no water… My eyes can't keep open, I'm too tired. I know I shouldt fall asleep, but I take a nap anyway…
