I had managed to find the date through my shoe size math tricks weren't so useless. I was preparing to make a hike to the ocean and then sail from there. I collected as many maps as possible and as much food as I was able to gather and as much equipment as one would need to survive for at least one month. I had also managed to find the time through my shoe size yet again, I had reset the wall clock in the library to know the time.
Today, I departed from the building which had been my home for years, I felt a sickening aura in my stomach, I wasn't sure if it was the grief from leaving where I was most comfortable, or from what seemed like an endless trash pile strewn across the floors. This journal I started was to make sure it was published so those other people would know how it felt for someone to be surrounded by trash and decaying materials ---–I mean-----GOOD GRACIOUS.
I slowly made my way through the streets. I could hear sounds…. different from what I'd usually hear at the library. I heard my feet make a mushing sound through the murky water it walked in. It made me feel like never drink water again. Instead of the ticking clocks and the cracking of pages as they flipped to reveal a new chapter, I heard the ripple of water and what seemed like rats moving around. I didn't know what those were because there were no rats...I even tried scavenging for some. There was no life apart from the dangerous bacteria all around me. It felt like my every move was being watched. Creeped out, I began to walk faster and faster. It seemed the trash never ended, as I walked further it become worse with every passing step until I could no longer tolerate it as my nose hurt badly from the odors.
Luckily, there were a few pegs in my bag and a napkin. I pegged my nose and used the napkin to create an artificial gas mask by tying it around my mouth. The odor was so bad that I could still perceive it somehow, but at least it became bearable and it allowed my nose to calm down for the time being.
After a while, I came across land. My feet still sunk to the ground due to the excess water. I struggled to walk in the sticky, wet soil. I almost fell because my boots got stuck at some point.
Dusk was coming, I still walked on the wet soil. I remembered the day I woke up I was on dry land. I was wondering why I had not come across any. I had been walking all afternoon and now it was evening. I wanted to rest but there was no place to camp, all the buildings around had collapsed. I kicked something heavy and tripped over it. It was dry land. But now, my clothes were soiled. I retched in disgust while making my way out of the wet soil and unto the dry land. There were two rocks perfectly leaning on each other, kind of in a tent shape. It looked habitable and clean... a bit clean. I brought out my tarp and laid it on the floor as I began to unpack. My boots and my soiled coat stayed outside; I brought out a worn-out torch I had found the other day. The batteries were almost out so I had to keep their usage to a minimum. I also had some food and water but there was no need to eat as I had already lost my appetite. I brought out a soft duvet that I found in the library and I folded my towel to fit a pillow. Then I brought out a book to keep myself occupied.
I jumped in fright as I heard more noises, louder this time, almost as though it was heading for me. I quickly turned to look at where it was coming from…... nothing.
"Ok then…"
Then I looked in my front to see a creature on all fours.
I screamed in fright as it covered my mouth.
"Shhh…"
I looked to see it was a girl, she looked dirty and rugged from head to toe, her body filled with scars. It was the first time I had seen someone aside from me, although I thought another human would have been smaller. It felt weird and exciting to meet someone, I had usually been alone but now I had someone.
"Are you a boy?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"You're a boy."
"Yes…"
She picked up my bag and emptied it unto the duvet.
"Hey stop!" I tried to catch her but she was too nimble. She held the torch, I mean… MY torch in her hand pointing it towards her face. She pushed the switch making a bright light that shone directly in her eyes.
"Agh!" She threw the torch in pain, making it break.
'And there goes my torch….'
I eyed her furiously. That was my only torch and now she had broken it. She continued to search through my stuff and I sighed deeply because anything I was going to do would be useless. Then I remembered the first time I woke up. I could not speak. So… how was she talking?
"How…. how do you know how to speak? Did you perhaps…. enter the library?" I asked her as she shook my water bottle near her ear.
"Library? What library?" She asked in confusion.
She left my items and began to mark the wall. I used the opportunity to quickly pack my bag before responding to her question.
"The library is a huge building," I demonstrated with my hands as I stretched them wide, "And has books, loads of books."
"No, I haven't been there. I guess I haven't entered that many buildings." She pulled back from the wall to reveal many other markings similar to the one she had just drawn.
It occurred to me that she had been out for many days or even months.
"What's your name?" she yanked me out of my thoughts.
"Name…...?"
"You have one, right? Everyone has one. I have one," Her dirty brown hair fluttered as she made her gestures, "I'm Lu. How about you?"
I remained quiet. I thought that due to my knowledge I would at least be superior to other humans, but this one…. had a name. Something I never thought about. Sure, I knew stuff but I did not have a name. I could not even remember my name.
"I can think of one for you if you want." She smiled gently. Her smile almost made me forget that she flipped my bag and emptied its content, broke my torch, and still dared to talk to me.
I smiled back and nodded before laying down to rest from the endless walking…
!! THE NEW CHAPTER IS NEXT WEEK TUESDAY!!
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