Garret
The great muddy river roars loudly in my ears as my tired feet drag along the bank. The sun is beginning to set and I need to find shelter soon. An old factory building comes into view and I stop in my tracks. It's a good place to hold up for the night but it's also a good place for mutants to hold up during the day. After a moment of consideration, I turn on my heel and walk off to the right towards a main road. It'll probably be better to find a smaller building to camp out in for the night.
Tomorrow I'll reach the Republic border and start looking for a checkpoint. The checkpoint should have a computer I can hack and figure out where the hell my Chloe is. Tomorrow will also mark one month since they took her. It took way too long to cross the mountains but hopefully, now that I'm in the Midwest the terrain will be easier to cross and the mutants will be in less quantity.
Suddenly a screeching noise in the direction of the old factory catches my attention. I stop in my tracks, my blood running cold. No matter how many times I hear that blood-curdling screech I'll never get used to it. The long screech comes to an end and silence follows in its wake. Nothing, not bird chirps nor a squirrel stirs, it's as if every living thing for miles senses the danger. Judging by the type of screech, it's a thrasher, a somewhat intelligent type of mutant that likes to hunt in packs. The republic military calls them Class T-Mutants but I find "Thrasher to be more suitable.
A bird's warning call cuts into the silence like a knife and I pull out my machete. It's too bad I am out of bullets for my gun. Very carefully, I make my way to the old road and start walking away from the building. The sun just barely shines through the branches of the forest around me and I pray silently to come across some shelter soon. If I can find a place a hold up before the sun sets I just might be okay. Most of the formidable mutants don't like to come out during the day because the sun hinders their vision.
Another screech farther in the distance rings out from behind me. I turn to see if I can see anything but the waning light hinders my own vision. The first mutant responds to the second and I begin to realize their communicating with each other. Most likely gearing up for a hunt. I really hope it's not me they are going to hunt tonight.
Just then a rustling sound to my right catches my attention and I turn just in time to see a blur of bare flesh sprint in my direction. I quickly react by swinging my machete, making contact with its neck. The creature squeals and jumps back, giving me a better look at it. Its slender naked body is covered in dirt and dried blood and fresher, more dark blood oozes from the wound I inflicted on its neck. The Thrasher is a young male, if it stood up straight you would think it's human from a distance but up this close to it I can see the slitted eyes and holes it has for ears, hallmark traits of a humanoid mutant. The thrasher has long talon-like fingers with sharp edges, hence the nickname. Its teeth are sharp but not much longer than a man's teeth, this particular mutant hisses at me showing off his teeth that are stained yellow.
Luckily the sun is in his eyes and I gear up for a fight, feeling confident I can take it out. Suddenly, the screech from the original mutant rings out again and the one in front of me stops snarling at me and looks around himself, sniffing the air. I watch in bewilderment as he takes off into the woods again without even bothering to give me another look. This is some really strange behavior for these things. Especially the males, they tend to like a good fight. It's then that I realize that the calls from the original thrasher sound like warning calls. My blood runs cold, there's something more dangerous than a thrasher out there right now, and they're gearing up for a fight. I wait a few moments to make sure it's not coming back and then turn to jog down the road. If I have to I'll find myself a tree to climb and hide up in tonight.
Day 3
Bailey
Sun filters just barely through the blinds of my nearly empty room. I watch as dust particles dance through the beams as I rethink my life choices. Yesterday after Gena told me she was a spy and I was going to be a spy as well I was quickly put on a gag order. Which is to be expected, since this is the secret service and all. What I wasn't expecting though, was my inability to ever go back home. I was reassured that someone would be sent to retrieve my personal belongings as soon as someone was available but until my training is over I will not be seeing any of my family or friends. Briar is going to be gone for the next month so she won't even know I'm gone until she gets back and when I asked how long training takes I was told "It depends on you" Which did not help very much.
What the hell are they going to even tell my roommates? That I'm dead? That I moved to a different city? Briar won't believe a word of anything they tell her once she returns.
I look around the dark, empty room. As much as this sucks it is nice to have my own room for a change. I've always had to be cramped into a room with a number of other girls ever since we moved to this godforsaken town. Even before that when we lived in Cazwell before its destruction I always shared a room with my sister. Once they do get my things I could make this little space into a really cozy place. I think back to the Bean bag chair in Gena's office. Maybe I could even get one of those. You're really planning for the long haul aren't you, My inner dialogue nags at me.
A knock at my door startles my thoughts. "Roll call." I'm guessing that means I need to head to the gym for training.
I get up and slip on my shoes. I'm already dressed since I got up early this morning but I didn't feel like leaving the safety of bed until I had to.
The walk to the gym is a short one. Two doors down the hallway and a quick right and I'm already at the entrance. A girl with bright orange hair is already there when I arrive.
"Just me and you today newbie," she says to me as I arrive. "Names Bella, yours?" she asks
"Uh, Bailey," I say
Bella is a tall, skinny girl with crazy, curly hair, green eyes that look like emeralds, and freckles all over her toned body. You can tell she doesn't miss the gym much.
"Why is it just us?" I ask
"Everyone else is on assignment, and there aren't many of us, to begin with," she explains.
"Oh... so who trains us? Gena?" I ask nervously
Bella laughs, "Oh hell no, I'm not sure if I've ever seen her out of heels."
I'm not sure how to respond to that, Gena seemed to like the tough type to me. Maybe she's tough in other ways.
After a moment of silence, Bella perks up excitedly. "Alright let's get started, start running laps." She orders me with a twirl of a finger. I hesitated, "Wait, you're my trainer?" I'm so confused at this point.
"For now I am." She smiles with delight.
"Oh, Uhm, okay." I stammer before I start off in a jog around the gym. Bella follows behind me at close proximity. It takes everything in me not to turn around and look at her while she starts singing a lullaby as we run.
Down by the river, run run run. Up the hill, hike hike hike, through the valley, don't forget to duck. Through the valley, run run run.... Oh I forgot the rest, run run run... all the way home... in the valley.
I begin to think this girl may be slightly wack, or maybe just really energetic in the morning.
BAM! Don't forget to duck. I don't want to be part of the valley yet.
