Fragility

Andrew and Veronica head into the town to find Medical supplies

"Where life is fragile, medicine has removed that fragility. There was a time when a broken leg could mean the end of a mans life. Now, its a moderate annoyance, one that can be solved with patience."

Sunset, the towns name was Sunset. Andrew found that funny, he didn't know why, but he did. He and Veronica walked past the sign, got low, and quickly moved towards a nearby gas station. They hid behind a wall and checked their weapons. Andrew had six shots in the revolver, 12 in his pocket. 

“You know, this would be easier if we had actual weapons.” Andrew said.

“Yeah well, it was either the weapons or your brothers life. Which would you rather have?”

Andrew silently slid the revolvers cylinder back into place, and then he heard a voice, “It’s time.”

Suddenly Andrew could’t see anything, only darkness. He felt himself falling through the air, and then going unconscious.

“You ready?” Veronica asked.

“Yes.” Andrew replied, in a deep and serious voice.

Veronica was a little startled by this, she looked at Andrew, he didn’t look any different. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, lets do this.” Andrew replied.

The two got low to the ground and began to dart towards the nearest alley way. The Mercs were patrolling the streets, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

“We have to go through a building, we can’t go on to the street.” Veronica said.

“Come on.” Andrew replied, he moved toward the buildings side door and kicked it open. He looked down his revolvers Iron Sights as he and Veronica moved into the building.

“Are you crazy?” Veronica said “What if they hear that noise?”

“They won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Just trust me.” Andrew said, looking back at her. They walked up the stairs into the second floor of the building. The Second floor had been bombed out long ago, no roof or any walls. “Get low.” Andrew said. He got down on his stomach and Veronica followed suit. The two crawled on their stomachs across the dust covered floor. A couple times the Mercs shined their lights onto the wall next to the two, but never enough to cause them to stop.

At the end of the hallway they were startled to find a Merc, leaning back in a chair, not paying much attention with his back to them. Andrew motioned Veronica too wait, as he grabbed a large shard of Glass that was sitting next to him. He continued his stomach crawl up to the chair until he reached it. He then began to stand up, looking over the Mercs shoulder. Andrew wrapped his arm around the Mercs head, violently covering his mouth with his hands. He then brought the glass down, hard into this throat. Silencing him and Spraying blood all over Andrew and the floor. Andrew picked up his rifle, an Old World assault rifle. Engraved on the side were the symbols “M4”. Andrew looked over at Veronica, who was looking on in stunned silence, and tossed her the rifle. 

“Check his body for a silencer and/or scope, then cover me. I’m making a break for the clinic.” Andrew said, pointing to a small building about two blocks down.

“Got it.” Veronica responded, pulling a Silencer off the guard and a scope out of his bag.

“Turn on your Radio and be my eyes in the sky. Thats not an old world sniper, so be careful.”

“Alright.” Veronica said, checking the rifles clip.

Andrew climbed over the edge of the building and dropped about ten feet onto the ground. “Good Luck.” He heard Veronica say over the radio.

Andrew watched Veronica pick off two of the patrolling guards. He Darted across the street to the next alley. He moved silently through it and around the corner. 

“Get out of sight!” Veronica said over the radio. Andrew dived behind a dumpster and drew his revolver. “Four Mercs. Two of them going down the alley. Other two are mine.” Veronica said. Andrew saw the flashlights of the Mercs shining past him. Andrew squeezed as far into the corner between the dumpster and the wall as he could. The Mercs appeared, standing side by side. Andrew tackled them into each other and a wall. He threw one Merc to the side and kicked the others face in as hard as he could. He then took the first Mercs knife and stabbed the second, still dazed one in the head. Andrew picked up their weapons. Another M4 assault rifle and a old Sawed-Off Double-Barrel Shotgun. Andrew took the extra ammo, and slid the knife into his left pocket.

“You okay?” He radioed to Veronica.

“Yup, took those guys out, no problem.”

“I’m coming out of the alley now.”

“Streets clear to the clinic, i’m gonna start taking some guys off rooftops, then i’ll head to you.”

“Understood, good luck.” 

“Same to you.”

Andrew exited the alley and darted across the road. It was cluttered with destroyed cars, the remnants of a last second evacuation attempt. Andrew bounded over a car and then over a small stone wall onto the clinics property. He moved towards the door.

“Once your inside, I won’t be able to support you for awhile.” Veronica said.

“I know.” Andrew responded. He turned the doors handle, finding it unlocked, and went inside.

Inside was dark, Andrew flicked a light switch on, which dimly illuminated the dusty room.

“Looks like no ones been in here in year.” Andrew said to himself. Suddenly he felt an overwhelming weakness,he lurched over holding his stomach.

“When are you going to let me out?” He heard the real Andrew say in his head.

“We aren’t out of the town yet kid.” Andrew said, re-gaining his strength and picking himself up.

He walked along the halls until he found his way to a room labeled “Supplies.” Andrew opened his bag and began packing it with everything they were going to need. Needle, Stitches, Antibiotics, A Scalpel, Pliers, etc. but then he heard it, something walking into the building. Andrew loaded his Shotgun and swung the bag of supplies over his shoulder. He heard something quickly walking down the hall. Andrew swung out and pointed the shotgun down the hall.

“Hey whoa hey!” Veronica said with a gun barrel in her face.

“Sorry.” Andrew said, lowering the gun.

“You get what we needed?” 

“Yeah, lets get back to the shack now.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The two exited the clinic. They began quickly making their way down the street. There was nothing to be concerned about now, but in the morning when the Mercs found the bodies, they might have to be ready to fight, and that meant they had to get home fast. They had to help Luke fast. They had to get out of the area fast. They had to be fast. 

Reviews

[Jacques]

The chapter i felt started off rapid i think and fast - paced and some of it could of been slowed down but i can tell from reading that you're wrapped tightly in this story like it's your blanket because there's so much detail , dialgoue , description and it's noticable in the story and the words that it's something that you like to write i think . Some parts were confusing like the dumpster attack scene but i'm enjoying this book and i like what i'm reading as it's not just a linear story there's loads of left and rights , twist and turns and that's what i like to read . great chapter

[Niko Timmy]

Really good descriptions, that was the main thing I noticed, that you really made it so I could literally picture it in my head as I was reading and it was great. Good dialogue in this chapter as well as the first. Nice job connecting the sentences and making them flow. The ending was great as well, very intriguing, and the whole chapter was exciting and well done. Great job.