Snippet #2549290

As she lost sight of Null, her head turned toward the sky. She had to do it. She had to leave and she had to hope that she could return. But in the daylight? Was it wise to really seek him out now? No. No, that was foolish. She had to wait until the blanket of night and figure out a way to escape without being caught and, of course, return without being seen. For this, she would need to scope out the place and that would take all day.

Moving from roof to roof, her eyes gazed at the fortified structure. This place, Aegis, was nothing special. Sure, it had a brigade. Yes, it had a nice, solid wall. But it lacked all else. It lacked the true meat of war. This place was so under the radar that it shouldn't fall into war. It lacked the hardened criminals of war. Aegis had soft people. No, they were tough, but they weren't her kind of tough.

Smirk on her face, she recalled a time she watched Slasher gnaw a man to death. "I bet these poor saps couldn't endure that sight," she mused.

It made her laugh. Just hours ago she wanted nothing to do with Slasher and now? Now, all she wanted was to find him. He was the one who made her strong. The one he taught her how to survive. She could eat flesh, if she needed to. Slasher taught her how to cook it up and season it to mash the human-taste. She wouldn't do it though. She just couldn't succumb to such wild ways. Slasher was the feral one. She was the classy one.

Wandering the streets now, she wondered if this little outpost would work for her escape. She would just need rope and a ladder.

Wait! What if she brought Slasher in here! What if... no, they would never trust him. But they should. He could evaluate their situation. He was a scientist! Her blue orbs landed on her wraps and bruises. "A better doctor, too." Smiling, she exhaled. "But I can't put you through that. You need to go home." Hand on her heart, she frowned. "And maybe I should run away with you."

She looked a tad odd just talking to herself, but the weathered look in her eyes seemed to remove doubt of disillusion from those nearby. Sure, she looked insane but at least she wasn't talking to nobody. She was just conversing with herself.

"Bleh, what is a woman to do."

Leaning up against a street vendor's cart, her azure eyes locked with the shopkeeper. "What would you do? If you knew a ton of people could be in danger, would you sacrifice their lives to please your own heart? Or would you leave and walk away from something that could have been amazing and beautiful."

The person just blinked. "I feel like there's more to this story than those two options," the woman responded.

"Why yes. I want to stay to get to know this guy better. I worry for his life and I want to be with him to see if we could ever be. But I know if I stay, I'll endanger everyone. And yet, if I go, I might not ever see this man again. And I 'm not sure I want that."

"Why would you sacrifice the city if you stay with your man?"

"My... partner... I'm not sure he would like me hanging around another guy."

"Whoa, two men! You're quite lucky. I can't even get one. But I think the answer is pretty simple, dear. Which do you like more? Who do you want to die beside? If today was your last day to live, who would you want to spend it with?"

Her question was so right on the money, but Bandit wasn't sure where her heart wanted to land. Was it with Null? The pretty-faced soldier who was soft yet strong? Or the man who risked his life, killed, and fought for her? The one that wanted her more than he wanted anything else in life.

Was Null even interested in her? She rubbed her arm and looked away from the vendor. "I'm not even sure the man in the city likes me."

"That doesn't matter. You go after whichever one calls your heart. You might not be able to decide now. You might just have to wait. But you'll know who it is. If they were both to die and you could only save one, you'll run to the one you want most. Maybe that time hasn't come yet. And, until it does, you'll never know. You just need to be patient and wait for a sign. When it comes, stop at nothing to be with him."

"Thanks," bobbing her head, Bandit pulled from the streets and hulled herself up on a bench away from everything and everyone. Why was it so hard to chose?