Friends Forever

A small convoy traveled through the wasteland. As the sun set, it came to a stop in a rocky valley. People climbed out and began setting up camp.

During setup, a young boy wearing a hood and torn jeans darted towards a nearby boulder, clutching a sketchbook and a small container of charcoal, and climbed. When he got to the top, he sat down, opened his sketchbook, and began scribbling away.

His name is Thomas. He was found by a couple who gave him to the group he's with now after a cannibal group attacked and killed his family. Drawing and sketching were the only things that gave him comfort. Ever since the attack, Thomas hadn't spoken a word. Whether he was a mute or not, no one knows, but everyone understood him all the same.

Though night fell, Thomas continued sketching though he had a lantern by his side. Then, suddenly, he stopped as he heard several rocks crumble slightly. Looking into the darkness, Thomas couldn't see anything, yet things felt uneasy. He stood up slowly, still staring.

Just as he turned to run, something grabbed Thomas, covered his eyes and mouth, and dragged him into the darkness. No sooner afterward, Thomas began hearing voices unfamiliar to him. Voices of confusion with bits of anger filled his ears, and it frightened him.

The blindfold was taken off, and surrounding him were a bunch of people. Some wore goggles and armor, wore masks and torn clothing with spiked gloves, and crazed shirtless men with goggles and respirator masks wielding crossbows.

There were banners with ravens painted in blood and bird skulls on miniature spikes on some armored dune buggies.

A hand was rested firmly on Thomas's shoulder so he couldn't run. This bizarre group parted before him, and a man in a duster approached. His boots gave off small metallic clinging as he walked. He had an eye patch over one eye, and he wore a bandoleer across his chest. Though the duster made the man appear bulky, he was really scrawny.

He stopped and observed Thomas. "Remove the hood," he said. Thomas felt his hood be pulled off his head, showing his short shaggy hair. He stared at the ground. "I don't know why you wanted us to 'nap this child. His group was nearby. We could've rushed in and have a little blood play." Thomas's captor whined, followed by some of the others murmuring in agreement.

Ignoring them, the man knelt before Thomas and gently raised his chin. Then, after careful examination, the man spoke. "What all did he have on him?"

"He was carrying these." Thomas's sketchbook and container were tossed to the ground. The man picked up the sketchbook and looked into them. He then looked at Thomas. "Put him in the Bird Cage."

"But Axon, we--" the captor began. "Question me again, Brisk, and you will get blood play only it will be yours." Thomas was shoved from behind, and he walked. As he walked by the man they called Axon, he noticed a heart-shaped locket dangling from Axon's hand.

He was locked in a cage made from metal, bone, and wire. Thomas curled up and buried his head in his arms. Looking through the sketchbook, Axon was amazed by all he saw. Sketches of landscapes, the night sky, people, and more. He stopped when he noticed one drawing. It was of a woman, but she looked familiar. He opened up the locket, and sure enough, it was his sister.

Closing the locket, Axon decided to go see Thomas. Thomas didn't flinch as Brisk, a bald tattooed man with a set of rings piercing his eyebrow and nose, banged on the cage with part of a pipe.

"Eat!" he demanded as he shoved a bowl full of soup into the cage. He then walked away. Thomas made his way over and picked up the bowl. The contents of the soup were a complete mystery to him. He tried a sip, and it tasted mildly bitter. He still tried to eat when Axon arrived. "So you like to draw, huh?" he said. Thomas turned his back to him as he ate.

Axon put the sketchbook through the cage and set it on the floor. "I'm not going to hurt you." Thomas slowly turned before he quickly grabbed the sketchbook and turn away. "I saw a woman in one of your drawings, and I want to ask you something: do you know her?" Axon spoke softly.

Thomas gave a nod. "I see..." Axon said. He then took the locket out of his pocket. "Come here. I want to show you something." Upon finishing the soup, Thomas came over. Axon opened the locket and showed the picture of his sister to him.

Thomas's eyes widened. "She was my sister," Axon explained, "I hadn't seen her since The Fall and came to learn recently that she's gone. Her husband carried this locket, and he was never one to leave her side. So I carry this locket in memory of them." With that, Axon closed the locket.

Thomas handed him the empty bowl. Axon took it and began to walk away. "She was my friend." Axon stopped as Thomas spoke. "After my parents were killed, I met her and her husband. She was the kindest lady I ever met. She was sick and didn't have long to live. When we came upon a caravan, she got worse. She died peacefully. Her husband left me with the caravan, telling me that they will take care of me. I haven't seen him since."

Taken aback, Axon remained silent, for he remembered Eric and his courageous stand. He held back a tear. He turned to walk away, but then he stopped. "Originally, I was going to use you as bait for your group... but I can't go through with it."

Axon reached into his pocket and took out a spare key before unlocking the door. Confused, Thomas stepped out. "Follow me and stay close," Axon said. As they made their way through, they stopped in front of Brisk with a large group of scavengers and raiders. Brisk carried an ax with spikes.

"We've made a decision," Brisk began as he gripped his ax tightly, "and it's time for a new leader. You've gone softie on us. You refused to allow us to strip that one bag of meat who sent half of us to join GUNR in Paradise City, called off the pursuit, and you refuse to let us have a blood play. So you shall be taken down to Paradise City."

Axon, feeling betrayed and knowing what's about to happen, took out the locket. He then turned around, grabbed Thomas's hand, and placed the locket in his palm. He then closed Thomas's fingers. "Run." he said.

"Why are you doing this?" Thomas asked. "Because I like you. I wish things were different. We could've been friends, maybe forever. Take this as an attempt of friendship. I will hold them off for as long as I can. Now run!"

Without hesitation, Thomas ran. Axon rose to his feet, facing brisk, and removed his duster. He had a bandoleer of throwing knives across his chest. Another group of scavengers and raiders gathered behind Axon. He took out a pair of tomahawks. "You want blood play, Brisk? Then let's play..." Axon quickly raised his tomahawks. "WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!" The two groups clashed. Thomas made his way through the encampment among the growing chaos, avoiding as much of the confrontation as possible.

He never seen so much blood spilled before. A shirtless ravager jumped a giant berserker from behind, tackling him to the ground, then savagely beating his head in with a large rock. Shots rang throughout the encampment with bloodcurdling screams. Finally, Thomas made it out, and he ran into the darkness.

He didn't know how long he ran, but he continued until he fell from exhaustion. Lying on the ground and seeing the night sky, Thomas heard approaching footsteps. Too tired to run, he awaited his capture. Finally, a light shone upon him and he listened to a familiar gentle voice. "I found him! He's over here!"

Thomas sat up and he saw his friends. He quickly stood up and ran and hugged the woman with the flashlight. She embraced him. "We were worried about you. We tried calling for you and found that you were gone. What happened? You're trembling." Thomas lowered his head, not speaking a word.

The woman knelt before him. "It's okay, Thomas. I understand. Come on. Let's go home." They rejoined the others and returned to the convoy.