Chapter 16

Mason pulls the trigger, which triggered the flare to shoot straight through the air, and into the sky in front of the city.

“No moat huh. Well I wonder how they keep the irons out.” Mason pondered as the gate immediately started lifting.

“Oh well, at least you don’t get stuck on a bridge for five minutes with the possibility of an iron getting on it.” Sam says.

Mason started driving forward to proceed entrance into the South City. The flare was making its way back down as the personnel had already spotted it due to having several people on duty all at once, because they don’t have a moat. They started to drive in as they were then stopped at a checkpoint. A guard walked her way up to them as Sam got out some military registration almost right away.

“I was told we don’t have anybody out on mission at this time.” The guard said to him as Sam then handed her his information, and began to explain.

“You see, I am Sampson Miller, nephew of General Miller of Requiem. We have someone in critical condition, and needs medical attention. Please let us through.” Sam quietly begged. The guard wanted to take a look in back to see everything we were sporting, and Mason flipped.

“Didn’t you hear us!? We have somebody who’s in critical condition!” Mason yelled as the guard tried to calm him down.

“Calm down! It is protocol that we delay searching the back if you really do have a soldier in critical condition!” the guard told him, and got Mason to cool down as well.

She then paced to the back, and opened it. Sylvia was laying back there with her two severed limbs, and it seemed like it didn’t even phase the guard. Almost as if it happens all the time. The guard gave a hand signal to the guy in control of the gate as she told him that it was clear, and they lifted the second gate to get into the city. Mason was glad that there wasn’t any trouble, and was happier when another soldier of South City was offering to lead him to the nearest medical facility for Sylvia’s benefit.

The gate was lifting, and Mason wasn’t told so he wasn’t expecting what came next as sunlight from the sky started beating down on his face, forcing him to cover his eyes immediately. He had no way of knowing but he just assumed that there was going to be a district like Cage District since he was too used to there being one.

“Aw! The light!” Mason said as he tried to recover his sight.

“A little sunshine never hurt anyone Mason, maybe you should calm down.” Sam told him as they started off driving through the city.

It was a weird feeling for Mason for sure, and even Sam said he had only been there once. There were grassy yards, and beaten up paved roads. It was almost as if the city hadn’t even been rebuilt. It was only built around from what was already here.

“They didn’t have the same amount of time or funds when it came to this city so they built this quick fix of a stronghold against irons. That is why they haven’t innovated much afterwards, and they don’t have that many renewable resources in here so they plan on eventual innovation.” Sam stated.

“Life had been going on for sixty-seven years in-between the time I was asleep, and the irons came. I wonder why they haven’t changed much about the design of their houses in sixty-seven years.” Mason said as they kept driving.

“I don’t know why not much was changed. We still had newspapers even but most were delivered through a special sort of email, though there were still a few paper copies made for people who were stuck in their older ways of thinking, or simply people your age. Your age if you hadn’t been frozen that is.”

Sam told him somewhat jokingly as they neared the medical facility. They got to the facility, and were waiting in where the medics were out front carefully trying to place Sylvia on a stretcher as they lifted her into the air. Sam was off somewhere else, and Mason didn’t know whether to stay with Sylvia or wait for Sam to get back. In the end Mason decided to go with Sylvia until he saw Sam trailing behind him so at least Sam knew where they were. And in true hospital fashion they wouldn’t let Mason go into the operating room which made him nervous. And it didn’t make Mason nervous because he didn’t trust the surgeons but for another reason entirely.

“Wait! Let me stay with her!” a teenage boy yelled in the form of a younger Mason. Mason was scared because it reminded him of his mother’s operation before she died. He sat down, and pulled his legs up to his chest.

“Please be okay.” Mason whispered to himself. Sam then came up beside him, and slapped a newspaper down in front of Mason’s face with no warning at all.

“Speak of the devil huh Mason? They always keep crap like this stockpiled till every so often they throw a good chunk of it away. I was able to dumpster dive, and found a newspaper with that man on it.” Sam told him as a newspaper featuring Miles, and his revolutionary work on cancer.

Mason looked closely at his face. He looked almost lifeless in the picture like he never slept.

“No way.” Mason said looking at the paper.

“What’s the deal Mason?” Sam asked him.

“Even back then he was using it.” Mason said as Sam immediately asked what he was talking about.

“Remember how I told you that Miles had still been around, and he was using the cryogenic chambers as a substitute for sleep?” Mason asked.

“Yeah I remember, and it wasn’t hard to believe because you are a living example of how that technology works.” Sam pointed out as Mason then continued.

“Well I think that Miles must have been using this since the technology was available. He looked just like this when I saw him, not age wise but how his eyes are. I did think he was a bit young even while substituting sleep with that machine. Bastard!” Mason told Sam.

Sam took the paper away, and then went ahead, and threw it away.

“Maybe showing you that wasn’t quite the best idea. You don’t need more stress thinking about something like that.” Sam told him as Mason agreed. Mason looked over at the trash as he was continuing to wait for Sylvia’s operation. Sam tapped Mason’s shoulder.

“I will be right back, I have to talk to some of the brass here. See ya.” Sam said as Mason nodded, and he walked off with a few officials.

Mason stood up then looked through the window of the locked door to the operating room, and tried to spot Sylvia from where he stood. He had his hand on the window as he tried to angle his head to see the operation but there was too much blocking his view. His head flashed back to a time when Sylvia told him to be okay.

“Be OK Sylvia.” Mason said from the other side of the door, though nobody could hear him.

“You are a lot stronger than I, Sylvia. To me a couple limbs would mean the end of me but you will overcome it!” Mason said with pride in his voice sure that she will.

Mason glanced over at the paper that had been thrown away, and looked around to see if Sam was nearby. He wasn’t sure it mattered if Sam saw him take it but he didn’t want Sam to know just in case it affects Mason on an emotional level. He pulled it out of the trash, and he stuffed it in his back pocket.

“Miles my friend, I wish I could have been with you.” Mason whispered to himself while waiting for Sylvia’s surgery to finish up so he would be able to check on her.

“You were with me the whole time in spirit.” Mason turned around to see Miles standing there.

“Wow. My mind is even imagining you as how you looked most recent, my brain really wants to fool me into thinking it’s you.” Mason says to the vision of Miles before him.

“Who says that I’m not Miles?” it said.

“Because Miles is dead… so you might want to try, and be someone else instead to convince me to do something.” Mason told it. The vision of Miles then walked closer to him.

“Did you happen to witness me die by any chance?” the vision then went on to ask Mason.

Mason paused despite knowing the answer. He looked down at his shoes then up again to stare the illusion of Miles in the face. He then shook his head no accordingly.

“Then how do you know that I am actually dead? Isn’t it funny that for someone like you who hasn’t been able to trust his eyes lately, you were able to just simply believe that I was dead? And this wasn’t the first time that you merely presumed I was dead, and it turned out to be wrong.” The fake Miles said while laughing.

“One can’t merely predict something, and make it true. But that is another topic for another time. Let’s get down to business as to what I’m here to tell you.” Miles said as Mason simply sat down to listen.

“It is about what to do with Clive. Can you kill him?” Miles asked as Mason sat in silence.

“Okay, let me phrase that differently because we are both unsure if it is possible to kill him so if you definitely had the means to do so then would you?” Miles restated to Mason.

Mason didn’t say it out loud because he knew that Miles was just in his mind. But the thing that was sure fire hot in Mason’s mind was he would kill Clive Crews if he could kill Clive Crews. He wouldn’t just kill him too, he would disembowel him.

“Just remember this Mason, a little tip to kill Clive.” Mason looked at Miles’ illusion as he reminded him that Clive thinks himself to be god. Clive’s own ego might help against him.

“I want to tell the specifics. As much as you know, and or were told as to why you have three members left, and I want to know details of your mission before we do any contacting of Requiem. Now here is some paperwork as well, and we will need you to write each soldiers name down.” A South City official or a Zex city official as it was named was going through specific debriefing details with Sam in order to confirm the truthfulness of it being a military operation.

“Well to be honest sir… the mission is just all over the wall screwed up.” Sam told him as the official leaned in further.

“Screwed up how exactly?” the official asked as Sam scratched his head, and took a deep breath knowing it was going to be one long explanation.

“Well you see sir we didn’t have one-hundred percent permission for this mission.” Sam said to the official then face palmed as he then ushered Sam to continue, and explain exactly what he meant.

“Well since Clive was a commanding officer he didn’t need full permission to do the mission but he couldn’t get our military to fund it so he got in good with our navy, and was able to get them to fund the project instead.” Sam said to the man.

“On top of this I even now don’t quite know what exactly the mission was for because it was never thoroughly explained to us by the CO who wanted the mission to take place. It was all boiling down to something about the city out west but ended in being more about our commanding officer Clive Crews being a power hungry psycho, and you can write all this down by the way.” Sam says as he further explains.

“And basically Clive with a power from a different place prompted him to kill off as many of us as he could, and I was unconscious at the time so who knows right?”

Sam was nearly finished as the official interrupted him with other business.

“First real quick put down the name, and ranks of each soldier please.” The official asked as Sam then got to the next part.

“Well you see sir that is the thing. We kind of had a sort of civilian take part in the mission, but it was entirely his idea of course.” Sam said as he knew he would get chewed out for that one in particular.

“What!?” the official screamed at Sam as he slammed his hands down on the table.

“You brought an untrained civilian with you on your. “Important” mission!” the official yelled at him.

“And on top of that not only is this guy an unofficial part of the team but might have ended up being a liability. What prompted you to continue on with this mission like that!?” the official yelled, and asked.

“Well sir it was all Clive. He had a soldier named Manny who was supposed to go instead as Clive was refusing Mason’s participation in the mission till he was told Manny overdosed, and died.”

“So there you have it, Mason was going to come along as he so desperately wanted to from what Clive later told me.” Sam said as the official had everything written down, and seemed too tired to continue the discussion anymore. He, and so did Sam stand as they shook hands.

“Well Sampson, I believe you maybe should go back to the hospital, and rest. I will call the boys, and who knows probably girls as well over at Requiem, and get some of this checked out. I wouldn’t have put it past them to have filed some of you guys “missing” if you understand what I mean by it?” the official said as he calmly, and politely saw Sam out of the office as he promptly closed the door behind Sam upon leaving.

Mason was then sitting on a hospital waiting room chair with his eyes closed, asleep as a nurse then tapped him on the shoulder, and informed him what particular room that Sylvia was in now, and that the operation went alright, and they were holding her for a couple nights.

“That is good news that she is fine I guess.” Mason said as he almost felt too scared to go check up on her.

He was too afraid of having that feeling like he had when he was next to his mom in a hospital bed. He clenched his fist.

“I have to check on her!” he thought as he timidly baby stepped his way up to the door as he slowly lifted his hand, and reached for the handle.

He then had his hand on the handle, and rested it there for a second, and crossed his other arm across his chest to comfort himself as he turned the handle, and slowly pushed the handle forward as if he were in a survival horror game, and stepped in.

“Huh?” Mason said as he looked at a very frail Sylvia lay in bed.

He walked forward to the edge of her bed, and looked down at her. He then fell to his knees, and went to hold her hand until he realized that it was on the other side of the bed. Because her right hand, no, the majority of her right arm was missing. He plowed his face into the bedside in order for the sheets to soak up the tears.

“I’m so sorry!” Mason said placing his hand on the nub that was once Sylvia’s arm.

“I will fix this! Even if I have to take Clive’s arm, and leg away from him, I swear I will fix it! In the name of the self-proclaimed god that Clive thinks he is I will fix it!” Sam then puts his hand on the shoulder of the kneeled, ranting Mason.

“We will kill him together. Though I don’t know what he looks like at the moment but I’m sure it won’t matter. When the time comes I will do what I have to.” Sam said.

“You haven’t seen him though Sam. When you do, then I am sure that you will eat your words.” Mason told Sam but Sam wasn’t worried, because there was one thing that drove Sam more than anything else, and in Clive’s case that one thing existed. Vengeance.

“I wouldn’t be too sure Mason, I run off of pure revenge at this point. All I need to know is that he killed Wayne. He was one of my last friends, and after Dean died I haven’t treated him with the respect he deserved, and now I will never get to.” Sam stated somberly.

Sam ensured Mason that when the time comes he would do what he had to, and feel nothing. It was how Sam felt when he fought the giant irons over again, as well as after Dean died in the first fight. Mason stood up, and faced Sam. They stared each other down a bit before they shook hands.

“Of course we can’t get revenge without the help of Sylvia.” Mason told him.

“But her limbs!”

“Don’t you worry about that, I will fix that problem when the time comes. And I have a feeling that it will be just in time.” Mason told Sam as he began to leave the room until he stopped, and turned to Sam.

“Make sure you get her home safely. I am going to talk to them about getting some revisions.” Mason said as he left the room.

Sam didn’t stop him. He understood why Mason needed to leave, and experience the harshness of the outside. It was the same as being thrown into a lake without knowing how to swim. It is the exact same as learning to swim out of pure desperation. He needed to quickly gain the strength, and courage to face off against Clive, and he knew that a little walk through apocalyptic America would suffice.

“I would like to speak to someone in charge.” Mason tells a soldier as the soldier proceeds to take him to a captains quarters.

“What exactly happened to you guys? I was told that there were eight people on your squad, and now it is just the three of you.” Asks the soldier driving Mason to meet one of the many captains in the city.

Mason looked out the window for a while before replying “I guess that particular god wasn’t on our side.” The car drove through the town as he watched the quick transition between poverty, and the middle-class.

“I guess there are a few of things that will never change.” Mason says as the soldier driving him asked what he meant. “Oh nothing, it’s just that as long as some people have money than others won’t.” Mason told him as the soldier started cracking up.

“What is so funny?” Mason asked as the soldier replied.

“You haven’t given me a single straight answer since you’ve gotten in this car!” he told Mason.

“Right, right, of course.” Mason says to him as they approach the captain’s quarters.

Mason looks over at the soldier as he points to the door. Mason thanks him, and gets out then shuts the car door. He walks up to the door, and knocks three times. He waits out front as he looks around to take in some of the environment. The streets of Zex reminded Mason a lot of home. Rough concrete road, and regular grass lawns, and street signs. A man opens the door who Mason presumes is the captain.

“I’m guessing you’re a military captain?” Mason says as the captain says.

“Yeah that is me. My name is Robert, and what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks as he invites Mason in.

“I am Mason Wright, and I was in the team from Requiem.” Mason told him as Robert sat him down.

“Ah yes, information sure does travel fast doesn’t it?” Robert said as he threw Mason a bottle of water, and cracked open a bottle himself.

“About that sir. I will be leaving soon, and was hoping you guys could provide me with some provisions if that is alright?” Mason asks.

Robert just stares at him for a second. “Why?” he asks Mason in return with a sort of sarcastic-ish, and joking voice. Mason swallows as he explains what he needs, and why.

“I will need some water, and some dry foods. Also I will need a few notebooks, and pencil, and pen. Also some ammo, and a rifle, uh um preferably something single shot like an M14 or M1 Garand. And lastly a filtered canteen for water, and if you don’t have a canteen of that nature just give me a regular one, and I will filter it myself. You see I need all this for the trip home because I will not be leaving with my companions but on my own instead.” Mason explained to Robert with one reaction from Robert.

Robert stared at Mason for a while trying to fathom or let soak in what Mason had just explained. What he was asking for. Robert finally wiped his eyes, and snorted his nose before asking two things.

“First off… Why do you think that we might be in any position to owe you anything?” Robert asked calmly before flaring up with his second question.

“Second! Why would you walk around outside on your own?!” Robert asked with a surge of anger running through him. Mason tensed up a bit contemplating whether he should talk directly of Clive or possibly take a different approach.

“Well you see sir… it is training.” Mason says as Robert leans in somewhat interested.

“You see as you may know… there have been people stuck outside for years yet somehow have survived. Now I want to take the same experience, and topple it with my mind, and my experience with military tech. combining these things will make me a more effective combatant for the irons over all.” Mason tells him.

“Interesting in theory but odds are if you are piloting a mechanic or driving a DB then if there is ever a time that your vehicle has become immobilized then you are already dead or if you get out already spotted then you will die… as for the people out there now Mason they use shady almost rat-like tactics to survive.” Robert told him.

“You may just be better off just sticking with, and driving home with your team.” Robert stated.

Mason was stuck, and the only way he may be able to get the supplies he needs is to tell him the absolute, and unaltered truth. It needs to be as true as Han Solo shooting first. Mason then slaps his hand down on the desk once again receiving interested attention from the captain.

“Alrighty then. Soul searching…” Mason tells him.

Robert looking at him again with some confusion asks “Soul what?”

“Soul searching as well as another thing.” Mason says as Robert goes on to ask just what that other thing may be as well as why he needs to do soul searching in the first place.

“Well you see sir, we were betrayed by our commander. A man that I personally had high levels of respect for. He messed himself up pretty bad, and killed most of us… I need to make this trip to confirm something. That is if I am strong, and brave enough to kill Clive. So please.” Mason said as Robert stroked his chin in wonder for a second to decide whether or not he should appease Mason’s request.

He looked over at a picture of his son on his desk. The picture featured his son holding the head of an iron that he had killed. He then looked at Mason.

“Alright.” Robert told him as Mason’s face lit up as he stood to shake hands with Robert.

“Thank you so much! And not to be a bother but I will also need a flare gun. One green flare, and a few regulars if that is okay?” Mason said, and asked.

“No problem, and I think I can get the flares for you as well.” Said Robert.

Mason went to the PX where Robert gave him the order form to pick up the supplies he requested. He would have brought some of the supplies from their DB but that was technically Requiem’s, and not actually his to take if not being used on the mission, and it is safe to say the mission is over due to it being a colossal failure. As big a failure as the size of the Armored DB. They supplied Mason with the supplies he previously requested as well as some he did not ask for such as matches, an E-Tool, goggles for sand, and wind eye protection with a tint for protection from the sun.

His single fire weapon they gave him was a rifle, and he received four magazines as well as a bandolier of ammo to refill the magazine as well as a new bandolier for his 357. Magnum. Medical supplies, and compass were also included though Mason was certain that he could keep track of the direction from the placement of the sun as well as his knowledge of urban America but accepted it anyways along with a small pair of binoculars. Mason was staring happily at the match because it was he happened to love fire, and matches were a unique way of lighting cigarettes, and lighting fire in general.

“Did you know that matches were invented ten year after the lighter had already been?” Mason asked the guy at the counter.

“No I didn’t. Kind of pointless to invent matches then don’t you think?” the counter man told him.

“Maybe. But if that were the case then you wouldn’t have given me matches, but instead a lighter.” Mason said soon requesting a lighter soon after saying that.

“If it is alright me asking as well mister… why do you need notebooks, and a pen?” the man on the other side of the counter asked Mason with a peculiar look.

“To put it simply… blueprints.” Mason said.

Mason then went on to walk his way back to the gate, and then requested the clearance to get through, and be on his own. As a series of radio transmissions were made it was decided that Mason wasn’t allowed to leave just yet.

“Come on guys! Just let me leave this place already!” Mason said.

Mason had been waiting a solid half hour, and was beginning to get very impatient. He was tapping his feet while sitting, and the constant pattern of noise resonating from each tap was beginning to disturb each, and every guard around him until one came over, and nonchalantly pressed his foot overtop Mason’s to stop it. It was another ten minutes until the female guard that had been at the checkpoint hours ago was now here, and had a car. She got out, and walked straight up to Mason. She saluted then put her hand down soon after since Mason wasn’t an officer but still saluted out of respect alone.

“It was decided that you walking right out isn’t the best course of action.” She said as Mason stood to greet her.

“What do you mean?” Mason said as she went on to tell him.

“It was decided that since the immediate area that surrounds Zex is one large open area to be spotted… then I will be escorting you to one of the closest cleared out structures for you to continue from there. And on a personal note I think what you are doing is stupid.”

Mason tapped his forehead with his finger before saying that her opinion of what he was doing was duly noted. He walked over to the vehicle, and threw his bag in the back as he walked around to the other side to get inside the car in the passenger’s side. Mason got comfy then prepared to leave.

“Noted, we leaving then?” he asked as the girl got in the front.

She turned the key to start the engine, and it made a brief noise, and then refused to start. It took a few more of those key twists to finally get the car started, and prompted Mason to say “Well that’s reassuring.”

As the gate was raising Mason took it upon himself to start the conversation.

“Well now that we are about to hit the road for about five or so minutes how long have you been a soldier?” Mason asks as the woman completely ignored him.

“Okaaay… why are you the one transporting me to the structure?” Mason asked as she briefly gave him a mean look.

“I was asked to.” She finally told him.

“Well that must suck.” Mason said as the woman then agreed that it did indeed suck.

“Listen buddy, I don’t know you, and I don’t care about you. You don’t know me, and odds are you don’t care about me either. So don’t try to get intimate with me because it seemed earlier that you were devoted heavily to that tan, and short haired girl with the missing limbs so I don’t understand why you are being social with me, and or why you didn’t stick with her.” The woman told him.

“Listen lady I was just being nice, and wanting to talk is all.” Mason said as she then brought something that even Mason had to admit was logical.

“What is the point to what you’re doing now?” she said and Mason honestly didn’t know.

“Listen, I am sure you are a nice guy, and that is why I have taken the liberty of making a list for you.” The woman then went ahead and handed Mason a piece of paper with ten things Mason should or shouldn’t do.

“I thought you said that you didn’t care about me.” Mason said as the woman half angrily, and half embarrassingly told him to shut up which made Mason laugh. Mason looked at the folded piece of paper, and then put it away in his book bag.

“I will read this soon.” Mason said with the woman showing no immediate care since Mason did make it clear that he meant to read it sooner rather than later but still only sooner instead of right away.

“I think what you are doing is flat out stupid mister but I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t impressed with your being able to do this. Having the guts to do this I mean.” The woman told him.

“Well you see, I kind of have to have the guts to do this now. It is important that I learn how to survive in this world. Cities like Requiem, and Zex may not last forever, and we are going to have to keep the fight going if safe havens like that fall.” Mason said, and in that respect the woman kind of agreed with him even if it was only briefly.

“I can see what you are saying but that isn’t going to just prompt some man to decide he has to travel almost halfway across the country, starting out in Texas where you are sure to have to tread through at least one sandy desert while you are at it. On foot!” She said.

“Well to be honest there are some things that I just don’t quite understand at the moment, and I am also taking this opportunity to find a few things out about myself. I am really good at putting up a front with people around, but I can guarantee you that when I get put on my own out here that I will change… maybe even for the worst. What happened to me on the mission was pretty heavy hitting, and if it weren’t for my partners who were left, I may have gone over the deep end.” Mason told her with a now very stoic nature almost as if he had completely changed at the snap of a finger.

“I can see the mission has troubled you, and it seems your time has come. I will be dropping you off up here, and I haven’t been out here a lot so I won’t make myself at home.” She said.

They were only feet away from the structure that she was dropping Mason off at. It was a gray, one story building, and she suggested Mason rest before attempting to travel onward. Mason agreed, and grabbed his supplies from the back, and begins heading toward the structure until he turned around, and went back to the car.

“I almost forgot, my name is Mason.” Mason said to introduce himself since he hadn’t yet, and put his hand through the window to shake hands.

“My name is Sylvia.” She said as she then poked her finger in Mason’s chest that was sore from when he poked it hard back at Miles, and she said. “Don’t forget to review that rules list. It was made by a couple of soldiers, and myself so it should help.” Sylvia said. Mason was dumbfounded by her name.

“Um alright. Nice to meet you.” As she once again shook her head as she told him “Likewise. Be careful.” Mason shook his head, and walked away slowly with his mind now more or so focused on Sylvia.

Mason stopped at the front door, and just looked at the handle reminiscing of earlier when he was nervously reaching for the handle to Sylvia’s hospital room as he stopped, and looked over his shoulder to spot the other Sylvia driving away in the car back to Zex. Mason already felt the loneliness creeping in on him. He was in a hellish nightmare by himself, and now felt compelled to stay a while rather than move on.

Mason had his FAL (his single shot rifle, Semi auto rifle) holstered to his back, and wasn’t going to enter this building unarmed. He pulled out his magnum, and held it firmly in his right hand as he squeezed to have a maximum grip on his weapon as he readied his left hand to open the door. He was standing relatively low in case of somebody in the building possibly having a gun.

“One. Two…” Mason started counting up to three as to determine when he’d rush the building. “Three!” Mason yelled as he broke open the front door, and immediately started aiming in all directions of what was an empty building.

Nevertheless Mason was sensationally relieved in the fact that the building was empty as he lowered his gun, and simultaneously lowered his guard. He went on to find that this had previously been a payday loaning building, and it had two rooms. It had a bathroom, and it had the main room with the glass walled counter area where the transactions were made. Mason then knocked on the wall as if he were knocking on a door.

“I would like a loan!” he said with humor in his voice.

Mason walked over, and sat down in a chair off to the side, and observed some of the outdated magazines. He then flung his backpack onto the ground. He unzipped it then retrieved the folded piece of paper the other Sylvia gave him. He unraveled it, and read the title aloud.

“10 things to do, and not to do on the outside.” He read.

10 THINGS TO DO, AND NOT TO DO ON THE OUTSIDE

1. Avoid open areas at all cost. In open areas you are sure to either be spotted by a hostile human, and or iron.

2. Keep a constant eye on your water. Nobody should have to explain what the problem is if you run out.

3. Make sure if you have a firearm that it is loaded at all cost. You may get into a fight, and minutes later another one with a weapon low on ammo from the previous. RELOAD!

4. Do not attack anything blindly. And if it is a human then try to figure out their angle before attacking, or just avoid them.

5. When night falls you must find shelter almost every night, and it must be a structure if possible but if a bush is all you can find then it will have to do.

6. If alone then try to keep your own hope, and morale up as much as possible even if it doesn’t seem possible, still try.

7. Like the water, you must also try checking buildings periodically for dry goods or even try hunting.

8. Even during the day you should stick to as many shadowy, and urban areas as possible. You want to spot them before they spot you.

9. Don’t be too generous in giving away supplies if asked by another friendly person. Make sure you are able to give without hindering yourself.

10. And lastly DO NOT THROW AWAY THIS LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mason snickered at number ten before putting the must, and must not do list away, and he then stood up to look on the other side of the glass in the payday loan section. He looked on the other side of the glass, and saw all the paper money sprawled all over the floor. Mason whistled at all the mullah as he walked past the glass.

“Man… there was enough money here to solve any companies budget problems… well it would help.”

Mason checked all the windows, and doors. The windows were too corroded to see in or out of anyways, and as for the doorways there was a back, and a front entrance that Mason propped chairs up against the handles overnight. Mason looked around the room.

“It feels so empty.” Mason thought. “Knock, knock, knock.” Mason said as he curled up in the corner of the room.

“Is anybody out there?” Mason whispers. Mason had his hands in his pocket till he slid them out, and stared at the palm of his hand.

“I don’t understand.” He said. He wondered why he was even here.

“I shouldn’t even be here… I am a time traveler, and I am the first of my kind.” Mason said. Mason then had a maniacal snicker as he then pointed his finger in the air, and imagined a light bulb floating overhead.

“You may say I am not a time traveler because I didn’t alter the space time continuum but it is all a matter of perspective if you ask me! To you I was merely frozen, and separated from the flow of time but to me… I went to sleep, and woke up sixty-seven years later. That to me is time travel!” Mason yelled with excitement.

Mason felt his eyes starting to close. It was only dawn but Mason was extremely weary. It was a long day. He’d experienced a new city, decided to go outside on his own, and most importantly, Sylvia. He sat, and wondered where, and how she was at this moment. She was also thinking the same thing. The only difference was where she was she didn’t have to worry about herself. She was scared for Mason because she didn’t think he was capable of survival outside, especially by himself.

“Sam.” Sylvia said as he helped load her into the back of the DB.

“What do you want?” he asked as he elevated the stub of her leg with a pillow.

“Do ya know what one of the first things I told Mason about survival in the outside was?” Sylvia questioned Sam to see if he could figure it out.

“Um uh let me take a guess. Was it something about not braving the outside by yourself?” Sam answered. Sylvia not answering with words decided to just shake her head to signify that Sam was correct.

“Yeah… I would say I could see it in his eyes but that would be too cliché an excuse so here is some more. I could hear it in his voice, and tell by his posture. That is why I let him go. Not to mention I understand why.” Sam told her.

Sylvia’s face was renewed as she asked why Mason wanted to do this.

“Well you know. He needed to prove to himself that he was a survivor. He also needed to learn more about himself to overcome old weaknesses, and create new strengths.” Sam said.

“You sure figured a lot out just from listening to the guy.” Sylvia said as Sam smiled, and shook his head.

“Sometimes you just understand a man. Our minds work very similarly most of the time, genius or not. I thi… I think he wants revenge too.”

Sam told her as she tried to understand. “You mean all men share something in common. Like a woman’s intuition. Disregarding the revenge of course.” Sylvia told him.

“Yeah, yeah just like that.”

Mason tossed, and turned as mice, and roaches swept themselves over, and around his sleeping body. He lay there with a faint shiver setting over him every other moment. He needed the sleep. While he was escaping Clive he barely had sleep for two reasons. First he didn’t want to waste time stopping when he could keep on driving, and second. Second he was afraid of the mere prospect of Clive catching up to him while driving. If Clive could ketch up to the Armored DB. Mason feared Clive as much as he hated him. And as much as he had respected him before. Mason was snoring and ironically was sleeping far more peacefully than he had anywhere else. In that abandoned building. He felt like a hideaway. And that payday loans building was his very own safe haven. Hidden away from the world like a bird in a tree or a mole under the ground, tucked away for safety.

Mason was dreaming of one of his science fairs from the days of old. He had made his very own electrical wind turbine. He lost out to Miles who at the time made homemade walkie talkies. Though in real life circumstances Mason’s turbine would have been far more useful the judges praised the talkies for creativity, and use with electronics. Mason didn’t care that he got second. He was just amazed of the talkies himself. That’s because he wasn’t really the jealous type.

He and Miles were almost instant friends. Mason was one of the few who didn’t act mean or envious of Miles, and Miles was happy to know not all other kids were jealous of him. In fact Miles never saw himself above anyone, and even thought more of Mason for being able to get past the fact that Miles won, and Mason did not. Miles thought more of him because he wasn’t sure he’d be as calm from losing. A trait Clive has adopted. The two of them hung out after the fair playing soldier with the talkies. They had a blast as they gave orders, and informed of fake enemies or “bogies” as they called them. It was one of Mason’s wonder years as his mom was still around and also a bit nicer than usual.

“It’s okay man. I know what it is like to lose a mom.” Miles said to Mason to get him to stop sulking. Mason tearing up with his head in his arms wasn’t able to just stop worrying about it.

“I swear! I will cure cancer!” Mason said with powerful conviction while clenching his cancer research notes.

Miles stared at him realizing that there wasn’t any stopping Mason. Miles walked over, and yanked the notes out of Mason’s hands. He then put a hand on each side of the paper, and gripped real tight. He began to pull as he ripped the notes slowly in half. Mason jumped up in shock, and in anger.

“What the hell man!? I thought you were my friend!?” Mason yelled. Miles then began laughing up a real storm.

“Mason, do you know why we always win first, and second at the science fair?” Miles asked as Mason just stood there dumbfounded from the fact that his notes were ripped up laying in the dirt.

Miles then proceeded to rip the notes up further until they were virtually unsalvageable. Mason fell to the ground then started to slowly pick a piece of paper one at a time off the ground. “It is because we are mad scientists Mason. We are willing to go further, and to put excruciating amounts of effort into our projects. We together have what it takes to go even further.”

“We have the ability to think even bigger… we are going to resurrect them!” Miles said as Mason looked at Miles as if he were crazy.

“Re…resurrect them!?” Mason said while stuttering.

“Don’t be selfish and stupid Mason. Your mother may have died of cancer but what of the kids whose mothers died of things such as car accidents or other means such as murder. And the list goes on.” Miles told him as he stopped listing off causes of death.

Mason just sat, and stared off into space. Miles put his hand down to pick mason up off the ground. Mason took Miles’s outstretched hand, and pulled himself up. “Well do you have any ideas on how we are going to fund such a project?” Mason asked Miles. Miles put his fingers on his chin, and stroked it as if he had a beard.

“Well we will need experience so we should just get our education then start working on projects that will take us.” Miles told him.

It was ironic that some of those future projects would be weapon development. Two people on a mission to save lives were taking thousands. But it didn’t really matter. Miles knew they weren’t going to revive anyone from the dead. He only said that in order to get Mason’s mind off his mother. He knew the scribbling of an angry teenager wouldn’t amount to anything. And it seemed to have worked. Miles wasn’t quite all there but he was a caring person. Especially when it came to his friends, and family. Telling Mason that they would revive their mothers. What a ridiculously righteous goal.

Mason lay in the payday loan building shivering. He wasn’t cold but he was excited. And not in a good way either. He could feel the ground quake with every passing squad, and or herd of irons trampling like an angry herd of buffalo. He just lay on the ground waiting for them to pass as if they were a passing storm. All he had to do was wait it out, and he could get up, and start moving. He was up now, and nothing was going to stop that. After the “storm” passes he would surely be on his way back to Requiem. Of course with every passing storm there is a chance of a “tornado” that will come through, and wreck everything.

Mason was laying on the ground praying for that not to happen. He knew if any iron wanted to lift the lid off his little box, then they sure as hell could. And he also knew that the moment an iron did just that then it would be the end of Mason. It was dusk, and the stomping of creatures had ceased for the moment. This was the opportune time for Mason to get moving for sure. It was dark enough for him to move around without getting spotted but light enough outside for him to spot those giant creatures.

Mason jumped forward with a cold sweat beset upon him, and the sweat streaming slowly down his neck, and into his collar. He collected his bags quickly to get a jump on the day. He had decided that he was going to find shelter before it got dark, no scratch that. He was going to find shelter before it was even time for the sun to be highest in the sky. He knew that even though the creatures were obviously a must to avoid, he also knew by now that people are almost virtually impossible to trust on the outside. He had his backpack flung over his shoulder as he slowly pried the front door open, and peaked outside as he made sure to look both ways.

“Well, I don’t see anything.” Mason said as he squeezed through the crack of the door in order to make the least amount of noise as possible.

He stepped out front, and looked around. He swayed his head back, and forth seeing nothing. “Freedom certainly comes with a price nowadays doesn’t it?” Mason pulled out his compass to find where north-east is.

Mason started walking off into the empty direction that is north-east. He had his compass in his left hand, and was skeptical to whether or not he should have his gun or his water in his right hand. He also wondered where he may get more food or water if he were to need it. Though at least at the moment he didn’t need it.

“I will definitely need more water before I ever make it to Requiem.” Mason said to himself.