A slight crunch emanated from the snow beneath our feet as we walked. Looking around the city streets, I felt nothing but disgust. Disgust at the poorly maintained and snow-covered dirt road. Disgust at the dilapidated houses - all with shut blinds. Most of all though, I felt disgusted that I was just as bad as any of the other neck-scratching addicts I could just barely see peering out from the house windows.


    “Why am I coming along again?” I asked my sister Lin. Keeping my gloved hands in my jacket pockets, I thumbed the silver butterfly knife.


    “Because Orlen will be there. And because I hate running your drugs,” she says, annoyed that I’d ask. Optin not to press the issue, I Instead continued eying up the wooden houses by the side of the road. I’d been told by Lin that in the outside world wood is a rarity. How lovely that it gets to rot as scrap building material here.


    It doesn’t take too long to get to our destination since our lovely abode happens to be close to the ‘town hall’. This structure - unlike the shoddy living quarters Kirsten’s residents inhabit - was made of concrete. Solid, and with a single metal door on the front. Rushing ahead of and around Lin, I opened the door to find it freezing to the touch.


    “Shit that’s cold. Oh, after you, my fair lady.” At this, she smiles and curtly bows her head at me.


    “Thanks, Pylia.” she says, proceeding into the concrete building. My boots followed reluctantly after, closing the door behind us. Once inside, my eyes adjusted to the annoyingly dim lighting. A single blue LED lamp hung by a cord overtop the long metal meeting table. The cord wasn’t even built into the wall. It was bracketed to the ceiling as the wire snaked off to the side. Where it ends is a fancy-looking computer thingy. Aside from that, the room was desolate of any decorations.


    “You’re late.” Roy says with a gravelly voice, his cigarette breath practically tearing at my nose. It’s a wonder I held my expression firm and neutral.


    “Sorry, sir.” My sister says back. He doesn’t notice from where he’s standing, but I can see her fingers twitch in annoyance while she stands at attention.


    “Whatever. Take a seat,” he says. Orlen -the young-looking blonde guy next to Roy- also takes a seat. When Roy isn’t looking at me, I give the smaller man a soft smile. Me and Lin follow suit, the metal fold-up chairs scratching against the concrete floor.


    “The meeting shall commence. Camp Kirsten’s monthly supply run is happening in three days. What do we need?” he asks. This is a good sign. The fact that he asks for input already tells us he’s in a good mood. While Lin maintains a perfect military facade, Orlen relaxes slightly in his seat.


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    “Food, sir. Well - particularly we need more animal products.” Lin says, taking control of being mine and Orlen’s voice. Roy jots this down in a notebook. Probably the same one Landon will take on the ride out.


    “I-if I may. We’ll need phosphate-er we’ll need fertilizer sir.” Orlen nervously says. Roy gives him a raised eyebrow and a very terse look.


    “F-for the plants. It’s been a long time without any phosphorous and without it I… I can’t grow the cocoa ferns…. O-or the Poppies.” he says nervously, shifting in his seat under Roy’s gaze. Gruffing, he nods and begins writing down the request on the notepad. He’d do anything to keep those plants alive. Hell, I would too.


    “Anything other special requests, ladies?” as he queries us, he looks at Orlen, seeming proud of his half-assed insult. We knew he’d be getting the basics like rations, clothing, that sort of thing. Lin and Orlen were just here representing the camp’s most important interests. Cybersecurity and drugs.


    “Then we’re done here. Get the hell out of my hall.” he commands quietly, looking at us while he crosses his arms. All of us immediately get up from our chairs and begin to file out. Luckily, he doesn’t have any parting remarks as Orlen and Lin leave the building. Following suit, I close the door behind us and let out a sigh of relief. We don’t say anything until we’re a couple of meters away from the building heading down the slope that leads to it.


    “Hey, Orlen… I’m sorry I ask all the time…” I start, a little to eager to get to business. Laughing, he reaches into his jacket pocket and produces a small bag of white powder. My favorite. Though I can’t see her eyes, I can tell from her head movements that she’s rolling her eyes at us.


    “Hey no worries, Lia! You’re so nice when you ask!” he says while handing me the bag. Gratefully I take it while doing a little bow for him.


    “You sir, are god’s gift to Kirsten,” I say as I finish bowing. He was a great guy even without the drugs, but the fact that he had my favorite treats? I’d practically kill for the guy. Smiling happily at having pleased me, he pokes me in the shoulder before saying


    “Hey uhm. Mind if I come over tonight? Hang out a little. Smoke some Marijuana…” he begins, enunciating the whole name of the plant he’s been growing for ten years.


    “Duh. My house is your house. “ After I affirm his request, Lin points up a finger and says in her usual emotionless voice.


    “It’s my house, Pylia.” Despite having known Lin since he was a kid, he still recoils slightly at the terse wording. Realizing how she came across, she glances behind herself to look at us.


    “But you’re always welcome, Orlen.” she continues while smiling. Returning to his natural joyful self, Orlen begins twirling around.


    “Awesome. I’ll see you guys tonight then!” he says, as his turn comes up and he starts moving away from us. We both give him our goodbyes and well wishes before heading our separate ways. Life isn’t so bad, for a shithole.