The Pre-Apocalyptic Times is the era before The Great Division. It ended during WWIII, after the Six Major Alliances agreed to a ceasefire.
********
In the end, Silvan Cobblestone had omitted most of the very things he wished to learn. Aiden wished to know more about how it all began to unfold, but from what he had observed, the writer was in a state of mental breakdown when he wrote during those times. Hence, his views and experiences, although legitimate, weren't very reliable.
However….
Silvan Cobblestone is-!
It was still a surprise for him. Silvan Cobblestone was the dangerous Papa that he was ever so wary of. It turns out he was right to be.
The entry he made before concluding his diary. Those words weren't empty. Aiden didn't know much of the context that was fueling the weight of that declaration, but he knew, somehow, that he meant what he said.
"But really, if I find a Human anywhere close to my family, I'd fucking kill him or her."
"...."
I think I should leave.
Aiden had hoped that some knowledge about the nature of Deadlands, the order of events, and the circumstances surrounding The Great Division would give him a clue to his own existence. But, if he were to go with the closest possibility from what was stated, it would imply that he was an Undead.
It was possible that the zombies weren't the usual zombies he thought of. Maybe the Undead were actually conscious. Who knows?
Still…
At the moment, I'm not very safe. I'm like a sheep in the tiger's den.
I wonder if Kayla knows it's a diary. If she did, then she might have been keeping me here on purpose after all. Is she still wary of me?
I guess being r*ped makes that understandable.
But, if she doesn't know, then I shouldn't spill it myself. If she does, then why would she show me this? Has she gone to fetch her husband?
I don't think she knows. But I can't be certain. There's one way to find out.
The door opened. Kayla entered. She didn't have the robes with her.
"I've heated the bath. Did you learn a thing or two?" She asked.
"Well. I got more insight for sure," Aiden answered, "but the writer seems to have a nuanced perspective on the apocalypse. He or she didn't speak of the Great Division nor of Deadlands."
Now, Aiden hadn't necessarily lied as Silvan didn't say anything of the sort. But he was after something else.
If Kayla knew of the book's content, there would be some sort of unique reaction on her face. Saying 'he' or 'she' even though the writer was obviously male would definitely confound her in one way or the other.
Kayla's expression said nothing of the sort.
"Oh really?" She was surprised, "I haven't looked through it. But I assumed it would be of help."
I guess she hadn't read it then. Silvan knows his wife.
"I'm sorry," she apologised. "You only look more confused."
"Well, not much I can say when several strange concepts are told at once."
Kayla scratched her hair with her index finger. "I'll answer any question you may have," She concluded. "Now, you must not let the bath run cold."
"Certainly," he said, getting to his feet. When he looked around, he realised that Carla was nowhere to be found.
Probably in that underground construction. Maybe the bedrooms are there as well. How did they build that, though?
Maybe they didn't.
"By the way…" Aiden suddenly asked, "Where's Carla's father?"
Kayla seemed surprised. "She told you?"
"Yes," Aiden replied with a casual smile, "Carla said he wouldn't like me, so I was worried."
"She isn't wrong," Karla answered as she opened the door. "But he won't show up until dawn. So you'll be fine."
Aiden looked at the moonlit sky outside the cabin and estimated the time to be around midnight.
Seems the shelter I pleaded for will be shorter than expected.
I guess I still have a few hours…
Aiden accepted and thanked her for her hospitality as she led him out of the cabin. He had assumed they were going to walk a distance, but they only circled the building and ventured a bit into the woods.
During the brief journey, Aiden realised something.
It's so dark, yet my sight is very good. Kayla didn't take a torch either, and it seems she sees quite well too.
Carla too…back then.
Does this also have something to do with Superiority and the Curse?
"We're here," said Kayla.
There was another clearing, surrounded by the never-lifting eerie atmosphere created by the intertwined, barren trees.
The first thing Aiden saw was a stony well, covered with a rusty, thick metal sheet. Above it was a pulley system, a wet bucket linked to the wheel, alongside a chain—also connected to the bucket, that plunged into the depths of the well. There was water slipping off the rim and sides of the structure, leading to a moist, sandy path that pointed elsewhere. Aiden immediately realised that Kayla had been fetching water from the well and transferring it to the bath.
The second thing he saw was another, smaller cabin, where the watered trail led to. It had more length and height than width, and it seemed to be only one room big.
Kayla led him there and opened the door for him. "Do you mind if I collect your cloak?"
Aiden was just about accepting her offer, when he remembered that the cloth contained a peculiar message, and it was the biggest clue towards solving the mystery behind it.
He declined. "No, thank you." Then he entered the shower cabin.
When she closed the door, Aiden began to inspect his surroundings.
At the far right of the hallway-like structure was a small wooden elevation—like a single stair. It had a circular hole at its top, so Aiden assumed it was a toilet. There didn't seem to be the conventional flush system that he knew of, so perhaps, they used buckets of water.
At the far left was a wooden tub. Steam rose from the water, clouding the entire left half of the shower cabin in a pleasant-smelling mist that continued to spread. Sitting in the bath were two wooden cups. The smaller cup—with a flatter shape, had a white, handmade lye soap on it, while the larger one—used for scooping water, had nothing in it. Next to the tub, higher up, were several wooden pegs, hammered into the wall. One had a clean towel hung on it, while the other had the dark robes that Kayla had presented to him earlier.
Aiden removed his cloak and hung it on a peg. Then, he dipped his index finger into the tub, and stirred the water for a while, playing with the ripples like a child would. A slight smile curled up his lips when he was satisfied.
His toe went in first. Then his leg. And then his entire body.
Sinking in the warmth of the water hugging his skin, Aiden let out a satisfied sigh.
This is nice.
....
....
In a sandy plain, where winds blew in huge, near-threatening waves, five people stood, four of them wearing strange metallic suits with a blue, translucent tube attached at their backs. Every one of those suits had an emblem engraved into its shoulder pad. The American flag.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
"...."
There were four men, and one lady. Amidst the five, just a single person wore casual clothes. He stood ahead of the four, with his right hand raised, which had signalled them to stop.
As they observed the thing that lay before them, they all had one feeling in their heart.
Intrigue.
"Hmm.." The man in casual clothes scratched his beards. His eyes had a curious, yet wary glint in them.
None of the five spoke. Until the woman did.
"Is that…." asked the woman."....a coffin?"