Another thing is the changing temperature, sometimes so baking hot with the sun scalding your skin, and others, especially at night, it's like being in a blizzard without snow, the wind and cold are just too much to bear.
The only place to escape from the changing climate tends to be inside, and so far from what I have found, the dark places tend to be dangerous, and anywhere else tends to either stink, rancid pools of water and various rotting items, to people who just want to engage with me: as food!
This place is so different. I can see the yellow glow of lights ahead, and feel the warmth coming from there. Still, I cannot help but wonder if I am being invited to dinner, where I am the main course.
The warmth feels nice, just right, and the place smells reasonably fresh, good air circulating. Seems like a decent place to hole up, but still, I would prefer to be up top, with windows so I can see out. I would love a place I can tend to, settled, a base to explore from, but I have a feeling I am going to need to find more weapons, better ones, more ammunition, and tools for all sorts, not to mention food, clean water, and as important as anything, some kind of medicine, in case I fall ill.
'Go right ahead, just keep it cool and we'll be fine with each other. Don't touch anything.' The gravelly voiced man insists, following behind me. I know it is foolish to walk ahead with a stranger following, but I was out of choices and I feel a deep weariness, something that only sleep and food can fend off.
As I walk into the open area, there are metal bunks, singles, with a few blankets dotted around. A couple of rough looking pillows too. Beside them are battered wooden units, acting as kind of cabinets. There are bags and things laying around the outside, the walls which appear made of metal, perhaps a bunker of sorts. There seems to actually be a large fridge here, I wonder maybe with food in it. I won't touch for fear of a bullet coming my way.
There are chairs, and over in a corner some kind of electrical heater, it glows brightly, the source of all this lovely warmth.
I stop walking and turn to look at the man. 'Do you really have electric here?' I ask.
The man also stops, moving to a corner and sitting in a worn leather looking chair. 'Yep, tapped into one of those conduits over there. Seems to be a pretty steady output too.'
'Pretty neat. I didn't think there would be any such things, no way to generate it. Are there places around that do this? Cities?'
'No idea, I just stay here, out of people's way, out of harms way, and that's good enough for me.'
'You're not curious to find out?' I ask.
'Oh sure, looking like I do, like burnt meat, people shoot first and ask questions later.'
I smile, and shrug. I can understand that, but of course you don't need to be odd looking to get that kind of response it seems. I think it, but don't say it, don't want to do anything to offend him.
The warmth is so enticing. I wonder if I might just drift away, and perhaps when I wake up this nightmare might all be over.
I sit a moment in one of the chairs, feel myself relaxing. I know it is a mistake, but I can't help it. So hungry and tired.
I see the man opposite me, smiling, he seems the same, ready to just let go. Neither of us speak again, just allow the wash of yellow colour to wrap around us.
*
The cold bites into me, I can hear a hard dripping noise. I open my eyes, and it is dark. There is a shadow of illumination before me, obvious by the fact that when I breath I see white vapour coming from my lips. I try to see but it is dark. The heater, it's not gone out, it's actually gone!
The fridge door is open. I stand and feel my way across to it, look inside as best I can. It is empty. Some of the bags are gone, I know that.
Wait... the door I came in from, it's open! Those things, if they remain out there, they can get to me. I look the opposite way, where before there was a large wooden cupboard against the wall, now it stands aside, and another door hangs open beyond. It is dark there, but I can see pins of light ahead.
A scratching sound attracts my attention, back from where I first entered. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck pricking up, and a shiver travelling down my spine. I feel sick.
I won't go back, I have no chance there. I look through the other door, and it opens out into an expansive chamber. there appear to be stairs at the other end, metal ones, leading down somewhere. Between here and there is a body of water, looking so dark, but at peace. I wonder how cold it might be.
A banging noise behind me, a deep sullen drawl, heavy breathing. They have returned, found the door open. I cannot think why this man would rescue me and then leave me, but he has. Again I am alone, except for these wretched things.
I can hear them approaching, I have to go. I grab for my bag, but it is gone. Perhaps that is what he did, took what I had and left. But why leave the door open?
I run, and can feel those things behind me. Any moment, a ruined hand will reach out, its decaying hands will grab at me, tear into my skin. I can feel tears falling down my cheeks, what a hateful world this is.
I leap into the pool of water, thankfully only ankle deep. As I splash and begin to wade heavily through it, I hear another splash behind me, don't look back then another, and more, and a raging torrent of voices calling for me. So angry, so desiring of me in a savage way.
I churn through the water, see the stairs at the end, but they are gone, it is only an entry and a long drop down into darkness beyond. I am truly stuck between certain profound pain into death, or a leap into the unknown.
I cannot stop myself. Something swipes at me, a scratch of sharpness against my skin at the back of my neck. I feel pain reeling out, like needles piercing my skin. That way is unfathomable, a nightmare way to die. Without any hesitation I make one final run, then leap with all my might out into the darkness. I feel myself falling, but I am alone.
Into the dark pit I fall, air wooshing around me, knowing that at any moment I will hit hard and then the darkness will be all that I know...
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