Generations After

004

Questions loaded the boy's mind as he mauled over every moment of the events that occurred to him in the city the night before. But he cleared his thoughts one second at a time as the sun's rays filled the clouds with beautiful light, brightening the entire blue sky. The fresh air gently rolled over the green hills as he took a whiff. Anthony laid his arms amongst the blades without a care in the world, pushing them aside as if he were making a snow angel. He'd previously enjoyed this same sensation of ticklish turf against his skin, but in a designated facility.

The small dome engineered to mimic the outdoor ecosystem back in the city felt artificial compared to what he was experiencing now. He'd recalled all the simulations of life experiences they had as he was growing up, "broaden the student's minds," was the tagline for these floors full of chambers. There were various devices that achieved virtual realism, augmented reality, brain simulations, and B.S.E. or Bare Skin Experiences. With each one of these apparatuses predominantly requiring their own individual auditorium, they were highly accurate. Though he and his classmates, Riley included, could use them on field trips, they were more designed for Post-Traumatic patients, as well as detailed predictions of what was happening to the world around them.

Of course, Anthony enjoyed taking part in these activities. He found much more enjoyment in the published works and journals written by adventurers about their times away from the walls of the cities. There was the legendary Noah Martin and his Fossils of a Past Era series where he dug up and sold long-lost tech and gadgets from before the collapse of everyday towns. Then there was the ruthless Ajani Wright and his army, who told tales of destroying every abandoned building in his way in a fight for the new resetting world brimming with nature. All these records helped to teach him not only about creatures and people outside but what to do if he ever encountered any situations he'd learned from said books. From bugs to beasts and from thieves to machines, Anthony felt confident he knew more than anyone roaming these plains.

However, this peaceful note he found in pandering to his self-confidence became shorter-lived. One moment, he was breathing without a struggle, a grin of content plastered across his face, the next, something inhibited his nose inhalation. A pressure, or rather someone's finger, was pushing in on his right nostril. Even though this was incredibly distracting, he pretended to not care, hoping this reaction would bore the intruder, having them retreat from his bubble. He glanced toward where he believed the incursion was coming from, and sure enough, there she was, Riley, the black-haired personal space invader.

He fixed his vision on an oddly shaped cloud that was now slowly drifting into his field of view, visible beyond the tips of his brown hair.

"Hey, Riley?" He heard a tiny peep, as if the action of communicating with her was a shock.

"Uh, yes Ant?" She was stammering.

"Who were those people that were messing with you when I grabbed you? They seemed just like every other nightcrawler, am I right?"

"Yeah, that's right Ant." He heard her break a blade of grass with her fingers and twiddle it. He kept his sights on the sky, trying to think of another conversation starter, but he couldn't change the subject. His curiosity pestered him.

"What were you doing out so late, anyway?"

"Well, ya know. Sightseeing."

Sightseeing?

He'd never heard a more lame excuse in his life for anything, especially not for something that seemed like a serious topic such as this.

"We might not be all that close, but you can tell me stuff. I'm a pretty good listener, when I'm not reading, of course." She mustered up a smile at his poor attempt at a joke, but it dissolved. The look on her face told him that her authentic emotions were over-riding her forced ones as she focused on the grass. Riley seemed to be seriously contemplating on his invite to share.

"I..." He heard it, her breath escaping her, her nerves taking over. He didn't know how he'd react to her tale, and he bet she didn't want to find out. They were now out beyond the walls, miles away from it, and she was most likely scared of the vision of him getting up and leaving her behind if she told him something insane.

But I wouldn't leave... would I? I mean, I try not to judge, but what if she told me something completely bizarre? Something I couldn't even fathom? Could I trust her? What if she's an absolute freak? A killer even! Would I—

"I... was trying to feel something," she interjected his thoughts.

His face grew puzzled at her answer, his mind boggled around like someone shaking a cup of dice, trying to make sense of her words. "I don't think I understand, Riley. What do you mean, trying to feel something?"

"Well... I've been feeling absent for a while now. Not like emotions and stuff, but warmth. Another person's warmth. Someone who actually holds and embraces you."

He felt he didn't really know much about her, but the insignificant facts he'd overheard over the years manifested in his memory.

That was right. Her parents died a while back, an illness, a virus, both of them, like the one I'd recovered from.

He sat in silence, waiting to see if she'd continue with her explanation, but nothing. She seemed like a girl of many words, but in situations like this, he guessed the opposite applied. He felt the tensions continue to rise, and he knew he had to break them, but how?

"So, you wanted those guys to beat you up?"

Nice going i***t! That's not breaking up the tension, that's adding to it!

"Haha, no, of course not. But I was doing something rather disturbing there if I have to confess. I was trying to pick up someone in front of the bar. It didn't matter if it was a man or woman, just someone, so I could invite them to my empty home and just have them spend the night with me." She gripped onto her hand tightly as if to dig her nails into her skin, but he didn't notice any blood being drawn. "I'm so afraid of the silence."

He thought for a moment, but not long enough to refrain from blurting out something stupid to make her feel better. "Well, things will never be silent around me!" He used a laid back tone trying to sound nonchalant, following it with a smile as he locked his eyes onto another funny-looking cloud. In the end, he really didn't know what to say, only that he wished he'd never brought it up in the first place, though he hoped she felt better. He smirked once again as he tried to decipher what the shape resembled.

But this nostalgic childhood game was no longer the focus as a shadow entered his gaze.

"Ah! Dammit!" The boy said, yelling as he curled up into a ball covering his right eye to nurture the agonizing pain her finger poke inflicted. Riley's soft, but panicked, voice stammered.

"I'm sorry Ant!"

"What's your problem?!"

"I was aiming for your cheek..."

Anthony, still covering his eye, sat up, and scolded the girl sitting on her knees beside him. "How do you miss a cheek?"

He stuck one hand into the dirt and pushed himself to his feet. Even though his lack of balance was clear to both of them, it was still good enough to stumble away raged.

The girl scrambled to catch up with him, crying out, "Ant! Please come back! I'm sorry! Don't leave me!"

He continued to look straight ahead in a gloomy haze as his steps merged onto a broken concrete road, the guilt festering. Maybe this bit of pain was what he deserved for misjudging the one person joining him on this journey.