Nina and Minerva

Act I: Prologue – Day 1

Aliens have invaded th’ Earth, but humans are still killing each otha’. Why am Ah not surprised?

Mah feet go clap ‘gainst th’ cold cobblestone path. Behin’ me Ah hear th’ scurried march o’ th’ Chosen , an organizatishun dedicated tah killin’ scavengers on th’ Surface an' stealin' their supplies. Th’ canned food in mah backpack rattle ‘gainst one anotha as Ah run ‘long. Th’ grip on mah axe tightens as mah shoulder whisps bah a corner’s edge, nose blarin’ steam. Ah swear tah God Ah ain’t dyin’ today!

Ah turn ‘round—

“Oof!” A large blue dumpsta’s square edge punches me in th’ gut! Ah double ova quick— brain rattles—an’ mah chin clashes ‘gainst th’ filthy lid! Ah crumple, takin’ in quick, nasty ass anguished breaths. As Ah roll ‘round on th’ flo’, curled up in agony, Luna’s cold light casts big, scary shadows ‘cross th’ scattered flo’ tiles: a pair o’ two, four, no, six legs.

Ah scramble tah mah feet. No time tah hide, huh? Ah snort. ‘Spose Ah’ll jus’ haftah hunt th’ hunters.

One o’ ‘em darts outta covah, pistol raised. Mah arm flashes forward. A blur o’ silver, an’ th’ next thing ya kno’, his arm is on th’ flo’ an’ mah now bloody axe is embedded intah th’ brick alley wall. Th’ short haired blonde man wit’ deep, shimmerin’ blue eyes wails in horror, clutchin’ his rite shouldah as a burst o’ crimson ‘xplodes from th’ empty socket, drowin’ what’s left o’ his floppin’ red arm like a dyin’ fish outta a sea o’ red water.

Th’ Chosen ‘round th’ corner gasp, but they ain’t got time tah be surprised. Ah run up tah th’ wall, grip mah axe, then bounce off wit’ a swift, clean swipe. Flinch back as an intense copper sprays pours ova me from th' brown man’s throat, his thick goate pointed skyward as his head unhinges. Ah wince as he collapses, now a howlin’, twitchin’ gyser, while a green eyed woman wit’ spiky black hair swipes a metal bat at mah head. Ah crouch, th’ cold steel blastin’ th’ tip o’ mah hair sideways, then yank outta knife from mah waist holder. Spring upwards, fists clenched tight ‘round th’ knife handle, then jam it intah th’ woman’s throat. Warmness splatters ontah mah hands as mah wrists judder wit’ finality. Th’ woman stumbles backwards, hands claspin’ ‘round th’ handle. She takes in pained, wheezed breaths, eyes rollin’ intah th’ back o’ her head ‘fore Ah yank it out. Blood jets from her chin like an upside down volcano. She sways on th’ spot, then slithers tah th’ flo’, body shudderin’ wit’ wet coughs.

Ah’m tremblin’ all ova as Ah inch backwards. Shit, well… Oh! Th’ back o’ mah ankles fall from ‘neath me, makin’ me bust mah ass on th’ hard, now soakin' wet flo’. Unnerneath mah tattered blue jeaned thigh is th’ still whitherin’ blonde guy, shriekin’ in agony. Ah scrurry offa him wit’ a yelp, then, raisin’ mah axe up high, cleave it intah his forehead! He goes still as mah axe's wooden handle vibrates in mah grip. Hey, ‘least he’s no longah in pain. Plus, he finally shut up. Ah say we bot’ win this one.

Ah dislodge th’ axe from his handsome, split open face, thick red rope bindin’ th’ two togetha ‘fore Ah break ‘em ‘part. Mah stomach twists intah knots at th’ site, but, shit, well, least that’s ov—

Shoes skiddin’ ‘cross th’ flo? Ah burst intah a sprint, sparin’ a quick glance ova th’ shouldah. Three Chosen are on mah ass, one o’ ‘em dashin’ ahead o’ th’ rest wit a burst o’ speed. He clasps his hand ‘round mah backpack’s shoulder strap, yankin’ me backwards. Mah stomach falls as Ah take inna hissed breath ‘fore slammin’ th’ back o’ mah head intah th’ basserd’s nose! He sputters out, “Bitch!” but keeps his grip on th’ backpack tight. Tears pourin’ down mah eyes, Ah stomp on his foot ‘fore reachin’ mah arm back an’ swipin' thru th’ straps wit' mah axe. Th’ hateful stranger lurches backwards, still clutchin’ mah backpack as Ah’m freed from his grip, blastin’ forward like a deer ‘scapin’ fromma net.

Ah sprint intah th’ next corner, then take anotha corner at lightnin’ speed. Ah catch mahself ‘gainst th’ green dumpstah ‘fore Ah slam intah it. Aftah a quick dart o’ th’ head from side tah side, Ah creep th’ lid open an’ slither inside. Mah heels slip ‘gainst th’ slimy wet flo’, makin’ me bang th’ back o’ head ‘gainst th’ dumpster. A dull clang echoes throughout th’ hollow interior as Ah take inna sharp, pained breath.

Definitely th’ smartest thing Ah’ve eva done.

Th’ smell o’ death ova powers mah nostrils. Ah covah mah mouth jus’ ‘fore vomit bursts from it, th’ lumpy liquid oozin’ ‘tween mah fingers. Ah keep an iron grip onnit, tryin’ tah stay as quiet as possible as footsteps thud outside. A nail o’ pain stabs me in mah third eye as Ah choke on th’ vomit, cryin’ silently.

“Hey, you guys hear something?” A gruff voice asks.

“I don’t know, jackass.” A harsh, feminine voice spits. “I can’t believe you let her get away!”

“Don’t be so hard on Zack. He’s an old man, y’know?” A high pitched, bubbly voice giggles. Mah insides freeze. An eerie creak is heard ‘fore a thin strip o’ light pierces thru th’ darkness. Oh, God. A mangled Feral corpse lies ‘cross from me, it’s deep blue skin spotted wit’ red gashes all ova its body. White, squirmy maggots crawl ‘cross th’ things insides ‘fore th’ strip o’ light disappears as if it never where, trappin’ me back in th’ smelly darkness. Th’ lid whams shut as th’ bubbly voice goes, “Oh, jeez, pee-u!”

Th’ footsteps continue onwards, passin’ me up. “Relax, ladies,” th’ gruff voice, Zack, says, “We’ll find her.”

Ah wait in th’ rank darkness fer God knows how long, head poundin’ sumthin’ fierce. Shit. Shit! Ah punch in th’ air in silent fury, still chokin’ on th’ rank air. They took mah food. We’re fucked.

Once Ah can’t hear th’ footsteps no mo’, Ah carefully open th’ lid o’ th’ dumpster. Ah crawl outta th’ hell inna box, sobs stoppin’ me from ‘preciatin’ th’ relatively cleaner air. Oh mah God. Mah brother an’ me’re gonna die. Guess we finally ran outta miracles. Fer a second, Ah’m so overwhelmed wit’ sorrow that Ah get an image o’ me lyin’ on th’ cold flo’, paralyzed wit’ tears fer hours. Ah shake th’ vision off, a sob stuck in mah throat. No sense lyin’ ‘round cryin’ here. Might as well spend what lil’ time Ah got left wit’ mah brother. Stomach shudderin’ wit’ hunger, Ah inch forward, walkin’ intah tomorrow.