"I'm so tired," Sunny muttered, rubbing his eyes as he walked down the dirt road. "I should pay sis and bro john a visit before she strangles me with her nagging."
He stretched his arms and headed toward the familiar district. The street was busy vendors shouting prices, children chasing each other barefoot, people carrying baskets of food and tools. Among all the chaos sat a small house with a wooden board nailed above the door.
CLINIC
Sunny pushed the door open.
"I've stopped the bleeding," a loud but sweet voice echo through the room it was sunny sis, wrapping a patient's arm with practiced speed. Her voice was stern but gentle. "It will take time to heal fully, so don't strain your hand until then. Understand?"
The patient nodded quickly and left.
"Yo, sis. I'm back," Sunny said, raising a small bag of fruit like a peace offering.
Before he could take another step, a thick book flew across the room and smacked him in the face.
SMACK!
"What the—?!"
His sister glared at him, hands on her waist.
"Didn't I tell you to stop carrying weapons in my clinic?! You're scaring my patients!"
"Eh?! When did I bring a weapon?" Sunny protested.
"You brought yourself. That's enough."
Sunny sighed dramatically. "Sis, don't be like this. I was busy! Very, very busy. Out in the outer areas too. That's why I couldn't visit."
"HMPH."
A calm voice entered the room. "Take it easy on him."
"Bro John!" Sunny said immediately, running behind him like a shield. "Help me! Sis is making my life unbearable."
John laughed softly. "He said he was away, so maybe forgive him this time dear."
"You keep letting him do whatever he wants," she said, though her voice softened a bit.
"It's fine," John replied. "Let him breathe."
Sunny smiled. Bro John was a lifesaver.
John, the king's personal doctor and his sister's fiancé was like an older brother to him. He had taught Sunny basic survival skills long before Sunny ever entered the Ground. If anyone understood Sunny, it was him.
After John finished treating the remaining patients, the three sat together for dinner. It was peaceful rarely peaceful.
Until his sister cleared her throat.
"Sun… we have something to tell you."
She glanced at John. He nodded.
"I'm pregnant," she said quietly.
Sunny choked on his food.
"WHAT?!"
"You're going to be an uncle," John added, smiling nervously.
Sunny jumped up. "Bro John you know the consequences, right? You know what happens if this gets out. You're the king's only doctor! If he finds out—"
"We know," John interrupted gently. "And we've decided to keep the child."
Sunny froze.
"Sun… listen," his sister said with a low voice. "We've thought about everything. And we've come to a conclusion."
John stood, walked to the window, and closed the curtains carefully and quickly to avoid anyone hearing their discussion. All of them. He checked the corners of the room twice.
Then he turned back to Sunny who was still shock.
"We're leaving the Deadlands," he said.
"And you can come with us."
Sunny stared at them like they grew two heads.
"You… what?"
His heart pounded. It wasn't a joke. Their eyes told him that much.
"You're leaving? And go where?" Sunny asked, voice cracking. "Do you two know what you're saying? Anyone who tried to escape King Talon hunted them down. No matter how far they ran, he found them. He killed them without mercy, no matter who those people are."
His sister lowered her gaze. "I've heard rumors of other places…"
"You can't trust rumors!" Sunny snapped. "You remember what happened to Uncle Mark when he tried to escape. They hung him in the middle of town so everyone could see!"
John stepped forward. "There are stories… real ones… about places beyond the Deadlands. I've heard them from merchants, travelers, injured Drifters who came for treatment. Some escaped from somewhere else somewhere alive."
Sunny shook his head. "Those are uncharted territories. There might be nightmares. Bandits. Plagues. Or nothing at all. Just more death. You're risking everything for a rumor."
His sister's eyes glistened with tears.
"This is a life we've created," she whispered. "A new life. Our child. Does that mean nothing to you?"
Sunny clenched his fists.
"This again? You've said it a thousand times you never wanted me to become a Razor right. You think I had a choice? You think life here gave me any choices at all?"
John slowly reached for Sunny's left hand.
He tugged off the glove before Sunny could stop him.
"What are you doing?" Sunny asked sharply.
John looked at the tattooed numbers on Sunny's knuckles the kill count burned into his skin. But his eyes were soft.
"I know that under this ink… under these numbers… you're a good, kind-hearted boy," John said. "No matter what the Deadlands turned you into, that hasn't changed."
Sunny swallowed hard.
"That's a lie," he whispered. "You don't know the things I've done. The lives I've taken."
He stood abruptly, grabbing his gloves. "I need some fresh air."
"Sunny," John called after him.
Sunny paused at the doorway.
"Please think about it," John said. "There is no future here. Not for us. Not for you. Not even for our child."
Sunny's eyes widened for half a second.
Then he stepped out.
And the door closed behind him.