2- Anso's discovery

The fire was but a dim glow far behind him. He thought about returning to his tormented brother, however that feeling didn't linger long. I had the abusive mother! I wish I escaped like he did!

Anso had decided enough was enough, for eleven years he had tried to unite and spend time with his little brother, through all the excuses, the hurt of no replies he persisted, adament there was something worth saving, but over the last two nights he lost his will to continue, to keep trying, he realised it had just been to long.

He left his wife and son back in madrid to come to England and see his brother. A loving wife and a vulnerable son, for a selfish uncaring drug addicted brother. Ana, his wife had told him to stop persisting. "Stop trying to paint over a rotten wall" he could hear her say. But Anso felt deep down in his soul that somewhere in Mike was that Wishful Person he remembered as a kid.

It was about a 8 mile trek back to the cottage hotel they had met up in, it wouldn't be to long before he was back there, where he could shower, rest then make an impromtu return back to spain.

With all the economic issues threatening to close major european banks, the threat of war from north korea, the south American Alliance, Anso thought he better try now to salvage his relationship with Mike before who knows what might happen.

The last thing he had heard on the news was that France, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and Estonia had collapsed, No banks were open, no businesses were operating and it had become total anarchy in the streets of late, Neighbouring countries had shut their borders and the threat of total european melt down was imminent. Spanish banks were on the cusp of refusing large withrawals and germany was refusing any help due to self presevation. The goddamn Nazis's won in the end.

If Anso didn't try now he probably never would have seen his brother again.

 

It had only taken just over two hours, following the trail back over hills and through a small woods, but when Anso arrived at the cottage, he was surprised to see so much activity.

All the lights were on inside the cottage and the small car park outside which was empty when he'd left was now filled to its full capacity of six, in which three of the cars had head lights on.

As Anso approached the first car, he saw 2 children inside, one fast sleep the other engrossed in a battle on a handheld games console. He passed the first car and saw a lady lent against another car. Her hands seemed to be tremblling as she drew smoke into her mouth from the faint glow of a cigerette.

"Evening lady, are you okay?" Anso called to her.

 

She flashed her head towards him, startled, dropping her cigerette, it sparkled across the dark ground like a meteor. "I, I... I lost everything, Everything" She burst into tears, fumbling inside her coat pocket, searching for her box of cigerettes, hastly trying to light another as if her life depended on it.

Anso wasn't sure what to make of her, he turned his head back to look at the kids oblivious in the first car, before hesitantly walking towards to woman, slightly fearful he might scare her.

"My names Anso... I'm a customer at the cottage, do you need some help?"

She managed, with much effort, to hold back her sobbing and light a new cigerette which she was now sucking on with purpose... Slowly she exhaled. "There is nothing, nothing! Its all gone!"

 

"What's all gone? Calm down, tell me whats wrong lady.." Anso had made it to her side, she was staring straight at him, he could see the moon reflecting off her eyes.

"The city, its gone."

 

Anso didn't understand, This ladies clearly insane.

"What do you mean gone? I was just there a couple days ago, its fine, calm down"

She continued to stare straight at him, unflinching, unblinking.

"No Anso, its complete chaos. Its lost, I've lost everything" She broke down into tears again, sobbing, distraught, she fell forward and Anso caught her. "It's okay, lady, it's okay" He held her into his chest as she fell apart, draining with tears, bleeding her soul into him as he were a sponge to absorb her pain.

"whats your name lady?"

Hard as it were to decode her confused cries, Anso understood her replie "Kirsten"

"Kirsten, I want you to calm down and explain to me whats happened. Can you do that for me?"

She started panting, it was clear she was attempting to control her emotion.

"No.. Money, no Banks, no business, nothing, everything just stopped"

 

"What do yo mean? How can everything just stop? It can't be that bad? Surely" Anso held her out at arms length ducking to look into her face.

 

"Soon as the banks closed, all the high streets stopped selling, instantly people begun to panic, shops were being looted, my house!" Kirsten burst into tears again "I've lost everything!"

 

Anzo was puzzled to say the least, This is going no where. "Kirsten, I'm going inside okay, please, calm down."

He left Kirsten, as she sobbed to herself, her cigerettes glow floating in mid air when he glanced back before entering the cottage.

The cottage hotel was large enough, it housed about 10 rooms including the landlord, his wife and their two daughters. When Anso had met Mike there earlier, he noticed a young couple in the dining area. However now as he entered he was baffled to find the dining area completely full, the same couple, plus 2 other couples and the landlord all sat facing the same direction. Anso stepped into the room to get a better view and noticed they all had their attention fixed to the television. Images of buildings ablaze, shops being vandalised, riot police being overwhelmed, complete and utter chaos rang out across the screen. 

He approached the landlord from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder. The old man spun round with a miserable expression on his face.

"We got no more rooms!"

"Its me? Anso Taul? I paid for a room 2 days ago?"

"Oh, well what you want then?"

"What is going on?" Anso found the manner of the old man difficult to tolerate.

"Londons a loada s**t, thats whats happening, all the bloody foreigners look, destroying the good peoples homes......B******s, shoulda never let them in"

They stared together at the Tv, captured by the scenes of violence and destruction.

"Why, I mean how, hows it happening?"

The old man Looked back at him, looking him up and down.

"The lord finally had enough of our sins if you ask me."