|
Post by nefret2011 on Apr 30, 2011 4:35:44 GMT 1
The stars were beautiful. That is, when you could look at them without the sounds of civilization and the image of fences surrounding you. Ava smiled up at the dark sky. How refreshing it was to be on her own. She sat down, crosslegged, her head tilted back. She could imagine her parents sleeping in their beds. Naomi dead to the world in the room they shared. Thank goodness for that. She'd never have made it out. Although she should be thankful for the one time her sister had chosen to sleep lightly...the scar seemed to throb for a moment. She chose to ignore it.
Despite being attacked by a zombie (attacked, but not bitten, thank the higher powers that be) she couldn't resist leaving Haven every once in a while. Just for a bit. Just to be alone for a little while. Without the constant pressure to work harder or be more practical. Or worse: the pressure to get married. All 3 brothers were married off, more or less happily. Naomi's was scheduled for the end of harvest. And Ava? She knew her parents had the boy picked out, but she'd never met him. She felt like meeting would end everything. Her daydreams of the city would become impossible to carry out. Her midnight wanderings cut short by the babies she'd be expected to have. No, she didn't care to meet the boy who would take everything away. In fact, she almost hated him.
Just thinking about everything...it felt like she was being suffocated. Her life was planned out for her. She would marry the boy her parents intended, have at least 3 children, who would grow up being farmers and wives (be they midwives or housewives). She and her husband would pick out a spouse for each and so on and so forth. The trap that was predictability. She stood up quickly. Although she was out in the open, she could feel the fences trying to pull her back into the nice little safe life they wanted for her. No. Her mind yelled at her. Before she knew it , she was running.
For a while she let herself just feel the rush of it. You could never really run when you were in Haven. It was unruly, rude, and all around frowned upon. Even when her lungs began to burn and her legs ache, she ran. Finally, when her legs were on the verge of giving out, she stopped. Looking over her shoulder, she frowned. Haven was still their, obstructing her vision of clear, openness. Before she could think about what she was doing, her feet began moving forward again. This time at a walk. Where was she going? Away, apparently. She had no supplies save for the snack of bread, apple, and water she always took on her midnight excursions. Not enough for a trek across the wasteland. But if she went back....they'd rein her in again. She might never get another chance. She looked down at her feet, took a deep breath, and pushed forward. In her mind she was imagining her family. Even knowing how hurt they'd be, she moved forward. I'm sorry. She thought, pushing back tears. I'm sorry I couldn't be the daughter you wanted.
She spend the better part of an hour looking over her shoulder as she walked. When Haven was a dot on the horizon, she breathed easier and turned her focus to the road ahead. Now that she'd made her decision to get away, she needed to figure out where she was headed. She remembered watching the soldiers go off to "raid the vampire infested city". What was it called again? New...New Vegas. She'd seen the soldiers walk off in the direction, followed her father's finger as he pointed in the vague direction of "the capital of the fall of mankind" or some such nonsense. She hoped the soldiers walked straight. Because at the moment that's all she had.
By the time the first fingers of dawn were streaching across the sky, Ava had only bread and half a water bottle left. She could already feel the hunger pangs beginning to form. Her feet were beginning to drag. And she was beginning to doubt herself. Was this really smart? Of course not. She told herself. But she was stuck on this track for better or worse.
Her parents were probably waking up by now. They'd recognize she was missing. Naomi would shoulder all the blame, claiming it was her fault for not paying attention. One of her brothers would immediately suggest searching the wastelands. The other two would agree. Father would, after some thought. But it wouldn't take them long to figure out she wasn't there. Would they assumed she'd run off? Would they think a zombie had attacked her? Not impossible, considering it had already happened once.
She was so caught up in her imagination, when she finally focused back on her surroundings, she was surprised to find the sun well into the sky. Almost midmorning. As if on cue, her eyelids began dragging down. She hadn't thought about sleeping. She'd be easy prey for a zombie if she stopped now. But her eyelids refused to be ignored. She stopped and sighed with frustration. Just a little nap. She told herself. I'm a light sleeper anyway. She sat on the ground and almost immediately found herself lying faceforward with her head turned to the side. Her small satchel, holding the remnants of her food, was her makeshift pillow. Just a little nap. She told herself. Just a little.... She was asleep.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on Apr 30, 2011 6:29:41 GMT 1
Dominic stumbled as he came over the rise, nearly falling again. He knew he couldn't fall. If he did, he would be unable to get up again. He also knew if he fell, he would drop or crush his newborn son who was now screaming nonstop out of hunger. He needed to move faster. He didn't know how much longer his child could last without nourishment. The biggest problem with the crying was every zombie in the vicinity would be drawn to the sound and that would not be good because Dominic was unsure if he could run. He had been walking for three days since his wife died in the attack on them. Three days since he cut his unborn son from his mother’s womb. Every drop of water he had, he gave to the baby he cradled in his arms wrapped in his bothers blouse. It was only an hour ago, he gave the child the last two capfuls of water from his water bottle. Now he was beginning to worry that he could not make it. But he had to keep trying. He could not give up, not ever.
"I know Benjamin, I'm sorry. We will be there soon." he murmured at the child. He looked up and nearly hooted for joy at the site of the city of New Vegas in the distance. To the west was Haven but it was much further away. Haven was just a spec on the horizon and while his mind told him he needed to be with his own kind, his decision had already been made by listening to his instincts to protect his son. He knew he would be able to take better care of Benjamin in the city. He knew the best way too. As a blood slave.
A long time ago, when he was little more than a teenager, he met a man who had lived a good life in New Vegas. He lived in a high rise casino in his own suite with his daughter. All he had to do was let his vampire master feed on him and…have his way with him…when he fancied him. For that, he lived like a king. At the time the manwas complaining about what he had to do to live that lifestyle but he had to do it for his daughter. She was fed, clothed and educated. When she grew up and married a VSF officer, the man ran away from New Vegas and joined the rebels. Dominic knew he could do it for Benjamin. He would do anything for him. Even if it meant letting himself be used as a blood slave.
He began to walk again. He knew if he kept moving, he could get there by sunset, when the vampires woke and hopefully, they would be taken in and his son could be fed. He was weak and had not had any water for three days. He only had enough water for his son and now that was gone too. His thought eyes began to play tricks on him.
He thought he saw a woman walking slowly toward the city. He blinked and looked again. She was still there. Was she a zombie? No, her steps were to light and sure. If she were a zombie she would be stumbling, limping and she would look disoriented. But she didn't. He could tell for certain that she was human. But what was she doing out here in the desert? Was he sure she wasn't a mirage? He blinked again and saw, again, she was still there. Maybe she knew where she was going, maybe she had water, and maybe…if he wasn’t going to make it there at all, she would take him to the humans who lived in New Vegas. He needed to get her attention.
"H..hey..hey please....help..." he tried to call out but his dry throat only croaked. He hoped whoever it was would hear his son crying. "P...please..." then one of the things he had been afraid of happened. He stumbled and fell. But instead f falling on him, he managed to tuck his son safely against him and turn so he did not fall on him. The child screamed louder than it had before as the impact startled him. Dominic struggled to get up but sank back to the ground twice before he managed to stand up again. He half jogged, half stumbled toward her. "Please...help us." he pleaded as he struggled to stay standing, "I need...I need to get him...safe...New Vegas...please."
The old woman stared at Dominic then started to giggle maniacally. Dominic took a frightened step back then took on an defensive stance. He would protect his son no matter what, even if it meant killing a woman. The woman suddenly laughed out loud and ran away. Dominic sighed sadly. His only hope was a lunatic wandering the desert…Dominic was exhausted and Benjamin continued to cry. Dominic only allowed himself a moment of despair before he began putting one foot in front of the other. He kept his eyes to the left and the right so he could watch for zombies as he walked.
Soon Dominic saw a body lying on the ground. It was a girl…She was probably some other poor soul who didn't make it to New Vegas. Pity, she was a pretty young girl. He continued to put on foot in front of the other but his mind when back to the body. How was he going to make it? It was so far away and he had not had a drink in three days. Even if he did make it there was no guarantee they would let him stay. He tried to lift his foot to take another step but it wouldn’t move. He stopped and looked at the city in the distance. He looked at the ground and sank to his knees. “I can’t, Benjamin, I’m so sorry.” He said and began to weep. He folded his tiny infant son in his arms and held him against his chest. Just feeling the tiny body filled him with resolve. “No, I will not give up” he said with new determination and forced himself to his feet. He wiped the tears from his cheeks and stood up straight. “I will save you. I promise.” He began to force his feet forward again, one, then the other.
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on Apr 30, 2011 6:50:02 GMT 1
"Ava girl, you got to move faster." Bianca was not a small woman, but she moved quickly and efficiently. Ava nodded and moved up to the head of the bed. The woman, a soon-to-be-mother, was drenched in her own sweat. The pain must've been intense, but she said nothing. Ava knew this would be her one day. She only hoped that day was far away. As her mother coached the woman through it, Ava stood dutifully by the side of the bed, mopping her brow. Occasionally she would murmur something encouraging.
After several hours, just at the time Ava was beginning to worry, the most blessed sound broke their tense silence. A baby crying. "Congratulations." Her mother said, cutting the cord and beginning to wash the babe. The woman flopped back on the bed, a weary smile lighting up her face. Almost immediately, a man was in the room, demanding to see the child. "He's healthy." Bianca informed him, walking by him with the babe in her arms. She wasn't one to let a man intimidate her. Ava moved out of the way so her mother could place the infant in the woman's arms. "There we are." Bianca said, as if she'd just finished a mundane task, like sweeping the floor. She motioned to Ava and they left together.
On the walk home, Ava finally gathered the courage to ask something she'd wanted to for a while. "Do....do we have to have children?" She asked timidly. "Could...someone....could they remain childless?" Her mother stopped in her tracks and stared down at Ava as if she'd just asked what color the sky was. "It's our duty to reproduce." She said slowly. "We owe it to our race. Would you like to be extinct?" Ava shook her head, as her mother wanted. Bianca nodded and continued. "Don't worry, Ava." She said in a softer tone. "You only need to have 3." Three times going through that? Ava pushed the thought away. It was best saved for a later date.
Ava opened her eyes, blinking away the dust in them. Her ears were ringing. Her mouth felt as dry as the land around her. She took out the bottle and took a sip. She was dying to pour the entire thing down her throat, but that would be stupid. She looked in her satchel. The bread was still good. She staggered to her feet. She frowned as she realized that wasn't ringing she was hearing. She'd heard that sound countless times in her life. Was she still in a dream? She looked around. Her eyes widened as she realized she was not alone.
He was handsome. Or at least, she was fairly certain he was. The grime and hunger ravage on his face made it difficult to tell. In his arms he held a crying infant. Only the cries sounded more like shrieks. They tore at her heart. How long had he been out here? The baby was not long from the end, she could tell that much. She moved forward, reminding herself to go slowly. The last thing she needed was to surprise him. "Sir?" She asked timidly. He was struggling just to walk. She fell in step beside him. The bit of energy her nap had given her felt like a piece of heaven, although she knew it wouldn't last long.
The baby was hungry. She could tell that from it's cries. She had no milk on or in her person, so that was impossible. She thought of her water bottle. There was barely enough to sustain her, much less two others. But she simply could not allow the babe to go without. "I have water." She said quietly. "It's not a lot, but..." She looked toward the city. They couldn't be that far away. The soldiers were constantly coming and going to the city. They wouldn't go so much if it was so far away, would they? She turned back to the man. "I also have a bit of bread." He looked ready to collapse. In his eyes was the look of a man haunted by something terrible. What had he seen? Regardless, she wasn't about to leave them out here unaided.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on May 1, 2011 17:49:41 GMT 1
Dominic concentrated on each step rather than the distance between him and the city. He knew he could make it to New Vegas because he had to. But he also knew that if he didn’t take it one miniscule step at a time he would not make it there. The despair of the distance would overtake him and he would fail his son. “Sir?” Dominic stopped walking and listened. Did he just hear a voice or was he hearing things? He slowly turned his head to look at the young girl who he saw lying dead just few moments before. It startled him somewhat for a moment but the fact that she spoke said volumes about the fact that she was not a zombie. He looked at her in disbelief, “You’re not dead.” He rasped through withered vocal chords. He nodded and looked back toward New Vegas, “That’s good. Real good.” "I have water.”
That statement could mean a lot of things. She could be warning him that she is going to defend her water to the death, she could be telling him she would make it to New Vegas because she had water, she could be bragging that she had water and he didn’t, or she could be offering him water. Either way, his child needed water so he had to do something. He shifted the small form in his arms so she could see him, “Benjamin needs water.” He croaked.”I’ll give you everything I have; do anything you want…please.” He pleaded.
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on May 1, 2011 18:18:09 GMT 1
When was the last time he'd spoken? It sounded like he hadn't used his voice in years. Give her everything he had? He must not have been listening. "I was offering it." She said. So the baby's name was Benjamin. "My name is Ava." She looked down at the squalling infant. The poor little guy was as miserable as his father. At least, she assumed the man was his father. Most men didn't walk around the desert holding babies. "My mother was a midwife. Taught me everything she knew." At least those years of apprenticeship (if you could call them that) wouldn't go to waste. Maybe she could even find a job in the city. Or did they have hospitals? She'd heard stories about them, but didn't know if they actually existed anymore.
Ava pulled out the water bottle of her little satchel. It was still half full. She looked to the horizon. She could make it to the city. She didn't know if he or his son could. Maybe if they had help. "Here." She said, offering the water. She gave a small smile. She looked to the baby. "It'll help if you keep the sun out of his face." She moved so her shadow fell over Benjamin. "They have extremely sensitive eyes." How much did this man know about children? Where was the child's mother? There were a million questions to be asked, but she didn't want to ask any of them. The look in his eyes....it couldn't have come from anything good.
Ava brushed the hair out of her eyes. Thinking about the city...she should have thought this through. She didn't know what she was going to do when she got to the city. If they had hospitals, being a midwife wouldn't help. She'd heard of there being slaves. The guards talked about how horribly they treated their slaves, draining them of blood whenever they felt like it. Her mother, who had been to the city before, said they kept the slaves healthy. It was only so they could take more blood, but still. Ava didn't know if she could be a slave. She couldn't quite wrap her mind around the idea. Wouldn't she be trapped, just like she was in Haven? Not again. She thought, imagining the fences around her. Please not again.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on May 8, 2011 7:02:15 GMT 1
Dominic’s own voice sounded alien to him and he swallowed against his raw dry throat. He looked at the woman, confused for a moment then cradled his son with one arm and took the bottle of water with the other. His son was tiny enough that he let him lay across his arm so his other hand was free and he took the held the bottle so he could twist the cap off. The cool clear water called to him but he would not touch a drop of the life giving substance.
He cleaned his pinky off the best that he could and dipped it in the water then put it against the babe’s lips. The baby stopped crying and immediately sucked the water off the pinky. Dominic repeated this action over and over with the patience of a saint. He smiled with his cracked lips when only after a couple ounces of water had been consumed, his son fell asleep. He quickly twisted the cap back on the bottle and handed it to the girl, “Thank you.” There was not a man on earth who could possibly feel as grateful as he did at that moment. He turned back toward the city. “I need to get him closer to the city.” He mumbled, “In case I don’t make it. Maybe they will see us, see him, or hear him if I die. They are supposed to have exceptional hearing.” He began his short shuffling steps again.
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on May 9, 2011 4:08:23 GMT 1
She'd never seen anyone so....hopeless. Every ounce of his strength was going for the survival of Benjamin. They had to be father and son. That kind of commitment didn't come out of nowhere. "We'll get him to the city." She knew vampires had incredible hearing. The question was, would they care? Any given vampire could be hundreds of years old. They'd seen enough humans die in their lifetimes, hadn't they? They had no reason to care about a few more, save for the blood in their veins. She pushed the thought away. This wasn't helping. She looked at Benjamin, now sleeping. There was something incredibly peaceful about a sleeping baby.
"We should get going." There seemed to be a weight lifted off of his chest. His hope was restored in a way. He was fairly certain his son would get to the city. As for his own survival...she didn't think he cared about that. She turned and started walking, hoping he could keep up. She didn't know strong his legs were. But one thing was for certain. She needed to distract him from his dismal thoughts. "What's your name?" She asked, realizing she didn't know what it was. She'd been so concerned for Benjamin (instinct instilled in her by her mother) that it hadn't occured to her to actually acquaint herself with the baby's father.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on May 11, 2011 15:42:06 GMT 1
Dominic turned his head to look at the girl. She was so young, not much more than a child herself. Why was she out there and how had she survived. Why wasn't someone protecting her? He turned his head and looked back at the silhouette of the town of Haven on the horizon. She must have been coming from there. He looked back at her. Why would she leave? The same reason he would not take Benjamin there. They meant well but, he wanted Benjamin to have more opportunities, he could give him more in New Vegas. He knew the price and he was willing to pay it, not matter what.
He hissed a snicker when she said they should get going. It would be nice to have some company on the remainder of his journey. “I am going.” He said with a slight smile. “My legs don’t seem to want to move, but I am making them.” He took another tentative step. If he fell again, he might not be so lucky this time.
"What's your name?"[/i]
Dominic’s mind went blank and he blinked several times against the sand in his eyes. What did she just ask him? What was the answer? Oh, his name…he had a name…what was it? He stopped and closed his eyes and pictured his wife calling his name. “Dominic…my …my name is Dominic.” He roughly stammered over the broken words as if they were unfamiliar. For courtesy sake, he knew he was supposed to ask her something now. What was it? Oh yeah, “What’s your name?” he asked.
A shuffling sound came from just off to the right of them and his eyes shot over in that direction. Sure enough, it was a zombie coming out from behind a rocky precipice. He stiffened as three more came out. They were old and weathered so they were moving with the same shuffling steps as he was. He only had a moment to think. He unceremoniously pushed Benjamin into Ava’s arms, “Run!” he said sharply and looked around on the ground. He picked up a large rock and stood defensively between the zombies, and his child. “Run! Get him to safety…Please.” He heard another sound coming from the direction of the city and looked just long enough to see some kind of vehicle headed in their direction. “RUN!” he croaked out the shout.
Without waiting for them to close the distance, he charged the zombies. The first one he reached opened its mouth and tried to grab him but he brought the rock down on its head and rolled to the side. He picked up a stick and went after the other three. One hard swing and a second went down. That left two. As he swung the stick on the third, he heard a loud “POP! POP!” and the other two zombies fell. Benjamin was screaming again. He turned to see a man in a sun suit...vampire. He breathed a sigh of relief and promptly fainted.
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on May 12, 2011 4:47:08 GMT 1
Making his legs move? He was in a bad state then. She wished she could do more. Growing up in a place where you helped for the sake of helping, standing by while another was in pain was against her nature. Still, she'd already given him what she could. He had hope, at least a little of it. Enough to keep going at any rate. Benjamin was sleeping peacefully. She'd achieved that much.
She was confused by his hesitation in revealing his name. Was it supposed to be a secret? She wasn't enough of an important person for that to make a difference. She was going into a city where she knew absolutely no one. Even if his identity was a secret, who did she have to tell? When he finally did say his name, it was halting. Like a small child reciting their multiplication tables. "Nice to meet you Dominic." She said warmly, eager to put him at ease. A random girl walking up to you out of a barren land had to be somewhat suspicious. When he asked for her name, she giggled. "I think I already told you." But, seeing as his mind had been somewhat distracted, she repeated herself. "My name's Ava."
The shuffling sound was something she knew all too well. The scar running across her collarbone started throbbing painlessly. Remember. It said. Remember what happened last time. True, it had been years ago, but that made the memory no less terrifying. When Dominic shoved his son into her arms, she reacted instinctively by wrapping her arms around him. It was a familiar feeling, having a baby in her arms. The baby, however, was not used to be pushed around by his father. He immediately woke up and started fussing. She didn't have the time to soothe him. She took off at a jog, until she noticed a vehicle coming towards them. What were vampires doing out here? She slowed down and turned back to see Dominic charging at the zombie, one that had it's mouth open. If he got bitten... "Dominic, look out!!" She yelled. Which only made Benjamin fuss more.
Gunshots. It wasn't the first time she'd heard them, but she flinched anyway. The zombies went down and not one moved. She sighed in relief, before realizing Benjamin was screaming. The sound must've scared him. "Hush, little one." She urged, rocking him gently. "You're safe. Hush." She looked up at the vehicle. Now that the threat of the zombies was securely out of the way, the only thing to worry about was the new addition to this little adventure. There were laws against vampires harming a human, something akin to the animal cruelty laws her mother told her about in the time before. Still, that didn't mean everyone followed those laws...
|
|
|
Post by dominic on May 26, 2011 4:32:24 GMT 1
Dominic was vaguely aware of voices asking in concerned tones about his well being. He heard questions about who he was, who the baby belonged to, how long he had been in the desert. He tried to force his eyes open but barely managed to crack them slightly. Water was forced to his lips. He tried to drink but only choked on the life giving fluid. He was being shouted at. He heard something about a supervisor pulling someone’s fangs. He felt a needle shoved into his arm. The only thing that mattered was that he could hear Benjamin still and the soft sounds of Ava trying to comfort him.
He heard the vampire talking again then Benjamin was quiet. Panic filled him but he could not do anything about it. He felt himself being lifted and that was all until he woke up in a hospital bed. His burning thirst was gone but his skin felt like it was on fire. He was bandaged up and he had tubes in his arms and oxygen blowing into his nose. He noticed he was in a stark white room. Something was wrong about all this. Something was missing. Benjamin. “Benjamin!” he shouted and began pulling the tubes out. Nurses flooded into the room and began pushing him back down on the bed. He fought them but they were too strong for him in his weakened condition.
“Where’s my son? Please…PLEASE! He’s just a baby! I want my son!” he felt himself being tied down. The words of comfort and reassurance went unheard as a needle pricked his arm and he immediately went limp and everything slowed down. “B..Ben…” he stammered. Then he heard it. The soft sound of sucking and swallowing could be heard behind the sounds to the nurses moving around and replacing the tubes he pulled out.
“Benjamin?” he lifted his head and struggled to see.
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on May 26, 2011 6:11:05 GMT 1
The vampires were very efficient. She answered a few questions, including a few awkward ones asking about "her husband" and "her son". Oddly enough, once she explained the situation, they seemed to take her word for it. Or maybe they just didn't care. While she was satisfying their curiosity, they were giving Dominic water and lifting him into the car. Having only ridden on horses before, the metal behemoth scared her more than a little. But when a being twice as strong as you, holding a gun longer than your forearm asks you to step in the vehicle, it's usually not a good idea to refuse. She nodded and got in timidly. By this time Benjamin had calmed down somewhat. He still made small mewling sounds as the car drove over the terrain. Terrifying, yet strangely thrilling.
The cars windows were darkly tinted, making it hard to see the city. Even if she could see, she doubted she would've really registered any of the sights. She was too bus worrying. Worrying about Dominic's condition. Worrying about Benjamin. Worrying about herself. This was not the way she envisioned herself coming into the city. She wasn't quite sure what the vampires were going to do with them.
While Dominic was taken by nurses and doctors (she knew enough to know their profession, at least) on a stretcher to a hospital room. Ava followed behind, baby Benjamin still in her arms. The vampires asked her more questions. This time about her home life. She answered as vaguely as she could, unsure of what they would think of Haven. Oddly enough, they didn't seem to care. They finished by handing her a piece of paper. The laws, she realized, glancing at the heading.
The moment she walked into Dominic's room, two nurses were suddenly there. One trying to take Benjamin for feeding, the other insisting Ava was healthy enough give her first blood tax. Ava stubbornly insisted she could do both. The nurses weren't in the mood to argue. So while one prepped and injected Ava with a needle, another fetched a bottle for Benjamin. It was a strange experience, having blood taken out. Especially knowing it was going to become part of someone else's meal. So she focused on Benjamin. He drank ravenously.
She looked up in surprise when Dominic suddenly started calling out for his son. As much as she wanted to walk over and show him his son was fine, there was the matter of the needle in her arm. "Dominic." She said firmly. He was too busy with his hysteria. The nurses managed to pin him down long enough for him to get hold of his senses. One of the nurses that had rushed into the room had the sense to unhook her. Then, just as quickly, the room was empty. She had to marvel at their efficiency.
She stood up slowly, a bit lightheaded. Benjamin had finally finished his meal. His head lolled against her chest. She sat in the chair next to Dominic's bed, not trusting her legs. "He's fine." She assured him, holding up the infant. Another nurse, one she vaguely recognized, walked in and handed Ava a bottle of juice and a small brightly colored packet. Crackers, she realized distantly. "Eat up." The nurse, this one more friendly than the others, said kindly. "It'll help with the dizziness." She looked at Benjamin, clucking her tongue. "Poor thing looks exhausted. Filthy too." She glanced at Ava. "You sure you don't need a bed yourself, love?" Then at Dominic. "You could use a wash as well." Ava looked at her impatiently. The nurse smiled again, this time in apology. "All in good time, I suppose." She looked between the two of them, a conspiratory twinkle in her eye. "I'll just leave you two alone then." Ava didn't bother correcting her as the nurse made her way to the door. Right before she left, she turned and said "The name's Ginny. Welcome to New Vegas." Another smile and she was gone.
Ava didn't say anything for several moments, eating the snack slowly. The dizziness did dissipate somewhat. Finally she spoke. "You did it." She said quietly. "You got him to the city." She thought about him fending off the zombies. The desperation there...she shuddered, remembering. "You're safe." She said. "Benjamin is safe." She was safe as well, but doubted he cared about that.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on Jun 15, 2011 4:18:43 GMT 1
((I'm really sorry, I will post more often.))
Dominic felt calm once the medicine took effect. With his hands tied down he couldn’t reach for his son. He knew he was in good hands the way Ava cradled him. But he was his responsibility. He knew he owed her big time. “I owe you one.” He said quietly. “What did you tell them?” he asked.
He didn’t know how the vampires would take to him being from a rebel camp. But she didn’t know that was where he came from. He had a feeling she came from Haven since she didn’t look like she was out in the desert long.
He stared at his son who finally looked like he was at peace. He was probably going to sleep restfully for the first time in his short life. Being three days old, he still had so many needs that he missed out on right at birth. He hoped his son was not damaged permanently. “Could you…untie me?” he asked. He looked down at the restraints and frowned. “I just want to hold him.”
For the last three days that was all he did. He walked and he held his son. He didn't even have a chance to mourn his wife’s death. He was too focused on making sure that his son, his wife’s son, survived. Now that it looked like they both would, he felt like he needed that peaceful moment with his son. “I’m calm now, really, I just want to hold him.”
|
|
|
Post by nefret2011 on Jun 15, 2011 6:30:40 GMT 1
"You don't owe me anything." Coming from a place like Haven, where everyone worked for the benefit of everyone else, being thanked for helping felt...odd. "It would have been cruel of me not to help." She would have felt awful, had she left the two of them out there. Even with the threat of zombies (which, admittedly, she was more afraid of than vampires) she couldn't have just walked away.
When he asked what she told the vampires, she thought about it for a moment. "That's the thing..." She said slowly, thinking it through as she said it. "They didn't seem to care about where we came from. They asked a lot about what it was like at home, my health, my skills...it felt like they were asking for my credentials more than they were asking where I came from." And that she didn't understand. Haven stole from the city. It was the only way they could survive. They lived outside the vampires' laws. They were building an army, for heaven's sake. There was an epiphone, hiding in the back of her mind. She thought a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. "I think...I think they don't see the rebel camps as a threat." As she said it, she knew it was the truth. "I mean, they have so much more in the way of supplies and technology..." She remembered the car. It had felt like flying. "They don't need to worry about humans... who have less."
However, they did care about the humans living in the city. Not so much about their welfare, as much as what they could contribute to society. She was a midwife. She had a certain set of skills that would be useful to the rest of the population. That was all they cared about. The rest was secondary.
When he mentioned his restraints, she hesitated. She didn't know exactly what medicine they'd given him, but he did seem to be better. And the way he stared at his son....like he was the sun rising after years of night. She stood and gently laid Benjamin on his father's chest and went to work undoing the straps. She sat back down and looked at the floor for several moments.
What now? The question echoed in her mind, as if her brain had emptied all of her thoughts except those two words. She was out of Haven. In the city. Where did she go from here? Where did Dominic plan to go from here? Seeing as his journey had been much more mission-like, where hers had been a random midnight escapade, it was more likely that he had a solid plan. "What are you going to do now?" She asked. Maybe his reply would help her think of one. She glanced out the door at all the nurses. I could do that. She thought. Then she glanced down at the sheet describing the laws. All children had to go to a trade school at age 15. She was almost 18. Maybe she could somehow prove she could handle it anyway. She needed to talk toGinny. She was nice enough. Maybe she could arrange something.
|
|
|
Post by dominic on Jun 21, 2011 14:59:03 GMT 1
I'm sorry, I have lost my muse for this thread and will no longer be able to post.
|
|