Fated Hybrids

Chapter 5

The impact of a pillow against the back of my head woke me from my slumber. I almost reached for my Automag 5 pistol that I kept underneath my pillow in case of unpleasant surprises. It was a 50 caliber that I kept loaded with incendiary armor-piercing rounds. The safety was on though, I wasn't careless. My mind clicked fast enough to know it was Emery waking me up like she had promised. I rolled over onto my back only to get hit in the face.

"Get up Zara, move it!"

She wasn't yelling at this point but she was obviously becoming impatient. Before she could clock me a third time, I caught the pillow just before it hit me in the face. I snatched it away from her and then chucked it into her face.

"Hey!" I heard her say muffled behind the pillow. She huffed at me before throwing it onto the floor.

"What did you throw it at me for?!"

I sat up in bed and gave her neutral, slightly irritated eyes. "Is that not a rhetorical question?"

Emery put her hand over her face and sighed. "Just get ready grumplestiltskin...'' She said with a sour facial expression.

I rolled my eyes at her as she walked out of my room.

I noticed that there was no light peeking through my blinds, none at all. I got up on my knees and crawled to the window that was closest to the right side of my bed. I reached up two fingers and parted the blinds. The sky was purple and peach, just barely sunrise. At that moment I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go choke Emery or make her breakfast for trying to be helpful.

There was far more to do today so I was going to have to take my sleep deprivation like a man. I took a quick shower and made a quick decision on my wardrobe. Some black jogging shorts with a forest green tank top and my boots. I had to hand wash my pea coat because of the slime-shower I got yesterday, but it was pretty much dry this morning so I was wearing it. Before I left the house I always went to see if my mom and Emery were all right, and to tell them I love them. Some days I wasn't so sure I'd come back...

Emery was in my mother's room as usual.

My mother was taking the last of the Dyglosamine she had. If I didn't get her some more before the month was out, she would die. There were only two weeks left before the last stages of Aeir's Syndrome took hold. Emery gave it to her every morning through injection. I know most five-year-old girls weren't having to do these types of things. I hoped one day she would never have to again. I stood in the doorway watching her take the needle from my mom's arm and toss the used needle into a small sharps container.

I was able to find a trader with some good medical supplies, but it was a long time ago since I'd seen that person. They might be dead now.

"Morning Zara. Did you sleep well honey?" My mom asked, still sounding as tired as I felt.

"Yeah, until that one started beating me in the head with a pillow." I said pointing a finger at Emery. My mother sighed and looked over at Emery who was trying to look innocent and failed horribly.

"Emery I told you about doing that, it's not nice." She scolded her. Emery opened her mouth like she was appalled that my mother thought of her as anything less than nice.

"Ha ha, munchkin." I laughed seeing the evil glare on her cute little face. Mom looked back to me and smiled faintly.

"You're getting an earlier start than usual, is something the matter?" I hated that she could read me so easily, but she was my mom after all.

"I just want to find your medicine and plenty of it. That's all." Her smile faded completely and one of her more serious expressions appeared. I knew she was about to say something wise or give a life lesson speech.

"Remember what I told you two when I first got sick? If one day I can't get medication and I leave this world, it's not the end? You shouldn't mourn my death because I would no longer be suffering. I would be gone, but never far away. I would always be here to watch over my girls. You don't see how tired I am, or maybe you do. I don't like that you go out all day risking your life alone trying to find food and medicine. I know you are doing everything you can to take care of us honey, but you have to look at the bigger picture."

I felt myself starting to frown. I heard her words but they didn't comfort me, they made me angry.

"So, what? I just give up and watch you die slowly and painfully? Let you die? I don't think so. If I can get you what you need I'm going to. We can't lose you mom, we've already lost dad..."

My mom slowly shook her head, a very weak movement at best. Emery had gone still and quiet on the foot of mom's bed, listening. She had gone from a grown-up survivor, to a child caught in the middle of chaos all over again.

"I won't get better, you both know that I'll always be sickly. Aeir's Syndrome doesn't just go away and there is no cure. I'm not telling you to give up hope, I would never want that. I'm just saying it's not all over if I pass on. I know you would take good care of Emy but don't forget about yourself. Understand?" I did understand, but I wasn't ready to let her go yet.

It's extremely selfish, I know. When you lose your father like I did, you do whatever it takes to keep the parent you have left alive. Emery never got the chance to know our father and my mother could die if she doesn't stay on her medications. No one should be dealt a hand like that in life, to hell with what that old saying says.

I just gave my mom a nod. We could go back and forth about this all day but it wouldn't get anything important done.

"I love you guys, I'll be back as soon as I can..." I turned to leave but Emery spoke.

"Be careful sis."

I looked back and gave her a smile.

"I will, promise."

I went downstairs and out of the back door, locking it behind me.

Once I got my bike running and left my backyard, I was determined to get everything I had came out for. I understood perfectly what my mom was trying to say. She saw herself as a burden now and maybe life would be easier for us if we weren't taking care of her. She said she was tired of being ill. I knew she was tired but I didn't want her to suffer until her last breath. It’s true that she was suffering everyday staying alive, but I had convinced myself that one day she would have enough medicine to get rid of the worst symptoms of Aeir's Syndrome.

I didn't care what I had to do to see that happen.

Saint Mark's Church was about a quarter mile from my house. It was one of the largest churches before the Xerclanz took over, from what my mother told me. The church was painted beige and burgundy. It was built in the shape of a hexagon but was three stories high. It wasn't in as good a shape as it once was, but the stained glass images of the saints were untouched in the windows. I turned into the parking lot and saw Mont sitting on one of the cement parking space blocks. I watched a smile slowly creep up on his face as I walked over to him. He stood up and suddenly looked like a giant to my five-foot -three frame. He was wearing some bleached faded jeans and a red cardigan. We shared the same simple practicality when it came to our clothes. There was always a chance we would run into trouble and end up throwing the outfit away completely.

"I hope you weren't waiting long." Mont shook his head no before handing me a small piece of manilla paper. I took it and read the address on it. I frowned at it and almost started to laugh.

"This is the address to Meriden Pharmacy. You know as well as I do all of the pharmacies have been looted."

Mont put a hand up as if to say, ‘let me explain’.

"I called bullshit too when I got the info. But I went to check it out myself. The Pharmacy itself is cleaned out, but there is a basement access that looks to be in use still. I didn't go into it but I looked into the basement window. There were bottles upon bottles of medications down there on the shelves still; From what I could see anyway. There's a possibility that the medicines are expired but there's only one way to find out." He said putting his hands in his pockets.

I trusted Mont and that said a lot considering the fact I don't let anyone get too close. If he checked the place out himself and O.K.'d it, then I was definitely going to check it out. He risked his life going out into the city before sunrise to verify info for me. At the very least I could go take a look myself. I nodded and put the piece of paper in my inner coat pocket.

"Thanks Mont, It's the best lead I've had in a while. What are you about to do now?"

"I have other people to get information for. Be careful out there Zara, we still need to hang out for fun and not just business." He said with a wink. I shook my head, becoming flushed in the face.

"If you know any fun spots maybe we can make a day of it."

He grinned. "I know many."

I grinned back, leaving the conversation open as I walked away.

I got on my bike and looked back at Mont to see him crossing the street. I was lucky he was willing to go out of his way to help me. The Meriden Pharmacy was across town in the big business district. I was going to pass by my food pick up area so that would be my first stop. I did a very poor job of gathering food yesterday so I was going to have to get double, plus trade for more Beilajs. My best trading items were my ammo. I had lots of it. How did I get my ammo? By trading lamp oils and fuel when I could find some. Neither were easy to find, but I managed.

It was sort of cold this morning but the cool air blowing against my face and through my hair, felt amazing. Fall was my favorite season because the weather was always just right. The trees were all shades of oranges, reds, and yellows right now which meant the season was somewhere in the middle. When the colors vanished I didn't go out much unless it was an emergency. The snow came quickly after the leaves turned brown, and I hated the cold.

I made a sharp right turn onto a residential street that had a few stores scattered between every three houses or so. I came to a hard stop in front of one that read, 'Turk's Jerked Pork House'. My back tire had risen up a little bit from the ground but I didn't fall off.

I looked up to see the infamous Zig strolling down the street like a Madam from a brothel. Zig was brown skinned with off-black hair that came down to her shoulders in thick waves. Her eyes were big and round, hazel colored. She stood about five foot five but she always wore high heels so she looked more like five eight.

She had on one of those tulle maxi skirts with some lace up heels and a white long sleeve T-shirt. Judging by the imprints her n*****s were making in her shirt, she was cold enough to need a jacket but for some reason or another she decided to go without. I never went without a bra for several reasons.

I got off of my bike and she waved at me. I wasn't trying to stop for a conversation so I just waved back and continued towards the steps leading to the restaurant.

"No time to talk to eh?" She said.

I turned around to see her coming up the steps behind me, but I didn't let her get too close. She was a master pickpocket. I've had to pull my gun on her more than once because she tried stealing from me.

"Actually no, Zig. I have things to do and I need to use every minute I have." She nodded, swinging her hands back and forth at her sides.

"I get it, I get it. Too busy for Zig's big news of the day?"

I was instantly suspicious and I knew my face showed it because she threw her hands up defensively.

"It's not a scam, I swear!" She said holding her hands in the classic 'I'm not armed' pose.

Zig had a bad reputation and it was getting worse. I tended to ignore or avoid her at all costs unless we were doing business that was critical. Other than that, I avoided her like the Xerclanz. Yes, she was that bad.

"What news Zig? Like I said, I've got s**t to do."

I pushed the sides of my coat back and placed my hands on my hips. My guns were visible to her and I wanted it that way. It was a small encouragement for her to hurry up.

"There's this guy out on Beknam street selling meat! It’s fresh stuff, not the stuff in jars. I've never seen so many people trading! It’s insane!" She said getting all excited.

There was no one that I knew who was breeding animals for slaughter. I haven't seen a cow, chicken, pig, or even a wild turkey for that matter for as long as I've been on this dump of a planet. I was convinced the Xerclanz took all of the livestock, but now some guy is selling fresh meat? Give me a break.

"Sounds like a dream Zig. Unless you bring me a physical piece of meat from this guy I'm not going to waste my time going to check it out."

It was her turn to put her hands on her hips.

"Come on Zara this is huge, everyone needs meat. You aren't still mad at me are you?"

I glared at her and she took a few steps back.

"Stealing something of mine is one thing, but stealing something I'm trying to bring home for my family is something else entirely. So yeah Zig, I'm still pissed off about it. Until you find a way to make it up to me I suggest you stay out of my way..."

I wanted to just do the world a favor and blow her head off, but I knew it would be another con artist just like her that springs up tomorrow.

“Suit yourself then…” She said as she turned to leave.

I watched as she went back down the steps and walked off down the street. I wanted to make sure she was nowhere near my bike before I went inside.

Turk's Jerked Pork House used to be busy at all hours of the day and night; now everyone was too afraid to come out after dark. The owner is long gone and with them the pork. Two young guys about my age had a food store here now. They had things like, ready to eat soups in a microwaveable container, dried fruits, trail mixes, and canned goods. What made their canned goods different is that they only collect the easy-open ones so people don't need can openers; very thoughtful of them.

I walked up to what used to be the hot case for the food and the eldest brother was standing behind it with a smile. He had sandy brown hair that came down just above his ears.

Both brothers had eyes that were the darkest brown and almond shaped, wide noses and plump lips. Their facial features reminded me of those teen idols on the cover of magazines.

"Hi, what can I do for you today?"

The words came out tired and bored as if he's been here all day without one customer, maybe he had.

"Two bags of dried apricots, one bag of banana chips, one bag of tropical trail mix, four cans of tomato soup, ten cans of chicken broth, and three of those Spanish rice quick-dinner things."

He seemed to perk up a bit after I named the things I wanted.

"Well all right, I'll be right back with your stuff."

He went into the kitchen area and I could hear him going through cabinets looking for the items I asked for. His brother came out from the kitchen area to keep an eye on things I assumed. He gave me a small smile and leaned against the counter.

"I remember you. Azarah, right?"

I nodded.

"You're always alone when you come here. Do you still have family?"

"Yeah, I still have family. They just stay at home. What about you? Is it just you and your brother?"

He nodded and his face went sullen.

"We're all that's left of our family as far as we know. It's tough but we manage."

His older brother came back from the kitchen with my bag of goods and set them on the counter next to a non functioning register.

"That will be seven Beilajs."

I picked up the bag and looked through it to make sure all that I had asked for was in there first. When things were all confirmed, I placed seven Beilajs on the counter.

"Thank you."

The eldest brother shook his head.

"No, thank you for risking life and limb to do business with us." I started to smirk before giving him a nod. Nice to know my business was appreciated.

I put my goods into my rucksack which I slung back over my neck before I got onto my bike. The streets were starting to liven up a little, a few people strolling down the block. Everyone would be just as busy or more so than me soon. I took out the small piece of paper from my inner coat pocket I had gotten from Mont earlier and looked over the address again.