The soft crackle of the campfire was the only sound any of them heard. The noise of modern society was gone now. There were no cars or planes to pierce the haunting quiet. Rayne's eyes danced with the flicker of the flames, hypnotized by the writhing light. She sat there in that mindless gaze, forgetting the world around her, but it was a fragile state. Just as she was struck by how peaceful it was, the horrors of the day rushed back to her.
She rubbed her eyes, fighting back tears that she had no desire to let out again. If I start now, I don't think I will ever stop. The moisture smeared the dirt on her face leaving a streak, that Ian pretended not to notice. Looking up she locked eyes with him for a moment, before he looked away, staring out into the darkness that enclosed their small camp.
Recalling the events of the day she couldn't help but stare at the young man in front of her. He certainly didn't look like anything special. He had deep blue eyes that seemed to slide back and forth between scanning their surroundings and checking on his little sister. His dirty blonde hair, was matted with sweat and filth, I imagine he is cleaner than I am, though. Rayne mused looking down at her own mud caked form.
Finally it was Liv that broke the silence. Stirring from her spot on the ground by Ian's side she rubbed the sleep from her small eyes and looked around for a moment. "I am hungry." she stated simply, sitting up and crossing her legs. "What are we going to eat?"
Ian frowned, rubbing his head. "I don't think we have anything at the moment, Liv." he sighed looking back out into the darkness. "As soon as the sun comes up we will see what we can find."
Liv folded her arms and pouted. "I am hungry now, though. There must be something close by right?"
Ian shook his head. "Not in the dark Sis. At first light we will get you something, I promise." he petted her soothingly. "Get some more sleep when you wake up it will be time for breakfast." Liv nodded and nestled into his shoulder.
A few moments later the small girl was asleep again. "She really believes in you." Rayne marveled. "I don't think I have seen someone fall asleep like that in weeks."
"She's young. She still thinks her big brother is invincible." Ian replied with a quiet laugh.
Rayne looked into his eyes soberly. "After what I saw down there, I am not sure I disagree." Ian shifted uncomfortably. "How did you do that? What kind of sword did you find?" She pressed.
Ian drew the blade out from the spot he had laid it behind him. Turning it over in the firelight he showed it to her. "It was just laying there in the basement." He said with a shrug. "I thought it was just a prop but..." his eyes glazed as he remembered the fight.
Rayne walked around to sit next to him, and held out her hand. "Can I see it?" Ian nodded and handed her the weapon. She looked it over as closely as she could before giving it back with a shrug. "It seems normal enough. Not that I have any experience with something like this."
Ian gently placed the blade across his lap. "Well what sorts of things do you have experience with? What did you do before all this happened?"
Rayne's furrowed her eyebrows a bit before turning to look back at the fire. "Nothing interesting I assure you."
"It's not like we have anything better to do." Ian replied.
It was Rayne's turn to shift uncomfortably. "Well..." she started hesitantly. "I worked at a club."
"Bartender?" Ian asked trying to keep the conversation going.
She shook her head, not looking away from the fire. "No. I was a dancer."
Ian paused finally understanding her reluctance. "Oh." he chewed lip for a moment before changing the subject. "How about family. Any loved ones nearby."
"My father lived just outside of town, but no. No loved ones." She said coldly.
I can see why she didn't want to talk about it... Ian thought to himself finally deciding to let the conversation die.
To his surprise it was Rayne that spoke next. "I did have a dog, Pip. He was a ratty little thing." She managed a half smile. "I found him by a dumpster after work one day. The poor guy was nearly starved. Ever since then he never left my side unless I made him." A tear slide down her cheek that she quickly wiped away. "When everything went bad one of those things attack our apartment. I hid under my bed, but the monster just ripped its way in. Pip jumped right out. Stupid dog probably only weighed 15 lbs. but it thought it was a Rottweiler." She laughed for a second before getting quiet. Several minute passed in silence before she spoke up again. "It left after that. Just walked off after some other poor son of a bitch... Never even noticed me."
Ian searched for something to say, finally he gave a small sigh. "It has been a rough few weeks." To his surprise Rayne broke out laughing at that, uncontrollably for almost a whole minute. Ian cocked an eyebrow at the out burst. "Did I say something funny?"
Rayne caught her breath. " 'A rough few weeks!' That has to be the goddamn understatement of all time." She sighed. "I don't think I have laughed like that in ages." Looking over at Ian she smiled. "You really do make people feel at ease..." She sighed, a sad smile still lingering on her face. "It's so quiet. Almost peaceful...God I wish this could last."
Ian's smile faded. "Yea. me too."
They sat quietly after that. watching the fire fade to embers. Rayne finally fell asleep a little before dawn. Ian let the two of them sleep as he watched the slow light of morning sprinkle down through the trees. Like a thousand needles, the slivers of light dotted the small camp, revealing the surrounding area.
Through the thin underbrush of the small out cropping of trees, Ian could see a neighborhood. Modest one floor homes sat in neat little rows, with small picket fences separating the unkempt yards. At a distance it looked quiet, homey even, but as he continued to scan the peaceful mirage began to fade.
Smoke tendrils twisted in the air that at first seemed to rise lazily from a chimney, upon closer inspection were seen to come from burnt out remains of one of the homes. Several of the homes had broken windows and doors that had been knocked down. From the distance he was at, it was hard to tell if there were any signs of people still taking shelter there, however he could almost swear that there were little flashes of movement here and there. After straining his eyes for 10 minutes or so, he finally decided his mind was playing tricks on him.
Whatever the small neighborhood held, they all needed food. Liv had only had that can of creamed corn in the past few days and he suspected Rayne had eaten even less then they had. This was their only hope for gathering any supplies, though from the looks of it there would be little to find.
The sound of rustling leaves brought Ian's gaze back to their camp. Liv was squatting by the dead embers of the fire poking them with a stick. The soft glow of the embers would flare each time the stick hit it before going dark again. "Sleep alright?" Ian asked.
"There was a rock under my butt." Liv replied lazily not looking up from her prodding.
Rayne jerked at the sound of their voices, sitting up with a start. Her eyes were wide for a moment before she saw Liv's face. Her expression softened and she slowly stood up brushing the flecks of leaves and dirt off her clothes in vain.
"There is a suburb over there" Ian started, as soon as the two girls seemed fully awake. "It looks abandoned and ransacked, but hopefully we can find something to eat." Looking at Rayne's still mud soaked form, he added. "And maybe some clean clothes." The others nodded eagerly, hopeful to finally get something in their woefully hollow stomachs.
As tentative as a family of frightened deer, they broke the tree line entering the backyard of one of the houses. An old tire swing sluggishly swayed in the mid-morning breeze. The worn rope rubbing on the tree branch it was tied to made for the only sound, as they crept towards the house's back door.
"Well this isn't creepy at all." Rayne whispered, her arms folded in close to her body, rubbing her shoulders out of both chill and dread.
Ian griped his sword with both hands, using it to draw back the curtains on the open screen door. Peering into the house he saw the tell tale signs of a rushed departure. Clothing, pictures, and bags were strewn about, scattered by fearful hands, hurrying to get the bare essentials. His eyes fell on a small suitcase, pink with a cartoon girl in pigtails smiling through buck teeth, painted on the back.
The suitcase was open, half filled with a pretty pink dress. The garment was half folded, as though it had been placed carefully into the container before the container had been tossed to the floor. Turning he saw Liv eyeing the dress, her eyes distant. The scene struck entirely too close to home.
It had been the middle of the night when their father had torn into his room, and shoved a duffle-bag into his arms. From his window, Ian had seen people busting windows out of their neighbor's houses. People were being drug kicking and screaming from their homes as the sheer pandemonium broke loose. They hadn't left with much, not even a picture of their mom, but somehow they had gotten out. Looking back at the suitcase, he hoped, that little girl's family, had as well.
"DAMNITT!!!" Rayne's curse range out a little too loudly from the kitchen. "There is nothing. Not a damn thing." her face was a mix of rage and sorrow. She slammed a fist against the wall gripping her stomach. "I can't go on much longer without something..."
"This is just the first house. There has to be something in one of these places. We just have to keep looking till we find it." Rayne sighed, nodding halfheartedly in response. Grabbing a green blouse off the ground Ian tossed it to her. "At least we can get you out of those clothes."
Rayne managed a small smile at him trying to cheer her up, cocking an eyebrow at him in mock surprise. "Really now?"
Ian's face went red, "You know what I mean!" he hissed with a scowl. Turning away quickly to the sound of giggles, he hurried into the bedrooms to check for supplies.
The back rooms were dark, small windows gave almost no light as he riffled through the clutter. Little of the mess was useful. He managed to police a few shirts that he thought Liv could fit into, and a pair of jeans for Rayne. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to have been a man living there so nothing he found fit him.
As he entered the last room he heard the snap of the closet shutting and instantly tensed. Raising his sword he stepped slowly towards the door, taking deliberate breaths, careful not to make a sound. He threw open the door already poised to strike. The small trembling form of a dirty young boy, probably a few years younger than Liv peeked back at him from the darkness of the closet.
"Por favor" The young boy squeaked, "No hurt."
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