Jonas Enikk's Story

"Correct. The faster we get moving the better, so get ready."

"But, w-where are we going?" Jonas stuttered while asking as he got to his feet, adjusting his backpack on. "H-How before our next stop? Will it be s-safe?" Jonas was rapid with questions, not to bug Dominique, but mainly because he was paranoid, he didn't want to start moving again, but he knew they couldn't just stay there like sitting ducks. And Jonas really didn't feel like he had a say in any of this, really to him, it seemed as Dominique was the boss. Well, besides Jonas didn't really have a probably in that, Dominique still scared him, but at least she kept them safe all through the night.

"Where are we going?" Jonas repeated his first question, he felt like it was the most important, he needed some type of idea of what environment they were walking themselves into. But for some reason, Jonas didn't know that adults don't have the answer to everything. He tried to imagine the next journey they will be taking will be a new adventure, the way he tried to look at the whole crisis in the bigger picture. It sure was an adventure, but not one he would want to be involved in. He still couldn't erase the dead corpse he spotted the day before, Jonas was surprise he didn't have nightmares, maybe it was because Mei was next to him, he felt safe with her around.

"There won't be... dead people... right?" it was perhaps the strangest question he asked, but Jonas wanted to know so bad, he just wanted to somehow get himself not be so frightened by a corpse, but every time he looked upon one, he feared it would come back to life undead and sallow him up. In fact yesterday was the first time he had every encountered a dead person, there were no deaths in his family, Jonas never attended a funeral, a dead body looked like a substance of demonic witchery according to Jonas, if he ever knew there was such a thing.

"But, w-where are we going? H-How before our next stop? Will it be s-safe?"

Both Mei and Dominique was quiet after the question was made, most likely because none of them knew the answer to that. Mei just wanted to get as far away from the Enlighteners as she could but where that was she didn't know. While Dominique had no certain direction she wanted to go towards, she just tagged along with Mei and well she could understand towards which direction she wanted to travel even without asking. It was not that hard to figure out, when you are running away it's not like you want to run towards the reason for your problems.

As Mei stood up Dominique looked out the door and answered, "Well, we are going to continue to go further from the forest we left yesterday since..." Dominique glanced towards Mei as she paused, even Dominique could understand that letting a kid know that he was in company of someone that was chased would most certainly unsettle him. And he was already too scared according to Dominique, "Since those who kidnapped people yesterday’s seems to have their base there. And walking right towards them doesn’t seem like such a good choice then, I certainly don't feel like getting kidnapped again. So I want to keep a distance from them. Either than that we need to find provisions so we will need to search the environment as we walk even if that will slow us down. But we won't be able to continue to walk if we don't have water and nutrition’s."

Dominique never answered the question if it would be safe there, because she didn't want to lie. She didn’t want to say that it sure would but neither did she want to make him nervous by saying that it probably wouldn't. So in her head the best answer was just silence. To ignore the question and pretend that she hadn't heard it.

"There won't be... dead people... right?"

Another question Dominique didn't want to answer, mainly because she didn't know. Perhaps they would get to some place where people hadn't been picked up yet then there would be people and perhaps not dead ones, but there might as well be just as empty as the parts they had been walking through yesterday. She had no idea.

Mei on the other hand placed hers lightly on Jonas shoulder and gave him a small smile, "Hopefully it won't. I don't want any more death either. But that's not something Dominique or I can say for sure. And of course we are going to look for the safest place to spend the night we can find. Either way I and Dominique is going to do our best to protect you."

Dominique noticed the small gesture of kindness Mei showed Jonas, trying to say what he wanted to hear without lying, touching him. Dominique did a mental note about that, touching is good, even if it's hard to do. Because Dominique felt intrusive when doing it so she just didn't, expect when it came to people she knew was fine to touch. But perhaps most people liked that? She didn't, that was why she had never thought of it. She headed over to the door, "We're leaving now so come on."

"Hopefully it won't. I don't want any more death either. But that's not something Dominique or I can say for sure. And of course we are going to look for the safest place to spend the night we can find. Either way I and Dominique is going to do our best to protect you."

Jonas liked that, he liked how Mei always looked on the bright side, she was positive, she made Jonas feel that the world was not so dark and dreary. Through Mei, Jonas believed that there was still good, still light, in the world. It is such a shame that she, above all people, was accused for murder. What fools now the council seem to frame her for a crime she never committed. Mei, in fact, was the nicest person Jonas met, maybe it was because he never met a person where he entrusted his life to, but also because Mei was kind-spirited, she never had to help him, never had to let him join her and Dominque, but she knew, and he still did not understand why.

Jonas felt Mei lay her hand on his shoulder, he enjoyed that, soft touch, gentle affection, that made him feel confident that someone was looking out for him, that someone loved him. Well, Jonas knew his family loved him, and he was spoiled being the youngest, but it felt good that someone he was with now cared, and thus Jonas did the same for Mei, he cared about her. Maybe Jonas made friends too fast, maybe he was naïve, but none of it mattered to him he liked looking on the bright side, just like Mei did.

"We're leaving now so come on."

"O-Oh, right," Jonas replied, stepping out of the small abandoned hut and outside, where they became to walk. They followed a road that ran endless, there were no buildings, but it was not a forest, just an empty high way, sometimes they would pass a vacant car that looks useless and already scavenged. And as they were walking Dominique led them, she was a good leader, well it had been over an hour and they did not walk into trouble yet. She did good for a person who had no idea where they were going.

But there was another question that bugged Jonas to ask, he ran curious again. Jonas wished to know why Dominique wore a bandage around her eye. Mei said she was a police officer right? So she must have fighting skills, so if she does then why was she not strong enough to prevent someone from damaging her eye? Jonas put in account that law enforcers were probably the first people attacked when news came that the council is dead. So, it makes sense, probably some thug fighting Dominique snuck up on her and took her eye out, but they said they were in Morus, thus Jonas had an idea that it was a convict. But he was still eager to know the story, "Ummm.... Mei," Jonas called out to his companion but in a quiet whisper, Dominique was in front of them but that did not mean for sure she could hear him or not. "What happened to Dominique's eye."

Mei felt good about the fact that she made some distance between herself and the Enlighteners base, or in her mind she made the distance between her and them greater. But for all she knew they could be right behind her, breathing down her neck. But every time she looked back she couldn't see anything, but she hadn't seen them the last time either. She feared that they would just show up from nowhere like they had done the last time. It made her flinch by every sound the surrounding made, every branch that broke made her heart beat harder. In her mind the memory of Vega made itself reminded.

Dominique was bothered by another fact though, even if she was tense and reacting to surrounding sounds it was not even nearly as bad as it was for Mei. What made Dominique considered was the lack of necessary things. If things would continue to be like this, they not finding anything at all they would in the end not be able to continue. They would die not by other humans or an accident but because of dehydration or starvation. Neither of the two was something Dominique looked forward to.

"Ummm.... Mei. What happened to Dominique's eye."

Dominique heard that Jonas had started to talk behind her and obviously glanced back, but what he was talking about was not something she had perceived. Of course she was curious to know what he were whispering about but she knew that it was not something she should interfere in. And they were probably just getting to know each other anyway and that was not something she needed to be a part of at the moment, she already knew far enough in her opinion.

Mei on the other hand had heard what it was he was asking about and just like him she was rather curious to know what had happened, because she had no idea. What made it all even more intriguing was the fact that Dominique had been wearing the prison uniform when they had met again in the halls of Morus and somehow she had been able to patch herself up in the chaos? No Mei was very curious to what may have caused that.

While looking over at Dominique's back Mei tried to speak as quiet as possible, "Well... I don't really know. You see the last time I saw her before everything turned into a... uhm... bloodbath inside Morus she was completely fine. And then a couple of days later when the bloodbath started I happened to run across her while trying to get out she was in the prison uniform and was already wearing the bandage."

That was something Dominique had heard, well not everything since the volume still was a bit quiet for her to hear it without problems. But with the little she had heard it was rather obvious to her what they were talking about, and she was not too happy about it. So without slowing down to get beside them or even looking back she answered it herself, "You are talking about my eye, right? If you wonder you can just ask me about it." Sure Dominique didn't like to talk about something she considered failures which the damaged eye was, but she preferred to be asked directly instead of being a gossip subject. "To put it simply I happened to come across the wrong person and he was an Enlightener. You remembered what I told you about who framed you, Mei? I happened to come across Jack, the one who faked the footages, well the reason for that is a bit... complicated. But I got myself kidnapped actually. Yeah, inside Morus a high security prison. Well they had infiltrated Morus completely so it was not that strange. And while I was with him I was rather careless and made him furious at me and well... I don't really want to go into detail how he did it or something like that but he destroyed my eye. Which was rather unfortunate since that was my aiming eye. Well this is something I have told Mei already but since you don't know I might as well tell you Jonas, I used to handle sniper rifles before I was stationed at Morus. But since almost all snipers are mainly done to be handled on the right side of your body I guess I won’t be able to handle sniper rifles anymore. He stole the thing I loved."

Dominique got quiet, that was it. She had shared the story that she hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell Butch about. Even if she had left out many details she found unnecessary for them to know, like Butch being the reason for her to actually get kidnapped. But Jonas didn’t even know who that was and Mei didn’t know their relationship. So it all seemed unnecessary. They wanted to know about the eye and she told them about the eye and how it happened.

So Dominique turned out to have picked up on Jonas and Mei's conversation. Jonas sensed that Dominique was offended that he had instituted a talk with Mei about her. Jonas was not trying to gossip about Dominique, but Jonas instead, didn't want to anger Dominique. Jonas was not comfortable enough to ask her about those times of things to her, where as Mei, he was. But it was interesting to have heard more detail to what happened. Apparently, Mei and especially Dominique have had a lot of experience with these Enlighteners. They seemed like such scary people, so violent, taking people, kidnapping them, killing some, and controlling the rest. But Jonas know understood why Dominique was not such a cheerful person, but yet again, he became confused because didn't Mei go through somewhat of the same thing? Jonas remembered that Mei had a sister according to national broadcasting and he believes that Mei had even mentioned her. But now she is dead, Mei lost something- someone, too.

From the rest of the trip Jonas stayed quiet, he didn't want to cause any trouble. The group maintained a smooth pace, but they were out in the open, walking near the side of the road. But you could not blame them there was not much a place to hide, this making the Enlightener's mission to find and capture Mei quite easy, once their forces made their ways out of the large forest and down the highway. But it was a total of three hours for them to find another establishment, it was a gas station, perhaps another division was close by. "Should stay here for tonight?" Jonas asked, knowing that the sun had already gone down and walking out in the open dark was not the best motive.

When approved, Jonas walking carefully next to Mei with Dominique leading them, gun in her hand. It was ironic the same person Jonas fear, which was Dominique, was also the same person he knew protected them. A gas station sounded like a good place to stop, especially gas station in the middle of nowhere because probably nobody had yet reached it to take the valuables, the necessities. Walking in, the place was empty, lights were off, but the door was locked, the place probably closed before the Enlightenment started, or maybe the place had been shut down for years, Jonas couldn't tell through the darkness beyond the dirty windows.

"We're going to have to bust the glass, right?" None of them obviously had a key and the only way in was through the glass doors.

When Mei first heard about Dominique's story it confused her, basically because she wondered how an officer just could disappear in a prison without anyone taking a notice. And Dominique had said that the captain was an old friend of hers so shouldn't he had noticed? So why hadn't he done anything, perhaps he had. When thinking about it Mei never got interrogated about Petra's escape. She was just locked inside that isolation cell the last days. Perhaps that was the reason for Mei to never get interrogated, it was him and Dominique that had dealt with that so if she had been kidnapped shortly after Petra's escape it would explain it all. When realizing that it all became clear, she had been so confused when locked inside there but now she understood why she had been forgotten in there. But she didn't say anything more about it and it didn't seem like anyone else wanted to say anything else either, perhaps it was the pressure of the situation that made everyone so quiet.

As the day proceeded not only Dominique was starting to get frustrated but Mei was as well. She also understood how serious the situation was, that they didn't find anything at all in the cars they passed. Not that she thought about death already but she could feel how hungry she was and in her troubled mind she could only imagine how hard it must be for Jonas that still was a growing kid to go without a proper meal for so long. So when the gas station revealed itself in the distance Mei got rather relived, because in her mind it was a good thing.

"Should stay here for tonight?"

Dominique didn't like the idea. The place seemed extremely unsafe, if the Enlighteners were to come that would be the obvious place to look. It was easy to surround it, to scout it without getting noticed and probably the first place they would look if they were searching this highway. But Dominique also knew how could it would be outside in the forest which would be a safer place when it came to the Enlighteners but probably not anything else. And sure she now knew how to build a shelter by watching Butch do it, and Jonas probably knew as well, but she didn’t think that her and Mei would be done in time for the real nighttime to come. So she just had to agree with the gas station example, "Yeah..."

"We're going to have to bust the glass, right?"

Dominique nodded slightly while examining the glass, "Yeah, but I want you two to stay back and out of sight in case there is someone in there and that someone is armed. So you two stay out here until I say it's clear to come inside, is that clear?"

Mei didn't like the fact that she never seemed to get to help, but there wasn't really much she could do. She wasn't armed and if it happened to be like Dominique said that there was someone in there Mei guessed Dominique had a bigger chance of handling it than Mei had. Even if it was a rather minimal chance that it could be like that Mei guessed that Dominique preferred to be sure of the fact that no one would be put in danger. And it was probably also to avoid Jonas seeing someone die or getting hurt right in front of him.

When the two of them had backed away a bit Dominique stared at the glass for a bit more, hesitating to do it. She wasn't supposed to break into places like a burglar. And she wasn't supposed to do things like breaking windows, she was the one in the distance keeping watch over those who did do things like that. It just felt wrong for her to do it, but it was for survival. So even if every atom in her body screamed that it was wrong she smashed the window with the grip of the pistol, cleaning the edge from glass fragments that still was left before reaching in her hand and unlocking the door from the inside.

Once inside the first thing that hit her was relief, that there was still items left in there. She would have to take a look at the dates before celebrating this though, but it would have to wait to after she had checked the surrounding. It didn't take that much time though, it was not a big place so when she was positive that it was empty she walked back to the door again. "It's fine to come inside, I didn’t find anyone."

"It's fine to come inside, I didn’t find anyone."

Jonas was relieved, he didn't want a shoot down to occur, he was not ready for that type of action. But Jonas, walking inside of the gas station, was not caution enough, sure Dominique had said it was safe, however, the shadows and darkness that filled the room, anyone could find a good hiding spot. Jonas was just glad they finally found a place to stop, he was exhausted sure, but Jonas enough walking and running, but starving, though Jonas is a small kid who eats little he was still hungry. Jonas wished he could control the rumbling of his stomach, so Dominique and Mei would not have to worry about him, but there are some things you can't stop.

Walking inside it was dark, none of them could find the light switch, but suddenly the lights flipped on, and that was when Jonas knew they were not alone. Jonas hid behind Mei, and Mei seemed to follow behind Dominique. Jonas's heart was beating faster and faster each second past that he knew someone unknown was out there. But how many? More than one person? And they have every right to shoot them, knowing perhaps this was their home that they broke into. Nothing, silence, quiet. The group walked throughout the gas station's interior, not another face was seen until they approached the cash register.

At the cash register out popped a man of elderly age, he looked ancient, wrinkles stirred and twisted on his face with a bright white beard that dangled down from his chin. The old man wore a denim gas station uniform, with his name stitched against the chest, the name read, Cooper. On his balding head covered a stained and worn out baseball cap. The man had a stern look against his face while in his hands he gripped a rifle, aimed at Dominique. "Put the gun down...," he commanded in a low rough deep old man's voice.

Jonas hoped Dominique would listen to the man, afraid if she didn't the man would shoot. And Jonas was actually starting to like Dominique, besides he didn't want to see anyone die.

When the lights came on Dominique cursed on the inside, a lot, she became extremely angry with herself. That she hadn't managed to find the person. But it was not like it would be hard for the other one to just move around in the darkness at least if that person was familiar with the surrounding. Dominique was just one person, she couldn't be at all places at the same time even if she tried. But she still believed that she had done right thing, to let the other's search the place with her, being separated could just endangered them more. At least now they kept themselves behind her.

It was one thing that puzzled Dominique however as she walked deeper inside, it was the lights. How could the power be on? There was not like there would be people going to work, right? So shouldn't the power stations stopped working by now, it was not like Dominique was an expert on the subject - far from it. But it just seemed rather unlikely that the power would just be working fine still. But she soon realized that since this gas station was placed a bit from the nearest civilization they probably had their own generator. For how it would work was not something Dominique even wanted to try to figure out but it seemed to be a logical explanation to the power. But flipping the lights on seemed to be an extremely amateurish mistake, not only did it show people outside that there was a house here and people inside but also did that give Dominique a clear view of the surrounding. There was other ways to show that you existed.

But as soon as she saw the man she could see why he did do so, and even if he was armed her close to panic calmed down a little, "Put the gun down..."

Dominique held up the gun in her right hand while slowly crouching down to the ground, not taking her gaze away from the man for even a second, "Alright." She placed the gun slowly at the ground before standing up again still keeping her hands fully visible so he wouldn't think she grabbed for another one. When she was straightened up again she gave the gun a slight tap with her foot so it slipped towards the man. "There, no gun."

Mei had watched the procedure closely, mainly because she was nervous. No the truth was that she was scared. And the fact that Dominique let go of the gun made the whole thing slightly more terrifying. Mei didn't know if she would had preferred her to hold on to it instead, sure she knew that it would probably just cause more trouble but something inside her just wished that Dominique would pulled the trigger instead. Mei never liked death and if Dominique would have done that Mei would probably had fainted or thrown up or something else, she would most likely lose it completely. But her own survival instinct that had been awakened didn't like the gun on the ground where they couldn't reach it. She just didn't want to die. Not now. But she also knew that the man had all the right to be angry and aim his weapon towards them, they had intruded. Should they apologize for it? Mei considered it but it felt wrong, she felt like it would just make the man feel humiliated or angrier. So she shut her mouth and let Dominique deal with it.

"Alright. There, no gun." The old man watched carefully and meticulously as Dominique kicked the pistol over to him. Keeping a weary eye, the man stepped out from the counter he had been hiding in as he crouched over to the gun, trying to pick it up but he shook with the noticeable problem being the weakness in his knees. But his knees were not the only problem with the man, his posture also with his back hunched over as he struggled to bring himself up again and place the gun on the counter. "Good," he responded as he put his gun down on the counter also. "Now, that we got rid of the hostilities, why are you in my gas station?" The old man glanced down at the ground and smiling to himself and then chuckling, "Heh, we all know why... Heard the world lost its marble since the Council was shot down in Morus, well according to my radio. Not much people listen to the radio anymore, no, today's all about the television and don't get me started on that internet. My granddaddy use to tell me how the world was before the Council... funny thing is, the world is repeating that same cycle. "

Jonas's couldn't lie, he liked the old man, but the man was still a stranger, Jonas hid behind Mei still. But by the sound of the man's voice, it was warm, like a hot blanket on a cold chilly day. He didn't seem like any harm, if so wouldn't man have not shot them instead of turning on the light and revealing himself. "And with the world the way it is, I see reason for you to break into my home, but what a strange bunch you have here, a girl, a boy, and another girl but this one wears a prisoner uniform. But, I'm sure you don't want to going out and giving your whole back story to some strange man who doesn't fire at intruders."

"Why didn't you fire?" Jonas asked, he wasn't sure if should of spat out the question, but he was eager to know if the man had good reason, or if he was just waiting for the perfect moment to stab them in the back.

"Why? Because I didn't want to clean the blood off the floors, I just mopped them," it was not a serious answer, but it appeared the man didn't want to answer. "Call me Mr. Cooper, what about your names?"

Dominique watched the man closely as he moved, noticing how hard fragile he looked Dominique guessed that if he turned out to be a threat she wouldn't have any problem in taking him down even without her gun. She would just have to go for the knees, even if it felt wrong to think like that about an old man but Dominique couldn't be too careful in a situation like this. Since he was the one armed, he was the one that held the power. But as he laid down his own gun Dominique was not just slightly surprised, no she was almost shocked.

"Now, that we got rid of the hostilities, why are you in my gas station? Heh, we all know why... Heard the world lost its marble since the Council was shot down in Morus, well according to my radio. Not much people listen to the radio anymore, no, today's all about the television and don't get me started on that internet. My granddaddy use to tell me how the world was before the Council... funny thing is, the world is repeating that same cycle. "

Mei that had started to relax as soon as he had placed down his weapon listened carefully to the man, thinking it was rather funny to hear him talk about his own grandfather. He looked like he could be one himself, for a quick moment Mei started to wonder if the man himself was one. But she couldn't see anyone but him in here, not that she thought that all of his family would be here but well at least a wife would, right? Perhaps she was hiding?

Just as Mei Dominique was scanning the surrounding for movement showing that he wasn't alone in here, but it was rather hard to do so without turning around completely so she had to be satisfied with only scanning the left side of the room. And even if she slightly listened to the man she also tried to listen for sounds indicating other people close behind or on the right side by listening.

And with the world the way it is, I see reason for you to break into my home, but what a strange bunch you have here, a girl, a boy, and another girl but this one wears a prisoner uniform. But, I'm sure you don't want to going out and giving your whole back story to some strange man who doesn't fire at intruders."

That was something perceived, she had actually forgotten that she was wearing the prison uniform. So as he mentioned it she glanced down on it, feeling rather bothered, wearing it would make people think she was a convict and that was not something she wanted to be associated with. But perhaps it was for the best anyway? Police officers didn't seem so well liked and if people thought she had ended up in prison for another reason than that perhaps they would just stay away? Being intimidated. Hopefully, but while looking down Dominique's eyes was drawn to the bullet hole in the vest from when Jack fired at Butch. It made her sad to think of it, things just seemed easier at that time.

"Call me Mr. Cooper, what about your names?"

As the topic about names was brought up Mei shivered, sure the man had said that he didn't fancy televisions or the internet apparently but he had talked about the radio. Mei knew what a radio was but that someone had one at home was a first for her. It was like he said that most people had their television and was more than satisfied by that. But that explained why the man hadn't recognized her, but when she was to say her name he would surely know who she was and she feared that moment. Perhaps he wouldn't be as understanding as Jonas was.

"Well, I'm sorry Mr. Cooper for intruding in your house, if the situation out there was different I would of course never do it." If the situation was different and the world didn't hate cops she would probably announce her previous occupation, but now she felt like it was for the best just to keep quiet about it, "My name is Dominique Capwell, I take on the responsibility for intruding but I just wanted to keep these two as safe as possible and your house was the first we had seen today. So, if you don't mind, could we perhaps stay here for the night? We will continue our travel tomorrow morning."

Mei doubted that the man would let them stay as soon as she had mentioned her name but it was not like she could just keep quiet of it when he had asked, that would just make him wonder. And it was for the best to say it as soon as possible, so in a quiet mumble while her posture got worse she answered, "Uhm... I'm... Mei Archer..."

The old man paused when Mei gave him her name. Jonas's didn't like the sudden silence, it made everything else seem so tense, and so dramatic. "Mei Archer is it?" Mr. Cooper questioned with his wrinkles furrowing, something Jonas didn't think he was capable of. "I remember that name, who couldn't? It was painted on ever headline, even the radios mentioned your name, and usual they're slow on these times." Jonas admired Mei for his honesty, but now was Mr. Cooper going to kick them out? He seemed like a pretty nice guy to not be firing them, knowing that they kind of completely shattered a glass door. "They said you killed a man... But haven't we all? If not now..." The man took a glance at Jonas. "Then one day... one day."

It was rather depressing for Jonas to here that, but wasn't Mr. Cooper right? Well, Jonas tried to understand that what Mr. Cooper meant was that all men have their sins and scars, all have wronged each other, and perhaps Mr. Cooper was not speaking exactly of physical murder but of emotional also. Everyone has blood on their hands, Jonas just hoped that the blood on his hands was not the blood of his family. But it haunted him to think that he left them, was it a mistake that Jonas relied on his instincts and logic to run rather than emotions to cling onto who mattered the most- his family, rather than himself?

"Well, you can stay here for the rest of the night if you wish, it doesn't quite matter to me, just as long as you don't bust another one of my windows." Why was Mr. Cooper so nice? It seemed anyone these days are just out for themselves, well at least it seemed that way for Jonas back at the city. Maybe Mr. Cooper knew he was going to die soon, so why be so defensive and protective on something he knows he would soon have to give up. Mr. Cooper did appear to be sad like he was longing for something in his life, something, someone, that has long been gone. Or maybe he was looking for a friend, he was lonely, there was no on else in the gas station, just one lonely old man. Perhaps he was just happy enough to see another person out there, that life still exist. Jonas looked around most of the shelves looked empty, this place hasn't been stocked in a while, perhaps it was shut down even before the Enlightenment. The place itself didn't look updated, it looked used, empty, and worn out, just like Mr. Cooper.

When the man started to talk about how frequently her name has been mentioned Mei got the urge to sink down into the ground. Not because he knew who she was, because like he said who wouldn't, but because she felt ashamed about it all. It felt like it was she who had tricked everyone to belive the lies about her, that she was the one to blame. That if she had acted differently they would have chosen someone else, that if she just had done something else everything of this wouldn't had happened. At least it wouldn't have happened to her. The moment he brought up the topic about the murder Mei felt like she had been punched in the stomach, like all the air poured out of her. It was like she mentally collapsed on the ground like a sack on the ground. He thought that she had done it.

"Well, you can stay here for the rest of the night if you wish, it doesn't quite matter to me, just as long as you don't bust another one of my windows."

Dominique gave him a slow nod, "Of course, I'm sorry for that."

Dominique was well aware of the danger they put him in by staying here, but sadly you can't save or even help all the persons in the world and at the moment Dominique was set on keeping Jonas and Mei safe. And even if they had continued without staying here for the night this Mr. Cooper would have to meet the Enlighteners anyway when they made their way over here searching for Mei. And even if Mei had lied about her name Dominique was well aware of the fact that they probably had pictures, perhaps not new ones but those from the news at least, so they would be able to ask him about it anyway. Dominique just wished for him to be gone by then, she knew it was a terrible thought but somehow she believed that it would be more peaceful for him to just pass on before getting to meet them. She doubted that they were interested in such old people like him and by how cruel she knew they could be she doubted that they would just leave him be. So the less terrible fate for him was to just fall into eternal sleep.

"Mr. Cooper, I'm aware of the fact that you prefer me without my gun but I'm going to ask this anyway. I'm not going to direct it towards you again so please, would you let me keep it in hand? You never know who will show up or what will happen, the next persons that makes their way over here may not be as friendly as we are so if you let me keep it I promise I will keep you safe as well for the night." Dominique got quiet, she knew she was asking much of him now. He had trusted them enough to let them stay here but now she took it another step by asking to get her weapon back, she asked him to trust her, but she was very serious with what she said. Even if it wasn't the Enlighteners that would be the next ones stepping inside that door they might be just as hostile. "Another thing, would you mind if we keep the lights switched off? Having them on will draw attention and people will notice the house from far away. And it's preferable that those people think that the house is empty so that we see them before they know of us."

Jonas

"Mr. Cooper, I'm aware of the fact that you prefer me without my gun but I'm going to ask this anyway. I'm not going to direct it towards you again so please, would you let me keep it in hand? You never know who will show up or what will happen, the next persons that makes their way over here may not be as friendly as we are so if you let me keep it I promise I will keep you safe as well for the night."

Mr. Cooper gave a stone face of no expression, he just gazed back at Dominique as he lifted her gun from off the counter. He took his eyes off her and then onto the gun, examining it. "I understand...," he responded, passing her the weapon. "Besides... when you get my age... Well everyone I once knew just feels like they fertilize the ground beneath me. Dust to dust... I feel like when I was young, a little boy, I hid behind my covers every night because I feared monsters everywhere, monsters under the bed, in the closet, afraid they would come out and gobble up. I ultimately feared death, now, death seems so much sweeter. I'm tired of hiding, but I don't know if I'm ready to stop dying."

"Another thing, would you mind if we keep the lights switched off? Having them on will draw attention and people will notice the house from far away. And it's preferable that those people think that the house is empty so that we see them before they know of us."

"Sure thing, I usually keep them off but when I heard you break in, I woke up and turned on the lights because with these eyes I can't see shit in the dark." Mr. Cooper walked behind the counter and grabbed some candles, beginning to light them. Mr. Cooper often kept the lights off because he often took naps, thinking perhaps there will be one nap he will not wake up from, that he be dreaming in paradise to find out it is in fact not a dream "I have some extra candles, I use them to guide me if I ever need to move around for certain things."

Mr. Cooper eventually flipped the lights off he sat down against the tile floor behind the counter, it appeared that he had been living there for a long time. He had a thin blanket and a few pillows by him. Jonas sat by Mr. Cooper, mainly because he felt bad for the man, he seemed so desperate for company, Jonas is usually not the one to be talking to strangers he just met, but Jonas was honestly scared this would be the man's last night if they just ignored them. And Jonas didn't want anyone to kill themselves.

Mr. Cooper pulled from out of his pocket a pack of cigarettes, "Would you like one boy? Never too young to start." Jonas gave Mr. Cooper a funny look, he knew he was not suppose to have cigarettes, he remembered Seth telling him that he better not ever see him with one those things, and because Jonas still respected his brother, Jonas refused politely saying, "N-no sir."
And Cooper replied with, "People still telling kids these are bad for you?" Mr. Cooper inhaled the cigarettes before puffing out a blow of smoke. "Heh, I've been smoking since I was your age, maybe even a little younger. But look at me now. Here I also have this." Mr. Cooper leaned over to the cabinets of the counter to pull out a bottle of whiskey, he spun the cap open to release a strong pungent smell. "It smells like dirty socks at first, but it rubs off." Mr. Cooper tipped the bottle over to his lips and drank. "Now, you never told me your name."

"J-Jonas," he responded.

"Well, Jonas, would you like some?"

Jonas didn't want to refuse he already refused Mr. Cooper's offer for the cigarette, and talking to the man was so Jonas could cheer him up not devastate him. And besides, Jonas never had a talk about alcohol from his parents, so he said, "Sure, how bad can it be?" Jonas grabbed the bottle and took three large gulps of the whiskey before pulling back in disgust. Jonas tried his best to like it, to make Mr. Cooper happy of course but it was so bitter.

Mr. Cooper laughed, "You didn't have to drink it if you didn't want to, boy. You sallow a lot for your age. Are you okay?"

Jonas giggled as he rolled his eyes back, no longer looking at Mr. Cooper directly. "Sure... M-Mr..." Jonas's tone was slow and relaxed and his answer was very delayed.

"Cooper. How old are you, Jonas?"

"I-I'm...I'm... Ahhh..." Jonas collapsed to the ground passed out.

Petra

She perched herself like a bird on a roof as she overlooked the courtyard, waiting to meet a special someone. She went through almost a weeks worth of an assassin's training and she has proven herself to be the best. Petra always knew she quick, fast, she forced herself to be, knowing the reason why she ever ended up in Morus was because she was slow enough to get caught, never ever was she going to let that mistake happen again. Petra lately have pushed herself to constantly mind her speed, remembering what the punishment was for her slowness back on Morus. To recall the time Petra had her own blood pumped from her veins to save the life of a woman who couldn't curse her name even more, the memory made Petra's skin craw and her blood boil as her every hair stood up against the goose bumps. Never again... Never again. I will make even the speed of light fall in last place if we were in a race.

Out in the courtyard she noticed a woman, red hair, glasses, came out to met Petra. Petra had been hiding on the room using the shape shifting arm band, with the new updated invincibility mode set on. The device was strange, something she would see coming out sci-fi novels or superhero comics, but now she has it, and oddly enough it felt natural to her. Petra had been studying the woman, her posture, the way she walk, how she waited for Petra. Petra flipped from roof to roof until she found a perfect place to climb down the wall and onto the floor. She walked carefully, stealthily something Petra was a complete expert on.

And when she stood right behind Cain she spoke into her ear, being visible, "Cain, is it?" Petra turned the invisibility on again and side stepped quickly to face Cain's front position. "It is me..." Petra vanished again right after saying, "Now, it is not." Petra popped up again but now it was on the roof again. She was extremely quick and bounced from place to place. Petra wasn't trying to be annoying but impressive. Petra knew the Enlighteners owned her, she was not stubborn like she was Morus, no Petra was not going to fight back. In this point in her life she understood she will always be someone's prison, why not be a good one?

"Hope I seem efficient, boss." Petra appeared a couple feet behind Cain again. "At least I'll be good at something..." Petra stopped jumping around, and looked down at he grass with the sad and lost look on her face she has been holding since Mei sentenced her to death. Funny thing is, Mei was the one who was suppose to get executed. "Correct me boss, if you find the display of talent rather... annoying. Perfection is my priority. I would say failure is my worse enemy, but I think we all know who really is, she is not such an easy person to forget about..."

“Ahh…,” Jonas woke with sensation of someone’s taping his leg. Pains surrounding his head, he rubbed his eyes, squinting as he opened them. “Wh-Why is it so bright?” His stomach was a brew storm, he grabbed it, groaning as he felt vomit surge up his body and into his throat, he puked on the concrete floor, stomach pushing harder and harder to dispose itself of the waste. “S-sorry,” he apologized as soon as he turned his head getting a blurry view of Mr. Cooper. “Did you poison me?”

“Poison?” Mr. Cooper laughed, he was not even mad Jonas had thrown up on his floor, he find it quite humorous that Jonas had gotten himself drunk. Perhaps, he should have taken it more seriously, Jonas was just a child, but in times like this Mr. Cooper has gone through so much hell in his life, it seems nothing today can stir him up, and the best thing to do when things seem grim or twisted, just smile, if you can’t do anything else, just smile. “No, I didn’t poison you. But,” Mr. Cooper grabbed the whiskey bottle. “You sure did take a few strong gulps to knock you out.”

“Oh…,” Jonas closed his eyes, he didn’t want to get up, he was too tired for that, to exhausted and worn out by the whiskey. ”Never… drinking that… stuff… again.” But he felt the tap again, Jonas opened his eyes to see Dominique. All Jonas remembered was everything before sitting with Mr. Cooper behind the cash register. He recalled that they were supposed to leave after spending one night in the gas station, it must be about that time. “Time to go… already?”

To find out that Mr. Cooper had gotten Jonas drunk was something that concerned both women, but because different reasons. Mei got worried about him since he had gotten unconscious, Dominique on the other hand got annoyed at the man for offering alcohol to a child. Underage drinking was not something she had ever had a positive view on. Not even when she had been in the age of testing such things out and breaking rules, probably because breaking rules wasn't natural for her. It was as unnatural it could get. But neither of them had started an argument with the man because of it, mainly because this was his property and there was no need for them to start unnecessary fights that could lead to them getting kicked out. Even if it was rather unlikely, but neither of them knew the man so they had no idea how he would react.

But to Mei's satisfaction she was actually allowed to be positioned as watch out for the night, she guessed that it was because of the fact that Dominique hadn't slept last night and was tired. Even if Dominique wanted to be create the picture of herself that she was invincible, that she didn't need the basic needs like sleep, Mei knew that she wasn't. That no one was. Vega had been the same way, trying so hard to look much tougher than she actually had been. But before Dominique had left to sleep she had finally taught Mei how to handle the gun, what she had done wrong the last time. And even if Mei still despised the weapon she felt much more confident when holding it after that than she had done before.

As the morning rose Mei had been the one taking the last watch sitting and just waiting for the rest to wake up, she had notice strange sounds a couple of times in the night. Getting scared at first, wondering what it was. But she soon realized what it was that she heard, crying. And even if she couldn't see Dominique where she laid further inside the room, far away from all the other's Mei was pretty sure that it had been her she had heard. Not that she would dare to ask about it, well at least not now. But it made her pretty sad to hear the sound, wondering what could be the reason for Dominique that hadn't shown many emotions at all to cry. It just seemed somewhat strange, but perhaps it was those that put up the strongest appearance outwards that was the most broken inside. Mei didn't have the answer for that.

When Dominique got up, looking like she usually did, stiff, Mei returned the gun to her without saying anything. While they did that they heard the voices behind the counter had started talking again so they approached to see what condition Jonas was in. Mei relieved to hear that he had woken up at least.

“Time to go… already?”

Dominique nodded, "Yeah, do you think that you can walk?" She paused before she continued, eyeing the boy, judging, "If you're too dizzy and weak right now I could let you ride on my back. Just don't put any pressure on my left shoulder, alright?" Even if it for Dominique would felt much better if she just could let Mei take on that task she kind of knew Mei couldn't, between the two of them it was rather obvious that Dominique was the stronger one. So if she had forced Mei to do it they wouldn't come far before she would have to put Jonas down.

"If you're too dizzy and weak right now I could let you ride on my back. Just don't put any pressure on my left shoulder, alright?"

"Nah...," Jonas refused Dominique's support, he didn't think she would help out like that, he didn't think Dominique really cared about him that much. In fact, Jonas was suppose to Dominique would just leave him behind, but he didn't and because of that, he was beginning to like her. Dominique was a good leader, she has gotten him and Mei this far. Sure, she may not seem warm and fuzzy at first, but Jonas notice she held good virtues, or so he for now assumed. "I... I think... I'm... good." Jonas was going to make himself get up, he didn't want to force Dominique to carry him just because he was stupid enough to drink the whiskey. Jonas knew he gotten himself into this mess, though he did not know what he was drinking, he should of at least been more cautious.

Besides, Jonas didn't want to heard Dominique's shoulder, yes Jonas was an exceedingly skinny boy, but he didn't want to risk ruining her shoulder. Jonas was helped up by Mei where he grabbed the counter to support himself, trying to retain balance. He felt his head throbbing, as the room swayed back and forth making him sick again. Jonas clenched his teeth trying to prevent his body from throwing up, trying to prevent from making a bigger mess than he has already done. After gagging and finally rejecting the next vomit section Jonas choked out, "So... where are we going?"

He wanted to stop thinking about his hangover and focus more on their current task, their next destination. "I assume you may want to head to the city pick up some resources there, "Mr. Cooper chimed in. "Just keep moving forward, and as I can remember, you will hit the city in a couple miles from here. I'm sure you are going to need some water bottles, here I have some I've been rationing." Mr. Cooper moved slowly but steadied by to his cabinet, grabbing a water bottle for each of them. "You may use this up faster than I, and perhaps it may never get to the time that I actually pick them up and open them. But here."

When Jonas refused Dominique was actually relived, even if she had offered herself to do it in reality she didn't want to do it. But she would have done it if he had accepted, mostly because she was stone set on protecting both Mei and Jonas. Those two was her priority, mainly because she thought that perhaps they had a bright future ahead of them - at least Jonas, even if it right now seemed to be extremely far into the future. But because of that she wouldn't just abandon Jonas because he at the moment felt weak, it wasn't because of affection towards the two but because it gave her a purpose to keep on going. Because Dominique herself couldn't picture a good ending for herself even if she tried.

"So... where are we going?"

Just as Dominique was going to answer that they would continue their travel along the highway the old man interrupted, "I assume you may want to head to the city pick up some resources there. Just keep moving forward, and as I can remember, you will hit the city in a couple miles from here." To hear that the next city wasn't so far away was soothing, Dominique had feared that they had perhaps walked right out into the forest where the next city could be days away. But on the man’s explanation it didn't sound like that was the case.

"I'm sure you are going to need some water bottles, here I have some I've been rationing. You may use this up faster than I, and perhaps it may never get to the time that I actually pick them up and open them. But here."

Even if Mei's impulse was to start drinking the water at once, because just seeing the substance made her realize how thirsty she was, she forced herself to control those impulses. Because even if the next city wasn't so far away there was nothing saying that they would find more water at once. So she had to think that this water needed to last for a while. But it still looked so alluring. Even if Mei didn't fancy Mr. Cooper so much, mainly because he seemed to believe that she had murdered that council member, she put on a cheerful smile, "Thank you so much. It's really nice of you, thank you."

Dominique nodded slightly in agreement, "Yeah, thanks and take care. You two, we need to get going if we want to reach the next city. We have troubled Mr. Cooper enough already." When she ended her sentence she nodded again towards the old man before turning around and walking out the door.

Mei's smile shrunk a little, sad that they had to leave for an uncertain destination again, but she knew that staying here wasn't any better, "Ah yeah... Good bye Mr. Cooper and uhm yeah... Thanks again."

Jonas and the rest of the group trudged on for hours, but no matter Jonas always appreciated walking, running, it was his thing. Well, at least he like it better than hiding. Jonas liked Mr. Cooper, he was a good man, no matter he got Jonas drunk, will Jonas apparently got himself drunk, if you wanted to get technical with it. But no matter, Mr. Cooper had every right to kick them out of his home, his gas station, but he didn't. And on top of that Mr. Cooper offer and gave them water bottles. "Mei," Jonas called out to his friend. "Do you think Mr. Cooper is safe? I know we shouldn't worry about everyone, but..." Jonas wanted to go back, he was just wanted to be everyone's hero, but lack the courage to do so. "He didn't seem so well guarded, anyone could break into his home. We sure did..."

Jonas sighed, he well aware there was nothing he could do about the situation, but sometimes Jonas wished he would not feel so powerless sometimes. But it was not like Jonas wanted power over other people, just control over his own self. It was too many times Jonas felt like someone else steered his fate, for once Jonas wanted to feel free, for once he wished he could grow into a man and be the one defending the team, maturing into a warrior. But warriors fight wars, no matter how much Jonas wanted the glory of one, he knew he could not fight, he was never a fighter, nor could he ever be a warrior.

"Um, do you think I could actually help anyone, Mei?" he was know desperate from an answer to his this question. Most of his other question was out of either curiosity or worry, but this one was out of pure hopelessness. "But I could never be like Dominique, I don't believe I could ever protect someone the way she protects us. Sometimes I feel useless, like all I ever can do is run, and for once I want to stop running."

"Mei, do you think Mr. Cooper is safe? I know we shouldn't worry about everyone, but... He didn't seem so well guarded, anyone could break into his home. We sure did..."

Mei hadn't thought about it before Jonas had mentioned it, she had been too busy thinking of her own fate and what was behind them. Now when Mr. Cooper was behind them and he was back inside her mind she wondered what would happen to him, if he would be safe. He probably would, right? He had a gun and seemed to be able to use it? Not that Mei was able to judge things like that but he just looked like that type of person that would be able to fire it if he had too. Not like Mei, who just had learnt to hold it properly and still felt dreadful when it came to the thought of pulling the trigger.

She put on a smile, because she was trying to convince not only Jonas but herself that her theory was right, "Yes, of course he's alright. Didn't you see how badass that old man was, he fooled Dominique and even got her to surrender her gun. Of course he would be able to protect himself from others that's not educated in weapon usage and such." But then there were those Enlighteners also, Mei choose not to mention them. She tried not to think of them. They must be pretty well trained, right? Hopefully not, Mei choose to force herself to believe that they weren't that good at it. She had escaped them, that must mean that there must be some flaws.

"Um, do you think I could actually help anyone, Mei? But I could never be like Dominique, I don't believe I could ever protect someone the way she protects us. Sometimes I feel useless, like all I ever can do is run, and for once I want to stop running."

Still smiling Mei looked down on Jonas and stroke his hair, "Of course you would be able to help. If I'm able to do it you are too, you know I helped a friend of mine when I was up on Morus to get a tool she wanted. A hammer--," After saying it Mei suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, saying that she had helped Petra escape the cell in front of Dominique that had been assigned on guarding them, making sure that prisoner's wouldn't do things like that. "Oh... Uhm... Well, that was in the past so... But yeah, of course it's possible for you too, Jonas."

Dominique that had listened to both of them smiling for the first time since Butch left, simply because what she heard made her better. She agreed with what Mei said, that Jonas could grow up and be able to protect people. Of course she had a speech in her mind that she could had brought up, one like those she would give to Butch when he was feeling down. Her way to show affection and that she cared. But she didn't speak up, she didn't utter her monologue, there was no meaning for her to do it either. It was their conversation not her, she wouldn't jump right into it and destroy it for them. But she enjoyed listening to it anyway.

The part Jonas liked the most about Mei was that she always pushed ad encouraged him. She reminded him of his older brother, Seth, Jonas was thankful he had people like that in his life, because he knew with his own individual mind that he was not prideful nor cocky enough to push himself forward. Maybe when he got a little older, perhaps it only in a matter of time for Jonas to climb over his childish fears and surpass his naïve behaviors. And as Jonas continue on his journey in a world submerged into an apocalypse, he cannot help but notice the dying state of his innocence.

Finally Dominique, Mei, and Jonas marched on enough to have a view of the city. "Hey, we actually made it," Jonas cheered happily, excited that they would find resources to rid the stabbing feeling in his stomach that gnawed at him due to the lack of food. But as they moved closer and closer, barriers were visible, and with more steps soldiers were seen also. But not Enlighteners soldiers, but men wearing make-shift armor- motorcycle helmets, hockey pads, some even getting their hands onto bullet proof vest. However there was no doubt that they were armed, some holding machine guns, others rifles and pistols. So the civilians have molded in soldiers, or so they tried to mirror.

"Halt!" a troop barked, all weapons aimed on the three. "Our colony does not tolerate intruders, so state your business, and not a step further." Jonas did not know to think the fact that some people decided to work together as a community was a good thing or not, some people just didn't want war, but of course the soldiers were just protecting their home.