Barren Kindness -Chapter 3-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9bh66UmOik&feature=related

 

>It's been short of a week, but you've finally made it.

>Super Duper Mart.

>It was almost as large as warehouse, from what you can tell.

>Fluttershy stands at your side, looking up at the large, rusted sign.

>"Um, this is it, isn't it?"

"Yup. Time for some food."

>"Real food?"

>You nod.

>She lets out a small squeal of delight, and trots in place, slightly flinching when she accidentally strains her broken wing.

"I'll try to find some more medicine for your wing when we get in there."

>She smiles thankfully and nods.

>You were getting used to her bright eyes and warm smile.

>It was a welcome change in your day-to-day in this irradiated hell hole.

>You walk up to the front door, but are stopped at the sight of something slumped in front of it.

>A body.

>Fluttershy timidly approaches the corpse, and examines it.

>She's amazingly adept in medical knowledge, and she's been able to find the cause of death on many corpses through your travels.

"What have you got?"

>She nudges the head of the body, and looks closely at its neck.

>"Uhm, well, I think he died from... well, strangulation."

>You crouch down and move the cadaver's head, revealing the bruises along the neck line.

"Damn... this guy wasn't killed out here. He was just placed here."

>"I agree. His posture is too good for someone who's dead. They... whoever did this to this poor man left him here to serve as, uhm, a warning."

>You agree with her, and nod.

"Good work."

>She grins at you.

>"Thank you."

>Her politeness was still something to get used to .

>You shove the body out of the way of the market store's doors, and push them open quietly.

>"Anon."

>You look back to Fluttershy.

>She's given you the name, "Anonymous," due to your... reluctance at telling her your real name.

>She's whispering.

>"Anon, uhm, if there's a body outside the store... well, wouldn't that mean that whoever did this-"

>She indicates the body.

>"-is inside?"

>You'd considered that.

>You knew the consequences.

>But you'd come too far to just up and walk away.

>Taking your revolver out of your pocket, you quickly check your ammo count.

>Three shots, two extras that you found in a mailbox down the road.

>Mailboxes were full of interesting things.

"Well then let's hope there's less then three of them, alright?"

>Fluttershy cringes at your readied response to use violence, but she nods and follows close behind you as you both enter the Super Duper Mart.

>God it was dark in here.

>There was a good layer of dust on the walls and floor of this place, specks of dirt floating lazily in the air around you.

>You can see aisles and aisles of boxed food, rust bent cans littering the floor.

>"Fresh" cans of food are seen on the shelves as well.

>As you and Fluttershy creep though the shadows of the warehouse, you hear voices faintly echoing from across the store.

>Two people?

>Maybe.

>Sounded like a man and a women from what you could tell.

>You bring a finger to your lips look to Fluttershy, who nods and crouches to the floor.

>You would call the position she's in, "sneak mode."

>Every step you take is careful and precise.

>One wrong step, and you could kick a can, and then whoever was in here would know something was up.

>And if the corpse outside was anything to indicate, then their welcome wagon would include a whole lot of pain.

>The closer you and Fluttershy get, the clearer the voices get too.

>"..pass the whiskey bottle, will ya?"

>"No way, you're drunk enough as it is. Besides, it's your turn to search the store."

>"Fuck you, pass me the booze, Mike."

>"No can do, Candice. Now, before you trip over yourself some more, go check the front door."

>"Pppfffff FINE... asshole."

>Your back is to one of the aisles, and you can hear the footsteps of the one called "Candice."

>They were unbalanced, clumsy.

>You put your revolver on the ground next to Fluttershy, and get ready.

>You shimmy over to the edge of the aisle, and tap the ground with a can, very softly.

>Candice stops, turn in the direction of the noise, and shuffles over to where she heard it.

>And then you're on her.

>You arms wrap around her neck and you cover her mouth as best as you can.

>She's struggling, but her inebriation makes her efforts futile.

>Fluttershy paces quickly back and forth, unsure as to what to do.

>Pain sears in you hand as Candice bites down, hard.

>Her mouth free, she lets out a yell.

>"MIKE! MIKE THERE"S A GUY-"

>You grasp her head and twist as hard as you can, the sound of bone popping and breaking echoing in the room.

>Shit.

>This just got bad.

>You drop Candice to the floor and scramble to your feet, but Mike is already wheeling arouund the corner.

>He barrels into you, tackling you to the ground as he begins to choke the life out of you.

>Now you know how that body outside died.

>You scrape at his face, punching his arms as you try to pry him off you.

>Your eyes dart to and fro, and you spot a knife on his belt.

>If only you could reach it...

>You punch Mike in the jaw, his grip loosening slightly, allowing you to breathe.

>You only manage to get one, ragged breath in before he recovers and starts to throttle you once more.

>Shit.

>Bad.

>This is bad.

>You look back to where the kife is on his belt.

>It's gone.

>Where did it-

>Suddenly, Fluttershy, the knife in her mouth, jumps on top of Mike and stabs him in the back of his neck.

>He cries out in pain, shooting to his feet and reeling back, knocking Fluttershy off of him in the process.

>As he flails, he slams his back into one of the aisles, and the knife goes further into him.

>He goes limp, and falls to the floor.

>You grasp your throat, gasping and struggling for air.

>Fluttershy is trembling over Mike's body, quietly whispering, "I'm sorry" over and over to him.

>"I'm sorry, oh please forgive me I-... I just... oh my..."

 

~END~