2nd Chapter

Omega Man

As I exit the hospital, I’m met by a wasteland. It looks like the entire town had been through nuclear fallout. Buildings crumbled, houses were turned on their sides, and massive craters in the sidewalk dotted the streets, like a bizarre version of polka dots. I take a few limped steps forward, just to take it all in. then it hits me. The town is silent. No one is around. I listen closely. There isn't a single dog, cat or bird in the air. A layer of dust covers most of the cars. I spot a convenience store nearby. Food is food, and the stuff they sell isn't food, but it’ll do. I limp over to the store when I hear the sound of a gun being loaded.

“Get your hands where I can see them” a voice says. I slowly raise them up, revealing empty hands, except the brochure. “Now turn around” the voice says. I can hear him more clearly as he comes closer. It’s the voice of a boy, no older than me. I feel the cold iron barrel of a hunting rifle pressing against my back. I slowly turn around and find myself confronted with a boy my age. His clothing is tattered. A band of ammunition is slung across his shoulder. His face is covered in dust and blood. Dandy blond hair fell over blood shot eyes. “Keep your hands where I can see them” he nudges the rifle into my chest. I take a closer look at it. The barrel is cracked and old. The wood is rotting and taped together with duct tape. “State your name and business” he says. “My name is Matthew” I say. “I don’t know much else. I won’t hurt you.” The barrel wavered for a bit, and then he slung it over his shoulder. “My names Erik” we shake hands.

“We’d better get going” he says, and starts walking away. I take a few steps and cry out in pain. Erik turns around and lifts weight off my leg “might want to get a refund on that surgery” he says, helping me down the road “it’s worse than a weekend trip to North Korea” and with that, we walked down the road.