Chapter 2: First Steps

First Steps:

     Just keep walking...  Just keep walking...  Find the nearest city, and plan from there...

 

     It was a strange feeling...  I knew I.C.E was evil....  I knew I had been one of their experiments... and I knew I had escaped to this point.  But where was I?  How did I escape?  What were their real plans?  I couldn't answer any of these questions...  How was it that I knew about I.C.E... when I didn't know about I.C.E?  

 

     It wasn't as if it was an unpleasant walk.  The ground was grassy, and it wasn't too hot.  Everything seemed relatively nice.  There was a road to my left, but I hadn't seen any vehicles of any sort on it, and it was more comfortable to walk on the grass.  I had no clue where I was or how I had gotten here, so I simply had to follow the road...  I had no other option.

 

    That's what brought me to this... A man wandering cluelessly in search of a city.  If I wanted to destroy I.C.E, I had to first get people to help me.  The people most likely to help me would be other I.C.E subjects.  If my thoughts were accurate, I.C.E releases their subjects into the oustide world, to satisfy some sick curiosity or sense of humor.  If I could find some, it wouldn't be hard to get them to join me.  

 

     There!  In the distance!  Hope!  A chance!  A city...  And there?  A broadcasting tower...  Perfect...

 

     The tower gave me an idea.  What better way to find I.C.E subjects than by broadcasting a message to them?  But how can I get it done?  With no money, I can't bribe my way in...  I suppose I do have another option...

 

    I reached into my pocket and drew out a handgun.  It wasn't anything special, it was a standard handgun with no energy base or anything.  Just plain old bullets.  But bullets could still put a hole in a man's head, so it would get the job done. 

 

     After a decent amount of walking, I finally arrived a the city border.  "Hey!  You!"  A voice shouted.  I turned to see a small building.  I had completely missed it, being so focused on the small gate in between me and civilization.  The man who had spoken was standing outside the building, one hand on the handle of the door he had just opened, and one hand on the grip of a gun of some sort.  "What are you doing here?  We don't get many people from outside..." He called out, and I thought a bit before answering.

 

     "I'm just a traveller, I suppose.  Not that that was my intention.  My family and I, we were driving here when we got into an accident.  My family...  They didn't make it...  So now here I am..." I did my best to make a show of my sadness, but I wasn't confident in my ability to show sympathy for people that didn't exist. 

 

   It turned out I was good enough to satisfy the guard though, as he closed the door and walked up to me.  "I'm sorry about your loss.  Did you already call for an ambulance to pick them up?" The guard asked solemnly.  He wouldn't look me in the eye, probably because he knew he would have to ask me to pay him to gain entrance into the city, despite what had supposedly happened to my 'family'.  

 

"I...  There's nothing to be picked up.  We crashed into a car...  We all tried to get out.  I got out first, but the car was too damaged for the other doors to open.  I saw a cigarette fall out from the other car's window... and a trail of gasoline..." I dropped to my knees, making as much a show of it as possible.  I had to be convincing...  "I ran...  I left them there...  And the cars..." The guard helped me to my feet.  

 

"Listen...  I...  I don't know what to say...  Normally we'd charge you for entrance....  but hell, I can't bring myself to do it.  Go on in, I'll cover the fee.  Don't tell anyone though, alright?  I need this job..." I almost smiled at how perfectly the plan had worked, but I kept the show going.  I made a very small smile and a small nod to show my gratitude.  The guard then went in and assumedly told the others inside to open the gate.  I walked in...  I had arrived...