And like that, we headed off after leaving a note to the rest where we went. We trudged off to the most likely place that the Tree could be. I'm assuming that the sap of the tree can be salvaged and used as an antidote, if it could save humanity then I'll gladly risk my life for it, even if I don't get to see another day of the sun. We were walking through an unknown town which led to the outskirts of the country. We figured the tree would have been on top of a hillside at the end of where the lava hasn't hit yet, meaning at the very edge of where this country stops. We had a long way ahead of us, yet I was excited to be out of there, glad that I was doing something worthwhile and not making tea to survive for a couple of more months signing my death anyway.
Nick was quiet while next to me. After the supposedly 5 minutes which became 30 ... and they say women take longer to get ready. We fought about why I didn't bring any big jackets with me and that I should get one. The fight went on for 2 minutes until I reminded him that we were surrounded by lava and the chances of me dying of hypothermia were slim to none.
Nick always took care of me in there. He was like that unrelated big brother who took care of everyone. Even though he was 10 years older than me we still got on well.. most of the time anyway. Nick was the type of guy who would make sure everyone had food and started eating before he did. Even when he was exhausted from his food run and running on fumes he still wouldn't give in to me shoving food in his mouth reminding him he is still human and can die without the proper care. He was stubborn, like me, maybe that's why I knew how to get through to him. I wouldn't say we were close but we did respect each other and I did trust him and in this world, that was enough.
" so what made you want to start this death trip anyway?" Nick started the small talk which I was not fond of, I preferred the peaceful silence.
" We're gonna die anyway. Might as well die trying to do something good" I said with a glare towards him which he smirked at.
" Were you always this adventurous or did the ash entering your brain make you like this ?" He lifted his eyebrow in curiousness
"you're not funny" I replied ready to end this conversation once and for all.
"I am kind of funny" he retorted quite smugly
"Not to mention arrogant" This guy reeds a downgraded ego booster
"I call that a personality trait" Nick kept smirking throughout this conversation, seems he was enjoying the company and talk, yet it was the complete opposite for me.
" Only you would call it a personality trait " I replied, curious to see what his comeback would be.
" come on! I just want us to know each other a bit better, it's a good way to pass the time " he said while laughing the sentence off. Jesus, was everything a joke to this guy? he's acting like a 20-year-old and less like a 33-year-old.
" Nick, I've known you for a year, I think I know you well enough," I said, which is undoubtedly true. I was pretty good at analysing people before all of this. It was the best way for me to survive, my past made me this way and I wouldn't change it for anything. Yes, it has made me a cautious person, and right now if you weren't that, you would die within a fortnight.
" Alright then, what's my favourite colour," Nick said which surprised me, out of all the things he could have said that was the most unexpected.
" what," I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as he said that since he caught me off guard.
"You don't know everything about me then" he came back with another shot.
" I meant I knew everything you do and what you stand for, not.. what's your favourite pizza topping," I said clearly now pissed and wishing I was doing this journey on my own.
" Well for one thing it's pepperoni and the second thing is the point I'm making. You can't be a friend by just analysing me" he bluntly stated like he thought we were close pals in college or something.
"I do not need to be your friend to know you, believe me when I say you are an open book," I said harshly, but then again I didn't care and I never really had experience with people, at least not good people.
" well that didn't hurt my feelings at all" he whined expecting me to probably beg for his forgiveness but I just kept surprising him that night.
"you're a big man you will get over it" I smirked as I walked away from him, somehow his sad face making the situation a bit laughable.
" not on this one, you just insulted me and told me that we aren't friends in the same sentence," he said as we were turning the corner to cross the street and practically jumped onto the pavement that didn't have a big hole in the middle that could send us plummeting to our deaths.
"Okay look what is it gonna take for you to just zip.it." as soon as we jumped and crossed I stopped him and faced him and replied to him, being very serious since I preferred walking in silence.
" favourite colour?" this man was going to be the death of me. but if it just took one question to shut him up for at least tonight, I would gladly take it.
" ...Black." the answer was random yet true. I always liked the colour ever since I was a kid I would look up at the sky and see pitch black and reminded me that no one would see me if I escaped.
"Really? Such a dull colour" he complained since I'm sure his colour is probably pink with a hint of gold...
" It matches my soul," I smirked, clearly amused with the situation.
" dark. I like it. Deepest desire?" this question required a lot of thinking and personal depth but I wasn't ready to trust Nick yet with that kind of information so I just tweaked my answer a little and said
" that you would have stayed at the bunker." I didn't really mean it since the company is quite nice but he was annoying and I wished he would shut up for a few minutes.
" Harsh much?" he whined but I don't think he was offended
" you asked" I slapped back at him as if I was stating the most obvious thing in the world.
" alright you ask me one," Nick said as he kept me speechless
"I'd rather jump into a pit of lava." or I would throw him, either way, worked for me.
" come on!" Nick whined continuously
" Alright fine. What's your... favourite month?" not the best line but I couldn't find anything more stupid than What's my favourite colour.
"You are really not good at the whole conversation starter are you." Nick noticed, finally he was caught up
" didn't want one in the first place." I lied, knowing that I enjoyed this little talk, of course, I would never admit that to him.
" well a normal friendly conversation would usually start with.. where did you grow up?" he asked eyes filled with curiosity.
"..."
He kept staring at me waiting for my answer. I don't usually share my past with just anyone, opening up was a different story. I wasn't really going to answer him, people judge really easily and I just didn't want his opinion of me tainted just by where I grew up. However, if we were going to start this adventure together might as well try.
" Orphanage," I thought I'd see him shy away from what I had said, usually it made people uncomfortable but Nice kept on looking at me with more curiosity.
"ever since you were a kid?"
" for as long as I can remember at least"
" When did you leave" I felt things were gonna get too personal then and there so I chose to not answer and he respected that and we kept on walking and talking trying to find a way to this damn tree. I understood Nick wanted to get to know me, his partner in all of this but it just wasn't the time. Maybe it had nothing to do with him asking and everything to do with me. I wasn't necessarily ashamed, I was more worried about the memories that come with the baggage of talking about it. That is what I was worried about. I knew this wouldn't be the last time Nick would bring it up though.
This was going to be a long journey.