Tesla Bethel
Lantern Staff
“That’s okay, sweetheart,” the woman said. Her voice was warm, and the sound of it made my muscles relax. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been, and then it clicked. She was a siren. Now sirens were similar to nightwalkers in the retrospect that they simply evolved to better ensure survival.
These weren’t the ones you heard about in mythology leading sailors to their deaths.
Rather, they were more smooth talkers. They could push out their aura to surround others. Since the aura is the usually unseen force that surrounds a person, but since the virus spread across the nation, Ren just happened to pick up the ability to see them. Nice, right? Yeah, not really, it’s actually a little distracting for her.
The aura is the most honest representation of how they feel. Ren can tell if someone is lying and how they are feeling, but that doesn’t necessarily help us when we are fighting for our lives. However, they could control their aura to give off any feeling they wish. This gives them the ability to control the emotions of not only humans, but the bloodthirsty animals as well.
This also makes them incredibly dangerous. In their presence, you never know if what you’re feeling is your own or a manufactured response created by them. It makes sense that a medical professional would be one, what better way is there to make sure your patients keep calm, relaxed and stable in the situation we’re in.
“Uh,” I said clearing my throat. “Please don’t do that weird aura thing. We are just here to get some clean water.”
“Oh, you can see them,” she said, only a little surprised.
“I can’t so far I’m completely normal, but,” I said, glancing at Ren who had moved to my side. “She can.”
“Ah, I see, well the cleanser is just right over here so just follow me over with your jugs,” She said turning. Ren and I followed suit. As we reached the end of the tent, she held out a jug of a purple substance, the cleanser. We held out our jugs as she put three drops of the cleanser in. The purple color diluted as it spread throughout the water.
“The color will dissipate in five minutes. Then the water will be safe for consumption. Oh, I almost forgot. I’m Maya, I’m one of the two doctors that were stationed at this settlement. If you need anything do not hesitate to ask,” She said smiling, although it didn’t quite reach her green eyes. No one’s smile reached their eyes anymore, there was too much darkness to much regret if we weren’t careful we would be swallowed whole unable to find light in even the littlest of thing.
“Thank you, we’ll keep that in mind,” I said forcing a smile onto my face which turned out to be more of a grimace. “Let’s go, Ren,” I said, turning to leave. We didn’t have all that much time, and we needed to get settled for the night.
“Lena, my feet hurt,” Ren said cautiously. Of course they would hurt, we’ve walked thousands of miles to get to where we are. I looked down, her shoes were in tatters. We would have to figure out a way to get new ones. Adjusting my pack so it rested in front of me, I knelt down.
“Hop on,” I said it was my job to take care of her. Sometimes during all of this, I forget how young she is. She’s just a child after all. Ren settled herself on my back as I picked her up. She had gotten heavier since I found her having eaten more regularly, but was still to light for comfort.
I walked away from the medical tent in the center of the encampment more toward the mountains edge. It was the more secured area for the mountain side worked as a natural barrier or security fence. I found an empty space and sat Ren on a nearby rock. I pitched the tent and rolled out our sleeping bags as well as set up the knickknacks we couldn’t bear to part with. We were going to be here for a while. I brushed Ren’s hair and washed her face with a wet rag. Sight was limited in the lantern light, but I did my best, and tucked her into her sleeping bag. Before I knew it, she was out cold
I looked at myself in the dirty hand mirror I had brought with me as I brushed my thick sandy blonde hair that was tangled in knots. My face was covered in dirt, lips chapped from the dry desert winds. My blue eyes looked haunted. I took the rag and cleaned the dirt off my face, and any visible location. We could get a proper bath tomorrow. I laid down in my sleeping bag closed my eyes and was soon blessed with sleep.
