by Quil Carter
“Maybe I’ll take Killian up there tonight if we’re feeling able to, he seems to be okay. My fucking back is killing me though and it itches like hell,” I said. Greyson lifted up my shirt and cringed.
“Keep that clean. That could get really nasty, really quickly,” he said shaking his head, he nodded over to Killian. “It’s your job now to make sure he takes care of that, god knows he won’t.”
Killian nodded. I groaned as I saw the look of responsibility in his eyes, he wasn’t going to let this one go.
“Also, you can’t go to Reno’s tonight. I need you on the wall again. Give me another night shift and you and Killian can have the next two days off.”
My mouth pursed to the side as I considered this. It seemed like a good enough deal. I would be close enough to Aras in case any trouble came up, and I should introduce Reno properly to Killian. “Deal.” I grabbed me and Killian’s rations and jumped off the truck.
We started walking back towards home.
“Are you up for visiting Reno in his cabin?” I asked. I looked over and was surprised to see him look a bit nervous. “We’ll pretty much be hugging the fence the entire way, then a twenty minute walk up the rocks to his shack. It’s at the very top of the hill back in a cleared out quarry. No one can get us there. It’s safe.”
I saw his shoulders slump. He looked at the ground as if suddenly interested in his shoes. “Could I stay in the den?” he asked in a small voice.
Well, I wasn’t sure what was preventing him from wanting to go. It wasn’t far from Aras at all and we wouldn’t be gone too long. I might stay for a beer or some lines but that was about it. Maybe he just didn’t like Reno? Reno was a bit of an idiot, he could be loud and overwhelming when he was drunk or high.
“Still not feeling well? Or do you just not like Reno?” I asked. I only got a half-hearted shrug in return. “Well, do you just not feel safe?”
“All the above I think,” Killian said meekly.
Hm, well I hoped he eventually warmed up to Reno, because I didn’t have anyone else in the way of friends besides the pseudo dads. I liked doing drugs with Reno, messing around, playing video games or whatever. I’m sure eventually he would grow on Killian. If Reno Nevada could befriend a bitey two-year-old, he could grow on anyone.
“Well, I won’t be long anyway, and it’s not until tomorrow,” I said, trying to be supportive. “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
The boy nodded and I could see him tensing his hands. He sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders. As he did I smiled on the inside. I knew he was going to make himself go.
“I’ll go, I’ll be okay,” he said finally, nodding to the person he was trying to convince the most, himself.
I let the smile show through. I didn’t want to make a big deal about it though. “We’ll have a good time.”
I watched as Killian zipped up one of my old jackets. Next time the merchants came I would urge him to start buying some proper armour. I didn’t have any spare bulletproof vests, I don’t think anyone did, and combat armour would be too heavy for him. Though it would probably be a while before any merchants came, so perhaps I would ask around. Killian kind of looked cute and dangerous when he wore sentry clothes, especially with the gun.
He packed up his bag again, and I brought a few things as well. Just as eleven o’clock was approaching we started off for the east watch building again. He seemed a bit more confident this time.
At the watch building, we sat together in blissful silence, only occasionally making small talk, mostly just enjoying each other’s company. I was relieved Killian didn’t talk a lot, and when he did talk it wasn’t about stupid shit. He seemed to remember how much I liked silence and I think he liked it too. There was something about just quietly watching the greywastes in front of us that was just, I don’t know… it felt nice.
“Your code name is Shadow Cat?” Killian asked. He was examining my handheld radio. All the sentries and guards had them on their person at all times. Same with the important parts of the town like the Slaught House and Doc’s. Though everyone had separate channels so we didn’t have to listen to the other faction’s BS. Greyson and Leo had their master radio where everyone could bother them. It saved time.
“That’s right. Reno is Rock Hawk, Greyson and Leo are Orthus,” I continued.
“Orthus? That’s clever of them,” Killian said with a small laugh.
I scowled, confused. “What is?”
“Orthus is a two-headed dog. It was a religion from a long, long, long time ago, thousands and thousands of years. I’d love to find the books they learned that in. I love mythology.”
“Huh,” I said, a bit surprised. Well, I guessed he would be the type of person to know mythology stuff. I never thought Greyson or Leo were the sort. I wondered if I should change my name to something fancy ass like that.
“What stops the Legion from listening in? I mean, I know Reno can hear everything, can’t everyone else?” Killian asked. I liked all of his questions; I liked how he was interested in my work. I couldn’t say I was too interested in his doctor stuff as I already knew the basics. Maybe he would be a sentry after all. As long as Greyson let him work with me. No way I was putting him on the wall alone.
“They wouldn’t be able to find our frequency. We have blockers up, plus we can see how many radios are turned on and tuned in… see.” I showed Killian the small six on the screen. “That means we have six people on this frequency. One on each side, plus Greyson and Leo, plus Reno.”
“Wow,” Killian said, handing me the radio back. “It’s crazy, so much technology in the factory, and bits of it here… yet we’re living like… this.”
“That’s how he wanted it.” I shrugged. I was talking about King Silas. That’s how he ran things. He kept tabs on all the tech we used, made sure no one recovered anything too advanced. He distributed the technology that he had acquired before he started the Fallocaust to improve his companies. He had us living exactly how he wanted us to, ignorant, quiet, and making him money. He controlled and owned everything, him and those chimera things.
I didn’t give a fuck either way; it was the Legion that kidnapped Killian, not King Silas. That fucking idiot of a king was a shit for a ruler but he had never personally bothered me. He could keep all his tech. I was happy with what little electricity I had. I was okay with leaving well enough alone.
“I hate him,” Killian whispered. I was surprised to hear anger in his words. “Just as much as I hate the Imperial General and the Legion.”
“Why? Sure he’s a dick, but you’re in Aras now. Just give ‘em some blood every few years and they’re happy,” I said with a shrug. I took out a quil and lit it.
Killian took the quil from between my fingers. I watched the little ember light up as he took an inhale; he waited a few seconds before blowing out the smoke. “My dad got fired from the factory. I’m not sure why, but King Silas’s second-in-command, his chimera Elish visited us and the next thing I knew he was fired. We had to move to Aras soon after.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “And your dad decided to go to Aras? It’s so far away from Skyfall.”
Killian nodded. “It took us months to get here. We spent almost all our money on mercenaries. Lost a few of them too, it was… horrible.”
“You were pretty sheltered where you used to live, eh?”
He scowled a bit. I could have probably worded that a bit better.
“I didn’t think I was when we set off. The trip to Aras told me I had been… and being kidnapped confirmed it.” Killian took another inhale. He brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. I took the cig from him.
“It’s not a bad thing. You’re different from everyone else here; I wouldn’t have noticed you if you were like everyone else,” I said. I could feel his eyes on me.
“What did you notice about me?” Killian asked.
I shrugged again. How could I even put it into words? He just stood out from everyone
in my head, like he glowed or something. He was just… different, I didn’t know how.
“Everything,” I said simply. I didn’t know what else to say, I didn’t know fancy words like he probably did. I would just make myself sound like an ass.
Suddenly my head perked up. I had heard a noise from the other side of the wall. Sure enough, I heard a couple deacons start their warning growls. Killian raised his head in alarm.
“I hear something, get down onto the floor,” I ordered. Killian looked a bit shocked, but he did as he was told. I lizard crawled over to the side of the building and drew my M16. Leaning it up against the rim of the roof, I looked through the scope.
It didn’t take me long to find it; a stupid scaver, though a big one. Scavers were radiated possum-like creatures, about the size of a small dog with sharp, vicious little teeth. They had patches of grey fur, but mostly scabby flaky skin from all the radiation. They were nasty animals. I’d had a distaste for them ever since I got bit by one as a child and was sick for a week. I particularly liked to make them suffer.
I waved Killian over. “It’s just a scaver. Come watch me kill it.”
I heard shifting and scraping noises as Killian skidded over to me, trying to crawl like I did but he was dragging his knees too much. Another thing I guess I had to teach him.
“Here, look out the scope, get a feel for it.” I unhooked the small tripod from my belt and unfolded it quickly. I didn’t need it often anymore, but it was good for beginners. I lay the M16 on it and pointed the scope towards Killian.
I unhooked my radio. “Hey, Matt?” I said into it.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Matt answered back. He was at the north gate again tonight, and as such he was also in charge of the wall lights.
“Switch on E-4, and prepare for gunfire. There is a scaver out there and I want Killian to shoot it.” I smiled as Killian looked at me wide-eyed.
“Okay, preparing for a hell of a lot of gunfire, go ahead,” Matt answered back. I clipped the radio back onto my belt. A few moments later the flood light turned on.
The scaver didn’t give a shit. It was eating a piece of bone I assumed it had pulled from beside the deacons’ fence. I watched as Killian put his eye up against the scope. I gently directed his hands to the right place, and flicked the M16’s switch off of automatic.
“I see him,” Killian whispered excitedly.
“Get him in the scope and pull the trigger. It’ll kick back so brace yourself,” I directed.
Killian nodded. I watched the ugly creature chew on the bone, its needle-like teeth gnashing away any bits of flesh it could tear away. I was planning on taking its head; I liked collecting the heads of important kills.
I was waiting for the bang when suddenly a streak of grey fur jumped into the light. The boy jumped back with a yell and fell backwards. With a panicked shriek from the scaver, I watched in surprise as the grey creature thrashed the radanimal around; pieces of grey fur and red bits of tissue flew everywhere.
“It’s a wild dog!” Killian exclaimed. He quickly got up and looked through the scope. “I think I can get it.”
It took me a few seconds for it to click, just in time to push Killian away.
The stupid deacdog pulled the ruins of the carcass around growling, before taking it into its teeth and shaking it some more. I looked over to see Killian struggling to get up.
“Don’t shoot that dog. You’ll cry if you do,” I said, dusting Killian off. I looked over. The deacdog was eating his meal, wagging his stupid tail all fucking proud of himself. I hoped he appreciated me not letting Killian kill him.
“Why?” Killian asked. He kneeled down against the ledge and watched the dog.
I got up with my gun and started walking towards the stairs. Killian looked bewildered, but then followed me. I didn’t know how the asshole got out of the gate again, but I thought I should let the idiot in.
“That’s one of Murry’s pups. That deacon dog was hog tied in a caravan. I untied him and tied a note around his neck for them to come get Greyson. He’s a smart little fucker,” I said as we exited the building.
Killian looked around the dark road ahead of us. I realized I had forgotten to bring the bluelamps down for him. The moon wasn’t as full as it had been the last few days, but it still shone down on us. I think it was enough for him to see. I was going to have to start carrying around a flashlight for him.
“Is he going back to Murry? I guess he’s technically a stray right now,” Killian whispered. He stuck close to me as we carried on to the north gate.
“Probably. He’s too nice to be a guard dog though. I think the merchants were buying him as a pet.”
The boy sighed. “Jepson was a nice guy, so was Menkin. I think they ate Menkin, they were eating someone when I was getting thrown into the truck.”
I felt a lump form in my throat. I remembered seeing that truck, wondering if his body was on it. It was right after Greyson had told me I loved Killian. I didn’t think I’d ever forget that moment.
I glanced around at the boarded up buildings on either side of us. All of them closed off and most spray-painted to reflect their condition. I remembered that I had helped Jeff Massey board up the windows of the houses around theirs. I recall he seemed like an okay guy, wife was a bitch though, even in the beginning.
“I’ve known Menkin for a long time,” I said. “He never gave me any trouble.”
Killian was silent for a while. “You were born here right?”
“No, my parents apparently brought me in when I was only two. They died shortly after, and I just kind of grew up in Aras with Greyson and Leo watching over me. I lived with them until I could take care of myself.”
“Wow,” Killian said. “You don’t know where you’re originally from?”
I shook my head. “Nope, Greyson and Leo told me my parents never said. I guess Greyson was more lax back then with his record keeping, though it’s not like I asked.”
“What’s your last name? We have a lot of families with last names where I am from. Maybe it’s common there.”
I gave an annoyed grunt. “Stop being so god damn nosey. I’m an orphan, that’s all that’s important.”
“But if you were registered you would have to have a last name.”
I let out a breath. I really didn’t want to have to explain to him that I wasn’t registered at all with the Arian Compliance League. I had been hidden from the Legion’s fingers my whole life. Couldn’t blame Leo and Greyson for doing it; I did have all the abilities they were looking for, plus all the enhanced senses. Still though, I really wasn’t ready to tell the kid all of this. He didn’t need to know my whole god damn life story just yet. That was a tender spot for me, and if I started answering questions he would only ask more.
“I never asked,” I said back. Luckily Killian got the hint and shut up. I re-lit the quil and took a couple of drags from it. We continued to walk quietly towards the east gate.
“Nuh-uh, Greyson will kill me, you’re not taking the gate, go, shoo!” Matt said, looking uneasy. He should have been, I was still pissed at him for letting Killian out.
“I’m not taking your area, shithead. Let us out, deacdog got out and is eating our scaver,” I said. I held up my M16 for him to see.
He let out a nervous sigh and started twisting the gate. “Only because it’s you, Reaver.”
I smirked, and we walked along the gate towards the east watch building.
I started to walk along the fence, it was pretty dark out, but I could hear the deacons only a few feet from me so I knew everything was safe. I could hear Killian a few steps behind me as well. It wouldn’t take us as long to reach the dog; I owed the stupid thing a bit of safety for the help it gave me back at that exit ramp. Even if it was a moron.
We were almost to the flood light when I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and was surprised to see Killian with his hands folded up behind his head. He was looking around a bit wide-eyed, biting down on his lip. He did
n’t look too great.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. I noticed his breath was a bit quick. He had that wide-eyed scared look like he’d had when I got him from the factory.
“I’m sorry, I–” Killian stopped, then suddenly let out a yelp and jumped a mile high as the dog came bounding towards us. I swore. “Go lay down!” I snapped at it. It cowered and slinked off into the shadows.
I turned to Killian; he was hyperventilating. I had seen this before, he was on the verge of a panic attack. Wow, was I ever an idiot. I should have left him with Matt. I didn’t think the other side of the fence was that big of a deal.
I put my arms around him and kind of locked him into me. He was breathing pretty hard and his heart was racing. Maybe it was the night time that was freaking him out; all of the bad shit pretty much happened to him when it was dark out.
“Are they here?” I heard Killian ask through tears. I tried to hold him down in my embrace. I could feel his arms jolt as he tried to jerk away, his body trembling.
“No, they’re not here,” I said to him. “No one’s here, just me and you. Don’t be stupid, you know that.”
He whimpered and nodded. I held his cold body as he shook. I shushed him, and waited until the worst was over, before I tried to make him stand. I didn’t want to be out here for long, though I trusted the deacdog and the deacons would tell us if anything was lurking. I held Killian up and we walked back to the fence, the dog a grey shadow ahead of us, running through the entrance.
“Is he okay?” Matt asked. Stupid Matt, he really needed to mind his own business.
“He’s fine,” I said. “Call Jess, tell her I’ll give her five dollars to cover me. I’m going home with him.”
“She’ll be more than happy to for that kind of money,” Matt said, and I heard him a few moments later on his radio.
“I’m sorry,” Killian choked, grasping my vest as he tried to stand on his own. “I’ll be fine, please let’s go back.”
