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It was like something out of a movie; the destruction, the panic, the death, the screaming. The endless screaming. For years that was all people did whether it was out of fear or anger voices were strained and broken. The same could be said for the whole of mankind. But that was all well and gone now, any lore or history of the events burned with the cities and the secrets of the beginning of the chaos died with the men that witnessed them. All that was left now were small clusters of people- tribes and villages of survivors who looked to make a home of this "new" world. And in every world there is darkness in the hearts of the beings that inhabit it. Here, is no different. The calendar marks sometime in the late summer; a hot breeze sweeps over the deserted land as the sun rises slowly, casting eerie shadows over ruined buildings and charred trees. On a flat back road miles away from any dwindling civilization a beat up red pick-up truck rumbles down the tar path alone and it's driver, even more so. The truck bed is stuffed and stacked with precious goods ranging from books to body bags; shovels, knives, guns, anything for anyone who wanted to survive. Even the front was littered with miscellaneous wares. A tooth brush here, a blanket there. Maps, bullets, a child's doll with a military issue knife stabbed through the right eye. The driver was a collector of sorts but most people would call her a hoarder; a thief.

Everywhere she went she looted things no matter the value or practicality. She could sell it some how. Shade fancied herself a merchant but not in the old world sense. Items were traded for other items since money was worthless without a real government of any kind to say otherwise. One hand on the steering wheel she lazily navigated the car down the road, eye lids fluttering with a mixture of boredom and exhaustion. Following the path from her painted black nails, heavy metal bracelets and colorful tattoos adorned her arms and scrawled across her body beneath her light and tight clothing. Black swirls and waves travelled all the way around her neck touching the tips of her grey-green eyes and dissappearing back under her blood red hear, tied back by a faded blue shred of cloth. For the millionth time she wished the radio worked, or at the very least the air conditioning. But there was no mechanic around for miles, not that she could afford the service or the risk of someone stealing anything from the truck. Her whole survival counted on the four wheels and rusty rig that she drove; and she wasn't about to risk it all for a small luxury. Shade glanced over to the passengers seat, eyes narrowing at the dark stains that coated the fabric as she recalled how they came to be there and she realized she missed the conversations she could have been having right then.

Inwardly she shrugged it off but moments later memories came flooding back and she threw her head back letting out an audible groan and pulled the truck over to the side of the road. She knew not many people travelled out this way, so it never crossed her mind to pull underneath the bridge that was a mere thirty feet away for cover. "You really knew how to leave a lasting impression Dale." she smiled a tiny smile, and closed her eyes resting her head back with another tired sigh. She shut off the engine but left the keys in the ignition, propping her knees up on the dashboard on either side of the steering column. Moments later she stirred again and pulled a backpack from the floor of the car, unclipping the top and pulling out a water bottle and a few sticks of dried meat. She bit down and tore the brittle flesh, chewing thoughtfully and staring out into the open field scanning for any movement that would mean a hasty drive off. Her other hand thoughtlessly fingered the blue and gold rings hanging from the black thread around her neck, the only thing from hers not stolen (That she knew anyway). [******** it's hot..." she grumbled and rolled down the sticky window, hanging her arm outside letting her fingers be ever so lightly moved with the wind.