I followed Axyl down the dirt pathway to the outer edge of the encampment. The hot humid air caused my hair to stick to my face, and chapped lips. He didn’t even have to tell me. I knew I looked like a complete mess. I went to the labor bureau already. Considering the fact that I hadn’t evolved at all, and my only real skill was tripping over nothing, finding a job wasn’t exactly a promising prospect. But with the decline in human population they said they’d train to whatever the position they had open. I’m supposed to go back tomorrow.
“Are you okay? You’ve been awfully quiet this whole time,” Axyl said.
“Yeah, I guess I was never truly aware of my lack of skills until now…” I shrugged. I think it’s time I picked up a skill or two. Before all of this happened the only skill I had, which is no longer exactly useful is singing. People don’t really need entertainment anymore. They need food, water and protection. Once the virus runs its course, it’s only a matter of time before other nations choose to go after us in our weakened state. We needed to be prepared. Axyl stopped in front of me, a curious glint in his eyes.
“What’s going on in that head of your’s Lena?” he said watching me.
“Our impending doom.” I said straight-faced. What? It’s true. There’s nothing wrong with being blunt just because nobody wants to talk about it. “Our country is in shambles, it’s only a matter of time before they come after us on all fronts. We can’t properly prepare for it because everyone is too busy trying to find a safe place to sleep. People are starving. I—,” I said cutting myself off. We needed hope, in a world where there was none.
“Yeah, I get what you mean. People are doing what they can. And isn’t that the point? Even though we are starving and there is no hope. Even when your backs to the wall and you have no weapons. You do what you can. You try to move forward, and you try to be okay with it. It’s the only thing we can do. It keeps us from falling apart,” he said quietly glancing at the ground. Then he brought his face up to look at me, and any sadness in his eyes I had caught a glimpse of was gone, replaced by amusement. Before I could react he scooped me up, throwing me over his shoulder.
“Axyl! Put me down right now!” I laughed.
“Not until we reach the bath house,” He said “You walk too slow.”
“Oh, really? We would have been there by now if you hadn’t stopped,” I said trying to mask my amusement.
“Well doesn’t matter now. We’re here,” he said putting me down. I stumbled forward a little off balance.
I brushed my hair behind my ear. “Thanks, it’s been a while since I’ve had a genuine laugh…” I said trailing off. “And a bath for that matter. I’ll see you around?”
“Yeah, you’ll see me around Lena. You can’t get rid of me that easy.” He said, and with a wink he walked away.
I stood there a moment smiling and shaking my head, unsure of what to think. He was a strange guy, but his presence made me feel at ease. Turning on my heel, I walked into the bath house.
