Him And I

Chapter 1- Radical Faction

The world had ended- not the typical zombie apocalypse but still an apocalypse- a great disaster. The government had collapsed a long time ago, presidency?- that word had been forgotten a long time ago; it couldn't even be in the current dictionary in this time. Unlike zombie apocalypse where cities are destroyed and the walking dead roam the streets- instead, after chaos, the destroyed parts of the city had been rebuilt and converted into something better; like the abandoned parts of town had been turned into factories- ammunition factories, chemical factories, laboratory factories- its buildings so dense and high with spiky steel gates burying the whispers of what happens underneath, beverage factories, etcetera. But recently, citizens had gotten bold enough to start building around abandoned towns where factories were located. It wasn't like the typical days where the government built houses and all that had to be done was contact an agent, go for house evaluation and stuffs- no. Everything had to be done individually; individually in the sense that the space or land had to be scouted by that individual, hiring or contacting of an engineer had to be done oneself and stuffs.

Ever since the disintegration and fallout of the government, a group called the Coryphaeus had risen to take control and establish their own laws. Their groups had spread far beyond countries, overthrowing governments and creating linkage and alliances among themselves and countries that they ruled.

Now, under their rule, the word 'Country' didn't exist anymore. After the linkage and alliances; 'Faction', was the word understood and under factions, there were divisions. Each division were categorized under A-Z, depending on how large the factions were and for this specific faction; the 'Radical Faction', it was governed by the Dimitri brothers.

The glass sliding door of the convenience store gave way to a pair of black buckled size- 37 calf high boots. With hands in the black hoodie side pockets, the hooded figure walked through the aisle directly opposite the exit door, making a detour to the cigarette section. Pulling out her right hand and tilting her head downwards, Brooklyn used her index finger and her eyes to search the company names of the cigarette available in racks row by row; occasionally muttering as her finger skimmed past until it finally came to stop on her favorite pick- spice flavour.

Picking a box out of the vertical stack, she flicked the hood open, counting the numbers of sticks in, all the while walking to the counter.

"One box of cigarette", she informed the ebony- skinned middle aged woman sitting behind the counter- hunched over a magazine on her knees. Pushing up her glasses that slid down the bridge of her nose in that position, she grunted out a response and tapped her knuckle on the counter top.

"Halfway through the payment?", Brooklyn enquired while leaning her hip against the side of the counter and placing the box of cigarette on its top.

"Not even halfway", Lydia grunted, not liking the disruption, causing Brooklyn to laugh softly while she scanned the array of lollipop display on the counter top.

"Anything new on the news today?", closing the magazine with a 'slap', Lydia finally looked up to face Brooklyn with an annoyed scowl.

"Don't you have a tv?", Lydia fired back.

"Student life Dia"

"Don't call me that and a f*****g phone would suffice"

Changing her position, Brooklyn leaned over to the side and seeing the golden front page and the naked upper half of a black- haired male torso, Brooklyn snorted and shook her hooded head.

"You swore that you were over teen magazine". Hearing that, Lydia fidgeted and swiped the magazine off the top with her arm.

"I swear it's not what you think"

"Uh- huh"

Sighing, Lydia pulled the cigarette box towards her to be scanned.

"I'm not double scanning Brooks, pick again", Lydia scolded, knowing the kind of entity Brooklyn was. She didn't have to wait too long though because a stack of 3 in 1 flavoured lollipop was dropped before her, beside the cigarette box.

"I tell you, you're gonna fry your lungs at the rate you're going".

"I kept my end of the bargain old lady, I puff only one box in a week instead of two".

Clicking her tongue at Brooklyn, she scanned and bagged while Brooklyn swiped her card.

"Anything I should know before getting on those streets?"

"Didn't you leave from home?"

"That was before dawn"

"Eh? That early? Had classes today?"

Not hesitating nor blinking, Brooklyn gave a reply

"No, went sightseeing"

"Before dawn?". Lydia frowned.

"Not that it's any of your business", Brooklyn replied sharply and cursed

under her breath. Her slip up had immediately caused a tense atmosphere between them.

Opening her mouth, her throat worked as she struggled to apologize but she eased up a little when Lydia waved an unbothered hand.

"Don't mind me, I tend to cross boundaries", Brooklyn nodded at the apology and hooked her fingers through the hole of the shopping bag. Turning her back on Lydia without further ado, she paused with a foot in front of the other when Lydia spoke- voice dangerously calm.

"Be careful on those streets kiddo, the Coryphaeus are not only known for opening infrastructures and the Acolytes are not only known for being prehensile". Hearing that, Brooklyn frowned as she walked out of the convenience store, the sliding door rolling open for her.