3 Years Later

I don't know what possessed me to go.

Maybe it was out of fear of the consequences of what might happen if I didn't go.

Maybe it was out of hope for reassured safety.

Maybe it was none of those.

Nonetheless something slowly guided me forwards and into a room I haven't been in before. All along were shelves that lined the walls as stacks of papers covered the floor. Anything from newspapers to magazines to invoices to even doc.u.ments where there. Some pieces were left as they were while others had whole writings on them. A mix match colors of pens and words sprawled out on the pages. Some were lines of poetic anguish, others were line music for some unwritten song, most were discernible lines of scrabble.

I finally laid my eyes upon Nick as he let out a huff from a particularly large pile near the back corner of the room. It having the most acc.u.mulation of paper and, effectively, acting as a sort of bed. Especially with the way he dr.a.p.ed numerous furred products on top. Part of me wanted to ask where he got the furs but my throat clenched up.

"Just sit anywhere if you like." He grumbled as he rubbed his shoulder. A pained expression on his face from trying to work out some sort of kink there. I could only nod in response as I slipped onto one of the still working chairs in the room. Allowing my eyes to take sight of each item that was there.

It unnerved me with how calm he was. The harsh glare from the hallway melted away to a more neutral position as he continued massaging his back. Grunts of pain and struggles left his lips as I went back to observing him. Watching the way the butterflies on each wrist twisted as he continued his actions.

My eyes flicked back up to his face only for those golden brown orbs of his to catch mine. That same deep ache in my c.h.e.s.t started up again as I tore away from his figure. Trying to ease my aching heart from reacting to the man in front of me.

"You better have a good explanation for this." A new voice came from the door way as Jake's own figure slipped inside. His face hardened until it landed on me. My own jaw hung open in surprise before Nick barked for the other man to close the door behind him. Jake quickly taking a seat near by me, on top one of the many piles of papers, and shutting up. Throwing a cautious look to me as Nick stood up.

He paced around, his body much like that of a stalking animal, as he rubbed his chin. We stayed like that for a good while. It felt as if it'll go one forever. Without notice he stopped right in front of the table and slammed his hands down, effectively causing me to jump.

"You two, how long have you been out there? Have you been in any gangs? Any crews? How long Have you been out there? Seen anything weird? Seen any carriers? Any trucks with skulls? Any helicopters?"

Word after word came fast and it was far too late to make sense of it. Words of questions, questions of whereabouts, whereabouts of people, places, things. The rapid slew of words caused my headache to double in size as my hand shot out to grab at it.

"Did you meet anyone from the past? Did you get very far?"

"I was in a military group." Jake pipped up, finally able to get a word, which caused Nick's ramble to pause as he waited for me to respond.

My mind was long since left behind from trying to keep up with his questions that I could only draw back to one event before I came here. A simple run in with a band of bandits.

"I-Um... bandits?" I sputtered out, hoping he'd get what I meant. He nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer, as he snapped. A wide, while smile stretching across his face as he looked at us with this crazed look. It caused my body to be on alarm as he continued his rant.

"Yes, yes, yes good! You, in the military? Never would have thought! Strange for a weeb like you to be picked up by strong guys but bah! I'm always wrong with these sorts of things! And you, for such a little girl to be part of a bandit crew? Impressive! To think such a little thing like you can be of good use. Which gang were you in? I wonder if I knew it?"

With a pause, he swiftly pulled and popped something from his jacket into his mouth. The movement quick that I almost didn't process what he just did. Yet I remembered seeing that flat white tablet as it slipped passed his chapped lips.

"Nick are you okay?" Jake questioned, his tone quiet as if unsure if he wanted to ask in the first place. The man in question stood completely still, his head twitching and tilting to the side as I saw those eyes of his move back and forth. Almost as if he was reading something and then silently voicing it. With a hack and a cough, he came back to the present moment and a more pleasing smile.

"Of course I am. Sorry, just needed to take something to allow my mind to clear up." He responded with a giggle. Another fit of coughs left him causing him to stumble into his 'bed' once more. Ripping off his jacket and letting his skin breathe. My eyes already scanning the newly exposed flesh and catching the groves of scars. An uneasy feeling settled deep within me, replacing the ache from before, as I scanned the man in front of me.

Whoever this was is not what he used to be. Not anymore. He was more unstable, more unpredictable, and that fact alone was enough to make my hands grope about for any sort of weapon to protect myself with. I watched as he finally sat forward, his coughing fit over, and a serious look took over the crazed one from before.

"I'm fine... I swear I'm fine. But I need to know. Are you two warriors? Beings ready to bathe in blood? Or are you just waiting for the dead to come and claim your skins? I need people to trust but are you the people ready for the job?"

His eyes scanned both of ours as we looked at each other in concern.

Unsure as to how to respond.