Chereads / Living to live / Chapter 2 - what once was

Chapter 2 - what once was

as I began walking in the city I felt a change so subtle and yet powerful enough to remember for the rest of my life.

it is as if I can feel others hiding in the cracks and crevices of this city hundreds or maybe thousands of hearts beating and yet not a single person in sight.

each building was recognisable enough to see what it once was but damaged enough to know it could never return to it's previous state.

my mind was screaming danger every step I took but my heart was screaming onward towards people.

but then I felt a hand cover my mouth and pull me into an alleyway it was a girl around my age but taller than me her soft green eyes piercing my soul her medium black hair tied up like a prisoner of war plotting escape.

her lips moved perfectly in-sync with her angry expression plastered on her clay coloured skin and her words hit my ears like drops of butter falling off fresh toast.

"are fucking insane walking the main roads of a city filled with monsters?! who the fuck do you think you are?!"

I replied on instinct and in process making myself appear like an idiot.

"I'm Julio nice to meet you"

she looked at my with a defeated look in her eyes and sighed out a sentence.

"if it wasn't for my class I wouldn't have saved you... nice to meet you Julio I'm Francesca you can call me Fran I'm a rescuer may I know your class?"

as she told me a class I saw the words rescuer appear above her head which means that really is her class since once someone tells you their class it will appear above their head I learnt that the hard way.

I spoke.

"Well you know my name already but I am a light bringer and thank you for rescuing me though I don't know from what"

she looked like she was ready to pop a vein but spoke calmly.

"strong monsters roam the main streets I've seen way too many people be torn apart by a monster suddenly coming out of nowhere and killing them where are you going anyway? actually no where were you if you don't know that much?"

I spoke.

"Well I'm heading towards the stadium I was hoping that maybe some people might still be there and I was at my school but no one is there anymore they either left at the beginning or have died"

she seemed to be in thought for a moment then spoke.

"Well last I heard the stadium is being protected by the military and only let the best or important people inside, quite a few go there expecting refuge but get instructions to go to a different location"

she looked at me and spoke again.

"do you still want to go?"

I thought about it then spoke.

"unless you know another location with a lot of people then that is still my destination"

she smirked and spoke.

"yeah I know a place might not be exactly what your looking for though"

I spoke.

"it's worth a shot I can always go to the stadium if this place isn't right for me"

Fran turned around and spoke.

"then follow me"

together we started walking through alleyways and side paths avoiding monsters as we went along the only foes we had to fight are giant rats which are easy to kill on their own.

I decided to ask Fran a question.

"so Fran what exactly is a rescuer? I haven't met one before"

Fran replied while midway through a fence jump.

"a rescuer rescues those in need and helps people in trouble it seems to be a very rare class no one I've met has it I've met a light bringer but they died on the first day what do you think of your class?"

I thought for a moment and replied.

"Well for me it is pulling people out of despair while giving them the support they need to continue living, being the beacon in the dark and the hand that catches you when you fall.

honestly I have wished I had a more combative class but it is thanks to being a light bringer that I am here right now at this moment"

Fran nodded and spoke.

"that sounds about right pretty much what the other light bringer said except you have a bit more experience behind your words, anyway we're here!"

she gestured towards a small dilapidated building with borded up windows and three men outside the front door and I felt a bit apprehensive but I continued following her inside since she seems trust worthy.

the three men moved aside and Fran opened the door revealing a big room filled with people of different ages.

it was mostly younger people or elderly and most seemed rather weak and then Fran spoke.

"the people I started with all had pretty unique classes and we found this place to make as our base since then I have continued to bring many of the people I've rescued here"

I nodded she was a rescuer so taking in people probably makes her gain XP like crazy but then I had a question.

"how are you feeding everyone?"

she smiled and spoke.

"Well one good thing about monsters is that they are edible and eating them actually makes us feel stronger and in a city teeming with them there is no such thing as a food shortage"

these guys were organised, supplied and had schedules this is uncharacteristic for normal people with no laws around them this is actually super abnormal.

then Fran called out.

"HEY NIL WE HAVE A NEW GUY!"

then a guy that looked a little younger than me walked towards us he had shiny fluffy black hair his blue eyes sparkled with charisma and each step he took looked calculated.

when he was only two metres away from me and Fran he spoke.

"hello my name is Nil and I am the leader of this group and coincidentally that is also my class"