Heart Set on Fire

Chapter 2 Proper Introductions

Chapter 2

I drive a little faster now that I know there is someone else in town. I take the ramp onto the highway going the wrong way. It doesn't really matter anymore. Who would stop me? Police don't exist anymore. I start humming a song from before. Before. 

Before the pandemic that swept the whole world. It started some where in an eastern country before coming to the United States. Our government didn't take it seriously. It came here and killed thousands before our very own President got it and died. It wasn't long until millions were gone and governments collapsed. Some places still have electricity, bigger places mostly. Small towns like my home now are not so lucky. I chose a small town for several reasons. I grew up in a small town in Iowa before moving away to go to college.

Suddenly, in my rear view mirror I see that red sports car coming from behind me. I swear my heart is racing faster than the car behind me with the teenage boy in it. What does he want? What is he doing?  He catches up, waves while smiling, and speeds faster, going past me. I slam my brakes. What the entire f**k was that?

I sit there still for a moment. Waiting for him to come back for me. Something about that kid makes my skin crawl and little neck hairs stand on end. A few minutes pass by, I decide to carry on, it doesn't seem as though he is coming back.

I drive to where I met the man that said he had a job. In this new world, money doesn't mean anything. You do jobs for trading stuff you need. I'm hoping that I can get seeds for food, fresh food. That is a commodity now. My turn is up ahead. 

I take it and the road basically leads to an old high school. It's large, tall, and made of red brick. All of the windows have dark drapes covering them so that you can't see in. I wait in the grassy yard for the dark haired, dark skinned man with the icy blue eyes to come. This is where he said to meet. I look around. 

The sun is high in the sky, I look to my watch. It's noon. A door to the former high school opens and out walks the stranger I had met before with a tall dirty blonde, tan man that looks to be in his thirties. He has the same icy blue eyes. 

I hear the rev of a sports car speeding towards us. It doesn't stop at the curb. It keeps coming, suddenly then it slams on brakes and starts doing donuts around us before coming to a stop. Meanwhile, my heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest. 

"What the f**k?" I whisper to myself. Three sets of icy blue eyes turn toward me and my body automatically cowers. The teen jumps out of the car giddily. The tan man walks over to him and starts yelling at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You're not supposed to even be out! Let alone driving! Driving MY car none the less!" the tan man spits out while somehow growling. His hand goes to the teen's neck and he leads the teen to the door that the two men had just come out of. The man walks back.

"That's Prince Evan... I mean Evan." says the stranger I had met before, "He can be a handful."

"s**t, don't lie to your guest Dominic. He is not a handful, he is more than an army could handle."

They both turn to me, walking closer so that we can talk. 

"My name is Dominic, this is Prince Ethan, uh Ethan. He's actually the person I wanted to introduce you to."

"Yes, I am uh, Ethan. And your name?" he said looking what felt like was directly into my soul. 

"Athanasia but people call me Tansi. Dominic said that you had a job for me." I said locked into his gaze. 

"Good, Tansi, now that proper introductions have been made, won't you please enter my home? We can talk about what I have in mind." said Ethan.