~~~
It was morning, and Piper was greeted with the warmth of the sun on
her rugged race. She slowly flickered her eyes open and
looked up and out into the blue sky. At least the Earth and Mother
Nature wasn't against her.
The train had stopped at the end of the line and a voice beemed over
the speaker; "Last stop" it said. The sound awoke
Melinda who sat upright and rubbed her eyes. Her eyes darted to her
mother who looked out the window.
The birds were singing and there was life on the streets, almost as
if nothing had happened, people were talking and going their
own way. It was as if the sunlight and blue skies had cured everything.
"There are blue skies again" Melinda said quietly. Piper looked down
at her daughter who looked into her brown eyes. They
sparkled in the sunlight.
"There are no more clouds in your way now mum" Melinda added softly.
Piper reached out and hugged her daughter tightly.
Nothing but blue skies now.
Piper stood up and approached the doors which opened up rustilly. After
helping the doors open she and Melinda walked out
into the streets.
"I'm hungry" Melinda mumbled. Suddenly the sound of Piper's stomach growling was brought to their attention.
"Ha," Piper laughed. "I guess I am too" she added with a grin. Melinda hadn't seen her mother so happy like this in ages.
Across the road Piper noticed a Shelter, even there food was for sale.
Food was rare around most of California. Piper hadn't
seen neighbouring cities so she couldn't tell how far this evil had
spread. All she knew was that the streets were littered with
them.
With Melinda, Piper entered the shelter. She rummaged through her pockets
to find what was left of her money. She had $2.
She hoped it would be enough. As they approached the lengthy line of
poor and homeless innocents she bumped into
someone. They dropped their food and it spilled over the floor.
"Damn you!!" the voice said. Piper looked up but could only see a dark face under a hood.
"Watch where you going, that was my only meal today!" the voice said
again. Piper knew this voice from somewhere, so
familiar. She thought back and remembered;
The hospital, she lay in bed and he entered the room.
"Are you alright?" Morris said.
Coming back to the present Piper lifted this mans hood off to reveal
a very rugged looking Morris. He was unshaven, a black
beard starting to form around his face. His hair long and his face
grubby. He looked into Piper's saddened eyes, which then
dropped to the floor.
"I'm sorry" she said simply defeated. Morris did the opposite to hating her, he pulled her in for a hug.
"Piper, I'm so glad to see you" he said hugging her tightly, Piper wouldn't
respond though, he pulled away and looked at her
tired face.
He remember that day in the hospital so clearly.
"Hey Piper," Morris said approaching Piper. Piper was shaking in the
bed. "how are you?" he asked touching her trembling
hand. Piper moved her head to the side slowly shaking.
"Go...go...ood" she said trying to smile. Morris felt the tears coming
on. Seeing poor Piper like this, her sisters not even caring.
Piper noticed the tears and with a shaky hand tried to wipe them away.
"Wh...e...ere's....Me...l.." Piper mangaged to spit out.
"Melinda is fine, her and Leo are in a hotel" Morris said almost in tears. Piper began to stammer and cry.
"I....m...so...ry" Piper stuttered. "m..y.....fau...lt"
The words rang in Morris' memory. He looked down at Melinda who stood beside Piper in the Shelter.
"You've grown so much Mel" Morris said looking at Melinda. Melinda responded
with a friendly smile. He looked at Piper
who seemed alright but looked terrible.
"It's not your fault Piper" Morris said. Piper looked at Morris trying to decide what she was going to say next.
"I wouldn't of been in that hospital years before it I hadn't of..." Piper felt the tears again.
"I know" Morris said hugging her again.
"Here," Piper said handing him her money. "this is the last of my money, seeing I made you lose your food heres your payment" she said. Morris closed Piper's hand with the money in it.
"No, we eat together, come back home with me" Morris said with a grin.
"I've got to go back to the manor" Piper said wiping her eyes.
"Okay, but rest first," Morris said. "it's dangerous out there and in
your condition you won't be strong enough to protect
yourself" Morris added. He took Piper by the shoulder and led her to
a table.
"First we eat" he said with a grin. Piper tried to smile but couldn't.
"I'll be right back" he said moving off.
Piper sat there along looking off into nothiness. Melinda knew what her mother was fearing. The past.
~~~
