《Changing the World》


 Saying Goodbye

    December twenty-fifth saw a very cold morning. Ice frosted the windows while breath fogged the apartment. The Claybournes gathered at the entrance bundled together in a tight group hug for warmth as they began to say final farewells to Merri. Icicles replaced tears. If there could be any other way, there would be no need for saying good bye. This young girl at the age of eighteen would have to find her own way. There just was not enough food to feed the unemployed. Merri felt the onslaught of mixed emotions from those huddled with her. The father felt grief. guilt, but also a large amount of relief. The mother felt pain but not enough to be swayed from the decision. The younger brother felt overwhelming joy to be rid of his freak of a sister. That is how she translated what she felt. Sometimes, it was difficult, especially with so much coming through. The group slowly pulled Merri toward the door. It went slower because Merri gave a bit of resistance. The door handle cracked as ice broke free as it turned to open the door. After a firm push, Merri was out in the open air.


    Merri could only look at the door with a dumbfounded expression on her face for a while. The wind tossed her hair but the chill of the wind did not compare to the cold hard fact that her family no longer cared for her. Even with the warning weeks prior, she did not truly believe this day would come. Her hands trembled with anger but also fear. There was not enough time to plan what to do. There were no resources for the homeless. All of that aid dried up a few years ago. No more shelters, no relatives to rely on, and no friends. So, she just continued to stare at the door for what felt like an eternity. Then, a voice spoke, "You need to find shelter quickly before night comes." Merri looked around but no one was there. It was one of her spirit friends.


    As Merri walked along the roads, she saw many people huddled together. Many of them would ask for food or a bit of coin. When she stated that her position was the same as them, she was abandoned. Litter lined the streets, and rusted vehicles that had been abandoned and stripped of all the parts were left to rot. Some of the vehicles housed people trying to keep out of the bitter winds. Children clung to their parents while wearing no coats or shoes. Empty shops had broken windows, doors, and were looted for whatever was left behind. Even those buildings held people that refused to let Merri in. The day seemed to go by too quickly. She did hear of abandoned houses that were just outside of the city but it was too dangerous to travel to them alone. Muggers eagerly waited to ensnare anyone going past city limits. Some muggers were in the city watching out for anyone that may be carrying stuff to sell or money.


    Merri noticed something as she kept walking through the streets. Spirits were everywhere. Some were kind, looking over children. Some were quite terrifying to look at as they seemed to be feeding off of people''s sufferings. She had to lean against a building wall for support. She began to feel sick to her stomach, even not having anything to eat. Her head began to hurt while her vision got fuzzy. Fortunately, she was able to fit inside a small space between buildings that protected her from the wind. As she calmed herself, voices came from the other side of her hiding spot.


    "Well, shit! Not a single piece of stale bread to be found anywhere. I would much on fucking cat shit if we could find any." This was a man''s voice. It was difficult to guess the age but he sounded young. "Did you find anything, Matt?" Two men. Maybe they could help her? Maybe she could have some protection? This guy did not seem so bad, just hungry. That is when Merri heard Matt make a mournful groan.


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    "You''re fucking joking, right? Man, I went to every single donation dumpster in ten blocks just to see those sons of bitches on third get to them before me." He laughed, "I beat the shit out of one of those old shits. The mother fucker laughed while he taunted me with bread in his mouth. Not stale shit, either. This was fresh shit he probably got off some rich bitch." Merri froze in fear after hearing what Matt did. Both men began to laugh while Merri began to slide her body toward the opening she came in from. That is when part of the shirt she was wearing got stuck on a rusted nail sticking out of the wall. She struggled to free herself but she must have made too much noise because both of the guys went quiet. "Holy shit, Greg! Look!" Merry got her first look at Matt, then Greg came into view. "Hey, girl come here!"


    Merri tugged on her shirt so hard that it ripped, exposing flesh near the edge of her breasts. She gathered the torn fabric, trying to close the gap as she also struggled to get out of her hiding spot. As soon as she cleared the buildings, she began to sprint away as fast as possible. The problem was the air was thin, she had nothing to eat for a few days, and she was too weak to keep the pace up. Her heart pounded wildly. Her fears began to escalate when she heard one of them from behind her. It was Greg.


    "Hey! Stop! You''ll pass out if you don''t." He watched as she kept trying to run. "We don''t want to hurt you, just stop for a minute." The girl said something but he couldn''t hear her over the wind. "We can help you if you just talk with us." The girl fell to her knees for a few moments before struggling to get back to her feet. Greg and Matt knew better than to run in these conditions but this girl was either stupid or crazy. Matt spoke up a bit louder than Greg, and with a bit more authority in his voice.


    "Stop right there! If you don''t want our help, fine but is it really worth dying in the middle of the road because you''re too much of a bitch to even tell us to go away?" She stopped then, struggling to breathe. Greg singled Matt not to go any closer. They both held back. "See? If we really wanted to hurt you, do you actually think we would stand around like this while you decided if we were worth it?" That is when she turned, struggling to keep her torn shirt from flapping in the breeze while not showing off her tits. "If you come with us, we can give you a shirt. Unless you want to walk around looking like a skank?"


    Merri hated the way these guy spoke to her but it was either trust them or freeze to death. Neither of those choices seemed like good options. She just stared at them, trying to get some sort of reading but nothing came from them. She felt so drained from trying to run. That must be what was caused the issue. She spoke up, "I don''t have anything, not even money." That is when they both laughed. Matt spoke while trying to stop laughing.


    "We joined the ''we got no money'' club a few years ago. Look around, chicky. Do you see any rich people flaunting cash? Fuck me! Have you been living in a cave or something? We know you don''t have anything. Maybe that''s why we are offering to fucking help you." Both men started walking back towards the buildings, "You coming or what?"


    Merri hesitated a bit before she followed the men back to their little hole they called, "home for now". There was an easier way of getting there that they showed her. A shirt was thrown in her face while they laughed as she struggled to catch it. She wore that on top or the torn shirt for added warmth. There were a couple of rear car seats along the walls. She was offered one of them. When she laid down, she whispered under her breath, "Good bye". The men didn''t hear it but didn''t care, either. They were just happy to have someone else with them. Even is she seemed like a nut job.

 The Space Between Life and Death

    If you were to ask Merri what she meant when whispering ''Good Bye'', she would not be able to explain herself fully. She had already said her goodbyes to her family. Maybe it was someone else that she wished a fond farewell to? While it is not relevant now, it will be in the future. Or maybe not.


    It didn''t take very long for Merri to fall into a deep sleep. Anyone could get to a very deep sleep in the cold  but not everyone would wake up. The temperature dropped quick during the late evening hours. It was close to this time that Merri dreamt of a warm spring day. She lay on the green grass while she watched as darkness quickly surrounded her. "Wake up!" Her eyes flung open as Matt drug her stiff body close to a fire. Merri would not have been able to resist even if she wanted to. She noticed that Matt dragged her with one hand while holding a bat wrapped in chicken wire in the other. It was very weird.


    Matt kept his eyes moving as he searched for any potential assailants that would have stolen their spot. Fires just invited nasty people to a spot because heat was a commodity. There were not enough resources to keep fires blazing through the nights of winter. "Greg, you fucking asshole, you better hurry up." He glanced down at Merri who was not very coherent. "You need to stay awake. I will slap you if I need to." He did gently jostle her whenever she seemed to be drifting off. She looked quite pathetic just dangling in his grip. He tried to pull Merri to her feet, without letting go of the weapon, but decided to give up for now. That is when a couple of thugs came through the ''secret'' entrance. Matt held up the bat while stating, "I wouldn''t".


    The two men stood for a few moments, surveying the area while also measuring their chances. They noticed the female helplessly dangling from this guy''s grip but didn''t see anyone else, so decided to move in closer. Matt growled under his breath as he placed Merri closer to the fire. He placed her as gently as he could but remained focused on the approaching men. Merri just lay there in a lump. Both men jumped at Matt who swung the bat in rapid successions. "Greg! You fucking asshole!" One man began to circle around Matt, the other man looking quite interested in the half-dead girl. Matt decided to go after the guy while distracted but the other guy kicked Matt in the back. Matt flew a couple of feet before landing on his face. Blood trickled down from Matt''s cheek. That is when Greg entered through the thick of the mess. At first, looking quite triumphant with the supplies he found. Once he saw what was happening, he charged at the closest intruder, tackling him to the ground. He began punching, biting, and scratching at the guy trying to fight back. "Hey Matt! Get up!" He laughed as he kept punching, "You don''t want to miss out on the fun now do you?"


    Matt wiped at his face as he stood to his feet. The club raised up as he advanced on the guy trying, but failing miserably to get Greg away from his friend. Once the guy saw Matt with the bat, got up. That guy was too slow as Matt met the guy''s face with the bat. Blood and teeth flew in the air. Matt swung at the guy again and again until the guy fell backwards. Both of the invaders were unconscious, dragged by Greg and Matt to an ally near the entrance. Once they both returned, Matt began to yell, "What the fuck took you so long? That girl is..." He stopped mid-sentence to rush over to Merri. "Damn it! We''re losing her."


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    Greg rushed into action, grabbing the supplies he was sent to fetch. "We are not going to lose her, Matt." He rummaged through the stuff, grabbing some bread, tearing off a piece, and placing it in his mouth to soften it up. "It took me a while to get to third. It took longer just to convince those ass-hats that a life was in danger." He put the mushed up bread in the girl''s mouth. He struggled but finally got the female to swallow. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Don''t you give up on us!"


    Merri heard the loud commotions going on around her but it seemed so distant. The offered bread did not seem to register very well. Suddenly, she was looking down at herself. This was new. Matt was there yelling at her to not give up but it was so cold. At least she felt warmer where she was. She glanced around, where was she? The scene changed to the warm field she found herself in earlier. It felt peaceful. She walked around to get a better idea of what was happening. There had to be some kind of clue. Flowers were in bloom and it had been so long since she saw a flower, she didn''t remember what it was called. A warm breeze washed over her and she looked up to find someone just looking at her. Merri stared back but neither spoke.


    The entity stood watching Merri for a while. This being was an Angel and after several moments, smiled at Merri and gave a slow wave. "Hello dear. Are you lost? You seem quite confused." The feathers in her wings gently fluttered with the breeze. "Do you need help?" The voice was sweet and welcoming.


    Merri tilted her head, "I don''t know where I am." She looked around, "It''s very nice here, though. Is this your home?"


    The Angel gave a slight laugh, "Well, not my home entirely. This is the realm in-between life and death. You are dying young one." With a slow movement of her hand, the Angel showed Merri where her body lay still. "The cold has claimed many lives today. I am one that welcomes those who leave the Earth behind to begin their journey after death."


    Merri looked at herself once more before the Angel waved the image away. "I don''t understand why I am here. I thought I would be alright after Matt and Greg took me in." She paced anxiously, "Can''t I go back?"


    The Angel smiled, "Oh dear one, do you really want to return to that place? There is so much suffering there. It is quite peaceful and warm here. No harm can come to you as you make way for a new life." The Angel stopped speaking for a few moments. It appeared that she was being spoken to but no one else could be seen. The Angel then glanced back at Merri with a smile, "It appears that I was mistaken. You have work to do. It is time for you to go back young one."


    Before Merri could respond, she was back in her physical body. She began to shake violently while Matt hugged her body tight, rubbing furiously in a wild attempt to warm her up. He felt her breathe in a long breath before gasping. She then started coughing while attempting to sit up. Matt helped her and gave a huge sigh of relief. "Damn it, girl! You had us worried." Matt didn''t let her go but kept holding her tight. "We thought you died or something."


    Merri looked up at Matt weakly, and whispered, "I saw the in-between place." Matt looked at Greg who just shrugged not sure what she was talking about. The girl felt warmer, her breath stable, so Matt just held her while Merri slept.

 One Crazy Lady

    Merri had her first good night sleep in such a long time that she forgot what it felt like. Her eyes fluttered open while she took in a deep breath. The air, still cold, felt sharp in her lungs. She gave a cough then noticed Matt and Greg move slightly against her. They helped her. They didn''t have to but they did. Why though? She could not imagine why anyone would help someone like her. Then again, they didn''t even know her name at this point. She just watched them as they struggled to wake up. Their warm breath brushed against her. It felt so much nicer than being huddled with the family. This definitely took her by surprise. Two complete strangers fought hard to keep her warm and alive through the night. She still ached, and felt weak but she lived. There had to be a way to thank them. Her revelry stopped when Matt groaned, stretched then mumbled a good morning. Merri smiled, "Thank you. For saving me, I mean."


    Matt rubbed his eyes before elbowing Greg. "Yeah, yeah. Don''t get all sappy about it." He elbowed Greg again, "Just think of it as a favor owed to us later." Greg slowly woke up, mumbling something hard to make out. "Come on you asshole, wake up. We got shit to take care of." Greg gripped onto Merri who squeaked with the unexpected snuggle. Matt laughed, "He seems warm and comfy, huh?" Matt stood up then yanked Greg away from Merri. "Fucking hell, wake up!"


    Greg elbowed Matt in the upper calf, "Fuck, man I''m awake! Get off me." Matt rubbed at his leg gingerly while laughing so Greg elbowed him again. "Damn, I haven''t slept like that in ages." He rubbed at the cheek that got scraped against the pavement. "Shit, that stings." He stood up and looked around. "We are going to have to move fast if we want to beat everyone to the dumpsters. Then again, we still have some of that shit you got last night. Might just take the fucking day off."


    Matt stretched then jogged in place for a minute to get his blood flowing. "A day off? You fucking sick or something? You never take a day off." He looked at Greg''s face, "Ah! It''s because your face got fucked up, isn''t it?" Matt smirked while Greg rolled his eyes. Matt looked down at Merri still huddled up near the dying fire. "I guess that means we get to interrogate this chick? I mean at least now she is somewhat alert." He looked at Greg who nodded. Matt crouched down near Merri, "So, let''s start with the easy stuff, huh? What''s your name?"


    Merri took in a deep breath while closing her eyes. She was nervous. What if they found out more about her then told her to leave? That would be so horrible. She spoke almost in a whisper as she gave Matt her name. Both men began asking more and more questions. This was going to be a long day. After she told them about getting kicked out from her family''s home, she piped up, "I really have to pee." Greg led her to the squat spot. Once she was finished, she went back to the now dead embers and ashes.


    Greg shook his head, "Sorry to hear that your family is fucked up. You can stick around as long as you need to. We don''t have much as you can tell but you can help us get the shit we need. It will be a hell of a lot easier with three people scavenging for goods." He looked thoughtful for a few minutes before he added, "I don''t get why your family threw you out. I can understand that you didn''t have a fucking job but damn. Not to mention that ''jobs'' actually means slavery."


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    Merri looked confused at the word slavery, so Matt spoke up, "Oh fuck! She doesn''t know, dude. This is the shit! We rescued a bubble girl." Matt busted out laughing. Greg growled and pushed him over. Matt got back up rubbing at his chest, "Fuck, I''m sorry but this chick doesn''t even know what''s going on in the world. That shit is crazy." He looked at Merri, "Sure, you can offer your body and soul to the government for slave work. You''ll get enough money to get a cold storage family box but that''s it. These ''jobs'' are just fucking torture labor camps. If you don''t have any trade skills, you either disappear or get booted to the fucking streets just like the rest of the ass-hats out here trying to survive." He glanced quickly at Greg then back at Merri, "We couldn''t even get into the fucking compound. We got told there were no jobs left. That''s when we got a look at the frozen, starved, and pathetic looking people working there. It was fucked up. Even if you did get in there, you wouldn''t last long. They wait until someone is no longer able to work and end them or street them. That''s the fucking government for you."


    What seemed like out of nowhere, Merri started wailing. Not just crying, she was mournfully screaming in agony. Both Greg and Matt were caught off guard by this before trying to hush her. This type of commotion would only bring trouble that they really did not need. Yelling didn''t work, hugging didn''t work, and she bit at them if they tried to cover her mouth. Matt barked, "Shut the fuck up! You''re going to get us killed!" Merri began to quiet down after that while rocking herself quickly back and forth. Matt looked up at Greg, "Think she''s nuts or something?"


    Greg didn''t know what to make of her, He signaled Matt to follow him so they could speak privately. "Let her calm down so she can explain herself. She may be a crazy bitch but until we get the whole story, we need to be patient. Fuck, she''s been through a lot in the past twelve hours. The least we can do is give her a chance."  Matt rolled his eyes and Greg shrugged, "I know. I know. We''ve seen our share of the shit. She has, too, though. Fuck, her family..."


    Matt cut him off, "Her family got rid of her for being a nut job. Tell me how many people would run off in this kind of cold? No one in their right fucking mind, that''s who. Then, we finally get her talking and she starts screaming like a fucking banshee." Matt sighed hard, "She will be nothing but trouble, Greg." Matt rarely used his friend''s name but when he did, it was time to be serious. "We don''t need some crazy bitch getting us killed."


    Greg nodded, "I guess but..." He stopped short while looking around, "Where the Hell did she go?" They both looked around for Merri but she was no where to be seen. "Ah fuck, she left. We should look for her."


    Merri wiped at her eyes. These guys were going to ask her to leave, just like her family did. No one really understood what she was going through. How could they when she didn''t understand? It would be better if she just went off on her own. That is what she was thinking. It would hurt so much less that way. Now, she only had to figure out where she would go. That is when she saw someone waving to her. It was a man. Merri just ignored him but he was approaching her. She looked around, realizing that she should have gone outside more often. She had no idea where she was. The man came closer. "Hey! You look lost. Do you need directions?"

 Tears

    Merri''s feet squeaked as fresh blood washed the filthy tiles. There were places where the ceiling and floors caved in, wires dangled, and rusted lockers lined the walls. Rooms had been looted for desks or any other burnable resources. Some areas were carpeted but all that remained was black tar-like stains. The walls were cracked with faded colors, and in some areas, blood stains of different ages were lit up by the pale light of the sun.


    Merri kicked, thrashed, scratched, and even bit at the thug dragging her but nothing seemed to phase him. He giggled at some of the attacks, other times, he just giggled for no reason at all. There were times he would speak up, "He likes fresh. I got him a fresh one. Yes, this is a fresh one." Then the giggles began again. Merri fought as hard as she could but she began feeling tired. It seemed her only hope would be that someone would find the trail she left behind. Who was that thug talking about? That was what worried her the most in that moment. This was not part of the plans. Nothing that happened were part of the plans. Everything was supposed to be simple. Get some type of home and get a job to show up her family. How did all of this go wrong?


    "Fresh one, no fight no cry or die. Die! No no do not die or cry. I have a turn!" Merri felt sick to her stomach. At one point, she felt as if vomit would be added to the trail. She had no clue what this guy was mumbling about but it didn''t sound good. The guy opened a door that just swung from a single hinge then shoved Merri''s body through the opening. "Boss, look! Fresh. I found young dirty fresh for Boss." Gleeful celebration took place in clapping and self-hugging from the thug.


    A rough, older voice came from the center of the large auditorium, "Bring the offering closer. I can not see it from here." Merri attempted to dig her fingers into the floor but only managed to bleed on the warped, broken wood. She froze when the older guy gave a low growl of a chuckle. "This offering is young, dirty but fresh. Yes, it pleases me." The boss threw a vial at the thug, "Your prize. Now go." The thug went away doing a happy dance of sorts. It was now only the boss who grabbed Merri by the hair so roughly, she began to cry. This had no affect on her capture. He just pulled Merri to her knees then had her crawling until he threw Merri on her face in front of very old bleachers. He pushed his foot into the center of Merri''s back. He then smacked the back of her head when she cried out. "Quiet or it will be the end for you. Now, let us begin." He used the same foot to kick Merri onto her back. He then grabbed at her shirt at the center of her breasts. "Naughty, dirty, little fresh warmth." With a few pulls, both of Merri''s shirts were thrown aside like trash. "No cry." The slap echoed throughout the room as Merri''s breasts were struck violently. The red flesh also began to bruise. "Portrait of a filthy offering." A loud clanging sound caused the boss to stop briefly. He picked up a vial he planned on using later but wanted to ensure Merri would not escape while he investigated. He created a fist through her hair, pulled back, then put drops into her eyes. He poked the tip into her eyes hard to make Merri squint. Once finished, he pushed Merri to the floor before marching toward the racket.


    Matt crouched at one side of the door while Greg leaned against the opposite wall. They managed to knock out one of the Tears but since the guy was higher than the building, it was much harder. Matt was trying to catch his breath while Greg looked out for anyone that would come looking around. Matt took in a slow deep breath, even if the bitter cold burned through his lungs. "Fuck Greg, that guy was tough for being a skinny ass wipe." Matt grabbed at his chest so Greg left his spot, and knelt next to Matt. "Ah shit! I forgot how much breathing burns." Matt laid on the floor with Greg''s help.


    Greg rubbed his hands together to build up as much friction and heat as possible. He then cupped his hands over his friend''s mouth and nose. "Just shut up and take small breaths." Echoes of someone yelling rang through the hall, "Stupid bitch." Greg sounded more concerned than angry. He looked up for a few moments, heard the noise further off before looking back at Matt, "You good now?" Matt nodded so Greg helped him stand, "Let''s hope Merri is alright."


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    Merri enjoyed the colors around her. There were clouds, too. They were singing quite happily. The clouds started dancing while rainbows began to twirl around them. Suddenly, flowers began to float through the air while giving off sweet scents of lavender, rose, and lilac. Merri had no idea what these smells were but enjoyed them very much. Some of the clouds pressed up against Merri, sharing their warmth. "That feels so nice." Merri smiled and hummed the little tune the clouds were singing.


    The boss was quite amused how well the drugs took effect. Offerings always sounded much sweeter while under the influence. Merri now lay completely naked, unaware of what the boss was doing to her. He suckled on her hard nipples while he spread Merri''s thin legs wide apart. He fingered her clit until his hand was covered with warm, sticky juices. He slid a single finger into the wet opening then smiled as he realized that he was about to break a virgin. "So, the filthy offering really is fresh." He stroked himself as he listened to the humming. In his mind, she was inviting him to do as he pleased. "Yes."


    The boss was so focused on Merri that he did not hear the approach of Matt and Greg. Just as the boss was about to enter her, Greg grabbed the boss by the throat. "Get the fuck off her!" Greg locked his arm but the boss began to stand. Matt gently cradled Merri in his arms then carried her to a safer distance. He then went back to help Greg. The boss struggled but would not go down easily. Greg kept squeezing as hard as he could. Matt kicked at the boss'' knees and the large man fumbled. This caused Greg to lose his grip. The boss swung, knocking Greg onto his back. "Fuck, Matt! I had him!"


    The boss teetered on his feet while he swung at the air. Matt kicked him in the groin. The boss fell to his knees then to his side. "Greg, just get Merri out of here. Let''s go. Now!" Both Matt and Greg were still recovering from the fight with the goon. Matt knew that neither of them would be able to get Merri out after fighting the boss. It was also possible they would have to dodge other druggies. Greg scooped Merri into his arms. She gave slight giggles as she continued humming. "Christ! He drugged her."


    Matt grabbed whatever clothes or fabric he could find, "Worry about that later, just cover her up the best you can for now." He checked both ends of the hallway, "I don''t see anyone, let''s go. Hurry." Both guys slowly made their way toward the exit. It was slower not only because Greg carried Merri but they were also trying to keep her covered. The boss screamed in rage from behind. People began to make way towards them. Luckily, the druggies were not sober enough to know what they needed to do. "Fuck yeah! There''s the exit." Matt held the door open against the wind as Greg held Merri as tight as possible against his chest.


    Once they made it back to their hideout, Greg starting looking over Merri''s injuries. "She is bruised up pretty bad but I don''t see anything that would be too alarming." He tried to keep his focus on helping her but Greg really just wanted to go back to kick the boss'' ass. "She is going to feel sore for a while. She might have a pulled muscle or two but beside that, I think she''s ok."


    Matt''s face went red, "Ok? You think she will be ok? She was fucking violated! How is this going to be anywhere near the ballpark of ok?" The thought of going back to kill that boss crossed Matt''s mind. He knew it would not be possible. In fact, this hideout was no longer safe. Every drug using crack head would be coming at them. "Did he? You know."


    Greg shook his head, "I don''t think so. We must have gotten to her in time." He sat near Merri who still giggled, "I have no idea how to bring her down. I don''t know what he gave her." Greg looked up at Matt. His friend did not seem to hear him. "Yo! Asshole! Do you know what that guy drugged Merri with?"


    Matt yelled, "Tears, you fucking moron. He gave her some fucking tears." Matt ran both hands through his hair, "We will have to worry about all that shit later. For now, we have to get the Hell out of here before those thugs show up."

 Starting Over Again

    Matt and Greg took turns as they carried Merri closer to the central part of the city. The fastest way to their destination was the park, or what used to be a park. The trees had long been chopped away. There was no grass, just dried out soil that cracked from not enough hydration. There were no birds or any other animals. There were no children. It would not be remembered as a park at all, except for those old enough to remember. The winds were severe in this area because of how open it was. There was no cover. Of course, this made the two men anxious since they were now being hunted by one of the biggest gangs in the area.


    Greg carried Merri now. He used some of the front of his shirt on his face to breathe easier. Even with the cover, each breath sent waves of fire into his lungs. He always thought it was strange that cold could burn. Thinking about that, he checked to ensure that Merri''s face was still covered up. Each gust of wind would whip loose fabric around. Greg placed Merri down after walking fifty feet to rest. "Hey, hold on a minute. I need to catch my fucking breath."


    Matt stopped, made his way back to Greg, and sat on the cold ground. "We should have just dumped her off with those fucktards on third." Matt ran his hands roughly through his hair. "Because of this bitch, we are homeless again. Fuck! This is just one shit show after another. We finally got a place of our own and she comes along and fucked it all up." Matt punched the concrete ground and watched blood pool over his knuckles. "Let''s just leave her here. I am tired of this shit."


    Greg looked down at Merri, "I get it. I just see me, you know?" He grabbed a bit of his torn up jacket, ripped off a long piece, then wrapped Matt''s knuckles. "You could have just left me in that ditch you found me in." He sighed, "She is off her rocker, shit at survival skills, but so was I when you met me." Matt furrowed his eyebrows, "Let''s just get her sobered up at least. You would hate yourself later if we just abandoned her."


    Matt growled, "You fucking asshole. You''re right, you''re right." Matt watched the slow breathing of Merri. "Damn it, I''m too fucking old for this shit." He stood up, picked Merri up, and slung her sleeping form over his shoulder. "Let me carry her through the park. You take point." Greg''s worried glance caused Matt to roll his eyes, "She''ll be fine. She''s breathing." Matt shifted a bit, "Let''s go before we''re found here."


    Greg led the way through the park while watching out for anyone that might try to do anything stupid. Neither of the two men spoke during the remainder of the walk. The opening to the park on the other side was not far. It just took much longer with the gusts of wind, and the added weight being carried. Once at the opening, Matt placed Merri in a sitting position before joining Greg to survey the area. This side of the city was in worse shape than the other side. Most of the buildings looked as if they would fall over at any moment. The ground shook at random intervals. The roads were deep crevices. Shards of glass were strewn all over the ground. Death trap was this part of the city''s nickname. Greg pointed, "Over there is the last sewer drop. I don''t know how safe it will be but it will keep us out of the wind for now."


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    Matt shook his head, "I am not in any condition of getting this bitch down a ladder. You are in worse condition than me. Let''s just try to find something ground level for tonight. We can search for our new place tomorrow." Matt began to walk off but when Greg didn''t follow, he glanced back, "Leave her here for now. No one''s around. No one sane, anyway." Matt watched as Greg kept covering up Merri, "Hey, Asshole! We don''t have time for this shit. Let''s go!"


    Greg gave a sorrowed expression as he whispered, "We''ll be back, I promise." He joined Matt as they carefully explored the area. There was a point that Matt almost fell through loose pavement just hanging by an old pipe. Greg grabbed a hold before he could drop completely. This injured Greg''s shoulder but refused to say anything yet. Matt spotted a small building that could have been a coffee shop or a book store at one time. It was a small building but mostly intact by some miracle. Matt almost missed it because of how it was hidden behind rubble. "Let''s check that place out."


    The small building was stripped from everything on the inside but the floor was stable. There were just a couple of holes in the roof but not impossible to fix. There was even a small basement. It had the strong smell of mildew and mold so they would not be able to use that area unless it was under dire circumstances. There once was a bathroom near the back. Matt nodded, "I think this is our new home for now." There were small bits of splinters or other debris on the floor. "Go grab the bitch. We''ll stay here. At least for the night. I will gather what I can for a fire."


    Greg winced at the thought of carrying Merri but Matt didn''t notice since he was already bent over as he picked stuff up from the floor. "Yeah, ok." As Greg walked toward the park, he massaged at his shoulder, moved it around slowly, and even tried to stretch out, but the pain was sharper than the wind entering his lungs. Greg walked quickly but kept his eyes open for more openings that may cause him to fall. As he got closer, Merri was no longer sitting but slouched in a very awkward position. Greg quickened his pace just a bit with concern. He knelt by her side, checking her pulse. The foggy breath let him know she was still alive. "Question is how I am going to carry you?"


    As Greg finished saying that, Merri began to mumble, "Huh?" She slowly opened her eyes, glancing around, "Greg?" She winced and moaned as she began to sit up. Greg managed to assist her with his good arm. She smiled up at him in a goofy type of way. She stumbled around before she could actually stand on her own. Even then, her balance was non-existent. "I feel so dizzy."


    Greg wrapped his good arm around her waist, "Just take it easy. Lean on me if you have to but we need to get out of here." It was quite challenging but the two were able to manage to make it to their new home. At least for now.

 Whats Wrong With You?

    Matt watched as both Greg and Merri entered but said nothing while he returned to work. There was inner conflict about having this girl around. He couldn''t explain why. This disturbed him, too. Matt was the one in control at all times. He was always known for being level-headed. Merri was a problem, but he didn''t know how. Greg was right. When Matt found his friend, there was no hesitation to bring him in. They were both inseparable from that moment on. Now, there''s that girl. Maybe it was because she was a girl? He never considered himself to be sexist. Two guys and a girl sounded too much like a sad country song or something. Merri wasn''t ugly by any means. She was pretty. Her bright green eyes were gorgeous. So, why so much hesitation? It was driving him insane.


    Merri could feel the hesitation, even a bit of hostility from Matt. She would try to leave again, but they would just hunt her down again. The drugs were still trying to get out of her system but she began craving more. The visions she had were much better than the current reality. However, the soreness all over her body reminded her why she did not want to be in that state ever again. She felt stupid just standing near the doorway not doing anything. What was she supposed to do? She wanted to help somehow but was afraid to even offer. She felt so awkward. Both the guys worked so well together. It was like they both knew what the other was doing. She watched them for a few minutes before speaking up, "I''ll just sit over there." She went to a corner, sat down while hugging her legs, and placed her head on her knees.


    Greg looked at Merri, then at Matt. They would have to learn how to get along because the silence would drive him absolutely nuts. He gave Matt a slight nudge with his good elbow, "Hey, don''t be a dick. She doesn''t feel welcome. I bet that''s why she kept trying to run off." Matt didn''t respond. He just kept working. Greg shook his head as he carried some of the debris to the door. He looked over to Merri, "If you want, you can help me set some stuff up."


    Merri glanced up but hesitated as she looked over at Matt, then at Greg before nodding, "Thanks." She went toward Greg but stopped short when a vision came. There was terrible pain coming from Greg, he doubled over while someone was beating on him. Matt was on the ground next to him, not moving. Blood pooled around Matt''s body. Once the vision was over, she realized both were staring at her. She was screaming. She just stood there while both of them stared. Sweat started to cover her entire body. Her nerves couldn''t take it. "I". She couldn''t finish because she really didn''t know what to say. She went quickly past Greg outside. Matt already hated her already, how would he feel if he knew what she was going through?


    Matt glared at Greg, "Let me guess. You are just going to say this is because of the drugs along with all she''s been through? Am I right?" Matt just flicked his hand in the air, "Just go find out what''s wrong with crazy bitch while I keep working by myself." His voice was as hostile as he was feeling. "Fucking bitch is going to get us killed, I''m warning you."


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    Greg knew the best way to deal with Matt when he was like this was just leave him alone. The passive aggressive attitude drove Greg insane but that was expected sometimes. Greg put the junk down near Matt''s feet before joining Merri outside. He was surprised to see her standing against the front wall. It looked like she was trying to hug the building. Greg rubbed at his neck, not really sure how to approach her. Should he be demanding? Should he take the gentle approach? "Hey, I don''t want to bother you. I just want to make sure you''re alright?" For the moment he would choose to be nice.


    Merri stayed quiet for a while, looking like she was thinking of what to say. Greg just stood there patiently waiting. Merri gave a slight sigh, "I''m sorry. I really don''t want to cause you any trouble." She wiped at the tears forming in her eyes. "I don''t know what''s wrong with me." More tears fell, "It would be best if I left. I think there''s something wrong with my brain or something. You don''t deserve this." Merri pushed herself off of the wall, started to walk away, but Greg gently took her arm and pulled her into a half hug.


    Greg just held her in place for a few minutes while she calmed down. "We all have problems. You just can''t run away from them. You need to face whatever the fuck this is and bitch slap the problems in the face." He felt her shift then heard her giggle a bit. "I don''t know what''s going on with you but you can talk with us about it." He sighed a bit, "Just give Matt some time. He is trying to work out his own shit, too." He let go of the hug then watched as she brushed tears away.


    Merri was conflicted at this point. She looked at Greg straight in the eyes, "I see things. I don''t know how to describe it but I get images of the future or something." She took a step back. She watched Greg''s face for any type of reaction but he wasn''t showing anything. "I have been like this since as long as I can remember." She started rubbing her hands nervously together. "That''s why I rarely left the apartment. I was scared because what I see can be so scary." Tears started tracing her face once again. "It is one of the reasons my family kicked me out." She looked around, trying to figure out where she might go if Greg told her to leave. He didn''t. He just stood there, listening. "So, I have to leave. To keep you guys safe."


    Greg listened, then tried to think of what to do. He had no experience with this type of thing. What was that even called? Maybe Matt was right in saying that this girl is crazy. However, would it be right of them to have her leave if she''s sick? Is she sick? This was too complicated at the moment, he was also very tired. "Tell you what. Why don''t you stay here for tonight. It''s getting too late to be wondering around by yourself. We will all get some sleep, then talk about this tomorrow? I need some time to think more about what you said."


    Merri nodded. One more night wouldn''t cause any issues, right? She made her way back into the building. She went back to her corner, curled up and went to sleep shortly after. Once the two guys got most of the building picked up, they chose to sleep in different corners.

 Duo Now Trio

    Greg woke up to see Matt and Merri still sleeping. He gingerly rubbed at his shoulder. There were not enough materials to create a sling. It was a choice of wait it out while just watching an already irritated Matt do everything to create a decent living space or try to tough it out. If he toughed it out, would it cause the injury worsen? If he wasn''t careful or pushed himself, Matt would figure it out. That was a bridge needing to wait as long as possible since Merri was almost too much as it was. He kept massaging his shoulder while attempting to remain quiet while staring at the girl''s sleeping form. Her breath slow but steady let him relax a bit. There had to be a way to make Matt see that she would not be able to make it out there in the world. The least his friend could do was give a good enough reason. Sure, she was wacked in the head but there had to be something else. What could it be, though? Matt stirred then stretched. "Good morning. Merri is still sleeping. I was thinking we should probably have a discussion about what you want to do."


    Matt rubbed his face roughly with both hands, "Asshole, now is not the time. Let me fucking wake up, first. Shit! It''s cold." Matt looked at the sleeping girl before adding, "Come on, we need to get something to get that shit in so we can fire it up. If she runs away again, we let her fucking leave. I am tired as fuck of running after that bitch." Matt stood then walked to the doorway. He looked at Greg still sitting on the floor, "You coming or what?"


    Greg lowered his gaze to the floor, "I think we should talk about this, first. The thing is, if we don''t, I think she will just leave." He looked up at Matt, "She thinks you hate her guts. She doesn''t want to be here because of you." He pointed at Merri, "She has been through some shit and you have been nothing but a dick." Greg lowered his hand, "I''ve known you for a while and I have never seen you act like such an asshole toward anyone like that. You have to tell me what''s going on."


    Matt''s face went a bright red. He was going to shout at Greg for calling him out. Then, he stopped to take a breath, then a second one. While it was true, the fact that Greg was confronting him like that was irritating. "Fuck!" He regretted how loud that came out as it echoed through the building. Merri stirred but seemed to fall back to sleep. Matt watched her closely for a while before he started speaking again, "You''re an asshole but you''re right. I don''t know what the fucking problem is. It has been bothering me, too. Maybe it''s because she''s a girl?" Matt shrugged and then paced around. "Or maybe it''s because of how much shit stirred up since we met the bitch?" He glanced at Greg with a hard glance, "We don''t need these fucking issues. We have enough shit to worry about as is." He kicked a loose piece of tile across the floor, "Damn it! We have even more trouble to work out now." He walked over to sit by Greg, "All we needed was a stable place to keep warm. We were doing our own thing. Everything was going fine until everything turned upside fucking down." He kept his eyes on Merri. "All I know, is that if shit doesn''t slow down, we''re fucked."


    Greg nodded every now and then while Matt spoke, "Look, I get it. It is hard enough to survive without having the Tears after us. How long do you think she can survive on her own, though?" He started staring at Merri, too. There didn''t seem to be anything else worth looking at. "I spoke with her. She is scared. She even said that her brain is sick or some shit like that." He shook his head, "If that''s really the case, she has no chance in Hell of living on her own." He smirked, "Remember when I got my trousers stuck on that fucking broken window? I was trying to get away from one of those ass hats on Third because I stole some of their shit." He gave a slight chuckle, "You had to save me but I will never forget what you said to those old shits, ''Stupid fucks get their shit taken from them."


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    Matt chuckled with Greg, "Yeah, that shit was funny." He looked over at Greg, "You and her are different, though. You know that, right."


    Greg nodded, "Yeah, I know. The point is that she is not so different than those old guys on Third. They wouldn''t survive if they didn''t have each other." He looked at Merri, "She''s got no one." He shrugged, "Sure shit got stirred up but don''t you feel more alive? I mean we were just doing the same shit routine for the past couple of years. We steal shit, we sit around just to wait to steal more shit." Greg sighed, "It''s not exactly what I would call a life. Not that I''m not happy to have you along. I just think getting the shit stirred up was good for us."


    Matt grimaced, "You are one fucked up asshole." He thought for a few moments, "I see your point, even though that''s how shit is. We can''t just keep running around stirring up shit. That''s just the way we get killed. We''ll be the three fucking morons that got killed by drug addicts and forgotten just as quickly."


    Greg shook his head, "We haven''t died yet." He looked at the ground again, "I think Merri is pretty decent. She isn''t the problem here. It''s those fucked up sons of bitches out there that are just as afraid of dying as the rest of us." He looked over at Matt, "Telling her to leave would be a mistake. I will always wonder if she''s alright. If anything happened, it would be on my conscious. You want it on yours?"


    Matt grimaced at Greg then jabbed his friend on the injured shoulder. Greg tried to hold the growl of pain in but Merri sat upright as soon as she heard it. Greg had tears welling in his eyes as he kept trying to keep the agony from escaping in a scream. Matt raised an eyebrow, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"


    Merri came over, kneeling in front of Greg, "I can feel your pain. Please, let me help you?" When he nodded, Merri placed both of her hands over the injured shoulder. She didn''t know why, it just sort of came to her to do that. She focused as a small glow of light came from her hands. It was a warm light that settled on Greg. The light was warm, beautiful but was gone within a minute.


    Greg rolled his arm around without feeling pain. He glanced at Merri, not with fear but curiosity, "Thanks". Was all that he could manage to  say. He was healed.


    Matt looked at Merri, then to Greg, and then back to Merri, "What the ever loving fuck was that?"


    Merri shook her head, "I don''t know. I just felt like I needed to help. I just." She started shaking her head quickly, "I''m sorry. I''m so sorry." Tears began to fall from her eyes.


    Greg grabbed her by both her arms, "Hey, stop. I''m fine." He looked over to a very confused Matt, then glanced back at Merri, "I don''t think your brain is broken. I think something else is going on. You have to talk to us."


    Merri wiped at her face then looked at both the men, "I seriously don''t know why or what is happening to me. I wish I did because I would tell you. I would!"


    Matt stood. He was dazed, shocked, confused, and this new development really hit him hard. He decided he needed to go for some air, "Don''t follow me."

 Final Decision

    Greg looked at Merri with an apologetic expression, "Matt is not always like this. To be honest, I don''t even think he knows why he is so bothered by all of this." He shrugged, "I don''t have a problem with you sticking around. I mean, how could I when you did some sort of trick that healed my shoulder. I have to say that shit was awesome!" He gave her an encouraging smile. "Matt will come around. He just needs time to process all this." He nodded while smiling but Merri didn''t seem so convinced.


    Merri stood without an expression, even when Greg smiled at her. There was no issue as far as she knew with Greg. It was Matt. Whatever was going on with that guy, there had to be a way to have some type of understanding? She sighed softly while kicking her feet at the floor. "I don''t get it." That is all she wanted to say. Her thoughts were not easy for her to share. She used to just have spirit friends to speak with. Having living people, the opposite gender, made this very awkward. So, she kept staring at the door waiting for Matt to come back. She very much hoped that this was not how her vision was going to play out. Just thinking about it gave her concern, "We should check on him, both of us." She looked at Greg who already shook his head, "Without him knowing somehow?"


    Greg continued shaking his head, "Not a chance. If he says leave him alone, trying to sneak around would get him more pissed." He saw the worry in her face, "Look, Matt can take care of himself. If he needs help, we''ll know." He also watched the entrance to wait for his friend''s return.


    Matt leaned up against what was left of an old crumbled down building. Why was this so difficult for him? He freaked out because the bitch healed Greg? "What the fuck is wrong me?" He crouched down to sift through the rubble. "I got pissed because she helped Greg?" He then smacked himself on the head. "I am such a fucking idiot." He threw a chunk of cement at an adjacent building just to watch the smashing affect. "How the fuck did she do that, though?" Now, he began pacing while attempting not to trip, "Is this bitch human?" He flung his hands in the air with exasperation, "I have no fucking clue!" He sighed heavily, "Greg will hate me forever if I don''t let her stick around." He groaned, "Damn it!" He kept pacing but slowed his pace when he noticed that his lungs were starting to burn. "Shit, I remember someone talking about this before. Fuck! What did he say?" His head snapped up with realization, "No fucking way! This bitch is a witch!" He stopped short, "If that''s true, she is more dangerous to have around." He sighed again, even though it burned, "They kill witches, don''t they?" That realization just reminded him of what Greg said earlier of how this would stick to his conscious. "For fuck sake, there''s no winning! If we let her stay, we''ll all get killed or some stupid shit will happen. If she goes, she''ll get herself killed on her own." His head started pounding, "Fuck, they''re both going to want some kind of answer. This sucks ass." He submitted himself to the only thing that would be the best option. He hated it but either choice was a shit one.


    Home for now started looking a bit more like a hideout. While Matt was gone, Greg got Merri''s help in fixing things up a bit. Moving around would keep their minds busy but also a bit warmer than just standing around idly. They found some bricks scattered around, so built a couple of chairs. It was a bit difficult to walk around outside, not knowing where Matt went off to. They did not want to disturb him but at the same time, they did not want the whole day to go by without having done anything to improve their situation. They found some sort of metal scrap that would hold the debris for burning. There was even an old grate that fit on top to keep the smoke minimized. They worked slow but steady.


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    Merri glanced into an old truck trailer then squealed happily, "Hey! Look what I found!" She climbed into the trailer then threw a bunch of stuff on the ground. There in the pile was an old stained mattress. It smelled horrible but it was something they could use. There was also a few cushions to a couch that was broken. The broken couch could be burned for warmth. She smiled happily. "This stuff is great, right?" She grabbed one of the couch cushions then headed back to the hideout, "Can you grab the other one, please?"


    Greg smirked, showing off his muscles, "As you wish!" He was happy that Merri was around. This would have been tedious without someone to talk to. Then again, Matt would have been around. He shook that thought out of his mind as he grabbed the other cushions. They made quite a bit of progress. When he entered, he found Merri placing the cushion on one of the brick chairs. "That actually looks comfortable." Greg placed a cushion on the other chair, "We seem to have an extra one. We should get another seat made."


    Merri stopped him, "Let''s just wait until Matt gets back. I hope it''s soon. I don''t want to have to walk around at night. I get lost easy." Merri went back outside while Greg hurried to follow her to the mattress. Greg was going to carry it himself but Merri grabbed the other end. They both brought it to the building. Once they hefted it into the entrance, it was tough to decide where to place it.


    Greg smiled, "I haven''t said thanks for the help yet." He placed the mattress on the side wall, "I wouldn''t worry too much about what Matt says." He stepped slowly to Merri then flicked her with his finger on her nose, "I won''t let you be out there alone. Especially at night." The flick wasn''t flirtatious, it was more a sign of affection from an older brother.


    Merri wiggled her nose then rubbed at her face with her hands, "That felt weird." She was about to start speaking again but Matt entered.


    Matt took a look at what the two of them had done. He nodded before placing his hands on his hips, "Greg, I think this bi..." He stopped himself from saying the rest of that word, "I think Merri is a witch." Greg was going to speak up but Matt held his hand up, "Which doesn''t really matter right now. What really matters is our safety." He glanced at Merri, "While I really don''t want some type of power using girl here raising Hell, I also don''t want your blood on my hands." He cleared his throat, "You can stay. For now. One fucking incident where that fucking whatever this light thing is hurts either of us, you are gone. No questions asked, and Greg, no arguments." He gave a hard stare at Greg, "I mean it." He sighed, "I still think you will get us killed, but you dying because I kicked you out would be just as horrible." He gave another look around the building, "Looks fucking good in here."


    The trio kept working together until it was time to settle down for the night. A fire burned close to the entrance so they all took a spot on the mattress by the doorway. They slept well and warm. Merri had visions during the night of what happened while she got drugged up. It was hazy but enough to scare her into waking up. At first, she was confused, not knowing where she was until Greg gave a snore. This was going to be difficult but she was happy that these two guys were not going to send her away.

 Tears On the Hunt

    A couple dozen members of the Tears huddled together in the auditorium. Echoes bounced off the walls of giggling, shouting, or crying. Most of these members were coming down from a high so needed a fix. Others that just got a dose of their favorite drug sat still, staring at the hallucinations with delight. Doses were being dispersed at a first come, first serve basis. These people began to believe they were invincible, which is what kept them coming back for more. None of the addicts noticed hair falling out, teeth cracking, or any of the other negative side effects. That is how the boss liked things to be.


    The boss, preparing for a speech, got interrupted by one of the chemists.  The lead chemist''s name was Walter but everyone just called him Walt. This man was one of the lucky people with family ties to the government. He excelled at chemistry. He would have had a life in the lap of luxury had it not been for a drug addiction. Tears had been developed by Walt prior to meeting with the boss after he was suspended from classes but chose not to return. Currently, Walt was working on a new drug that promised to surpass tears. He was not in his typical lab gear because he would be attending the speech the boss was about to make. If Walt was honest, he would say that the boss was an idiot, more like a male chauvinistic sadist addicted to the torture of women. The only reason for joining the Tears in the first place was he was provided a lab with anything he needed. This venture also kept him far from the reach of the New World Government. He had no desire to be recruited. So, the Tears were the best option. He watched as the boss quibbled over the nonsense he was about to spew on his followers. Walt cleared his throat so the boss would acknowledge him. "I need more water."


    The boss got annoyed by interruptions, especially from Walt. "List it like you always do, then." He did not deem it necessary or Walt worthy to face his lead chemist. This speech had to be short enough to keep the fledglings'' attention but convey the importance of what was being said. The pen tapped the page in a non-rhythmic tune. A few moments later, the page was crumbled, then tossed to the floor to join the other rejected speeches. The drawer slammed shut after the boss grabbed a stack of fresh pages. The pen scribbled a few lines, then that annoying tapping of the pen began again. Nothing less than perfection would be tolerated and this speech had to be perfect. He noticed Walt still lingering around like a lost dog, so he took a vial from atop the desk, then chucked it angrily, "Here! Now go away, I''m busy!"


    Walt wanted to burst out with laughter. The boss shouting at the one person that created this whole operation. It was also comical that being thrown drugs made the boss think that this behavior would be tolerated. However, he didn''t laugh, not even a smile formed on his face. Walt adjusted his glasses while rolling his eyes. "I am not here for drugs. I can make tears in my sleep. I am here to speak with you about something important. Now, if you would like me to wait until your big announcement, I can do that." He glared at the boss, "If you ever behave rudely to me like that again, you will have to try to find someone as good as me to run your lab." Walt watched the boss flinch a bit, "I will just wait here until you get back." The sarcasm was thick in Walt''s voice. It will soon be forgotten, though. The boss hardly had two brain cells to rub together from all the tears he used over the years. Walt placed his hands in front of his torso, standing tall.


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    The boss wiggled in his seat nervously. Why did his lead chemist have to be so pig-headed? This young fool thought himself better. While there was no argument that Walt was book smart, he wouldn''t survive five minutes on the streets. This guy had no idea what it took to be a leader. If he did, Walt would have finished school. "Fuck you, Walt." Pages flew through the air with a shove from the boss, "I will do and say as I please. If you don''t like it, don''t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out."


    Walt did not refrain from laughing this time, "Don''t worry, I will be leaving as soon as we have that conversation. We''ll see if you have the same attitude."


    The boss ignored Walt''s little tantrum. He will have to deal with him later. After he has some play time to help calm him down. For now, it was time to get these street thugs into action. Those two guys embarrassed him in front of his plaything. That will not be tolerated. This was an outrage. They needed to be made an example of. Each step was made with the anger that welled up inside him. As he climbed the steps leading to the auditorium, he caught glimpses of stragglers heading inside. The noise indicated that most of the Tear members had shown up. As he entered, the applause roared through the large room. These people worshiped the leader. He was their god. Today, they would be called to carry out orders. Hopefully, those social rejects would remember what they were supposed to do. He stepped forward with authority. He gave a wave now and then as he waited for everyone to shut up.


    A silence so heavy fell across the auditorium. Everyone had eyes on the boss. Even the ones with high blood-shot eyes were focused. The boss spoke loud as his voice boomed through the crowded space, "You all have a job to do. Whoever brings me those trespassers, and the girl to me alive will receive double the daily dosage of tears. For a month!" He paused as his addicted cronies yelled with enthusiasm. Many of them raced toward the doors. "Hunt the scum down."

 Small Fight Giant Problem

    Walt remained standing until he heard the huffing of the "boss" returning from his freak show performance. How long did he sit there just tossing paper away? Walt did not have to go up to the auditorium. He heard everything quite clearly from the vents. As the boss entered, Walt spoke immediately, "I am so proud that you believe that I am going to mix up extra drugs. How exactly do you plan on providing me with the materials needed?"


    The boss slammed the door, "What do I keep telling you. Put what you need on the list." He coughed roughly for a few moments, "For a so-called-genius, you really are stupid." He watched how much that hit Walt. "Resources, no matter what they may be get placed on the list. I give the list over to her. I get a delivery every month. It is that simple yet your pea-headed brain doesn''t reach that far, does it?" He sat down at the desk to grab his special vial of tears. "Go away. I have some sweet candy arriving soon. I want to be ready for them."


    As soon as he said that, two women were brought in led by two of his fledglings. The fledglings were sent on these tasks to prove their worth before being known as official Tears. The two females being led resigned to their fate. They were starved, dirty, and ready to give in to whatever happened. The boss inspected them briefly. He told them both to strip off their clothes. They obeyed without hesitation. "Yes, that''s good girls." The boss squeezed hardened nipples roughly. The two girls made no objections. This is what he needed, submissive little sluts. "Here, have a little treat." He pulled one girl''s hair back before placing drops of tears into each eye. "Now, I want you both to go get ready for me. Make out with each other in that corner." He pointed then smiled as both girls did as they were told.


    Walt looked disgusted, "You are a filthy pig." He glanced at the girls, "They deserve to be treated better." He knew exactly what the boss was going to do to those females. If they survived, the rest of their days would be this. "I have a new drug for you to try out. Since you already have tears in your system, you will have to wait." He went toward the door. "If I decide to stay."


    The boss ignored what Walt had to say. He was too busy stroking his penis, which sober and intelligent women would laugh at. One of the other negative side effects of drug use is shrinkage. However, these girls wouldn''t even notice because other toys would be implemented. As much stress the boss was feeling, this session would last for hours. That is, if they survived.


    Walt went into the lab then shouted, "Everyone out!" The assistants said nothing as they left. This lab had been his home for a few years. This was one of the toughest decisions he ever made. All he needed was some fertilizer, which he had plenty of. It did not take him long to spread it all over. All of the recipes he had been working on that were written down would be used as kindling. The boss really was an idiot. There was no more disrespect from him. He went to the fire barrel, got a flame onto one of the papers, then placed it down onto the fertilizer. A single tear ran down his face while he watched the building inferno. He strolled out of the building with a slow pace. He was going to leave this hell hole with some amount of dignity intact.


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    Smoke billowed through the halls. Since all the members had cleared the building, the only people inside were the boss with his two little playmates. Walt fought the urge to look back to see if the three made it out alive. At this point, it didn''t matter. There would be a price on his head once the news spread that he started the fire. There was only one place that he could go now. It was not a far distance to travel but the cold slowed his steps down. After getting far enough away from the disaster he caused, Walt became drowsy. He forced himself to keep walking but cursed himself for not grabbing extra clothing. He had three streets to travel through that were now filled with the Tears'' members. This was not a big issue since they were on the hunt for other people. The issue would be if they would remember spotting him. So far, he had avoided a couple of the members but they were too busy having sex right in the open air. There was another member at a street corner trying to recruit a young guy.


    The building he searched for was quite tall in the midst of the rubble. It towered over the landscape as the last sky scraper. The higher floors had disintegrated but ten floors still remained. No one entered that building without invitation, unless they had a death wish. Walt counted himself lucky that he had permission whenever the need called for it. A single man stood watch by the door armed with several types of blades giving Walt a single glance before he stepped aside. The doorman spoke, "She is not in the best mood right now."


    Walt went up two flights of stairs. This was her floor. The others were not used for much besides a collection of boxes filled with god knew what. He opened the door, took a right to the end of the hall. The door was locked, so he knocked three times. It was his signal knock. There was some shuffling, something being knocked over, then the click of the lock turning. When the door opened, a tall female appeared. She wore a beautiful red gown that was made for someone two sizes larger. Her brown hair was pulled back tightly in a bun. She open the door wider to allow Walt to enter.


    Stepping inside, Walt saw a small table that got knocked over with the half-emptied bottle of alcohol laid on the floor. Great, she was half-drunk. This conversation was not going to be fun. "Hello, Mother."

 A Mothers Advice

    Walter bent down to pick up the table along with the bottle. The cover of the bottle was no where to be found, "I heard you were having a pretty rough day." He moved to the central area where a few chairs created a semi circle near the couch. He motioned with his hand for his mother to take a seat, "Want to talk about it?"


    She stumbled to the couch at one point needing Walter''s help so she didn''t fall over. Once she was seated on the couch, he took a seat in one of the chairs. She lifted her legs up on the cushions while fixing the gown up. "I doubt that you came out of that lab just to come for a visit, Walt." She placed her head on a closed fist, leaning herself upright, "I haven''t seen you in years, so I know that you''re in trouble. What did you do?" Her eyes squinted briefly. Whatever her son was up to, she wanted no part of it. Not at the moment but she wanted company, so would endure it.


    Walt placed his elbows on his knees then clasped his hands together, "I need to leave the city." He cleared his throat a bit, "I may have caused an ''accident'' in the lab." There was a hand circling motion from his Mother, she wanted more information so he thought for a few moments, "I got angry at the boss so torched the place. He uses young girls like toys, he disrespects everyone, including me. I got sick of it." Walt tried to shrug it away.


    His mother sat upright, her face bright with rage, "What the Hell, Walt?" She grabbed at her aching head, "You burned the lab? What are you, six years old?" She pointed to the table, "Grab me the bottle so I can think while I drink." There was a slight hesitation but he did as he was told. He handed her the bottle then returned to his seat. She drank a few large gulps, "I can''t believe you would do that." She paused, "How many dead?"


    Walk shook his head, "Boss man made a ''speech'' about hunting some street weasels. The building was deserted, except for the boss and two girls." She didn''t respond so he added, "I saw to it that no one would get hurt." This was not totally the truth. He was quite sure the place was nearly empty, though.


    Another long drink later, "I won''t be able to get you out of the city for about two weeks. That is when the suppliers come through." There was dread on her son''s face, "It is the best I can do, Walt. You can''t just do what you want without proper planning." She tapped a finger against her mouth, "Does the boss know it was you?"


    "I am sure he will figure it out. I did warn him." He rose to his feet then started pacing, "I wasn''t looking to start something between you and your business partner. He has just been getting cocky. I had to show him that you are the one in charge, not him." His Mother looked confused, so he added, "He has been making comments about how he is the leader. You are just the one fetching the supplies."


    His mother sighed, took another swig, and sighed again, this time heavily, "You are really an idiot at times. I know you''re thirty years old but you really don''t know anything about this all works." She let her hair down hoping that would stop the pain but it didn''t. "The Tears is his to do whatever he does with them. I don''t care if he tells them all to strip naked, place strawberry jam all over their bodies to dance and die in the streets." She squinted while taking another chug, "The boss can have orgies everyday for all I care." The now empty bottle got tossed aside, "Damn it, he is going to send his troop here to find you." She groaned. "You really are an idiot."


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    Walt stopped pacing around, "What do you get out of all this, then?"


    She put her head down on the arm of the couch, "This building, protection, and everything I want. I control who gets supplies and who doesn''t. That is just a small amount of power he gave me. I leave him alone and I control the rest of this shit hole of a city."


    Walt shook his head, "So, what should I do?"


    Her eyes were closed, "If you don''t want to die, leave the city in the morning. Stay here for the night." She curled herself up, letting the dress fall in a less dignified manner.


    Parts were showing that Walt did not want to see, so he covered her up with his jacket. He went to the door, looked at his mother for a few moments before entering the hall. He locked the door behind him then went through the door on the left. This was his room. It was nothing fancy. A simple cot was in the center of the room. It was all he asked for since he wouldn''t visit often enough. He walked in circles around the cot as he tried thinking. He needed to leave the city, that was the only option. He knew the way, he just wouldn''t be able to survive. It would be the cold, or the Tears that would finish him off. How could this be possible? After twenty rounds, Walt sat on the cot. He didn''t feel like an idiot. That boss needed to learn his lesson. His own mother was just as bad, though. He needed protection now. Who could he reach out to?


    At the hideout


    Matt and Greg decided that Merri needed to learn how to scavenge for food. It took some time to convince her that she would be fine as long as she didn''t stray away from them. Matt thought that it would be best for her to learn the skills while it was more dangerous. That way, when things cooled off, she would be able to handle being on her own. Greg tried to argue, as usual but he conceded. In the end, they agreed it would be best for Merri. She needed to be able to cope in the outside world. They guys knew there would be nothing leftover in the dumpsters. It was mid-morning before they headed out. This was just to get Merri used to how things were done.


    Back at the Skyscraper


    It was almost noon before his mother woke up. Walt did laps in the hall waiting for her. She opened the door while leaning against it, "Come get some food." She looked horrible. Her hair was a mess, her gown was all wrinkled, and she could hardly stand upright on her own. She was able to walk straight, so that was helpful.


    Walt entered, "Sleep well?" He took the same chair from the previous night, "I am going to take off soon. It''s midday already."


    His mother grabbed some bread, topped it with a slice of meat, then handed it to Walt, "Good idea. I just worry about you going by yourself. I don''t have spare people. If I did, I would give the order." He took the sandwich the returned to his seat, "So, I had an idea. The Tears are searching for those street weasels. Have them bring you."


    Walt put the sandwich down, "That might work but if they know I was part of the Tears, they might kill me."


    His mother nodded, "That is a big if. Were you around when the boss got attacked?" He shook his head, she smiled, "Then what are you worried about? Just don''t mention the Tears." She shrugged, "Do you know what they look like?"


    Walt shrugged, "The boss gave me a pretty vague description but I can find them." He finished off the sandwich then stood, "I''ll send you a message when I get there safely." He didn''t wait for a response, he just left. Walt hated seeing his mother cry.

 Why Mother Why?

    Walt took his exit from his Mother in anger. Once he closed the door behind him, Walt leaned against it. That woman must have really believed him to be an idiot. How could she do this to him? Walt grabbed the bridge of his nose in part by the rising anger, and part by an escalating headache. There was a nagging impulse to burn down this building, just like the lab. At this point, what difference would it make? None. His Mother had reach for resources that he could only dream of. The truth is that he was hurt. This was his mother. He decided to write her off completely. It might be healthy to wait until he calmed down? No, after that little talk, he was through with that toxic, greedy, tyrant of a Mother.


    Firstly, his mother had several safe houses within city limits. There were a few fully stocked with food, water, and enough supplies to last through eternity. Out of all of those places, she did not even offer one. He could haves stayed put for weeks, months, or longer until things cooled down. It would not have cost anything. He would even be able to survive in one of the empty hide outs. He knew how to be resourceful. She did not offer him any of them. Why? That is what bothered him the most.


    Secondly, she had plenty of people that could escort him safely to city limits. More than enough people. Some of them had great fighting skills. Walt counted at least five of the guys. One of them was standing at the door right now. These people knew Walt since he was a teenager. Three of them had to fetch him from the school he was expelled from. His mother didn''t turn on him then. So, why now?


    Lastly, which bothered him most, was her suggesting he find the street weasels that caused that ruckus for the Boss. She would not just get him involved with some street people. Especially if they were under the same type of heat Walt was. His mother also knew that he would not be able to bunk with anyone. Certainly not with people he did not know or trust. Not offering a place or guard, fine but take things that far was just a slap in the face. It was certainly bad business. What if the Boss knew his Mother sent Walt to bunk with them in the first place?


    Something clicked at that thought. She was going to hand them all on a silver platter to the Boss. From an operation view, it made sense. All four of them interfered with the business. His Mother would remain in the good books with the Tears by offering her son as a sacrificial lamb. The punishment would probably be a public display of power. They may even have an increase of supporters from outside the city. This was a great plan if Walt was as stupid as his Mother thought him to be.


    He pushed himself from the door. Daylight was not going to last much longer. He needed to get whatever was available in the mess of supplies on the upper floor before he made a rush for a shelter. He pushed the stairwell door open. He took the stairs by twos to get to the third floor. The door took a heavy push. Walt stopped himself from expending all of his energy. He would need it later. The last time he saw this area, it was not nearly as packed. There were boxes, footlockers, backpacks, and a plethora of other storage containers. There was hardly time to search through everything. He went to the crate closest to him. It had the New Government logo painted in green on the lid. The nails were already removed. Metals were needed by the idiots in charge. Walt collapsed to his knees when he saw the contents.


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    At the very top of the supplies a list documenting the contents made Walt''s hands shake with fury. "Housing number 1352, two bags. Housing number 1353, four bags". These supplies were supposed to be given to the people of the city. His eyes drifted over all of the containers, his anger growing. He kept going through what he could reach. Everything was piled to the ceiling. This was only the entrance to the floor with other rooms that were possibly just as filled. Walt found clothing, food, medicine, and water all supposedly given to the citizens. In one box, he found a letter addressed to his mother. He read it to himself. He read it again. He took one last glance at the supplies. If only he could cause this whole building to go down. His eyes took in every word of the letter before he placed it in his back pocket.


    "We here at New Capital wish you well. We are quite pleased with your commitment to the cause of rebuilding your very fine city. Additional supplies will be sent on a bi-weekly basis as the population increases. The reports provided gives hope to all that this once great nation will thrive once again. We have placed a commemorative statue in the center of New Capital.


    Please, let New Capital know of any assistance that may arise in the future. I will see to it personally. Also, on a personal note, I would like to extend our son an invitation to visit. It has been far too long since I have been able to see Walter. Extend to him my greetings. I heard of his difficulties in college. Perhaps we can provide him a job in the lower part of New Capital. It is quiet on the outskirts. We both know he does not do well in crowded places. I may be able to pull a few strings to get him an office to work in by himself."


    He flung a backpack from top of a pile then filled as many water bottles he could. He grabbed a second pack, stuffing this one with so many food packets that it was difficult to zip it closed. He rummaged through clothing to find a sweater, a jacket stuffed with some type of material for warmth, thick socks, new denim jeans, a cold weather breathing mask, thick knitted gloves, boots, scarf, and as much as Walt hated the idea, a hat. He even found a blade. He did not know how to use it for defense but he could it to cut into packaging or other stuff like that. He got changed into the new gear up, leaving his other stuff on the floor. He hefted the two packs on his shoulders, then noticed an extra blade. He had an idea.


    He went down to his Mother''s door, stabbed the letter into the door. He stabbed the door again a few times before walking at a calm pace to the stairwell. For annoyance, Walt slammed the door behind him. Once he reached the building entrance, the posted guy crossed his arms while shaking his head, "Too cold out there, Junior. Don''t want you to freeze out there."


    Walt was already red-faced from being angry while his eyes were a bit popped out. All he said was, "Don''t." He pushed his way past the guard. The guy knew better than pick a fight with Walt, or should have known. Either way, the guard did not attempt to block or stop him. Pure determination, anger, and an ever growing hatred for his Mother gave him enough energy to get to his destination. He was going to get one of those hideouts. He knew the perfect place. Walt''s Mother closed a safehouse for being unstable. It was past the park. With the mask, the wind chill would not kill him in the middle of the night. He just needed to keep out of sight. That was going to be challenging. Walt felt like he wore an invitation to get mugged.


    ***


    Merri woke suddenly. Both men snorted, adjusted, then went back to sleep. She cautiously stood up to stare out of the doorway. She leaned against the frame. Someone was on their way to the hideout. There was no idea who it was. All she knew, was an energy hot with anger was coming. She looked at the two men sleeping, wondering if she should just wake them up on a hunch? She decided it would be best to keep watch for as long as possible. If this feeling got too intense, she would wake Matt, first.