Born to Die
Rated M for later chapters.
A Tribe fanfic. I do not own anything, except for the OC characters.
Summary: "Yes, I lied to you. I lied to you and it is killing me. You were the one person I could relay on." I told him. The tears were not far away. "Then why did you do it?" He asked with hurt in his voice. "You changed…"
Friendship is never easy, especially not in a world that has crashed and burned. Who can you trust, and who can you not? This story follows the fifteen-year-old Gwendolyn, as she faces the difficulties with being in a world without adults. She and her friends settle down in an empty shopping mal. Life is not easy. Especially not if your ex-best friend is one of the city's most feared tribe leader.
Chapter 1. It's all about power
See the devil on the doorstep now (my oh my)
Telling everybody oh just how to live their lives
Sliding down the information highway
Buying in just like a bunch of fools
Time is ticking and we can't go back (my oh my)
The chanting grew louder; "Kill the skinny-boy, kill the skinny-boy!" I felt my heart pound harder and harder. What should I do? Just let them kill him? Should I let them kill that poor helpless boy? On the other hand, what would Stephanie and Thomas, Salene and the kids say? What if I didn't come back? Would they share a tear for me? Go searching for me? Would it even matter? Wouldn't we die of hunger soon anyway? My eyes drifted back to focus on Top Hat who was smiling. He was holding both arms in the air. The chanting grew louder and louder. I saw the boy was tied to a three. He was in panic. Stupid guy, one should not mess with Tribe Circus or any of the crazy gangs in the city. I now understand why kids are starving themselves to death. It's too risky going out on the streets in search for food; you could end up as a slave or get killed. It was a harsh and disturbing world now.
My name was Gwendolyn, or Gwen as I liked to be called. I was fourteen when the virus hit. It has been nine months since the adults had gone, or dropped dead. My city was in complete chaos; a nightmare I couldn't escape from. I had gone up the hills to burn the corpses of my mother and big sister. It was a painful experience, but necessary. The last remains of my family should never, end up being toyed with by these tribal gangs. I've seen them do stuff like that and it makes me sick. After I had burned the bodies, I collected a bit ash from the remains of my burning, and put it in a tiny bag I wear around my neck. Now they will always be with me. My father had gone a long time ago. I did not know what had become of him though; he was probably dead like the rest.
My best friend Thomas and I had gone to search for food. He went to sector 13 and I to sector 12. I had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the alley behind the train station in sector 15, the territory of Tribe Circus. However, I managed to get away before they noticed me.
"So skinny-boy, what were you doing in our sector? Stealing? Spying for goggle-boy perhaps?" Said Top Hat, his face only inches away from the boys'. I knew the clown was referring to the leader of the Locos, Zoot. That maniac with those crazy contacts and that damned police car. My heart skipped a beat. Don't think about him! Don't think about him! It is in the past. There are more important things that matter now. Do NOT think about him now!
"I was just looking for food, no tricks!" The boy had begun to cry. Oh how I wanted to help him, but I couldn't, could I? He looked about sixteen of age, but his body was tall and lanky. Not much of a fighter. He did not stand a chance. Tribe Circus was lunatics. Their horrifying clown makeup could even scare the toughest man on earth. It's understandable that people are frightened of clowns, particularly in this world. The tribe owned a casino behind the train station. People who went there was desperate for anything. If it only could ease their constant hunger, they would go there. However, you might end up a slave or dead if you make one wrong move. Tribe Circus was always up to no good.
Top Hat broke into a crazy laughter, nearly spitting in boys' face. He turned to his goons again. "Hahahaha! You heard that people? No tricks!" Top Hat returned to his position in front of the boy so fast, that I saw him jump a little. "I will show you some tricks skinny-boy. No one is stealing from me, NO ONE!" The clowns' voice roared across the field. Top Hat's eyes were shining with pure evil and complete madness. This was it; I had to do something. Top Hat didn't have any mercy. He was a monster. I've heard of the things he likes to do to his victims. But what could a girl like me do? Of course I wanted justice and a nice city to live in, but I had neither the strength nor the voice to make everyone agree with me. God bless the person who did, but I had to do something! The boy didn't deserve that, no one did. At least I could try and save this one person.
I was hiding behind a corner of a building, a few meters from where the bunch of clowns was standing. How on earth could I do anything? While I was trying to figure out how to save the boy, I heard the sound of a bike behind me. "What the hell is it that you're doing Gwen? Trying to get yourself killed?" Thomas whispered as quiet as he could, though fast. I was speechless as I looked into the furious expression on his face. Thomas was handsome, even when he was angry. Many girls thought that, however not me. We had known each other for to long. Thomas had dark long hair, which almost reached his shoulders. His eyes had a beautiful color forest green, which was the first thing you noticed about him. Thomas looked like a mixture of an Armani model and a rock star. Of course many girls had been droned to him, like the moths to a flame, I was just not one of them. Thomas and I was just good friends. "I got lost…" I whispered back. Thomas rolled his eyes, still annoyed with me. "How can you get lost at a place like this Gwen? It Tribe Circus' territory!" he hissed. I ignored him. The clowns started cheering again. "Thomas, we've got to help that boy. You know what Tribe Circus is like. They would probably set fire to that three, with the boy still tied to it." I was searching for help from my friend. He looked at the chaos with a stern face and then sighed. "I'm sorry, but we cannot do that. We cannot take the risk." I couldn't believe it. "But we've got to help him! Who else would do it?" I stopped myself for nearly shouting at him. Thomas put a hand on my mouth and looked worried at the gang on the square. His green eyes found mine again. "I'm sorry, but we cannot risk being caught ourselves. That's how the world is nowadays. You know that don't you? It's looking after number one! Come with me, and be quiet!" He yanked my arm, and so I left the screaming boy to face his cruel destiny.
What about the world today
What about the place that we call home
We've never been so many
And we've never been so alone
"Did you get any food?" I asked Thomas. We were riding through the city on his bike, trying to be as quiet and fast as possible. "Just a box of tinned mango. It's been out of date for one month, but I guess we don't have any much choice." He said over his shoulder. I was watching as walls of tribe graffiti passing by. This city used to be pretty as well as hectic. Now it was just hectic and chaotic. I noticed Thomas had stopped biking. "What's wrong?" I asked a bit concerned. The street was empty; except for some garbage here and there. "Ehm… I think we…" His voice was a bit shaken. "For goodness sake Thomas! What's wrong? You're scaring me." I felt shivers go down my spine. It was quiet, like in a grave. One could only hear the wind blowing. Nothing more. It was unmorally quiet. "Shit!" Thomas suddenly burst out. "What?" I asked scared. I didn't like this; being in middle of the street on midday, and I especially didn't like it when Thomas was scared. He never used to be; he was the definition of calm himself. I got of the bike and went in front of Thomas, staring at his pale face. "Wake up you stupid git! We cannot be out here in the open! The Locos could…" My voice faded away when it suddenly came clear to me why Thomas was so frightened. "Oh my God." I looked at the logos at the walls of the buildings. I know them oh so very well. My blood turned to ice. There is no mystery why it is so silent here. The wind is always silent before the storm. This was sector 9! The home base of the Locos! Our so-called-home was in sector 10. We had taken the wrong way, and the siren… I listened and after a few minutes I could hear it, the Siren! They were coming! The Locos were coming, and here we stood in the middle of the street! "Thomas! Move it! Zoot is coming!" The siren grew louder and louder. I did not want to confront The Locos, nor did I want to look into Zoot's cold and pale eyes. He'd recognized me, even though I can hardly recognize him myself anymore. He is no longer the boy I used to know.
I took a deep breath while I tried to drag Thomas into a side alley. After a lot of struggle he seemed to have comeback to earth, and jumped into hiding with me. The siren was quite loud now. Curiosity got the hold of me, so I peaked a bit out from our hiding place. There they were, the most feared and dangerous tribe in the city. They were out on their usual patrolling I guess. Tribe Circus was bad enough, but taking a look at Zoot, most would rather be tied to a three by the clowns, than face the legendary leader of the Locos. Even the Demon Dog's didn't want to encounter them if they could avoid it, rivals or not they wouldn't. "What the hell are doing? They'll catch us. Get back in here!" Thomas whispered in my ear, but I somehow avoided him. I was too fascinated with watching the people out on the street, the police car, the Locusts on the rollerblades, and their famous leader. Zoot held his head like a king, something he was, at least in this city. Beside Zoot stood Ebony, his queen and lover. You couldn't deny that she was beautiful, but I knew there was something more behind that pretty face of hers. It was only Ebony that could have been Zoot's partner in crime. I understood that during the last days of school, when everything was becoming complete chaos. "Power and chaos!" Zoot roared, while he did this stupid arm gesture of his. The rest of the Locos did the same, and then they had rounded a corner and were gone. Oh poor Martin…
You keep watching from your picket fence
You keep talking but it makes no sense
You say we're not responsible
But we are, we are
We had managed to get back to the little playground with the others. Cloe was out on her own adventures. Thomas and I felt bad, knowing that perhaps one time she would get snatched, but wouldn't we all one day? It felt like it. "How did it go?" Stephanie welcomed us. "We was just held back by some of the gangs, but we managed." Thomas was glaring at me. "Oh excuse me mister! If I am not totally wrong, you were the one being paralyzed while the Locos were patrolling the streets! I was the one who had to drag you away form there!" I snapped back at him. "The Locos? Are they coming?" Salene gasped frightened. "Of course not Sal. Or what Gwen?" Stephanie sent me a stern look. "Yeah… Sure Sal, no worries." I mumbled, while looking at the ground; I did not want to start a fight, it was useless. Stephanie nodded and started to open the tin box Thomas had handed her. She was a pretty girl with shoulder length blond hair, and a petite body. She and I was the same age, but had not gone to the same school together. The main plan had been to leave the city, find somewhere more peaceful, but Stephanie had insisted that we should stay. Thomas being her boyfriend chooses to take her side, and therefore I was out voted. Do not get me wrong; I like her, a lot. She would keep her calm and insist that there would come a better time for us all, because God had decided that way. Yes, Stephanie was a Christian, and it helped hearing her prayers at night. Somehow they eased the worries in my mind, however I am not a believer myself.
When we tried to look after a place we could stay, we found Salene and the kids. Salene was a thirteen year old girl with flaming red her. I found her a bit shy and often scared at times. But then again who isn't scared in a world like this? The kids consisted of Patsy and Paul, who were siblings, and Cloe who often liked to wander alone. They also had a dog, called Bob, who were there to cheer everybody up if times got tough. So here we were on this God forsaken playground, not know what might happen to us. "I suggest we try and find a new hide out tomorrow. Of course when Cloe gets back, it is not safe here." Stephanie said while she handed out mangos. "It's not safe anywhere." I whispered to myself.
It's all about power then
Take control
Breaking the rule
Breaking the soul
They suck us dry till there's nothing left
My oh my, my oh my
The others were asleep at least I thought so. I was gazing up at the stars and almost hoping to see a night plane, something that told me everything was okay, even though it wasn't. How I wanted to see a shooting star so I could make a wish. It does not come as a surprise for what I wanted. It was ridicules even thinking everything could be fine. There was no going back now. I was stuck at this… Wait! Was that a sound? I tried to listen harder, but all I heard was the Loco siren from far off and some people shouting somewhere. The city was even scarier at night. It was just a rat Gwen, nothing to worry about. I clutched the baseball bat harder to my chest. Thomas and I used to take shifts on guard duty. I found it hard to sleep most times, and therefore I didn't mind guard duties at night.
I looked up at the night sky again. The blinking stares making me sleepy. My mind drifted away to a long forgotten past, where life was about school, family, weekends, parties, latest celebrity news, gossip of whom fancying who and who slept with whom. It seemed like an eternity ago when I lived that life, and it made me still mad thinking of how I back then took life for granted. When the adults died I was one of those kids who believed that everything would be okay. We would be evacuated to the country, and still have classes as usual. The government had told us they had found an antidote for the virus. I was an idiot; everything has changed now, everyone, including the ones I knew. Here the people I once were close to, the people I sheared secrets with, and the people who were my neighbors, my classmates and my best friends, they were are chasing me. They were chasing me to see death. The world has changed and it was not for the better, and so I fell asleep.
What about the world today
What about the place that we call home
We' ve never been so many
And we've never been so alone...
So? What do you think? Should I continue it? It was just something I had in my mind. For this chapter I used Ana Johnsson's song 'We are'. Music helps me write. I don't know if I will turn this into a romance fic, but I have been thinking about it. You can tell me what you think. Critics are appreciated, not flames.