3.1
The night in Bone Creek was cold, serving as a reminder of winter's inevitable approach.
The date was October 31st, Halloween.
Despite the apocalypse that had wiped out 99% of the world's population, the holiday was still remembered and celebrated by many. With the rising of the sun, kids leapt off their beds with grins on their faces, excited to paint mud on their cheeks and wear feathered hats in celebration.
But Halloween wasn't the only thing to be excited about–today was the final day of the tournament. The day that a winner would be decided.
– – – – –
7:10 AM
Sasha slowly rolled off his thin air mattress and stood up, joints cracking and muscles aching. He rubbed the side of his neck.
Making a mental note to prepare some kind of a pillow for next time, he stepped towards the door.
Corvus was lying on his back with his eyes open, and Yumi was still sound asleep.
She was curled almost into a ball, chest rising softly and slowly with each breath she took. Her hair was tucked neatly behind her, and the expression on her face was calm and happy.
Sasha looked down at her, and he felt a small smile cross his lips.
Without hesitation, he turned and walked out the door.
Sasha hadn't gotten up late, but he felt as if he'd missed some kind of announcement as he watched people run around with endless energy. Many were already wearing their primitive hats and facepaint, and they all went about with grins on their faces.
Little kids were swinging sticks at each other, but parents didn't even bother to intervene. Today was a special day.
Sasha walked into the cold morning in wonder, forgetting that anything outside of Bone Creek's border even existed.
But the rest of the world did exist, and it didn't wait. On the other side of the Cascade Mountains, moves were being made. The only remaining question was when the hammer would fall.
And just on the other side of the wire fence, another unexpected turn had arrived.
– – – – –
The pair of wearied travelers looked on into the city.
Echo wrapped her fingers around the gate and pulled. She shook it back and forth, the cold steel clanging and clattering, but it was locked and it wouldn't open.
She panted for air, dark circles under her heavy eyes.
"yo… YO! LET US IN! SASHA! YUMI! WHERE ARE YOU IDIOTS??"
She put her hands on her knees.
"...Mom?"
Echo turned her head.
"Why don't we just climb over?"
Echo looked back at the fence, which couldn't have been more than eight feet tall. There were no electric coils, and there wasn't even any barbed wire.
She sighed.
"Agghh, I'm an idiot."
Together, Echo and Eve clambered over the barrier before dropping down on the other side. Thanks to Sasha's radio message from the day before, they'd found it. After three weeks of brutal search, they'd found it.
Bone Creek, the 10th city.
They proceeded cautiously, but their fears quickly dissipated as they entered the joyous atmosphere of the day. Rather than getting scrutinized by the citizens, the pair was completely ignored. Far more important things were on everyone's minds.
"E-echo? Eve?"
Turning their heads, they saw who had greeted them.
Echo grinned.
"Thanks for your help, Sasha. I'd totally given up on finding this place."
"What?!" Eve exclaimed, turning to Echo with her eyebrows knotted. "You were working so hard!"
Echo smiled and patted Eve on the top of her head.
"I didn't want you to know."
Eve crossed her arms and turned away with a pouty look on her face.
Echo turned back to Sasha and said, "I assume Jelani and Nikki aren't here, right?"
"Oh, no."
"Yeah, I figured," Echo continued. "I bet that idiot found a radio and then broke it the next day." She snorted and added, "Or maybe he forgot to put batteries in."
"Well," Sasha said hesitantly. "We only sent the message yesterday, so they could be on their way."
"Yeah, whatever," Echo dismissed, throwing her arm around Eve's shoulders. "Do you guys have a room we can hang out in? We didn't sleep last night."
Sasha nodded. "Yeah. I'll show you where it is."
They followed Sasha around a few corners, into the apartment building, and down the hall.
He stopped in front of their room's door and hesitated. "Uhh, Yumi and Corvus might be asleep, so we should be quiet."
"Ha! Screw that!"
Echo shoved the door open and stepped proudly forward, spreading her arms wide open in greeting.
"We have arrived!" she announced loudly.
"Hey!" Yumi squeaked, scuttling into the corner and out of view.
Corvus was gone, and Yumi was wearing only her underwear.
"Oho!" Echo exclaimed. "You don't strike me as the type to be so embarrassed about that!"
Yumi hurriedly pulled her hoodie back on.
Echo didn't understand. It wasn't just embarrassment that Yumi was concerned about.
"Ahhhh," Echo sighed deeply, plunking herself down onto Sasha's mattress. "Eve, let's rest for a bit."
Eve nodded and happily followed her mother's example, collapsing onto the free mattress with a grateful sigh.
"You guys can go on a date," Echo said with a flick of her hand in Yumi and Sasha's direction. "We'll be in here for a while, so take your time."
– – – – –
4:17 PM
The day had turned to afternoon, and anticipation reached a climax.
Today, the tournament started later than usual. It would begin at 5:00, and it would continue until a winner was decided.
Eve and Echo crawled out of the dark room in a daze, wondering how many days they'd slept through.
"Woah!" Echo shielded her eyes as she entered the hallway, where a dim ceiling light illuminated the walls. "Why's this thing so bright?"
Eve stumbled out behind her, and they staggered down the hallway together, both battling a murky, dreamlike reality.
"Mooom, what time is it?" Eve yawned.
"I dunno. We'll see when we get outside."
Practically falling out the door, they looked at the sun to determine that it was late afternoon and proceeded forward, wondering where on earth all the people had gone.
After wandering around aimlessly for a little while, Echo made her conclusion.
"Looks like they all cleared out."
"I'm starving," Eve announced.
"Yeah, duh," Echo replied. "But how'll we get food if there aren't any people?"
Eve raised an eyebrow at her mom. "We just have to look for it."
"Well, yeah, bu–"
"Hello, girls."
They both leapt around at the sound of the voice. It belonged to a woman standing directly behind them.
"Your names are Echo and Eve, right?"
The woman's voice was clear, and her flowing maroon hair framed a face with cool, graceful features.
"How'd you know tha–"
"Yes," Eve interrupted.
If this woman knew their names, she must have communicated with Sasha and Yumi. Besides, Eve could practically see the authority radiating off her, so Echo's rude greeting wouldn't have been well-placed.
The woman smiled.
"My name is Skye. I've been communicating with your friends Yumi, Sasha, and Corvus. I'm the one who helped them contact you."
Eve bowed her head. "Thank you. We're very grateful."
Echo watched her daughter and smiled.
"Let's talk while we walk," Skye suggested. "We're cutting it close, you know."
"What do you mean?" Echo asked. This time, she tried to keep her tone at least somewhat polite.
"It's almost five."