It was a long walk even just to be able to see the bridge. You had to pass all of the broken and run down shops and office buildings downtown. Sure, parts of it looked run down before. But not like this.

  I had always wondered why buildings that were left alone looked ruined faster. It seemed that even those that didn’t take care of the places they lived, the structures still looked alive somehow. But when you removed the presence from it, and left it abandoned, it collapsed.

  The buildings were all like this now. It had been just over a year, but already some buildings were cracking, aging faster than they were before.

  I walked for about two hours, though it was hard to tell, but I could see the bridge.

  It was still in the distance, but I felt better being able to see it, especially now that the doubt was starting to set in.

  There were a million and a half ways they could have made it back to our office base, and I would never run into them. It’s possible that Barclay was back already. Probably yelling at everyone to help whoever he had managed to save and bring back with him.

  And that wasn’t an exaggeration: He just has a way of finding people who need help, and brings them back. Much to Jason’s dismay. Jason was basically our, unofficial, Manager of Resources. Not an official title, but he had actually worked in the office building when the Change happened, and he sort of stepped in.

  Jason liked the idea of control, so when he started finding others to take in, he happily took over the responsibility. But now, it’s like a full-time job, but without a proper paycheque. And Barclay was always bringing in extra people. It was getting tougher to find supplies and resources.

  Barclay, I thought. What the hell am I doing out here, chasing after you? I shook my head. It wasn’t that I owed him, was it? He had saved me, I supposed. Finding me in the middle of the concrete with more of me broken than not.

  I continued walking as I mulled it over. He said he was on a supply run when he saw me jump from the window. He had told me that he wasn’t even sure I was alive at first.

  I grinned, despite myself. A most likely dead girl, and yet, he had to come to the rescue anyway, just in case. Though, I admitted, I probably would have been dead, if it wasn’t for him.

  His team said that he had carried me back, the whole way. Had given his pack to someone else to carry in case we met any trouble on the way. He was okay with himself getting hurt to rescue a stranger, but never to risk resources others could use. Truthfully, I couldn’t imagine ever being that selfless.

  The bridge was only a couple of blocks away now, and I could see it more closely. The giant stone pillars on either side highlighted the entrance onto the walkway.

  The sun was starting to set, when something caught me eye. Across the street I could see something going on. It looked to be an old pharmacy judging from the sign. But the windows had been smashed, and the shelves I could see appeared almost empty. Without the window reflection, I could see right through to the back of the store.

  As I watched, a guy ran from the back room holding the strap of a full backpack in his hand. He looked panicked, and I soon saw why. Ten to fifteen other people piled out from the store room, each holding different weapons and shouting.

  Crouching, I moved to tuck myself into the shadow of a small clothing store, hoping they wouldn’t see me.

  I saw the guy with the backpack run out of the store and around the corner, towards me. Why hadn’t he gone through the front windows instead of going the long way through the store?

  But whatever the reason, it meant he ran down the opposite side of the street, away from me.

  And I hadn’t been seen, yet. It didn’t mean that the group wouldn’t catch sight of me, however. Swearing under my breath, and having no place to hide, I ran after the guy with the backpack.

  The group was catching up quickly. My original plan had been to dart down a side alley and find a place to hide, hoping they would keep running past. But they had seen me already, so now I had to keep going.

  I was about three steps behind the backpack guy, when he turned and looked back. His eyes went wide as he saw me, and almost stumbled before facing forward again.

  No, I thought, it couldn’t be. I ran faster, catching up to him, the group still behind us.

  “We can’t—outrun them.” He said, breathless.

  “You mean you can’t,” I muttered, and then spoke so he could hear me. “Follow me.”

  I put on more speed, but made sure that he could keep up with me, and veered towards the bridge.

  “Take the right side, up the embankment.” I told him.

  “Yeah, I know it.” He replied, and we ran together. I was glad the bridge wasn’t far, and that I knew where we were going. They were still half a block behind us, but they’d probably catch up eventually.

  We made it to the bridge and ran up the slope of a ledge that ran up to the right hand pillar. Without stopping, I used my momentum and jumped the small gap, landing on a small ledge that barely had room for me. I had to move quick to make room for him behind me.

  We were only about 10 feet from the ground here, and could still be reached by the group.

  Not waiting, I crossed onto the thick wire, crouching before grabbing it with both of hands, and flipping upside down. Wrapping my legs around the wire, I inched my way across. I watched as the boy started after me, and the group behind us was almost at the pillar now. Shimmying my way across took time, and I was worried that the group would try to follow us.

  Thankfully, indecision seemed to have stopped them. I had jumped down to a platform, and reached the door on the back side of the main pillar. I could hear their voices, but had trouble seeing them in the dim light. They must have stopped at the bottom of the ridge.

  “They’re not worth it.” I heard one say. “We’ll get shot getting up there. Or fall.” I looked down, we had to be at least 80 feet up now.

  Once they had turned around, I saw his shadow jump to the same ledge I was standing on, and I did a quick look to make sure no one was watching. I opened the door and braced it open, gesturing for him to go first. He did, and I followed him inside, closing the door behind us. There was one small window that let in the light here, but it wasn’t much.

  “Abe, what the hell are you doing here?” I yelled and then hugged him as tight as I could until I heard him groan. “Shit, what’s wrong?” I jumped back, releasing him, and he slumped down.

  “One of the guys caught me with a knife as I ran past them, I think.” He breathed sharply and held his side. I thought back to my dream from last night, the pain in my side had been blinding then, sharp. No, I told myself sternly. That wasn’t going to happen. He couldn’t die now.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Tearing the bottom of my shirt, I instructed him to lift his hands. They came away red, but the wound didn’t seem like it was gushing. I took a knife from the backpack, along with one of my extra shirts, and I cut it into bandages. I tossed them to them, and he held it over his cut. I took a breath. He was hurt, but it was far from lethal.

  “I didn’t think you were alive.” I told him.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think you were either.” He grinned in the low light.

  “Where were you?” I could make out his smile disappearing.

  “Farther East, on the island.” That close… I thought it but I didn’t say it out loud.

  “What were you dong over there?” This time, his grin came back.

  “How about I ask some questions? Like. How the hell are you alive, and are you okay?”

  I laughed, a noise that sounded strange even to my own ears.

  “I fell,” I grinned. “I literally fell into a group that lives downtown, we have a whole office building. Schedules for warm showers, food. Everyone does their part, but pretty much everyone is welcome so long as you’re able to do work.” I thought for a moment. “Are you with a group? Did anyone come out with you?”

  He didn’t answer right away. He adjusted how he was sitting, and I gave him more pieces of cloth, storing his blood soaked ones in a corner.

  It was hard to judge how deep the cut was in this light, and it might need stitches. But I was in disbelief that he was even here in front of me, alive.

  “No,” He said finally. “I was with those guys.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction we had come from. “It didn’t work out.”

  “What’d you steal?” He shrugged, then tried to hide the wince as he did so.

  “Nothing so important as to climb up a bridge for.” He said. “I found this spot a couple of weeks ago. Not much protection from the elements though, with the window broken.”

  “Yeah,” I say, deciding whether to tell him the truth. “Dad took me up here, before,” Abel’s eyebrows raise at that.

  “Really? He took you here?” I knew Abel well, being that he was my brother, so I could tell there was a tinge of bitterness behind his words.

  “It was before you were born.” I said calmly. Abel was six years younger than me, but we had still grown up close. Our father had worked as a structural engineer, and sometimes we got to go along with him. This room used to have ladders going to it, though they had since been destroyed.

  “Well, either way, it’s good to see you, Raina.” I grinned as he used my real name.

  “I actually don’t go by that anymore.” I told him.

  “Oh?” He questioned.

  “Well, after I—after I found the group, there didn’t seem any use to go by real names.”

  “So what do you have people call you?” I smirked at him.

  “Cain.”

  “Of course you do,” Abel answered. “Actually, you know what, I probably would’ve done the same.” He smiled.

  “So,” I said, changing subjects and moving to sit beside him, with my back against the wall. “How long do we hide out here? How long will they watch for?”

  “I’d say maybe an hour? I doubt they’d stay long after it gets dark.” We sat in silence for a while until he spoke again. “What were you out here for anyway?”

  “Oh—I” Startled, I wasn’t sure what to say. “I was just looking for someone. But they’ve probably made it back already.” At least, I thought to myself, I hoped they had. Abel made a non-committal sound, but didn’t push it. It was amazing to see him again.

  “I thought you were dead,” I whispered, my voice echoing in the small space around us.

  “You, too.” He replied softly. We waited for almost 2 hours before I got up to check. Or, at least, that was my best estimate.

  “Coast looks clear,” I told him as I came back in. “Or looks like it, as much as I can make out in the darkness.”

  “Yeah, we’ll just be careful.” He groaned as he stood up, but he seemed okay otherwise.

  “You gonna be able to make it back like that?” I asked him.

  “Yeah, no problem.” He replied, and stepped outside.

  We walked, only sprinting once when we saw a group standing around in an alley, and while we weren’t sure they would chase us, we didn’t want to take any chances either.

  Abel’s shirt was soaked through again with blood after an hour. I motioned for him to duck into a nearby grocery store.

  He followed me and I waved my hand to let him know to stop so I could make sure it was clear. A quick sweep of the aisles and bathroom were the most important. I also pushed open the doors to the back storage, but didn’t want to risk creating a torch for light. If someone was back there, they were staying quiet. And, hopefully this wouldn’t take long anyway.

  "Sit here.” I instructed as I pulled a milk crate over to him. Thankfully, the moon was almost full, and the clouds had cleared enough of the light came in from the windows that I could see a bit even when inside the store.

  Pulling my backpack off, I took out our small first aid kits. The office always tried to give us some supplies in case someone ended up injured.

  Removing the makeshift bandages, I grimaced, but it wasn’t that bad. A few stitches, but it didn’t look deep enough to really cause concern. Of course, I would make sure he saw one of our medic personnel when we got back.

  “Here,” I said quietly. Pouring antiseptic on some clean rags. “This is going to sting.” He inhaled sharply as I placed the rag against the cut, but thankfully, he could stay quiet.

  “I don’t have anything that will numb this,” I warned him, getting out a small sewing kit next, and disinfecting the needle as best I could.

  “I’ll be fine, sis.” But already, some of the color had gone from his face. It worried me, but once we were back, it would be fine, I told myself. I used some of the antiseptic on the wound and he winced, pulling away, swearing.

  “Sorry,” I said quietly and waited for him to relax again. I started the first stitch, and by the fourth he was trembling. I didn’t stop working, but it worried me.

  “When was the last time you ate?” I asked. He shrugged, trying not to move his side. After a moment, I realized he wasn’t planning on responding.

  “Almost done.” I told him, doing the last two stitches. I tied it off and looked in my bag for gauze to keep it covered. Offering him a granola bar as well, he took it, thanking me. It was then that I realized just how tired he looked, and how much older. Despite there being only a year and a bit since I had seen him last.

  I thought back to the one of the last times I had seen him—some family gathering when we happened to all make it home at the same time. He had been a year out of high school, living on his own. He had a job, and a girl he had liked.

  But now… I wasn’t sure what he had been doing. What had happened in the chaos after the Change. And now wasn’t the time to bring it up.

  “You okay to keep walking?” Abel rolled his eyes, but the shaking had only subsided slightly.

  “It’s just shock from the pain. Once we get walking, I’ll be fine.” He insisted. Cleaning up my stuff, I put my backpack again, and helped him put on his.

  “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go, but if you need me to stop…”

  “Yeah, yeah, quit worrying.”

  We had another two hours at least, and despite the moon being out, there were clouds. At least part of the trip back would most likely be in the dark. Just as that thought had crossed my mind, Abel spoke the same thought out loud.

  “It’s okay,” I said, trying to reassure both him and myself. “I’ve got a torch if we need it.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Like a British flashlight, or a torch torch?”

  “A torch torch.” I confirmed. He smiled and it seemed genuine as he motioned for me to stop.

  “Here,” He passed me something like looked like a duct-taped tube and told me to turn it on. Raising my eyebrow, I flipped the switch down. To my surprise, a wide beam of light shot out of it, illuminating my stomach as I had held it the wrong way.

  “Wow,” I whispered to Abel and quickly turned it off. “You probably shouldn’t let people know you have that.” I gave the flashlight back to him.

  “Why do you think I was running?” He grinned, putting it back into his backpack. But something about the way he said it, made me doubt that that was the truth. Or at the very least, that something was missing from his story. But I decided not to press, we needed to get back.

  So we walked, and I was glad when the longer, more housed streets turned into tall office buildings again. It meant we were getting close.

  “What are the chances of us finding each other?” I asked after an hour or so.

  “Probably pretty slim.” He replied, but I could see him start to do mental calculations in his head. “Hard to say because we don’t know how many people are still alive after the Calamity.”

  “Calamity?” I ask him. “We called it the Change.”

  “Yeah, that seems more fitting.” Abe said quietly. I was going to ask him what he meant, when another thought struck me.

  “Did you ever find—“ I stopped myself, thinking maybe now wasn’t the best time to bring it up.

  “Mom and Dad?” He answered, seemingly unaffected by the subject. “No, sorry, I was at my apartment when it hit.” I waited for him to continue, wanting to ask if maybe he had gone to the house to check on them. But I also didn’t want to pry, at least, not yet. Not until we were back and he was safe.

  “There,” I pointed to the top of a large building a few blocks away. The clouds had parted again, so we could easily make out the buildings outlines.

  “That’s our place.” I told him, and he nodded. He had been quiet since I brought up our parents. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. “Almost there,” I muttered, keeping an eye on our surroundings. There were always people around the downtown section, since there were many abandoned buildings to stay in.

  Finally, our building came into view as we approached the front entrance.