The glint of hope

As the sun rises in the valley, he pulls out his rifle. He ran out of bullets for it some time ago, but he still could use the scope. Pointing it towards the mountain, he centers it on his prize; an old buick. It has been rusting in this constant, acidic rain, but there was a glint of something gold.

It could be any number of things, but it has been 3 years since he has even seen a person, let alone talked to one. Even if the car was unable to move, it’s glass and materials could provide decent cover.

He looked over his camp, and his supplies. Some leftover mole meat, smoked as best as he could. 4 mystery cans, one he was sure was dog food, but the rain had damaged the labels. A makeshift water purifier, consisting of a copper pan and tubing. Some wood and paper he scavenged for fire, and the plastic tarp that he has been using as a tent. A revolver, with 4 bullets. He puts on his heavy rain gear, and begins to pack it up.

Soon he began trudging through the valley. There was no green in this forest, the rain took care of that. Instead, he noted that the trees had lost most of their bark to corrosion, and now had an exposed vascular system that looked like pasta. He heard that there were some places that still had green plants in protected greenhouses, but he doubted he would get in. Still, he would literally kill for some orange juice. He kept his march, wondering what was in the car.

A sudden noise stopped him. He ducked behind a tree. He tipped his head out from the side, and saw what was the cause, a bear. The beast’s fur had been burnt away, its skin mottled and scabbed over. There was only one reason it would be suffering to leave the cave, and he didn’t want to be a meal to the massive beast. He began to back away, hoping the rain would dull the creature’s senses.

A twig snapped under his foot.

He and the bear lock eyes.

They stared at each other like a pair of gunslingers at high noon. He knew he had nowhere near enough bullets to kill the bear, even in its decrepit state. To his left is a river, currently flooded with enough chemicals to burn through most stuff, but there was a reason why he was wearing waders under his raincoat. He started to run, and the bear followed.

He remembered reading somewhere that a bear could run at 40 mph, but he could see it’s ribs. The only thing powering the bear was desperation and hunger. He spun around, and got into firing position, and fired a shot at the bear. It veered left, the small caliber round actually managing to hit the bear near the eye.

He didn’t bother to see the damage, and started to run again to the river. In the old days, it would have been far deeper, but things changed so rapidly. He made it to the river bank when he went flying forward, the bear striking him from behind.

The water was waist deep, and he quickly pulled himself out of the water before it soaked through his mask. He could already feel the straps on his pack loosen. He jogged his way to the other bank, and checked the damage to his pack.

His tarp was shredded by the claws, and his packet of mole meat was gone. The pan had a massive dent, but looked like it could still hold water. The wood was already wet, and corroding, so he dropped the useless fuel and turned to the bear. Its left eye was damaged, but he noted that the beast was tearing through something. The meat must have gotten caught on it’s claws.

He pulled his pack together, hoping he could find a replacement tarp, and started to head back on the trail.

He soon found himself in front of the car. It’s tires had long since burst from the air pressure and the corrosive nature of the weather. He began to circle it, and noted that the driver's side window was shattered. He drew his pistol, and approached carefully. In the car, he could see there was a rummaged through suitcase, blood stains turned brown on the seat, and hanging from the mirror a small golden locket. This must have been the glint he saw.

He opened the passenger's side, and saw a small piece of paper under a layer of dust on the dashboard. He picked it up, and began to read.

Sorry Daddy,

I no that you said to stay, but I got scared and went to find you. I left mommy’s pendant in case I got lost to. Please don’t be angry.

Millie

He got up and looked down from the car. There were the shredded remnants of a man’s suit further down on the hill, on a different slope from where he climbed. Millie may have been able to see her dead father further down, and then went to grab supplies to leave. How old was she?

For the first time in years, he looked into the mirror. He saw prematurely gray hair, and the thick bags under his eyes from lacking sleep. He opened the locket, and saw a beautiful woman on one side, and an adorable baby on the other. He closed his eyes, and started to weep.

When he opened his eyes, he was Harry again. He had spent so long just trying to survive in this hellscape he had forgotten everything else. Harry grabbed what supplies he could, and soon pulled himself into the back seat to get some rest. Harry knew he had a mission now and needed his strength.

For Millie.