Jonas Enikk's Story

With Dominique following after Butch, she lost track of him, Butch Hertz was no where to be seen, as if he vanished right out of thin air, there was no sign of finding him. But as Dominique searched for him, with Mei along side following her, they were surprised on there way to find a small young boy, whom looked as if his own life flashed before his eyes. His face was pale, as it naturally always was, but timidity and fright engulfed the atmosphere of his bright baby blue eyes. He clung tightly to the backpack pressed against his chest, heart beating as fast he was breathing, he heard a distance rush of footsteps. Are they going to find me? he panicked, fearing that he may faint and fall in the very place he hid. He was crouched over behind a tree, head duck, trying to be as still as possible. Are they going to hurt me for running?

The boy peaked out from outside of the trunk to find two women, one wearing a bullet-proof vest and the other regular clothes. He examined their appearance, not finding a single hint of the menacing emblem he memorized. The boy was not sure if he should come out from hiding or remain, one woman held a pistol, M-maybe they can help me? He knew he would need help, surviving on his own for any long did not seem possible. He was a short skinny eleven boy that naïve behavior was as clear as crystals. Their shadows were getting closer and closer, there was no doubt in his mind that he believe these mysterious figures were going to find him. But where or not they were friendly- he couldn't decide.

So finally the child stepped out from his hiding place was both arms up, and with hands held against the back of his head, "D-don't s-shoot!" He was shaking, afraid he was going to pee himself. Never had he ever experience anything in his life so terrorizing. He was just glad he survived and escape the city, but now had to undergo another terrifying event, "I-I have n-no weapons! M-my n-name's J-Jonas Enikk. Y-you're not with the b-bad people, r-right?"

It felt unreal, that Butch had disappeared so suddenly. Dominique didn't know what to think of it, she didn't know what to think of anything anymore. As she was standing around somewhat helpless, that was when Mei found her again. Of course Mei couldn't understand how big of a crisis it was for Dominique but at least she understood that it was for the best to stay away. Just the aura around Dominique told Mei that, it somewhat felt like she had turned into a hedgehog, like she had sharp spikes all around her. Her whole presence screamed to leave her be, so Mei did. She didn't say anything, she just walked beside her, following her. But what Mei didn't knew of that it was actually Dominique that followed her, because Dominique was broken, she had no desire to do anything. She had no place to be and no one to be with. So she just followed Mei since there wasn't anything else to do or think, Dominique was just a blank space. No emotions, not thoughts, nothing. She was just blank, shutting down completely.

Mei continued to walk under silence with Dominique beside her, staring out into the distance. Mei didn't like the silence. She wanted to say something, she wanted Dominique to say something. But there was nothing and Mei didn't dare to try to speak up. She was afraid of what would happen then because the mood clearly told her to shut up. And what was she supposed to say to her anyway? You will find him? He was no good anyway? No, Mei didn't have anything good to say and she had no idea what kind of relationship they had anyway. But by her reaction and the fact that they had stuck together after the explosion showed that they probably were more than just co-workers. That was something Mei wanted to ask about, but still the situation screamed at her not to. It was bothering really.

And surprisingly it was Mei that noticed the boy first and stopped, Dominique just continued to be in her zombie mode until he spoke up, "D-don't s-shoot!" At first Dominique just stood there until she actually looked over at the kid, oh great a kid. A bad feeling was planted inside of her gut and with a melancholic voice she simply answered, "I don't shoot at kids."

"I-I have n-no weapons! M-my n-name's J-Jonas Enikk. Y-you're not with the b-bad people, r-right?"

Dominique just continued to watch him with her dead stare, that he didn't have any weapons was rather obvious, if he wasn't carrying explosives in his backpack. Which was highly unlikely, and why would he even carry that with him into the forest. Sure maybe a knife would be likely, but still not so much. And it was not like she cared anyway. If he wanted to kill them she wouldn't protest, not in her state of mind. And even now she refused to direct her gun towards someone considered a kid, that was simply not something she would ever do.

Mei on the other hand smiled towards him, "Hi Jonas, I'm Mei Archer and this is Dominique uhm... Capwell," Mei looked over at Dominique wish simply gave her a nod to show she was right, "Bad guys you say? Who are these bad people you speak of? Because no me and Dominique, it's just us two and no one else. We've traveled here from really far away so we haven't had the time to actually make any friends yet, we don't even know where we are at the moment."

"Hi Jonas, I'm Mei Archer and this is Dominique uhm... Capwell."

Jonas looked at Mei, and then at Dominique. Both them, was undeniable in two different moods. Mei straight up was friendly- Jonas immediately had a liking for her, but Dominique on the other hand scared Jonas, especially because she was the one with the gun. Sure she had already stated that she wouldn't shoot them, but in times like this, he was not sure what to predict, a few minutes ago he was certain he was going to die. Strangers always gave Jonas an uneasy feeling, strangers in any situation, reason why Jonas was always a shy and quiet boy. He was a rule-follower also, always kept his nose down, trying to avoid any trouble. But there will always be those times in life where trouble finds you.

"Bad guys you say? Who are these bad people you speak of? Because no me and Dominique, it's just us two and no one else. We've traveled here from really far away so we haven't had the time to actually make any friends yet, we don't even know where we are at the moment."

Jonas was silent, as if he didn't even hear Mei, for he was enthralled by the sight of Dominique's gun, though she was not pointing the pistol at him. He shook his head back to focus and gave Mei firm eye contact, "T-they came in the city, I was at the park, sitting on a bench, and waiting for my brother, Seth, to be dismissed from the education facility for the older kids. I wait for him so I don't have to walk home by myself. But I heard gun shots and hid in the playground, there were these people, they wore black helmets- well at least some of them... But I remember there being some type of metal pinned against their uniform, it was a symbol- an eye..." Jonas sighed, he wiped the water growing in his eyes, "I ran... I shouldn't have... I should stayed for my brother... He would of stayed for me... But, most of the kids and people at the park, were being taken. I saw more of those people here in the forest, they have some camps set up. I want to leave the forest... But I was afraid I might get caught or lost on my own." Maybe he told them too much, but really he had no other choice, Jonas felt like the more he told them, the more they might let him join them. Sure, they might be strangers, but Jonas didn't want to be on his own defenseless, helpless.

"T-they came in the city, I was at the park, sitting on a bench, and waiting for my brother, Seth, to be dismissed from the education facility for the older kids. I wait for him so I don't have to walk home by myself. But I heard gun shots and hid in the playground, there were these people, they wore black helmets- well at least some of them... But I remember there being some type of metal pinned against their uniform, it was a symbol- an eye..."

The eye symbol didn't say Dominique anything but as she noticed how Mei flinched as it was mentioned Dominique made the conclusion that it was the Enlighteners. She had never seen the symbol since she never had actually had the time to take a decent look at those people. And Jack hadn't worn it, he hadn't worn anything but that was details. But with Mei's reaction there was no question in mind, who else could there be? Dominique doubted that there were so many more large groups around.

"I ran... I shouldn't have... I should stayed for my brother... He would of stayed for me... But, most of the kids and people at the park, were being taken. I saw more of those people here in the forest, they have some camps set up. I want to leave the forest... But I was afraid I might get caught or lost on my own."

That puzzled Dominique however, so the Enlighteners dealt with kidnappings now? It somehow felt unlikely, she had heard of how Jack had preached about them and kidnapping didn't seem to be something they usually did. They punished him for doing it. It all seemed extremely strange, it was not only Dominique that thought so. Mei was also confused by this information since she had heard the Overseer herself preach of freedom, and this actions didn't seem to have anything with freedom to do at all. To force people to follow them, even kids? It didn't sound like anything of that she had been told about. So the lady had been lying like Mei had thought she was.

Usually Mei was uncomfortable around people, getting nervous and shy, but Mei had always had this connection to kids. She liked them, maybe because they reminded her more of herself than older people did, she just felt like her spirit was lifted when she was in contact with them. Not that Mei was close to even having any of her own but there was still this sort of connection Mei felt to them, that she could be herself around them without being judged. She just preferred kids over adults. So still smiling friendly she proposed, "Why don't we go and see if we can find your brother then? Maybe he's still there and is searching for you right now."

Dominique was just about to protest that it was too risky but stopped herself, not because she cared for the kid’s big brother but because she realized that if the Enlighteners had already been there and brought the people with them that place should be pretty empty by now. And since those guys had already been there it was a slim chance that they would return, they had already searched that place - why would they return right away? Sure they could still be around but then she and the other two could just retreat and go somewhere else, where to Dominique didn't know. Perhaps to the kids home and bring him back to his parents. Because Dominique was pretty tired of being a babysitter, she had enough of that while being around Butch.

"Fine, we do that. But if those people are still there or if there is too much people around we're not getting close, I can't waste ammunition on something like that. Then we bring the kid home and hope for the parents to be there," Dominique started to walk again, "But you got to show us how to get there kid." Dominique knew that there was a slim chance that the parents would be at home, still she could hope. Even if they weren't at home they hopefully had some useful things, and that could be a good place to stay the night, but that was something for the future to decide. And it wasn't like she could abandon the kid and Mei just like Butch abandoned her, if she followed them she would at least have a purpose in life. Even if it was an unnecessary one, they would die one day even if she was protecting them. And there wasn't much reason for them to live either, well perhaps the kid would live long enough to be able to see the world get back in place and there was not like Dominique felt like just handing over Mei to the Enlighteners now when she knew that they dealt with kidnapping and everything. Perhaps she had a small reason to stay around, at least so she could show Mei how to defend herself properly.

"N-no," Jonas refused, shaking his head. "I-I'm not going back there, it was already hard enough to get out." Jonas's cowardice bled through, but in his mind, he was only being smart. He has seen what was back there, and it would be a suicide mission if he returned. He just met the two strangers, he was already scared to meet them, and he wasn't going to run through hell with them. "Don't be mad, I-I just—I just can't." It was a weak excuse, but Jonas had hoped that the friendly woman would just compassion. Jonas gave that woman must of his attention, but as he gazed into her eyes, and really started staring at her, she looked familiar. He was pretty sure that he had never seen her in person, but he has seen her face somewhere. He would ask, but Jonas was concerned it might be rude, especially if he were to butt in like that, perhaps later.

“W-we need to g-get out of the f-forest,” Jonas started to take baby steps back, nudging his head out to a direction to exit the setting. He saw the Enlighteners, the way they treated people- as if they were animals, and he didn’t want to be one of them. If he had to, he would run out of the forest alone, Jonas rather die in the forest rather than by the hands of the Enlighteners. But he had hoped that Dominique and Mei would agree with him.

Did Jonas miss his family? Yes, his mother, father, and older brother- he wished he could see them again, but was he going to make that a priority to see them again- no, because he knew if he were to rush in there he would die- or so he believed. Jonas was scared, frightened, and if the forest and Enlighteners were not going to kill him, he knew his own fear would.

When the kid refused Dominique got annoyed, to her he was just acting like a brat. But Mei on the other hand just nodded, she understood how scary the world was. Because she thought so too. And even Mei herself had known that the chance to find the older brother would be extremely unlikely, she had mostly proposed that to make Jonas feel better since he was regretting running away. But she had no intention to force him to do anything that he wouldn't want to do. And perhaps it was for the best anyway, Mei had no idea if people had been slaughtered there as well if they refused to just be escorted away by the Enlighteners, she feared that perhaps by returning they would find the brother there. But dead. Like Vega. Mei didn't want to put Jonas through that pain, just being departed from the family hurt far enough, Mei knew that as well. She could understand his feelings.

So Mei walked up beside Jonas and lightly patted his head since she was afraid that by touching anything else she would scare him more, but she wanted to calm him down and by experience she knew that the best way to actually calm younger people was to show affection by sharing her warmth with him, by touch even if it was lightly, "Yeah that sounds like a good idea. You seem like a smart young man, Jonas."

Dominique just followed them quietly, clearly upset by the fact that she was forced to have the kid with her. It was not because she disliked him, it was just because she had no idea how to deal with kids. They were unpredictable. She didn't like it. It was bothering some and made her think of her own family, she guessed that her parents most likely were dead already or were soon dead. Why Jonas made her think of it was because he gave her a craving after Vince, he was probably still alive somewhere struggling to not let anything harm his kids, but Dominique had always turned to Vince when she was depressed. It was her own big brother, before he got kids it was her he protected. And at the moment she just wanted to have him here, to be able to talk to him, he would understand her pain. He would understand why she was so desperate to build up her walls around her, getting more distant by every brick she placed into it, he always understood. She wanted to get rid of Jonas because it just made her miss her own family so much, since the last one she could somewhat consider a tiny bit family left.

In a stern voice she muttered, "I still think we should go to your home and see if your parents are there. They are probably really worried about you by now. Or do you mean that you live right beside the park?" Between Dominique and Mei it was rather obvious why Mei was more liked by kids then Dominique, she unlike Mei had no idea how to speak to them.

"Yeah that sounds like a good idea. You seem like a smart young man, Jonas."

Jonas liked it when Mei patted his head, he grew an immediate fondness for the woman. But the unclear remembrance of her face bothered him, Jonas wished he could recall where he saw her from. Mei, was her name, or so she had stated, even the name sounded familiar. But Jonas especially loved how she listened to him, rather than dismissing his suggestion as a stupid idea, because he knew it was not stupid, running back into the city was.

"I still think we should go to your home and see if your parents are there. They are probably really worried about you by now. Or do you mean that you live right beside the park?"

"You d-don't have to come if you don't w-want to," Jonas spoke nervously, he was not trying to sound rude and hoped it would not come out that way but he could tell the other woman, Dominique, she was rather irritated by this decision. But Jonas had been there, he experienced it, and he was so close to experiencing something even worse than just watching what was going on. Jonas remembered his father being at work, as was his mother. They lived in a small but good community, his mom was a nurse, and his father a plumber. They were not the richest of families, but Jonas was rather happy with his life, and was not looking forward for the one yet to come.

He was not sure what lied beyond the forest, never has he ever dared to venture out beyond the city, no has. But however though Jonas is prone to become timid, he has always had a heart for adventures. And one positive way to think of this new chapter in his young life was, this is just another adventure. And there was no doubt about that. The group walked for an hour, until Jonas stopped, they were almost out of the forest, but no one knew what was outside, "I have to pee, be back." Jonas wander off, somewhere far he, of course like anybody else, wanted privacy with these types of things. So when far enough he stopped, right when he unzipped his pants, he had to zipped them back up again, he peeked out a shadow from beside him. Then Jonas positioned into his planned hiding spot with one eye poked out.

Jonas saw a man, he was a bigger type guy, if he was not wearing a long black sleeve shirt Jonas would imagine the man, to have muscles emerging from his arms. He must of been a police officer because he was wearing a badge. The man looked lost he was looking around, wondering where to go. The man started to calling someone, Jonas was not sure what, but he knew the man was desperate to find someone. Jonas stayed quiet and still, he was too scared to show himself, the man's hands were wrapped around some kind of assault rifle. Jonas was at a distance but he could see other figures surround the man, they also were armed. Jonas could not quite hear what they were saying accurately, but the man dropped his weapon after a conversation. But that was when Jonas remembered those people wearing the same uniform as the Enlighteners, and that was when Jonas ran until he made it back to Dominique and Mei.

"We need to leave-- now," Jonas was huffing and puffing, trying to catch his breath, but he knew that they could not stay any longer in the forest, they were going to take anyone they find.

As soon as Jonas left that heavy atmosphere was back, it was him that had kept both Mei and Dominique of heavy thoughts. Well at least Mei, she had enjoyed his company and Dominique had been so busy not enjoying it that she had forgotten to think of the person that was missing beside her. But when the kid was gone that void forced itself back into her thoughts. Making her stand around and stare off into the distance again, wondering where the person supposed to fill it were at the moment.

Mei on the other hand sat down and leaned against the nearest tree, she was rather happy with the fact that she could get some rest. But the whole situation bothered her and as she sat there without anything to do she tried to see what it was that Dominique looked at, but it didn't matter how much she tried to see it nothing happened anyway. So in the end Mei gave up and went back to just tapping her fingers against her knees, trying to make the time pass faster so that Jonas would come back and make everything better. Because while he was gone that question of what kind of relationship Dominique and the captain shared made itself reminded, Mei was curious. She was starting to think of it, trying to picture what could had brought them together here on earth and before she knew it it had popped out of her mouth.

"It was really surprising to see you and the captain here on earth together," The same moment Mei had said it she regretted it. The heavy mood surrounding them got freezing cold, perhaps it was just Mei imagining it all but she doubted that because as soon as the topic was brought up Dominique snapped back to reality. And Mei kind of whished for that she had just stayed in her distant mind set because when her gaze lied upon Mei it felt like Mei's core froze immediately. The eye was so freezing cold Mei had to look down at her hands in shame, but she didn't really know what she had to be ashamed about, she was just curious.

In a voice as cold as the mood Dominique muttered, "He's an old friend of mine, I guess, I thought I knew. But it seems like I was wrong."

Mei nodded quietly as an answer, too scared to say anything more. That she would say the wrong thing. She should probably had brought it up at another time. She knew she should had done that but the curiosity had taken over. She was still wondering over it but guessed it was for the best to leave it be at the moment, she could probably try to ask again some other time. Or she would try again, because Mei wanted to get to know Dominique just like she wanted to get to know Jonas. She liked the thought of havening them as company, but she was a bit greedy and wanted more than just companions. She wanted to think of them as friends just like she had thought of Petra as a friend. She just liked the thought of having friends, it made her think everything wasn't so bad.

It didn't take long before Jonas was back though, and it was surprising for both Dominique and Mei that he seemed to have sprinted all the way back, "We need to leave-- now."

As Mei stood up again Dominique nodded slightly, "Sure." They started to walk and Dominique positioned herself slightly behind the other two, mainly because it was Jonas that knew the terrain the best and she didn't feel like walking beside them so behind was the only option. Even if she knew that she should be the one in the front, looking out for them. But she didn't think that it was that important since they still was in the woods.

Mei on the other hand was more concerned with the fact that Jonas had come running back, it felt like it was more than just the fear of being left alone that had made him act like that. So in a soft voice she asked, "Did something happen since you were running?" She knew that it could be something as simple as an animal that had made him anxious, but even if it was so it was important to show that she cared. That she wanted to get to know him and that he felt like he was listened to.

"Did something happen since you were running?"

"I-I'll tell you when we're s-safe!" Jonas shouted as he continued racing through the forest, legs and feet trampling the ground as he tried with every step to gain speed. When running rapidly, Jonas liked to imagine he was flying through the air, he closed his eyes thinking he was in the sky. Jonas was a fast boy, extremely nimble, most people lose track of him. Jonas taught himself to run as fast as possible, it was his best way to dodge school bullies. When it came to feeling or retreating, Jonas was an expert. Seth would always tell him not to run, to stand up for himself, running only makes you prey. But Jonas couldn't do it, he was too scared to ever face his enemies, and he was counting on his brother to finish them off most of the time.

When out of the forest, they made it to a lifeless road, however pervaded by rows of broken-down cars and trucks. They were the old vehicles, not any of the new fancy flying cycles. By the look of the scene a fire fight went down, cars were destroyed, metal wearing bullet holes, and glass busted. Surrounding some of the automobiles were corpses. Jonas walked steadied and quietly he glanced down at one body to see it moving and squirming, saying something but inaudible. The remains so badly beaten Jonas could not tell whether it was a woman or man, but so enough it crumpled back and died. By the scary sight of it Jonas ran yet again, like he always did when scared. He felt tears dripping from his blue eyes, he was so terrified, he never saw anything like it, he thought the park was bad enough. Jonas was wrong.

Running, Jonas finally withdrew to the porch of an old wooden home. It was a small house, Jonas has seen restrooms bigger than the tiny living. The door was kicked off from the hinges, he stumbled in to see covers and the mattress from the bed torn off. The place was scavenged no doubt, but there was a fireplace, sadly no matches could be seen. He crawled underneath the bed, hugging his arms, he coddled himself, rocking his body back and forth trying to calm down. He knew he looked pitiful, but he was frightened, terrorized. "T-this-- this-- this isn't f-fun... N-no fun...," he whispered to himself, shaking his head madly.

"I-I'll tell you when we're s-safe!"

Mei was tired of running, Dominique too, but since Jonas was so worked up that he continued to do so Mei had no other choice but to run after him. But both of the females was exhausted of all the running they had done before and neither of them was true runners. Sure both of them was in pretty good shape except the malnutrition but none of them had dealt with so much running before so at the end both of them ended up a bit behind Jonas even with having longer legs than him, but they were both tired he was not. He was young, he had the eternal energy of children which he probably would lose sometime when he turned into a teenager.

But as they entered the city both Mei and Dominique stopped running, at least for a little while. Mei petrified by what she was looking at and Dominique scanning the surroundings for enemy activity. Or anything that could be considered to be hostile movements. But she saw nothing, but even if the area seemed to be emptied Dominique still squeezed the gun in her hand, having her finger on the trigger, prepared for anything. That thing being Jonas starting to run again was she not prepared for though, she hadn't even considered how scary the situation could seem to be for a kid. Or a civilian. Because even after the little boy had started running Mei still stood and stared at the scenery, like she had grown roots that kept her stuck at the same place. She couldn't take in what had happened, it seemed so unlikely. The whole city seemed dead, at least this part of it. That a whole city could look this dead, Mei had thought that people would be hiding unsure of what would happen now after the council was gone but that the people would simply disappear? Was all this the Enlighteners doing? They scared Mei more and more.

Dominique looked after Jonas and at Mei for a short while, sure Dominique wanted to get rid of the kid but not to let him be all alone now, not in a place like this. She wanted to dump him onto his parents, those who were supposed to take care of him. But until then, which at the moment seemed to be never, Dominique decided to take care of him. So she simply tapped Mei's shoulder with one finger, not liking it, before declaring the situation to the surprised Mei, "He's running again." And so the chase continued. Both of them mainly feeling like dropping down into the ground and lie there and rest for a while, but it was with the last strains of energy left in their legs that they followed him. Mei rushing into the building before thinking while Dominique stopped outside and once again started to look around. Not because she thought something was hiding inside but to make sure that nothing was hiding outside or even worse following them. It was hard to be stealthy while chasing a terrified child.

Mei looked around for Jonas as soon as she stepped inside, not seeing him at first but as she crouched down to look under the bed she saw the pitiful being. She wasn't sure what to do actually, she could understand his fear since she felt it too. But what was she supposed to say to make him feel better? That was something she had no idea of. So in her softest voice she tried to call out to him, "Uhm… Jonas, I know it's scary out there. I'm terrified too. Here I should be acting like an adult and know what to say and do... but I'm just as lost as you are. It's scary out there, but at least we're not alone, right? We can seek comfort from each other. Hey, me and Dominique will protect you! Hey, Dominique is actually a police officer you know. She has protected me many times from bad people already, and she will surely protect you too from them." Mei just started to say whatever came to mind in the end, trying her hardest to make up something comforting. It made her rather sad that it wasn’t herself couldn't be that comfort, now she realized how weak she actually was. How little she could do, she couldn't even claim that she would be good at protecting one kid. She felt like a failure.

Jonas listened to Mei as she tried her best to comfort him, he was not quite sure what she was saying, he was not paying attention as good as he should of. But every time he stared back at Mei, he was trying to put her name and face with a certain backstory, something he remembered about her, though today was the first day he met her. When Mei had mentioned that Dominique was a police officer, that got him to start thinking about law, justice, crimes-- crimes. That was when it clicked, "M-Mei, y-you're a good person, r-right?" It was an odd question, but Jonas felt as if he had to spit out the query. "Y-you didn't kill tha-that man right? D-Da-Daryl Court, think his name was?"

Jonas was never the one to watch the news, he was too young and ignorant to bother himself with public and political issues. But the death of a council man was something everybody knew. Though, Jonas doubted Mei Archer killed the man, now knowing who she was as a person. She was sweet, friendly, and compassionate, that is not a trait of an assassin nor of a cold-blooded killer media painted her as. But he was confused, if that was the Mei Archer the murderer who killed Daryl Court, then why is she on earth, should she not be Morus? And Jonas at least knew about Morus, the whole world remembers when the first ship was launched simply as a space program project, and then when it was finish building and became known as a maximum security prison.

Jonas considered in his head that was Mei Archer, but he could not convince himself that she was any killer of any kind, in fact this entire time that he had travelling with her, she was not the one holding the weapon. Jonas crawled from out of the bed, though it maybe childish and stupid, but he trusted her, Mei's atmosphere that surrounded her temperament, told Jonas that she was not a bad person, that she was not going to hurt him. "Well, I think you are a good person. And a good person doesn't hurt people. You never hurt anyone, right? But has anyone hurt you?" Jonas was off asking questions, some people found it annoying, but he was a curious fellow when he wasn't scared.

"M-Mei, y-you're a good person, r-right? Y-you didn't kill tha-that man right? D-Da-Daryl Court, think his name was?"

Mei flinched when the topic was brought up, she had never really realized how well known she actually was. That someone as young as Jonas actually knew of her seemed unreal. That adults knew was rather obvious, Mei had seen the news on the big screen television at Morus, but even the kids? It made her feel somewhat ashamed, and a bit bothered. She didn't know how she felt about the whole fame and everything, obviously she was a celebrity because of the wrong thing also. Who would want to become famous for being a murderer? And even worse - when actually not being one.

When Jonas came out from the bed Mei backed a bit to give him space, she was surprised that he would come out, when she was rumored to be a murdered. She would be more understanding if he had just stayed under there and scream at her to leave him or started to run away again. "Well, I think you are a good person. And a good person doesn't hurt people. You never hurt anyone, right? But has anyone hurt you?"

Mei didn't hide her surprise when he stated that he thought she was a good person, perhaps kids were better at reading people than adults were? Maybe humans lose that ability as they grow old and skeptical, Mei didn't know, but it made her happy to hear that. She didn't even know if she was a good person anymore. Not after all that happened to Petra and Vega, and now even Dominique. Perhaps it wasn't that bad luck followed Mei, maybe it was she who actually just was bad luck. Everyone that came into contact with her seemed to be struck by terrible luck, Mei didn't even know what had happened to both Butch and Dominique at Morus after starting to interrogate her, but even without knowing that she started to have these sort of thoughts.

Before trying to explain herself she leaned back towards the wall and leaned her chin against her knees, "Well... When I said that both Dominique and I come from a really faraway place I meant it. We were in space just a moment ago, before Morus 02 exploded." Mei got quiet since she didn't know how to continue, she didn't make herself look bad now when he thought otherwise, "It's true that I got framed for killing that man but I assure you that I didn't do it. The police up there realized that, but I think they weren't allowed to announce that to the public because that would make the council look bad. Grown ups can be so complicated at times you know. And you are right I haven't hurt anyone, well not intentionally anyway. I have probably hurt people's feeling because I didn't know better and everything was just a mess up there. And sure I encountered a lot of mean people up there but there was always nice people that helped me, like Dominique. There was this really extremely horrible man up there that beat me up every time I got to meet him but Dominique was always there and told him to stop. So when I said that she will protect you too I didn't lie, I don't know her that well but I think she's a good person too."

Mei looked over at the doorway to see if Dominique was close but when she couldn't be spotted Mei turned towards Jonas again and smiled while whispering, "Can you keep secret's Jonas?"

"Can you keep secret's Jonas?"

Jonas was listening to her the entire time intently, so he nodded right away when she asked the question, he always was eager for secrets. But little did he know holding secrets could make someone who wants answer very angry. But when around Mei, he felt safer, Mei kept saying how Dominique kept her safe, but Jonas felt the opposite of that. Around Dominique, Jonas always wanted to run and cower away, she just seemed so scary.

Though the fact that Mei was kept away in Morus sprung Jonas's curiosity also, he wanted to know how life was in space. As if he was completely forgetting that Morus is a prison and not some outer space cruise ship. Jonas trusted himself however to keep Mei's secret, he was not a loud mouth, but a shy quiet child whom kept to himself, well if the world were not falling apart, he would be less open to strangers. But even Jonas knew if he did not get anyone's help then he could died back there, or worse be taken by the Enlighteners. But in the midst of the apocalypse that now embraced earth, Jonas wanted to know why were people so bad, Mei is a pretty nice person why would someone lie and frame her. Why would those Enlighteners come in and start shooting people if they refused captivity. Jonas was so young, so innocent, to know details, however, answers, he would probably go mad if he tried to wrap his heads around it.

Jonas admired Mei, she would perhaps never want this but Jonas looked up to her as his role model already, he could be making a mistake to befriend her so fast. But what she told him how she never physically hurt a person though someone everyday if he could beat her, suffering for crimes she didn't commit. So because she already had told him some of her backstory, Jonas believed he could trust her, and she should be able to trust him, "I promise, I can keep secrets."

"I promise, I can keep secrets."

It was not like it was a true secret or a big one, Mei just tried to make him feel better and think of other things. Nicer things. And perhaps she tried to distract herself a bit too. Having him as company lifted her mood a lot, it somehow made her think back to happier times. While still keeping her voice down she leaned over to Jonas and continued, "I wish for her to teach me how to become a stronger person, but I don't dare to say it to her. Cowardly right? But hey don't go and let her know! I want to ask her by myself, I just need to gather courage before asking her. You know, I met so many strong people up there in space and it made me realize how weak I was. You're the first one I've said it out loud to so you are special little man, so I trust that you won't let anyone know of this either. Because when you become an adult the world is for the strong ones, not people like me. But I want to fight, I want to become strong like the others, I promised someone that I would and I don't want to break that promise."

Mei got quiet and a sad expression was spreading across her face, talking of Vega was probably not the best way to distract her mind from sad things. It just made her think of that last moment when Vega had told her to become stronger, how she had shown Mei the blood on her hand from the bullet wound in her torso. So much blood everywhere, walls, floor, ceiling, on Mei's own body. Mei covered her face with her hands and closed her eyes, trying to force away the images from her mind. But they just stocked up even more, blood everywhere, like an endless flood streaming from the wounds all over peoples bodies. It was almost as if she could smell it, that stench that had been lying like a thick cloud all over Mours that last hour. The smell that probably lied thick all over this city too. Mei had just not realized it yet, but now thinking of it she couldn't get it out from her mind.

After a while of just sitting there imagining blood flooding around her she shook her head, still seeing it but forced out a smile towards Jonas in an attempt to say that she was alright, "What do you dream of becoming when you grow up, Jonas?"

Shortly after Mei had asked the question Dominique went inside and started to look around, she had heard them talking from the outside. Not what they had said but just the voices, not that it bothered her much, she had no intention to disturb them. They seemed to get along pretty well and there was no reason for her to destroy that for them. Sure she went inside but she didn't think of it as such a big disturbance, she tried to be as quiet as possible. But since she had already ensured herself that they weren't followed there was no reason for her to stay out there and do nothing. She couldn't just do nothing. So she searched for something useful, food, water, anything really. She needed to keep herself occupied so she wouldn't drift away again, not now when they were in the city, she needed to be alert in case of emergency.

Jonas

"What do you dream of becoming when you grow up, Jonas?"

"A runner," he smiled, even as a child he knew what he was saying was silly, his brother told him it was stupid. That was a harsh thing to say, but he knew it was true. "Everyone always told me it was not going to happen, you know how there is a judge in each division, how most kids don't get jobs in sports or show business unless they appeal to the public, so they have to look good, you know be cool. That's not me though, I'm short, small, not something you would see on the front cover of those fancy electronic magazines. But Seth turned fifteen last week, his judging ceremony was going to happen this year. My mom wanted him to be assigned to the medical field like she was, he never really wanted to be a doctor though. He wanted to help people still, but as a fireman."

Jonas noticed that he was not stuttering anymore, he was actually fully comfortable around his new friend, he felt safe around Mei. "Listen...," Jonas unzipped his backpack, he was thinking to keep this to himself but he liked Mei. "I have some food, some snacks I didn't eat at lunchtime, I don't really eat a lot." Jonas took out a full water bottle, chips, half of a sandwich, and candy bar. It was not as much as he thought it was, but times likes this really anything would help, and that was what Jonas wanted, he waned to be helpful, he wanted to make Mei happy.

"Here you can have all of it if you want," he smiled, trying to be as kind as possible to Mei. Jonas wanted to be liked back, he never really had a friend beside his brother. And sure Mei was over ten years older than him, really when it came down to friendships, age didn't matter to him, especially during the end of the world. Some might imagine kids to feel uncomfortable around people much older than them, but not for Jonas, not for him.

Butch

It has been one day since he last saw Dominique, he regretted leaving her, You stupid, stupid, prick, he kept telling himself. And even when he first started to walk away from her in the forest, in only a matter of seconds did he attempt to retrace his steps to find her, but ended up lost an a prisoner to the Enlighteners. For a long while they treated him fair, for Butch chose to be their soldier, rather than their slave, he was familiar with their technique with their brutality, he still remember Jack, who couldn't. He was transferred to a training camp after he was picked up and detained in the forest. Everything went fairly well in the training ground until he was pulled aside in a room and demanded to tell them anything that involved Mei. He told them things they already knew- things about Morus and his position as captain, so he was presented with one question, "Where did you last see Mei Archer?"

Butch remained silence, nothing, was not going to say a word because he knew Dominique was last seen with Mei and he already wronged Dominique by leaving her, he didn't want to send Enlighteners her way. "Mr. Hertz, you can either do this the easy way or the hard way..." Nothing. "You have the rest of this day to spit it out, if you do not, you will be transferred to head quarters, then you will be sorry." Butch did feel a little threatened because of former experiences with these people.

That entire day they deprived him of sleep, if he tried to doze off they would pour water down against his head, which felt good knowing that a heated light laid over him. He was hungry, they fed him nothing, he had not eaten in two days, he was starving, his mental state was weakening. His emotion state also was crumbling, his emotions for Dominique were spinning out of control on the inside, he missed her so much, he regretted and regretted, wish he could redo the past. His conscience bothered him, but thinking of his conscience made him think of how Dominique tried to lay guilt on him for possibly leaving Mei. He was not sure to be angry at himself for walking away or be angry at Dominique for messing with his conscience. It was a battle waging in his head, and he just couldn't think straight.

It was now day two from when Butch last saw Dominique and he was in a different room, he was at their head quarters like promised if he did not cooperate. He would imagine that they would start torturing him physical now, he was strapped to a armed chair, it reminded him of the one he put Mei in, now he was feeling what she once felt. The last thing he would worry about was physical suffering, it was not his body that was weak right now, it was his mind and his conscience.

In walked a woman, red wavy hair with bangs at the side. It was odd to Butch that she had dismissed the men that filled the room, perhaps she did not see Butch much of a threat as he thought he was. But however, he remained quiet, but gave her the eye contact she deserved, he didn't want to piss her off, he didn't want to piss anyone off.

Mei and Dominique

When Jonas was explaining what he wanted to become when he grew older and why he couldn’t a torn of sadness struck her heart. Not because she believed that it was a bad dream but because she knew how it felt to keep on struggling towards an unreachable goals because someone decided at you were unfitting for the role. And that even after having it crushed, told to her face that she was never going to get to do what she liked for a living she still kept on going. Kept on practicing, not because she thought she would reach her goal because she knew she wouldn’t, but because the water was Mei’s therapy.

She stretched out her hand and ruffled his hair, “You are young, there is still a lot of time for you to grow big like those people. But I know how it feels to be told that your dream is unreachable, I wanted to become a swimmer when I was younger. I trained and trained, but no, the judge decided that it wasn’t something I should do. But hey, even if I didn’t get to do that for a living I still do it on my free time.”

When Jonas opened his backpack and picked up the food it captured not only Mei’s attention but Dominique’s as well. It was not like she would steal from a kid but seeing the food in front of her made the hollow feeling in her gut made itself reminded. Mei hadn’t eaten much after observing the bloodbath so of course she was hungry as well, but Dominique was on a whole other level when it came to it since she hadn’t gotten anything to eat since being kidnapped. But she restrained herself and continued her search even if it took much strength for her not to rush over there.

Mei on the other hand just continued to smile towards Jonas, “Thank you so much, that’s really nice of you. But I can’t take all of your food, like I said, you are still growing Jonas so you need nutrient to become big. And I think all of us are hungry so what do you say about sharing it between the three of us?”

Cain

When heard the news that the captain of Morus had been found and captured Cain was surprised at first, not because he was on earth since that was something Cain was well aware of, but because he was found by himself. She knew that he hadn’t traveled to earth by himself, that he’d had a female officer with him. And what she had seen from the footages it seemed that most of the time the two of them had been close together. So when she heard that he had been by himself it was surprising indeed, and Cain was curious to know why they weren’t together anymore. From the last footages she had of them before leaving it hadn’t looked like they would just split up and go their separate ways.

It was rather exciting, imagining what could lie inside that skull of his. Cain was looking forward to it. That excitement grew as she stepped into the room and saw him in person for the first time ever. She had been watching his actions through a camera lens thanks to Jack Scout but to see the man for real was something else. She knew how violent he could be, just thinking of it made her even more aroused. It was almost as pleasant as her small meetings with Vega, but Vega was still funnier since she was so angry and stubborn. He was just looking at her, quietly. Not nearly as fun as Vega’s rampages.

When the last person had left the room Cain smiled, it was not a friendly smile but not nearly sinister either, it was a smile without emotions. One of those people greet each other with when meeting each other for the first time, “Oh, isn’t it the former captain of Morus 02. So what brings you to my little nook? And even more intriguing, why are you by yourself? I thought you followed that tiny woman’s every step, it sure looked like that. How funny it was to see you, a big man with so much power, become an insignificant woman’s bitch.”

Jonas

“You are young, there is still a lot of time for you to grow big like those people. But I know how it feels to be told that your dream is unreachable, I wanted to become a swimmer when I was younger. I trained and trained, but no, the judge decided that it wasn’t something I should do. But hey, even if I didn’t get to do that for a living I still do it on my free time.”

"Yeah... Too bad the world is falling apart and might end before I even get the chance to go to my judging ceremony," Jonas muttered sadly and pitifully. There was not a fiber of faith in him that made him believe that he world would go back to what is presumed normal. And even if people were to form governments, Jonas doubted he would see his family again. He wish he could think optimistically, but if he did, then his thoughts would also seem impossible. Maybe the other woman was right, Dominique, maybe Jonas should of came back to the city instead of sticking to his own suggestion. Perhaps he could of reunited with at least one of his family members. But thinking like that only made Jonas feel even more guilty.

“Thank you so much, that’s really nice of you. But I can’t take all of your food, like I said, you are still growing Jonas so you need nutrient to become big. And I think all of us are hungry so what do you say about sharing it between the three of us?”

"S-sure," Jonas's voice was a little shaky, not that he was hesitant to share his food with his two companions, but that he did not want any. He did not refuse to eat because he sensed that Mei wanted him to fill his little body because he would not know later how hungry he would be and how much food, if any, they have left to save him from dying of starvation. Jonas gave Mei the bag of chips, left the sandwich for Dominique, and broke off half of the chocolate bar for himself.

As he was eating his small portion Jonas shivered and shook, night fall was coming, and it was getting colder and colder. When he did finish devouring his food Jonas tucked his arms inside his jacket, curling into a bowl, he leaned his head against the wall. He was tired, he did a lot of running today, he just wanted to rest but Jonas did not want to be the only person sleeping, it did not feel right to sleep while everyone else was working or at least doing something. So that was when Jonas decided to ask Mei one last question, "Mei... Why are people bad?"

Butch

“Oh, isn’t it the former captain of Morus 02. So what brings you to my little nook? And even more intriguing, why are you by yourself? I thought you followed that tiny woman’s every step, it sure looked like that. How funny it was to see you, a big man with so much power, become an insignificant woman’s bitch.”

Everything the woman had said to him, the rude questions asked, none of it was a surprise to him. Butch knew how this type of thing worked, he has been on the opposite side. Butch turned his eyes away from the interrogator and stared down to the ground. Butch has been quiet and silent for two days now, and was not convinced that anything he said would not much do him worse or good unless he told them what they wanted to know. And Butch was not going to, not easily, he was not ready to stab Dominique in the back. He was just mad at her, he did not hate her.

"Ma'm," Butch addressed her respectfully. "You can begin the torture." Of course Butch was referring to physical torment, and sadly he wanted to be hurt in that fashion. If he had the chose for hurt to be directed to his bodily function or his mental, he would chose his body over his mind any day. At least with pain he would be able to pull his mind off his own doubts and guilt and direct it on something else. And why a woman? Butch was not sure if the Enlighteners did that on purpose, but he did not want the presence of a woman while Dominique was gone. Butch remembered what happened last time when he was alone with a woman without Dominique, Vanessa ended up skull crumpling on the tile floor seared in her own blood, neck adorn with Butch's monstrous grasp. To think of it he was glad they were shackling him to the arms of the chair, at least he would not hurt anyone.

But what if he did the opposite of hurt? Instead of wrapping his hands around her neck, what if he wrapped his lips around hers? No, he thought in his head. I still love Dominique, right? He was sweating, he was frustrated, he wish he could punch something like he always did when frustrated. Butch wished he could run away, but run away where? Would he run back to Dominique, or would he just decide to walk his own path? Do I deserve her? Does she deserve me? The stressful questions tore Butch apart so bad that his struggle could be spotted through the eyes.

Mei and Dominique

Dominique was surprised that she was offered food, she had never thought that they would go so far to give her some too. She knew she would probably done it, but people where different. And for all she know Mei could think that she had been eating properly before everything had started, which she sadly hadn’t done, therefore she was extremely grateful for the kind gesture. So when she walked over to them, joining them on the ground she mumbled, “Thanks I really appreciate it…” She knew that she probably should give them both a smile to show how thankful she really was but she couldn’t bring it out. But it was rather clear how hungry she had actually been since she had devoured what she had been given in a matter of seconds. She knew that she would probably have a stomach ache later because of it but that was something she would deal with later.

Mei didn’t eat that much either, she still didn’t have that much of an appetite. But she couldn’t deny the fact that she had been starting to feel that hunger, that sensation telling her that she hadn’t eaten properly the last couple of days. But even if the feeling was there she couldn’t bring herself to eat, every chew grew inside her mouth, making her feel more and more uncomfortable and sick.

Afterwards Dominique had retreated to examine the door, not because she believed she would ever be able to fix it but because she had an uneasy feeling when it came to leaving everyone so exposed. She didn’t like this place, it didn’t feel secure at all. There was no way to escape it unnoticed either. She would force them to leave this place early in the morning before the sun had made the terrain too bright again, she just hoped that the city would be just as deserted tomorrow as it was this afternoon.

"Mei... Why are people bad?"

Mei was still positioned beside Jonas and she saw that he was cold, but even if she wanted to hug him to make him less cold she didn’t dare to. She was a stranger, that was not something she should do. But she didn’t know how to answer that question, she didn’t know an answer for that. She had no idea why some or all people were bad. But after a while of Mei being quiet trying to think out an explanation Dominique spoke up instead, “It’s because they let the pain and hate take over. Those bad feelings that tell you to do bad things, instead of forgiving and then move on they hold on to those dark feelings, listen to those thoughts and get swallowed whole by them. In the end all they will feel is hate and a lust for vengeance.” Dominique go quiet when she realized what she had said, not because she had answered an question that wasn’t directed towards her but because as she said those words she knew that it was exactly what she had been doing this day. She had been going around and been depressed, angry, hurt because of Butch instead of listening to her own advice and forgive him. Even if she was mostly mad at the fact that she had never gotten the chance to apologize for saying what she had said. Perhaps she was starting to turn into one of those she considered to be a bad person since she had been so focused on the dark feelings. She didn’t know but she was starting to regret her way of dealing with the whole situation. But she was so confused, she wanted to blame Butch for it all but she couldn’t. But it was his fault that she was loosening her grip, if he hadn’t come and smashed her walls, making her feel again she wouldn’t need this. He had messed up her head and then just left making her feel even more broken than before.

“Uhm, yeah I have never actually thought about things like this before Jonas. But I think that perhaps Dominique has a point,” Mei smiled silently after saying that. She was a bit sad that she hadn’t been able to answer the question.

Cain

"Ma'm, you can begin the torture."

Cain’s face got a sour expression as he just sat there, nearly not reacting to what she said. It was not like he had a face made of stone, you could read it and the feelings behind it but she also knew that it was not what she had said that had brought them to the surface. And obviously Cain didn’t appreciating that. Sure she always enjoyed other’s suffering even if it was not her that caused it, but it was always greater to be the main reason for those pitiful eyes. And it was even more important when she was trying to get to those sorts of feelings, but she was ignored.

“Torture? Does it look like I deal with those sorts of things?” That sickly sweet voice was back, drenching every word that left her mouth as she leaned in towards him, placing her hands over his arms strapped to the chair. “Not could I do things like that… It’s terrible. So cold blooded. To hurt someone that can’t even defend themselves. No, I would never be able to do something like that, I’m just here to talk with you a little.” As she spoke Cain crawled up onto his legs, sitting down as close as she could without being in the risk zone of getting his head in her face. Because that if something would upset her very much. She let her hands drag themselves up over his arms and around his neck, turning that emotionless smile into one much more loving, “So won’t the captain talk with me for a bit? Or perhaps I’m to formal, should I just say Butch instead?” In a sweet whisper she continued, “Or maybe you prefer, Butchie? Why wasn’t she with you when they found you? You two seemed to be glued together there up in space, well at least until Jack came and swept her away from you like that. Did you have a argue, was she to controlling of you?”

Jonas had awoken, he fell asleep was and not sure if he was safe however. Was someone keeping watch? Was Dominique and Mei taking turns on who stays up and watches and who sleeps? Because if that was the case, Jonas wanted to help, as he always did wish to. But if he were, Jonas would regret it also because little did he know that type of helpful work required courage and bravery. But Mei was in front of his just as she was before he dozed off. Jonas was glad that he could wake up with a friend at sight, he liked Mei, and he felt a little less lonely with her around.

"M-Mei?" Jonas called her name rubbing his eyes as he shivered and shook, it was freezing all night, but Jonas was tired enough to sleep through it, especially with all the running he did. "Are we going to move out soon?" That would be a good thing to know, just in case Jonas needed to get ready. And he was also concerned about supplies, food, water, and those types of necessities, because he was aware that the measly leftovers he had left was not enough for all of them.

But with every day that passed by, Jonas knew it drove him farther and farther away from his family. When falling asleep did he ever consider handing his over to the Enlighteners? Yes, thinking maybe he could find his brother out, maybe he would not be seen as such a burden to Dominique. The last thing Jonas wanted was to get them into any trouble due to him, Though, with every look Dominique gave him, Jonas felt like he was a problem, a weakness.

Before Mei had fallen asleep she had inspected Dominique where she sat on the other side of the room, it surprised Mei that she seemed to keep away from Jonas and her. And it was even more surprising to Mei that she never once awoke Mei and asked her to sit watch so Dominique could sleep. And Mei had woken up by herself a couple of times just to find Dominique sit there on her side of the room, squeezing the gun in her hands wide awake. When Mei had whispered and asked if she wanted to sleep she had just shook her head and said that it was fine - in the end Mei had given up and stop asked. But Mei felt a bit guilty that she didn't get to help at all.

But the fact that Dominique could avoid falling asleep was help, perhaps not for her physical shape but for her mentality. She didn't want to sleep. So forcing herself to stay awake to guard those that did gave her a reason not to. Because she didn't want any more nightmares. She didn't want to find out what kind of nightmare it was, she didn't want to be left again or experiencing more death. She didn't want to wake up and find herself cold and alone, to realize that Butch was gone once again. But even if Dominique did try her best to stay awake the whole night she did slumber off for a short while, waking up to find herself crying again. And even if Dominique usually never let herself cry in front of people she couldn't stop herself when she already was doing it, and the other's was sleeping so it was not like anyone could see her.

As the night proceeded Dominique came to the conclusion that Butch had probably left forever. Even if he had regretted his decision, which Dominique doubted since he was so stubborn, it was still a minimal chance that they would just happen to meet each other again. He could be wandering around in the forest, in a whole other part of the city and it was not like they could contact each other either. So even if she missed him extremely much she decided that she just had to accept the fact that they had parted on such bad terms and everything was over. It hurt to think thoughts like that but it was the truth.

"M-Mei? Are we going to move out soon?"

Mei was awake when Jonas spoke up to her, but she was rather tired when he did. It was not like it was a pleasant night of sleep, she had problems with nightmares too, which was the reason for her many awakenings. But she smiled tiredly at Jonas while dragging her hands over her face, "Yeah... I think so."

Dominique that by now stood up and walked around the place a last time nodded, "Correct. The faster we get moving the better, so get ready."