Chapter 24

Wastelands

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alternate Future Timeline:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A Few Years Back In Time:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Savannah urged Allison to run from the Scavenger compound.

Allison looked back at her.

"What's your name?" Allison asked.

Savannah saw Allison look at her hair.

"My name is Savannah."

Savannah watched as Allison ran from the compound.

It gave her time to reflect on her future while she waited for three hours.

As promised, no one followed Allison. She hoped Allison would not stop and run until she could no longer move. Allison was just a kid. She deserved a chance to have a life and live.

Savannah knew her life was over. It seemed to have been over for half a dozen years. She waited for death to catch up to her. It was very elusive. She wondered why it hadn't. She knew it would be a welcome relief when it did. Her body was forced to provide pleasure to men and even a few women. Her body was used in every way possible over the years. Now she would need to do the things she promised to do on her own accord. She'd been forced to become skilled at pleasuring a male and a female too. Some of the Scavenger leaders possessed a 'leader's woman'. For all practical purposes that is what she'd just become. Her body and every pleasure it could provide now belong to another. She was a willing slave this time. She looked in the direction that Allison ran from the camp. A single tear slid down her cheek. Maybe death would find her this time.

Savannah watched and listened to what happened around her as she waited. It made her sick. If the Scavenger leader kept his promise she should not die today, if she kept her promise. She told herself it was the best option. It was going to happen one way or the other - again. It happened before and it happened many times. Now she was 'marked'. It would make all further assaults even more brutal.

She looked down at the charred and blistered flesh on her lower abdomen. It was raw and it hurt a lot. She was sure it would hurt more by tomorrow. She knew there would be no sleep tonight. Her last assault was less than a week ago. On that one, it was only one man that time. Usually it was a group of three or more men. She'd gotten off easy on the last one. She touched the side of her head where his pistol had been pressed as she was forced to lay there. She thought her assailant was going to become a 'double veteran'. She could tell when he was about to finish. That was when he would do it. She waited for the trigger to be pulled when he did. Instead, he simply pulled is pants up and walked away like nothing happened. It was still sore on the side of her head where he'd jammed the barrel of the gun. It was sore in the 'other place' too. That 'other place' would be a lot sorer after tonight. She really hated that she'd been born a female.

Savannah knew what was coming next. She could hear the screams coming from the other hovels. More than likely some would die. At that point a body was tossed from a hooch. It was a female. She was covered with blood and she didn't move from the crazy position she'd been tossed. They treated her like a piece of garbage and literally threw her away.

She looked around. No one cared. It was like someone threw out the trash. It was woman she'd met a few weeks ago as they hid and tried to stay alive together. They both were abused by three men traveling together during that time. Now her fate looked grim if not already terminal.

Two men from another hovel came over to her unmoving form. They both laughed.

One kicked her hard in the side. She didn't move. They laughed harder.

The other one bent down and touched her.

"She's still warm." The first Scavenger said. "That is better than the last one."

They both laughed even more and drug her unmoving body into their hovel by her hair.

One pulled a knife out right before they entered.

The two Scavengers joked and laughed about their extensive 'collection'.

One was disappointed they wouldn't be able to hear her scream and beg to be released or even live.

Savannah looked away in disgust. Maybe she spared Allison from that fate today. Maybe she'd only delayed it. It would happen soon enough. It happened to all the females, even the few grandmothers that still lived. Age didn't matter.

She felt the bile rise in her throat but controlled it. That could be her right now. It would be her soon enough. To live this was her only choice. If she was dead, she couldn't escape. Each day she submitted and survived, she was one day closer to escape and freedom. Maybe death was the real freedom in all of this madness. She hoped it was swift when it came. She actually hoped the man last week would have become a 'double veteran'. Everything would be over.

This messed up world was a Hell on earth. What was worse, the machines or man? The machines at least didn't take pleasure in their destruction. Man did.

The three hours went by that Savannah bargained for.

She saw the leader approach.

"Time's up." The leader said. "I kept my end of the deal."

Savannah stood to go with him. This previously happened so many times one way or another that she'd lost count.

"I appreciate that. She was still a girl." Savannah said. "I've sold my soul to help her. I'll now do as you ask."

She could see him think of all the things he would do to her. Maybe he was deciding the order he would do them.

"Indeed you have and yes, you will do everything I ask." The leader said.

The leader touched her body.

Savannah didn't resist.

The leader smiled.

"Follow me." The leader said.

Savannah obediently followed behind him.

They entered the leader's hovel. It seemed very crudely put together from a bunch of scrap material.

"Strip." The leader said.

Savannah started to remove her clothing.

"Slowly." The leader said. "I want to see a little at a time."

Savannah slowed undressing as she carefully set each piece of clothing down. At least this way they weren't ripped off her body. She'd be able to put them back on at some point, she hoped.

Savannah stood naked before him.

"Turn around." The leader said.

Savannah slowly turned in a circle as the leader leered at her. She felt his hungry eyes already starting the assault.

"This may be the best deal I have ever made." The leader said. "I've never seen a body as fine as yours is."

He gave her a few more commands.

Savannah did as she was told.

"Come here." The leader said.

Savanna walked up. It would start soon. Savannah would try to let her mind drift as her body was ravaged. She tried to let her mind escape the brutal assaults. She was beaten less if she didn't resist.

"You belong to me now. You're my property. I own you." The leader said.

The leader looked at her brand. He gently touched it. He was proud of the fact that he was the first one to mark her. She would forever carry his brand.

Savannah winced in pain.

The leader smiled.

"Please me." The leader said.

Savannah let out a long breath. It was time to pay the piper.

"What would you like - first?" Savannah asked.

His hungry eyes danced over her body.

"I can't wait. Lay down on the mat." The leader said. "Do it slow and let me see everything."

She did as he asked.

"Wow!" The leader said. "Look at that color."

Savannah knew the first abuse always went quick.

The leader started to rapidly remove his clothing.

Savannah knew what was next. She only hoped there would not be a beating to go along with it. She noted the knife in the man's belt. Her life was truly over. She doubted she would leave this Hell Hole alive. In fact she hoped she wouldn't.

There were female screams from somewhere outside. She heard a gunshot. The screams ended instantly in another hovel.

They have already killed another one of them, she thought. I must do this to survive. If I fight back, I'm dead. If I'm dead I can't escape. If I'm dead I can't fight.

The naked man stood over her.

"Make yourself ready." The leader said. "Make it seem like you enjoy it too. You'll want to keep me happy."

Savannah did as she was told. She kept telling herself to just let it happen. She knew it would be over in a few minutes if even that long. Then he would want more.

The leader was actually pleased he didn't need to beat her first. He usually took some pleasure in that, especially if he could hurt them first.

"This will be the first time I haven't had to take it by force." The leader said. "No female or male has ever done this for me like this."

Savannah didn't want any additional physical injuries.

"Please don't hurt me anymore." Savannah said. "I'll do as you ask. We made a deal."

Savannah saw the leader was 'ready'. She took some relief in the fact he small. He moved toward her. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes.

An explosion shook the hovel. One side collapsed inward. Debris fell upon Savannah. She covered her face and rolled over onto her stomach as the poorly constructed wooden wall collapsed and pinned her down. It was completely on top of her. It covered her.

She tried to move at first but stopped as the gunfire started.

Savannah could hear gunfire all around her. She decided not to move from where she was.

There were screams from both men and women between the bursts of gunfire.

The shooting finally stopped.

There was a loud crunch sound near her head. She only moved her eyes to look.

She could see a bloody metal foot through a gap.

She stopped breathing.

'At least this will be quick when they find me.' She thought.

The bloody metal foot moved on.

She slowly took another breath.

She heard crashing and thumping sounds for about half an hour. A lone male scream shattered the silence. The sounds drifted away. She laid there the rest of the day and night. She was still covered with rubble. She knew she was injured because of the new pains she now felt. She hardly felt her burn wound anymore. Fear hung over her.

All she felt was terror and 'death'.

It was almost dawn. The night screamed at her with silence. She tried to stay motionless.

Savannah clawed her way out. Her injuries were mostly superficial but hurt greatly. She received few big bruises and several new cuts.

She found her clothes and put them on.

The leader was lying outside the half of the shack that still stood. His skull was crushed and there were bullet holes in his back. She found a pistol lying in the dirt next to him. She picked it up. She briefly considered using it to end her suffering. If this was going to happen again and again, what was the point? This is living?

She looked around and took some supplies, food and water.

She was alive. She'd survived. Everyone was dead except her.

The scar the branding would leave would be a constant reminder of the day she traded her soul for a girl's life. It was a small price to pay. A Terminator canceled her debt remained unpaid. She'd gambled and won - this time.

Each day is a new day.

She knew it was better to be alive than dead.

Hope.

She would survive at all costs.

Now she was going to take the advice she'd given to Allison.

She was going to run until she couldn't move and never look back.

This Is Living ?

STOP
LOOK around you - LOOK
LISTEN - what do you hear ?

This is "living" ?

Is THIS all there is ?
Is THIS what you want ?
Is THIS enough ?

This is "living" ?

Sleep - nightmares
Get up and work hard to survive, suffer
Find shelter - sleep - nightmares

This is "living" ?

Sleep - wake
Eat - generate waste
What is the point ?

This is "living" ?

WHY ?
What is all THIS for ?
TELL ME !

This is "living" ?

Today is Yesterday
Yesterday is Tomorrow
Tomorrow is Today

This is "living" ?

There is no FUTURE
There is no PAST
LOOK it is all NOTHING

This is "living" ?

Insects infest the Earth
Humans are the Insects
Terminate them all

Nobody