Darkness is hell. The hell they now lived in. Walking from one abandoned building to abandoned building aimlessly. The figures may of been people, but with their layers of clothing and disfigured bony bodies made them look more like birds. Like the pigeons of the city they wondered looking for food. They gathered around beacons of light like moths. The fires lights pouring out over old trash cans meant safety. A single man stood leaning in a door frame. He was whispered about among the children for being so very kind and his stories were renown. His eyes a tired violet; his hair flat and dirty except for a curl that stuck out. He didn't often come close to the little camp of survivors often but when he did the adults would tell their children not to bother him. Of course when do children ever listen to such warnings.
A little girl wrapped in layers of clothes to avoid the cold the unending cold, scurried over to the man. She had heard her brother's and sisters tell tales about how the man was a ghost or a vampire that would eat her. She paid these stories no mind she was far more mature to believe in such stories. Besides her friend had told her much nicer things about the wanderer. Yet as she approached him, it felt as if a freezing wind pushed her toward him.
"Hello. I am Amanda" she said brightly. She put her hand out trying to be polite as her mother would when making important trade with others.
Hello Amanda are you lost?" The mans voice was softer than any Amanda had ever heard. The man crouched down and shook her outstretched hand.
"No. This is where I want to be." She answered determined.
"Ah." He looked at her curiously. "You want something from me?" He smiled. "Here this is something you shall like I think." In the man's outstretched hand was a hair pin. It was green and red with tiny medal roses. "This I found recently. I think it should belong to you. You are a good child I can tell." He finished.
Amanda took it and held it in her hands it was so small and gentle. She looked up at him in wonder.
"Thank you." She breathed, "I am not here for your gifts. I need to ask you a question". This was an important question and impossible hope filled question that the girl knew he could only have the answer to.
"Ask then. If that is what you wish of me." He said.
"My mother says that you fought in the war."
Ah the war, World War III a War no one saw coming. A war that shook the earth setting it into the darkness. This man knew everything about the war.
"She says she knows cause the way you walk. If you fought then you would know." Amanda continued.
"What is it I know." He brushed his long hair out of his eyes. Never did he imagine a small child would dare mention the war. It had become taboo to bring up the thing that had caused the worlds suffering.
"My papa told me the war killed Santa Claus. Is that true, because I need to write to Santa Claus but I can't If He is dead." She said her eyes pricking slightly with tears.
He looked at her in shock. 'Santa Claus?' He thought. He knew the story that parents would say to their children about Santa Claus. They would claim the Santa was dead simply to stop children from asking for Christmas presents that they would never be able to give as for him he knew where the story came from. The one who would be called Santa Claus had been killed. Yes Finland was long gone but perhaps he could still help the little girl.
"He is gone but there are still those who carry on his work" he couldn't bring himself to lie to the child. "Perhaps I can hear your wish little one. I may be able to help."
"I just wanted to ask if he would bring papa back.?" Amanda was crying now. She had been so sure Santa was still around.
The man drew the girl into a hug. He wished he could help her but all he could do was comfort her sadness. Inwardly, he cursed the forces that had brought all the desolation, all the warring, all the death to the world. The little girl sniffed quietly.
"I got your shirt all wet." She whispered.
"That's alright. It will dry. You should probably be getting back to your mama eh?" He said ruffling her hair. The girl's mama had come up to them looking for Amanda
"Mama!" Amanda cried running up to the woman. The woman quickly lifted the girl up in her arm.
"Look at what he gave me." Amanda pointed at the wonderer and showed her mother the hair clip.
"Matthew. That was a kind thing to do." The woman nodded.
"You know him mama?" Amanda asked.
"He comes to the camps often. We have had some conversation." The woman summarized, "but you little one should go back to the tent." She shooed her daughter away from Matthew and then turned back to him.
"How have you been? We haven't seen you in a while. Issac was getting worried?" She said.
"I have been all right just have had a lot of wood cutting to do. That's why I'm here actually ended up with more than enough so I dropped some off here." He said.
"Oh you always are so kind Matthew. It's good to keep warm. I know I asked before but... are you sure you are alright by yourself out there in the woods on your own." She shivered being alone out in the darkness was such a scary thing to her. "There are wolfs and such."
Matthew chuckled, "I alright really got Alfred to keep me company. The cabin is usually warm if I get the fire right.
The woman huffed. She had seen the cabin Matthew spoke about. It was more like a shack to be honest. She knew that Matthew never agreed to stay with the group but she supposed it was simply his nature.
"Well it's your choice though I have know idea why you stay so far away. Here let me get you some food to bring back with you." She hurried to the tent to grab some salted fish. But when she returned Matthew had already disappeared back into the woods.
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Matthew stomped through the snow carrying his lantern and leaning heavily on his makeshift cane. Amanda's mother was not wrong about why he walked with a limp. He indeed had fought in the war. He fought just as all the nations had. Thinking back it had been a stupid fight anyway and the chaos they had released as a result for their anger and greed had destroyed everything. The bombs they sent to win a silly little war had broke the power grids taking all lights and then they also caused almost every major volcano to explode which had covered the sun, this setting the word in endless cold darkness. So many had died and nations destroyed over a fight over something as stupid as boundaries.
Matthew pushes on seeing the light from his cabin. He opened the old door soaking in the warmth from the fire. It had been a painful hike and his leg ached awfully bad.
"Hey Al. I am back." He said leaning his cane against the door and slipping down next to the fire and his brother. Matthew knew Alfred wouldn't respond but Matthew would still talk normally as ever. Alfred his dear sweet stupid brother was the reason for all of this. Again he had gotten involved in the world's problems when he didn't need to but this time instead of relieving tensions he had ended up making everything worse. Nations got angry and war broke out. Now his brother laid covered in fur blankets, in a unconscious state caused by the bombs and volcanoes from a war of his own causing. Alfred had been in such a coma for so long Matthew wondered if he would ever wake again. So they stayed in the forgotten forest of Canada trying to survive as for as long as they could. Matthew brushed his brother's hair out of his eyes. The blue eyes seemingly for ever closed were missed greatly.
"I found this hair clip on the road yesterday ended up giving to this kid. She seemed to like it." Matthew laid down next to Alfred, "it's feels nice to talk to citizens again. But I did miss you while I was walking home." Matthew knew that staying away from his people wasn't good but he couldn't bring himself to face the people whose lives the nation's had ruined.
"So I guess it better we stay away then. It would suck if you woke up without me here." He added. He watched the fire for a while and entered the minds darkness.