Deceive

Chapter 2

In the shell of a once glorious city, I find a cosy little place, on the third floor of a large office building, multiple exits. Plenty of places out of sight.

Settling into the little nook I’ve set up. I sigh contently, pulling out a chocolate bar. I’ve had chocolate before but it was for my birthday. Only once, my parents wanted me to have something sweet in my lifetime. The sweetness hits my tongue and I almost moan.

Back on the road. Yay. A shuffling behind me has my mind working double time. I don't freeze or turn around. Instead leading them around a short block so I can sneak up on the back of them. Turning the corner, I drop my bag and sprint. I’m fast, so I run the block quickly. All the way back to where I dumped my bag with a troubled looking ‘man from before’ standing over my bag. I let out a startled sound, cursing inwardly at my stupidness. I’ve never acted this way, I’ve always been precise and manipulative. He turns, the worried lock on his face melting into a smile that has my heart doing that weird thing again.

“Damn. I thought you booked it.” He said worry prominent in his voice. I shook my head.

“I’m sorry I followed you, I was worried.” I let my worry show on my face.

“It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.” I’ve heard those words before. But his voice, his voice made me hesitate. What was happening? I didn't hesitate. I observed and manipulated. But now, I don’t know.

“I’m Dylan.” He said, an expectant look on his face. He hadn’t moved but he seemed really close. “Now, you tell me your name.” He said slowly as if speaking to a small child. Not that I’ve ever seen a small child, but I was one once.

“Hope.” My mother named me, and thought I would become the ‘hope’ for the new world. She was so wrong. We are only surviving, childish feelings like hope get you killed.

“You know that East is that way, right?” Dylan said pointing towards the rising sun, the opposite way of which I was walking. He sounded genuine. The only time I’ve heard someone sound genuine was my parents to each other. I kept the scared little girl act. Acting like prey caught in a trap would.

“The colony is real, you should go.” Dylan whispered. I snapped my head up making my eyes look frantic and worried.

Dylan held up his hands in surrender, he spoke soothing words “Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s okay. You should come with me, I’m from the colony.” I froze. The colony was real?

“There is clean water, food, shelter, amazing things. And the leader of the colony, his name Travis, he’s from the old world. And I have friends like us, born in this world.” He was pleading now. “Please come with me, I can keep you safe.” I was heading to the ‘Pit Stop’, a town for travelers left in this world. Trade was their currency, for everything. Shelter, food, weapons, services. But this man before me could lead me to the ‘salvation’ of this world or be the death of me. What the hell, I’m gonna die anyway, either by Dylan or someone finally catches on that I’m manipulating them out of their valuables and they kill me.

I nod. He smiles.