Among the Ruins
âSuit yourself, itâs not exactly a short walk.â Looking away from her as she started her bike, Siren places the helmet over her head. This individual didnât exactly have an award winning attitude but, in times like these, thatâs not what really mattered anymore. What did was having the sheer luck of forming a strong group and adding this woman into the mix seemed like it would do the trick.Â
So, they traveled along side each other to reach their destination. It wouldnât have taken as long but Eve insisted on walking. Stubborn bitch. As the sun was beginning to set, however, they finally arrived. It was an abandoned, two story house outside of town. The building didnât look like much but it was better than nothing. At least the windows were already boarded up when they got there; which meant less work they had to put in to this place just to make it somewhat safe for a temporary stay.Â
âWhoâs this?â From the roof, a muscular woman carrying a rifle looks down upon the two women before her, her eyes looking back and forth between them. As she saw them approaching, she had the hope that it was someone from their lost group; but those dreams were soon shattered when they became closer, making her realize that this was an unfamiliar face.Â
âJade, this isâŚâ Siren stops in mid sentence in the realization that she never actually got this personâs name. With a perked brow, she glances in Eveâs direction before her gaze flashes back over to her friend. âWhatever, donât worry about it. Sheâs ex-military. You guys will get along. Maybe you two can swap old war stories, become besties, and braid each otherâs hair.â
âIâm not weak.â
A bold statement. Yes, there were moments of weakness, yes, but, she wasnât weak. If Siren thought a little hike under full gear would be tiring, well, she had another thing coming. It would be easier than the more grueling activities on the Farm by a long shot. Waking up at 0500 for a five mile run, followed by a hundred press-ups, a rappelling exercise, hand-to-hand combat, range time, and to top it all off, fieldcraft, all before noon. A small smirk formed under the respirator as she walked.
The house has that abandoned look, but Eve knew better. Why else would her companion take her here? Sure enough, a voice hails at them. She squints up and sees the rifle, hand brushing against the grip of her pistol, but only briefly. No need to cause a scene, yet.
Oh, she needed to give a name. Which one, which one?
âTessa. And I donât braid hair.â









