Alice turned around when the weight on her shoulder disappeared. She had already considered the possibility, but she was still a little surprised when she saw the big bullhorns on the man's head.
The man she had been following had already looked strong, but for him to just give in like that, the opposition had to be even stronger. And a mutant was just one of the possibilities Alice had considered.
"Ok missy, come inside."
When they entered, Alice took a quick look around, the place wasn't very large. The room they entered was almost completely empty and two other strong looking guys were sitting in the corners, one sleeping.
Both windows were barricaded and the only other door was closed as well.
"Well then, your story is good and all, but I see there only two small problems. First, you don't have a bucket."
"I-I will take care of that.", Alice got a little nervous as that really was an oversight on her part.
"Ok, the other is the payment. I doubt that you can afford the money for the water and there is no way that we give it to you just like that. You can threaten us all you want, it won't work."
Alice had already considered this possibility. Her bluff had only been to be let inside and not to blackmail them into giving her water. She didn't want to take the risk of making these people hostile towards her.
"I know. And yes, I don't have any money. But, I think we can still come to an agreement. I think there is something at the moment that is worth more than just money."
"Enlighten me! What could you have that has such a worth?"
"You may have a few more ideas yourself, but for starters, I can do some errands for you or even become a guide. I am absolutely confident in my ability to move around this area while evading the guards"
"You are clever, it's true that we don't have enough people like that at the moment, but how can..."
"Ah!", one of the other two men suddenly exclaimed: "The 'red demon'! I think that girl is the 'red demon'!"
"What bullshit are you talking about? Isn't the 'red demon' that insane bastard?"
"Not your shit and neither that of someone else!"
"Hey!..."
"I heard that the rumors actually come from some red-haired girl up in the northern territories. One of those... 'vultures' I think they are called?"
"Urgh, please don't call me that, I hate that nickname."
"Hooh, what is someone from the north doing all the way over here?"
"The raid, they ended up chasing me all the way here."
"So you were bluffing when you said you are confident to get away from the guards, weren't you?"
"I'm confident as long as I'm alone!"
"Right, that friend of yours... But that is still not enough for me to trust you just like that."
"As I said, just let me do some errands first! And if I do my job good, maybe you would have something to eat that you can share as well?"
"Hah, getting greedy! Very well, come back with a bucket later and you can get some water. I will inform our leader and ask them if they need someone they can put to work."
...
For the first time in a while, Alice actually had luck. After not even half an hour, she found a bucket in one of the abandoned house ruins. Although it had a hole, it wasn't hard to plug that up and even the handle was still attached.
When Alice returned a short while later, they were already waiting for her, but this time there was another man as well. He didn't look very special, extremely ordinary to be specific. He was the kind of person who you would see in the street and when asked later could only describe as 'ordinary' or 'average' and nothing else.
"So that's the one?", he asked.
"Yup! That's her, think you can use her?", the man with the horns answered.
"How should I know that at this point in time? Hello, Alice, right?"
"Hmmm, Yes.", Alice answered.
"Leave the bucket here. You can come back to get water later. I still have some errands to run and you will come with me. If I approve of you, you can come back tomorrow as well."
"Ok, how should I call you, mister?"
"Doesn't matter.", he brushed of Alice question.
After the two left, the man started telling Alice the rough direction they were heading in and had Alice guide him. She did her very best to find the fastest and safest way for them, though Alice was pretty sure that the man was able to evade the soldiers on his own.
Although Alice didn't really know what to expect when the man used the word 'errand', they actually really ended up as a sort of messengers.
After about two hours of working together, the man started warming up to her and became a little less wary, he even ended up giving Alice some good tips. Areas where it would be easier to hide from passing guards, or where there were fewer from the start and which areas better to avoid if possible.
In the end, they stood in front of one of the better houses. First, he knocked on the door, but when there came no answer even after some time, he grabbed the handle and tried to open the door. It obviously didn't work.
"Well then, the last test! Get inside and open the door for me."
"Eh? Bu..."
The man gave Alice a short look. Alice understood, she knew from the start that those weren't honest people so she shouldn't have expected anything else. But beggars can't be choosers, and Alice was clearly a beggar right now.
If she wanted to survive together with Amy until the soldiers disappeared again, she couldn't choose the method.
In her heart, she apologized to whoever this house belonged to and got to work.
...
Alice came back to where she had left behind Amy only when it was almost about to get dark. In one hand she was carrying the bucket with water and in the other, a piece of bread, barely enough for one person.
When she couldn't see Amy this time, she didn't panic and instead looked in the place where they had been sleeping together and just as she thought, Amy was there.
"Wakem up Amy, I found something to eat!"
The little girl slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them with her little fists.
"Sis..?"
Alice was surprised, she hadn't expected Amy to call her like that, but she didn't dislike it at all. If only her parents and her brother could have seen this. Alice smiled sadly.
"Here take this."
Alice gave the bread to Amy and put the bucket down.
"You..?"
"Sis was so hungry, I couldn't stop myself so I ate my part already!", Alice said, ruffling the hair of her new, cute little sister.