Blood. There’s blood everywhere. There’s blood, but its black. Black like ink, like darkness, like death. Its not the boy’s blood. Despite it being that, just a few seconds ago, the unsightly mistake of an animal was ready to feast on the flesh of a young boy, the only thing that remains of said beast is its dismembered body, laying lifeless at the boy’s feet.  

The kid keeps flickering in and out conscience, like a lit candle met by a soft breeze. He can’t tear his eyes away from that great beast, once a servant of death, now seized by its master. His heart still trembles within his chest.  

__________________________

 “Hey, you good?”, called a gruff voice from behind him, which he hadn’t heard before, “Hey!”  

His senses return to him, and a small gasp escapes his lips. He meets the eyes of his saviour, drenched in ebony blood. His saviour was a tall, gently-toned man, his skin still slightly tanned from when the sun used to shine on the land. His hair, though each side had been shaved, rested above his shoulder in thin blonde strands. Faded green spheres resting in a void of white were looking down on the boy, tinged with concern.  

“You’re awake. Good.” He sighs.  

“What… happened?”, the boy chokes, “Did you… kill that thing?”  

“No matter. All you need to know is that you’re alive. For now, at least,” he holds out his rough, scarred hand, “I’m Earl. And you?”  

The boy takes his saviour’s hand, allowing him to pull him back to his feet. “Charlie. Charlie Newcrest.”  

“Well, Mr. Newcrest. Glad to make your acquaintance. Now then…”, he grunts as he lifts what looks to be a gun around his shoulder, “On our way, we go. Come on, Sonia.” Charlie had been completely oblivious to the girl behind him the entire time he was awake, so when he did notice her, the glare she gave him sent shivers down his spine.  

“Hey now, Miss Delta. That’s no way to greet someone.” says Earl, now pointing towards Charlie. “Look at him, he’s petrified!” 

“Uh! No, I-!” the boy stammers, waving his hands about frantically. Earl lets out a raspy laugh, clearly finding Charlie’s panicked reaction amusing. He ruffles Charlie’s fluffy, dull pink hair in a friendly and charming manner (which doesn’t exactly fit with how one would perceive Earl, given that he looks to be the farthest thing from ‘charming’).  

“You won’t survive out here much longer if you stay so timid, hear?” he calls, as he strolls away, the girl, Sonia, following silently behind him. Watching as they progressively get further and further away, Charlie begins to contemplate if being alone is really what he wants. By the time he’s made up his mind, the strangers who had helped him were already around 12 feet away. His balance newly restored, he chases after them.  

“WAIT UP!” he cries, watching his footing carefully to make sure he doesn’t trip again when running. Once caught up with them, he hunches over, panting like a dog. “I want… I want to…” he breathes.  

Earl tilts his head. “You want to what?”  

“I want…!”  

“JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY, BRAT! YOU GOT A PROBLEM OR SOMETHI-!”, the girl becomes irritated by Charlie’s slow response, however, Earl pulls her back by the hood of her cropped, blue jacket.  

“Sonia, no.” he says firmly, “Let him speak.”  

Charlie takes a deep breath.  

“I want to join you.”