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No real excuses… I was going to update two weeks ago but I got REALLY sick, like I have a 105 fever and delusional, sick… other than that I have no excuses… well I hope you like this chapter to make up for the wait!

Chapter 4: Town

Note: I hope you already know this is an AU story and will not really be following Hunger that much… anyway that's about all… here is the story…

So I now I am a hypnotist . Joy, yay… the question I have is why? What purpose was gained by any of this I mean does it really matter that this random piece of earth is suddenly ripped from the rest of the plant… well that I my theory. I mean when you think about it what it gained by any of this? What magical being up there random said 'well let's totally mess with this lives of some poor people?

I don't get it…

But then again I never get anything…

This kid, Sam seemed fascinated that I could make anyone do what I wanted. Personally I thought it was pretty damn cool as well.

Edilio, I swear was hitting ever bump on the road making me sick. It was awful. Me EZ and Albert (the one I was told who reopened Mcdonalds (sorry guys I forgot about him! Just pretend he was in the last chapter okay?) Were sitting in the backseat I was in the middle. I have no idea how I ended up there but I was resolved that I would just puke on them if I had to.

Suddenly the jeep came to a sundering stop. I got out and promptly let out all the food I had eaten in the last few days. It was not a lot.

"Ew man…." EZ said looking discussed.

"Well I have not been in a car in months give me a break." I said spitting the vial taste out of my mouth before turning to look at where we had arrived. A field. A cabbage field to be exact.

"Oh boy!" I said sarcastically "Cabbage!"

"It's all we got. Well that and broccoli and artichokes." Albert said looking over the field with a critical eye.

I was not listening I was thinking of what had happened to my own garden. I saw EZ walking a little ways into the field.

"Wait! There might be…"

He screamed I covered my ears, I was a bit sensitive since I had been alone for so long. Tuffs, still with me let out a soft hiss and darted back into the open car.

The next few minutes where awful. I would rather not talk about it.

My mother would have even been horrified if this happened to me. I think.

When the screaming was over and the worms had gone back into the dirt I peered through the fingers.

Sam, Edilio, and Albert where looking horrified. EZ was gone.

I threw up again.

When I came up again the body had been brought closer by the boys. Sam bent down and said something to the body of the boy.

Then Sam stood and raised his hands. I was baffled, was he about to perform a spell and bring EZ back?

I was suddenly retched back by Edilio.

At the same moment liquid fire came from Sam's hands. I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stop from screaming. After all it was a funeral more or less.

I smell coming from the body made me again turn and attempt to throw up. I was unable to.

Sam turned to us. His face looked like parchment. His hands showed no sign that a moment before they had been as hot as the sun. Or something like that.

I think they dragged me back to the car.

All I remember thinking is that I wish I was back in my little house in the hills. Tuffs curled up in my lap the moment I had sat in the front set of the car where Sam had dragged me.

Sam sat where EZ had.

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The town looked to be honest, like hell. There where children in the streets, none of them playing. They all looked glum having seen things that so child should ever see.

I had seen things even before FAYZ that had been insane, rundown apartment with rats crawling in the drains, alleyways where people screeched and cried, towns without proper usage systems, but this, this FAYZ made me feel like I needed to throw up the entire time.

I wondered what the others were thinking, if they felt like they were going to throw up any minute now.

However unlike the rest of them I was not starving. Clearly the children in this town had grown up in caring families that had made sure they had enough food and where healthy. Unlike me they had not had to grow up on their own always hoping for a meal.

All I could think about was how utterly stupid as shit these morons where. Clearly when FAYZ had started none of them had taken into account that they would need food.

Then again I have always known that the larger group of people you put together the more 'stupid as shit' they are going to be.

"Where are we going?" I asked Sam as we drove through the road. Tuffs sat on my lap.

Sam looked at me his eyes sad, he looked so alone. "I'm going to see Astrid"

I raised my eyes clearly indicating I needed clarification, it was Edilio who came to the rescue. "That's his genius girlfriend."

Sam turned a shade pinker at this but was silent his eyes sad.

"Oh." I said not sure what to say.

"I'll take you to a place you can stay. You can take anyone of these houses in town if you want." He noticed he dubious look and continued "Or if you want more privacy Lana lives alone at cliff top, well her and her dog Patrick, hopefully she won't mind having a guest to share that huge hotel with." Edilio continued with a soft sad smile. "And then later today we have a meeting, Sam as town leader will have some wise words to say to us."

"Leader?" I asked looking at the sandy haired boy as well pulled up in the front of a gray-white house.

"Don't remind me." Sam said jumping out of the car, shrugging his shoulders and walking to the door.

I watched him walk to the door. Edilio and Albert will still in the car, they two watching their friend.

"Alright, let's go." Albert said sighing and starting up the car.

I can't say the rest of the drive was enjoyable. Along the streets I saw children sitting on porches and yards listening to music, playing board games, or simply sitting staring off into space their eyes lost.

We reached the hotel; it sat near the beach and was huge. Albert had gotten out before, saying he had to check on something and it was only Edilio and I.

Edilio entered the lobby, it was large and empty, one of the doors to the right was broken and a few of the windows seemed to have bullet shots in them.

Once the Hotel must have been grand, chandeliers still hung from the ceiling, and velvet covered chairs sat around the room. I sighed.

Mom would have loved this place.

"What floor?" I asked in a bored voice, more and more I was wishing I was back in my little hut in the woods. Stupid worms.

"Doesn't really matter…" Edilio said with a grin leading me over to the desk and looking at the rows of keys that lined the wall. I noticed for the first time that he had a rather cute accent. I smiled as well.

Edilio stood behind the desk and turned to me. "Which floor?"

"Do you have any with a balcony? I need to keep my tan up. Oh and make sure room service come up soon I will need towels and everything. Also may I strongly suggest you get the door fixed, rather despicable…" I stood with Tuffs under my arm and my lips pursed my voice high pitched pretending to be my mother after she had made some money.

Edilio's smile widened and he bowed his head "Naturally miss shall you need anything eles?"

"Oh just send the bell boy for my bags."

We shared a soft giggle before he grabbed a random room key and walked towards the stairs.

"No elevator?" I said glancing at the metal doors.

"Well you can use it, but it has not had maintenance in a while so I wouldn't suggest it."

"I'll keep that in mind." I muttered placing Tuffs on the ground. The small cat darted up the stairs n front of Edilio before stopping and looking back at me expectantly. "imma coming."

Edilio laughed the rich warm sound was strained and lost sounding as though he had not heard himself make the sound in a long time.

I joined in knowing that my own voice was worse. The last time I had laughed was when I was crazy from hunger and being alone when my mother dear had left he looked in an apartment for two days.

We reached my new home. Room 313 on the third floor. Edilio didn't have to unlock the door, I grimaced. Kids must had gotten in here and trashed the place. Opening the door we peered inside.

The two twin beds neatly made and the bathroom was fine. There was a balcony overlooking the sea with a hammock taking up most of the view.

Only one thing in the room was touched. I grimaced when I saw it. The small mini bar's door was open letting the cold air permeate the room. Edilio peered into it his face blank. Then he slammed the door shut. "When you need food come down town alright?"

"Sure" I said quietly. I still had food in the woods, my garden with peas, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, leaks, and so many other things, ( the worms didn't really eat that much, only the watermelon) while these children starved to death.

It was their own fault, but I still felt guilty.

"So Lana lives in one of the apartment somewhere and there is a meeting later this evening so come to that if you can. It's a bit of a walk but not too bad…"

"I know how to drive." I said "With my mom as my caretaker you need to know some things." I added for clarification. "I just need a car."

"There is a ton in the parking lot. I'm not sure about keys though; if you can find any go right ahead."

"Thanks." I said with a small smile.

"Alight," Edilio said his hair shining slighty from the sun reflecting through the windows "Is there anything you need…?"

"No, we will be fine." Tuffs were pawing one of the beds purring softly.

"Okay then…" he said with a soft smile, his deep brown eyes made me smile and to my horror I felt myself wanting to blush. Before I could thank him Edilio was gone. I heard him walking down the stairs.

Sighing I turned to look at my current home. Last week I thought I was just coming into town for a bit trying to find a small apartment to live in trying to avoid as many people as possible. Now I was in the middle of who knows what…

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