A Tricky Trek

The metal pinged and groaned against the changes of temperature around the faded colors of the bunker walls. It barely passes as that. A bunker. It's more of a crypt that was designed from metal instead of stone. I only found myself in here in response to some particular directions. I won't say it was luck because that infers a modicum of hope which as of late has become something that is in short supply. The only thing shorter than that is the stores of food that I have left.

My eyes drifted to the barren shelves at the back of the submerged trailer. Where once it was filled with boxes that held cans of perishables and army grade rations, it now holds the weight of the small bugs that had managed to find their way in through the small cracks that I had not been able to see in the dim and failing lighting that was wired in to the unit. Some of the bulbs had blown a few weeks back and without replacements I would soon find myself taking another step closer to accepting the final purpose of the shelter.

I pressed up from the cot that was bolted to the wall. The old springs squealing and moaning as I left their abused frames. My thin and malnourished frame stretched and curled to awaken the muscles that were still useful while the none useful ached and pained to let me know their discomfort was still present.

"I'd kill for some aspirin." I grumbled.

A deep sigh filled my lungs and with it came the scent of rusting, moldy walls that were caving in with each passing day. The shuffle of my old shoes broke the cramped silence around me as I walked to the end of the bunker near the shelves. I picked up the splintering nail that sat on the empty shelf and scratched into the metal wall. Another weak line of white carved into the muted red layer amongst the 385 other lines next to it.

As I finished the small addition to the sad tapestry I dropped the nail onto the metal shelf. A light "tack" of sound echoed around me and I walked into the cordoned off-shoot room that had been serving as a bathroom. I held my breath as long as I could while I relieved myself next to the added company of the flies and maggots that had found themselves festering in my weeks worth of waste. The flushing system had failed first when I lost the generator and solar power and looking back at the anger I had back then; I can only chuckle at the frivolous outbursts that I had shouted at the makeshift port-a-potty.

I let out a weak gasp of air as I stepped out of the room and slid the door closed to contain most of the smell that was coming from the room. As the metal lever swung the hook around the bar to latch it closed I leaned my head against the cool dew of the door. At my foot I spotted the small wriggle of a grub that had found it's way out of the room. My stomach wretched and groaned in response to being both hungry and disgusted at the momentary consideration to eat the small source of nourishment.

"I have to leave. There's no food and soon there'll be no power." I said.

My eyes closed and I waited for a response that I knew shouldn't come. I listened to the raspy moans of my breath before I pressed my hands on the door and turned to the one shelf that had a single, unopened box. On the side were the water damaged words that simply read: "Emergency Only!"

I pulled the box off the shelf and it fell to the floor. I wasn't ready for the weight it had contained and in result I heard the crack of cans, bags, and plastic bounce off one another as the plywood floor caught the impact of the box. Lifting the corrugated flaps open one by one I peered into the old box. A few cans of beans and fruit medleys were rolling around a folded windbreaker jacket. I pulled out the coat and felt the majority of the boxes weight drop from the center of the fabric.

A metal patter hit the base of the box and as I looked down I saw the dim gleam of chrome. A small six shot pistol had been hidden away in the box. Pulling the piece out I felt the cold familiar curl of the small trigger and for a brief moment thought it was meant to be the last answer to a world gone to hell.

"We both know you aren't going to use that."

A voice rang low and comical at my ears from behind me. A faint ethereal trail in its final word always trailed off that let me know he had finished speaking his mind. My brow furled at the words he had spoken because they were right. Putting aside the lack of strength to pull the trigger, I was more afraid of what would happen after the end. I took a deep sigh in an effort to release the minor aggravation that I had towards him.

"Oh! I see what's happening! finally getting the will to leave our humble abode are you? I never thought the day would come! Tell me, where is it we're going? With these temperatures I'm pretty sure the beach would make for a nice destination. We can take a quick dip and see what the local flavor of ice cream is! It could be fun, don't you think?"

My eyes looked up to the corner of the room to see the old, weathered back pack that leaned by the door. Making my way over to the bag I heard the continued taunts of my invisible companion.

"Are you really going to just ignore me? ME!? I'm your oldest friend and you think that by ignoring me I'll just go away? That didn't work when you were a kid and we both know the meds didn't do you any favors. Come on. Just give me a nod or something! You know I don't like silence."

I said nothing as I packed the items away into the bag. I had slung the bag over my shoulders and my body groaned against the weight that had been sudden and new. I had done very little to keep my trained physique over the past few months and today I was paying for it in full. I stepped to the door and pressed the key into the padlock that had so diligently kept me safe from the world outside.

Swinging the latch around on the door I heard the aged squeak of metal against metal as the door parted slightly. My fingers gripped at the edge of the door and pulled it open. Beams of rough, cloudy sunlight shown through the fallen planks above. At least now I know why scavengers hadn't come banging their way in. Nobody knew I was down here. The thin strands of light were just enough to see the puddle laden steps ahead of me that would lead out of the container at my back.

An airy wave of mildew and ash blew into the area around me. Against the filth I had been smelling, it was a welcome change. I took a deep breath and coughed as my lungs felt the change and struggled to adapt to the new scent. After a few moments, I finally caught my breath and felt the tight ball of bile in my throat subside. My gaze looked back up to the splintered wood above and upon placing one foot on the step in front of me I heard the agitated voice speak up.

"You really think you're ready for what's out there? Ha! Kid you won't last a day without my help. Hell you wouldn't have even made it to here if I hadn't stepped in before all of this went to shit."

My fingers pressed at the abused wood above my head as I thought on the words he said. He was right and he knew it. He was always clever about getting his way. I heaved the old boards up and they tumbled against one another as I slid them away from me. I scanned the scavenged room for any hint that I might not be alone. Spotting a small rock at my side I grabbed it and chucked into the broken remains of an entryway. A cracked pane of glass shattered and I waited in the tense silence for something, anything to happen.

My breath held as I felt the small tremors of weakness in my body rattle me. A dry ache coated my eyes as I held back the need to blink for what had felt like an eternity. After nothing had occurred I let the strangled breath in my throat out slowly. A sudden headache had pressed at my temple and my eyes creaked against the pain. I sat at the edge of the step as I rubbed at my temple to ease the pain away. As I opened my eyes to the flickering lights below I saw the shadowy outline of my ancient companion. Looking around the area once more I readied myself for the journey ahead and stood.

"Well? Where do we need to go then... Loki?" I said.

I felt the twitch of my body as I shared the space of my existence with him. A small cracked smile broke at the edge of my lips as I heard his voice.

"We need to start by finding my children."