The crumbling roads of Richmond weren't special. They've seen this all across the country. What was special though, were the number of buildings in reuse. Black markets sprouted up everywhere here, selling guns, drugs, dogs. People even. The Crater zone was also filled with hundreds of criminals. Murderers and thieves who would love nothing more to see you dead and your loot in their pocket.
And oh boy, did they get noticed
Upon entering the crater zone, people stared at the twins, wondering what those two are doing here. Shop keepers turned their noses away, while the streets stared at them with disgust
Many rumors had sprouted up about the twins. Usually that they're incestuous, or murder everyone on sight. Though, the most popular is that they're freaks. Those who have been exposed to the radiation in such large amounts that they've begun to change physically
One woman got brave and shouted
"Get lost you radioactive freaks!"
Lucy let go of her brother's hand and brought it up to her mouth
"Hush," She said
Her voice was like silk. Cold, and emotionless. It was beautiful, but also horrifying.
The woman took a step back. Her teeth were clenched, and she looked shocked
Lucy grabbed Lincoln's hand and continued walking. Soon, the threats stopped, everyone went back to what they were doing.
They found the general supply shop. Basics such as nonperishable food and water were sold here. Some fresh meat from a hunt could be found as well. Lincoln purchased a couple of packs of crackers, a portable charger that charged through sunlight, a med kit, and a surprise for Lucy. A can of Vienna sausage. The last one they had was on the first night. This cost him quite a bit, especially the med kit. Though, they came prepared. Helping out several settlements to the east sorta earned them a cult following. Literally. The worshipping of the Rose twins sprouted into a cult, seeing them as the reincarnated gods of destruction.
While walking to their second destination, Lincoln handed Lucy a pack of crackers, saving the sausages for later
She took it gladly and bit into one. The salty taste made her salivate. The butter flavoring made it near Nirvana.
"Jack, why do people hate us so much?" She asked as she took out another cracker
"I don't know Jill, they sort of just hate what's different. Disgusting isn't it" He smiled. She nodded
The further down the road they went, the fewer stores and people they saw
This is where you came to get the hardcore stuff.
You a cannibal? Well there's human kabobs to the right. You a crazed murderer? Well, there's a man selling garrote wire to your left.
Lucy gripped Lincolns hand harder. She felt the men in front of her undressing her with their eyes. Some of them licked their lips.
Lincoln wasn't paying attention. He was thinking of something else
"If our info was good, we should be able to buy a boat here"
Lucy kept her face down, she didn't like being seen. She felt hot, burning hot. She needed to get out of here, she needed some air away from everyone
Lincoln tugged on her arm a bit
"Hey, you ok?" He asked
In an instant, all her worries were gone
"Yeah, I am," She said in a near whisper
The sun shined on both of them as they walked further down. They took a left at the stop sign, as they were supposed to.
Something, stuck out to Lincoln though. Stuck out enough to make him stop dead in his tracks, confusing his sister
A short man, wearing a bright smile, red jacket and top hat, was showing off what the sign said to be his "Latest catch"
"Hey, Rose cunts!" He shouted
"If your sister isn't fulfilling all of your manly desires, I sure do have the deal for you!" He snorted
Lincoln looked at the man. Lucy was still holding his hand, slightly tugging, signifying that they should just leave. But to her surprise, he walked over there.
The man smiled even brighter and turned around
"Marcus, Roland, bring out the meat!" He yelled
Two large men came out of the shadows, both of them holding up a singular dog crate.
The insides were taped off, with only the holes at the top open for what was presumably breathing
The men set the box down, and opened the cage
Nothing came out
"What're you two standing there for? Get'er out!" He yelled
The two men reacted. One held the cage down, and the other reached in
Screams filled the twin's ears as Roland grabbed a metal chain, and pulled a girl out of the cage. She looked malnourished, and badly beaten. Her brown hair looked dirty, with twigs and grass messed up in it. Her clothes look torn, and overall she just looked awful
The chain was around her neck, connected to a leather dog collar. She couldn't have been past the age of 13 herself
"This fine specimen was required in Waynesboro! And if you want to know"
He licked his lips
"She's fresh. Not a single soul has been inside of her"
Lucy cringed at what she was hearing. Are these men selling slaves?
She looked at her brother. This had to be some sort of mistake, maybe he thought they were talking about some sort of dog, like a golden retriever, or a husky.
"How much?" Lincoln said, to the surprise of his sister
Her heart dropped, was her brother seriously considering this? Buying someone else? She was "fresh" as they put it, no ones fucked her. Lincoln should know this, she hasn't even been relatively close to another man in years other than him. He could use her in all the disgusting and perverted ways he wanted, she wanted just leave that little girl alone
She wanted to say so many things, but the Lincoln looked at her
And in a single moment, she knew he had a plan
The man in the red jacket spoke again
"Well, it depends. I'll take the rifle on your back and whatever loot you have on you, or I'll take your girl herself."
Lucy stepped back for a moment, her hand letting go of Lincolns
He stepped forward and faced the man
He was a good 7 inches taller. The man couldn't have been any less than 5'3
"Sure, one second," He said and began to undo the straps he had tied to his rifle
The men put handcuffs on the girl and tied the chain to a metal post until their transaction was completed
Lincoln took the rifle off, and as the shorter man came to inspect it, he slammed the stock into Jackets nose
He screamed and stumbled back onto the ground
Lincoln took a single shot and destroyed his kneecap
The men began to take action, one running forward towards the lad. Marcus was easy to take out, a single shot to the neck put the man on the ground. He bled out quickly
The girl in the chains began screaming, her voice getting hoarser than it already was
Roland took out a hand gun, and fired
It struck Lincoln in his arm, but it didn't faze him, the adrenaline was pumping into him too much.
Lucy reached into her own pocket, and pulled out a small throwing knife, which she promptly used to throw at the man.
It plunged itself into his chest, and as his shirt filled with crimson liquid, and he was distracted, Lincoln put a bullet in the man's head
Lucy walked over to the man and looked at him
He was crying. His eyes wide, and full of fear.
She knelt down and put her hands around his face. Her hands were silky smooth but ice cold. Almost like she was dead
"Shhhh," She said, her voice scaring the man even more
With a swift movement of her hands and a large snap, he was dead
"Sleep"
