The Wars Within

I gasp myself back to life. Pulling myself ashore from the lake, I grow weak and lay halfway in the water. The trees and leaves blow around me and I shiver at the feeling. How am I still alive?

I struggle to reach up and pull myself the rest of the way out of the water. Looking around me it is green and lush around the lake, with mountains in the distance. Trying not to focus on the pain, I force myself to sit up. Fuck, I hurt so bad, I think to myself. Looking down at myself, I'm bleeding from my side and left leg. As I lift my shirt, I find good-sized cut against my ribs. 'That's not good,' I thought to myself as I relook at my leg. I then realize that my knife was out of its holster and my own knife had impaled me. Preparing myself and clenching a rag in my teeth, I grip the handle and pull it out. A muffled scream left my lips as I breathed heavily into the pain.

I take my backpack off and look in it for something to wrap my wounds with. After shuffling through it, I had come to realize that all that I had left were rags for bandaging. I should have known better, given that was out on this adventure alone this time. I carefully wrap my leg with the little material that I had. It bled through the fabric almost instantly, but I didn't have a choice for much else. I had to focus on finding shelter soon.

After I bandaged up and was able to withstand the pain, I slowly got up to my feet. I soon came to remember that I had no idea where I was or how I got here. Did I hit my head that fucking bad? I take another good look around me to figure out where I was. A forest with deep and luscious greens surrounded the lake. The mountains weren't as far as I thought from the first glance, they were right across the lake. Heavy smoke rose over the mountains, like something was burning from a distance. I don't remember ever being to a place like this. Where is all the dead earth and the scorched buildings? What happened to the gated and barricaded towns of people in the deserted areas? Something was off.

I began to limp my way around the parameter of the lake, clenching my side in pain. Eventually, I collapsed to my knees in pain, as I let out a pained grunt. I realize then that I shouldn't have come on this damn adventure on my own. I felt weak for once, in a very long time.

A sudden roar in the distance drew me away from my thoughts. I looked around frantically, trying to find somewhere to hide, just in case. Footsteps from behind me caught my attention. I turn around quickly, and that's when I see it face to face. It was tall and skinny; you could see every bone in its body. Its hands were nothing, but razor-sharp claws and its face resembled something of a dragon. The creature snarled at me. Before I could even gasp air, it lifted is arm and swung at me with a slash.

* * *

I jolted up and looked around, panicked. My blankets flung off me and onto the floor from me raising up from what I worry of it being a dream or not. Please, tell me that was a dream, I think to myself as I look around. My window let in a small breeze that let the torn and rugged cloth that covered it sway. It was still dark out. My dresser was across the room from me with my broken mirror on the top and the closet was next to it, full of my weapons. I looked to the floor and saw that my torn-up rug and steel floors were still there as well.

I let out a sigh of relief. What kind of dream was that? Whatever it was, it scared me, and not much can do that anymore. Especially in a world like this. I rubbed my face and decided to get up and grab my blanket from the floor. The steel was cool and sent a shiver through my body, that's when I realized that I was naked. I looked around to see if I had left my clothes on the floor. Once I found them, I quickly put on my holey tank top and my underwear as I tossed my blanket back on the bed. That's when my door opened.

"Hey, baby." A woman said to me as she leaned against the frame of the door. She was completely naked as well. Fuck, that dream fucked me up so much that I forgot that I had a woman over. "You're dressed already?" She started to walk over to me. I looked down and saw that I had her top on, not mine. Fuck, I was really out of it.

"Sorry," I sigh, sheepishly. " I fell asleep and spaced that I had company over." She grabs ahold of my dreads and pulled me in for a kiss. She deepens it as she begins to pull the shirt off my shoulders.

"You promised me another round once you woke up, Amni." She says to me, biting my lip. I let out a small moan and give in. It's a night off my mission and I forgot that I was having myself some fun. I begin to run my fingers down her front until I reach her clit. Damn, she was wet, and I wasn't stopping myself.

" I always keep my promises, baby." I exclaimed as I push her down onto the bed. She lets out a small giggle and I become the one in charge. I begin to kiss down her stomach until I reach her folds and taste how wet she is, and she is dripping. I lick up what I can before I move up to her clit and suck and lick it as she squirms. Inserting a finger, I finally hear her cumming as I keep going on her and I make sure that she cums a couple more times before I give her a break.

I climb onto the bed next to her and lay down. After she rests for a minute, she begins to suck on my breasts and looks up at me.

"Now it's my turn to do the same to you." She says as she winks and begins to slowly make her way down.

As I start walking to the closet to pick out my weapon for my journey today. My guest begins to stir and wake up. I really need to stop sleeping around, I think to myself. I don't even know her name. As I fasten my belt around my waist, she sits up.

"You're already leaving, baby?" she says as she rubs her eyes. I roll my eyes. We're not even together and she keeps calling me baby.

"Yes," I replied annoyed. "You should start heading out too. I got to lock up my place when I leave." She grunts and begins to get up. Her naked body was thin and fragile looking. Her short blonde hair was a mess from last night.

"You haven't even asked me for my name this entire time. And yet I know yours!" she angrily replies, upset that I'm telling her to get out. I grabbed my handgun and put it in the holster of my belt. She's one of those bitches...

"You know who I am because I'm commonly known. I'm the top warrior of this shithole of a world. I didn't care to get your name because I didn't see a point in it if I'm only having a one night stand." I say to her. She scoffs and grabs her shit.

"Bitch!" she screams at me. "My name is Chloe!" She walks out and slams the front door on her way out. I roll my eyes and grab the last of my things and my bag. I checked the mirror one last time. I may be a warrior and a tough woman, but I still like to look decent. I put my silver dreaded hair into a ponytail and walked out of my room. As I'm walking down my stairs to my kitchen living room area, my front door flies open.

"WHAT THE FUCK!?" my best friend screams at me as he stands in the door. I keep walking in the direction of the kitchen area and shrug.

"What? I fucked someone before you?" I asked him, knowing exactly what he was yelling about. He slams my door and blocks the fridge door from opening in front of me and stares straight into my eyes. His eyes are a dark hazel that matches his full beard and his toned body tenses up. It was almost like his t-shirt was going to tear from how tense he was.

"Chloe?! Fucking Chloe?" he expresses shocked, with a hint of jealousness. I smirk at him and push him out of my way.

"Got a problem, Rogue?" I say as I lean into the fridge to see what I need to pack. As I do so, he smacks my ass. It never surprises me because he does it all the time. He always tells me how much he loves my ass; not like he hasn't seen it in bed a time or two.

"I've been trying to tap her ass for a while now!" he says, leaning against my counter.

"I know, and I actually succeeded. Though I pissed her off when I kicked her out this morning." I close the fridge and dump my food next to Rogue on the counter. He laughed.

"I know, she was cussing you off as she left." He looks down at my bags and weapons and sighs. "Going out on your adventures again?" he asks me. He's always worried when I do.

"Yeah. I figured it was time to go to the Citadal again and clear some more shit out and see if there were more survivors that need my help." It's a good 3- or 4-day trip to the Citidal where it's a massive city that is all in ruins from the bombs and nuclear from the wars that turned this world into shit. Every once in a while, I find people in help or need that I bring back to our town that was built by the scraps and remains of homes and buildings from before. It's what's made me be known as a hero in a sense.

" I should go with you." he says. I can tell he's concerned.

"No, I need you here to look after everyone." I say to him. "They all look up to you."

"Not as much as you. What's the point right now? You were on a trip less than a week ago!" He's always worried I'll never come back, but I know my way around and I know how to take care of myself and how to take care of the mutations or monsters if you will.

"Yeah, but that was because the other town closest to us needed my help. They finished putting up the barricade around there. But they missed something and mutans got in and killed some of their people."

"You need someone to be there to back you if you face something more dangerous." He then grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug. How could I leave him when he cares so much? I hug him back and he pulls me closer.

"Rogue, I have to do this." I say to him silently. He sighs.

"You better come back." He says back.

"Always."

"Amni?" he questions. I pulled back to look at him. "Amni, I...." he stops and looks away.

"What is it?" I asked him. I know what he wants to say but I know he won't, and I won't say it back unless he says it. We agreed that we wouldn't do or say something so serious. Yet, I know he wants to and sometimes I do too. He presses his lips together and then looks back at me. He gives me a smirk.

" You're not leaving without me fucking you first." he says. We both laugh.

"I have to get stuff together." I say as I push away and start putting purified water in my bag. He then grabs my arm and pulls me away to the couch and gets on top of me.

"I meant it." he says, pinning me down and looking sternly into my eyes. I give in and kiss him hard. He wraps his arm around my waist, and I pull him closer.

The dust storms were always the worst. You could never see or tell which direction or where you were going. My makeshift tent made from sheets and sticks was barely hanging on through this storm. I covered my face with my blanket and my mask. Fuck, I hope this dust storms passes soon.

I think back to yesterday from when I left, how Rogue and I stayed in each other's arms after we had sex. He always drove my mind insane. We both have attraction for each other, yet it is not the time or place to be together. Not yet. Not with this world as cruel as it is. We've known each other since we were kids. We looked out for and protected each other and once we were old enough, we ran away together. Our home and parents are on the far side of the mountains of what used to be known as North America. We ran far west and never went back since. My mother was a single mom of 5 kids. My father was killed by one of many of the mutans and left my mom with all of us. She blamed me for his death and abused me, yet none of my other siblings. Rogue was an only child, but his parents were both killed alongside my dad and my mother took him in. He saw what she did to me when I was younger and always promised me that he was going to take me away from there. Once we were old enough, he kept his promise and took me away. We have been by each other's sides since. Rouge and I had sex the first night we left and that was when we first told each other that we loved each other. Although, we came to an agreement that we needed to worry more about settling and finding what to do with our freed lives before we decided that it was the right time to be together.

The dust storms didn't pass until night fall. I set a fire and made sure to keep warm. I began trying to eat some canned goods when I heard a howl and dust stirring in the distance. Glimpses of glowing eyes were in every direction. Mutant Wolves. I reached for my handgun that was lying next to me on the ground. I move slowly, knowing that if I move too quickly that I'll be pounced.

Once I have the gun in my hand, I close my eyes to focus on the surroundings to see where they are and how many. I could hear one behind me and 3 more in front of me. I quickly then open my eyes and aim for the one behind me and shoot. A Yelp from it confirms that I injured it but not killed it.

I quickly turn around and aim for the others that are quickly approaching me. As one behind leaps towards me, I shoot it and it falls to the ground next to me. I stand up and follow the remaining that are circling me around the fire.

The injured one is limping from the wound and is covered in its own blood. I gripped my gun again and shot it, knocking it over and I watched as its breath turned still, showing that it is now dead. The remaining 2 stood both behind and directly in front of me. Its eyes glared at me, waiting for me to make a move. I stand still, pointing the gun at it. They think that they are going to attack me at once and revenge the kill of their other 2, but they're wrong.

I hear the one behind me shift and I quickly turn around and kill it with one shot to the head. As I turned around to the last one, it pounced on me and pinned me to the ground, knocking my gun out of reach. I struggle with it as its matted face tries to get into mine and rip me apart. Wrestling it with one arm, I reach for my knife in its holster on my belt. The mutt scratches at me and leaves his marks on my face. I finally grasped my knife and stabbed the mutt's side, and he fell limp. As I push it off me, I touch my face and feel that there is blood dripping down it. That's going to scar. Fuck.

I slowly sit up and move my way over to my bag to get my bandages out to cover the wound. Once it's covered and sealed to stop the bleeding, I look around at the dead wolves around me. Their bodies all mingled and matted from the layers of fur and skin falling off. I go over to one of the wolves bodies and examine if it is good enough to make meat for food. Once I finished examining all the bodies, I pulled the only 2 that were good over by the fire to begin skinning them.

As I finished skinning them, I threw the remaining parts into the fire, making sure that the remains were gone and not able to affect any other being or species. Over the years, I learned that some of the animals have nuclear infection and diseases that could affect and even kill others. I make sure that it can't be transmitted and transferred over to others by burning the remains. The sun began to rise, signaling that it was time to get moving again. I packed away the meat that I cut from the wolves and put them in my pack and tore down the tent and put it away.

*. *. *.

The rest of the trip was easy and not so exciting. As I got closer to the Citadel, I could see it past all the deserted hills and sand. It stands tall, as if before it were a big city and the buildings were taller. You could see all the buildings were shredded to hell and the windows were blown out from the nuclear blasts. The Smaller buildings around were either completely torn away or they were bricks that were barely standing. A bridge stood half blown away, showing that there used to be a river that you needed to pass over to get to the city. Now it is completely dried up and dust and sand fills into where the water used to flow. In a distance further away from the Citadel, there is a creator from where the nuclear blast was from.

As I got closer, I decided to head up the broken bridge and see what was up on it and if there were supplies, I could scavenge from or parts I can take from cars if needed. Before I got too far up the bridge, I saw a couple people standing by a boxed truck, with outfits that were from a tribe we know not to mess with. There were 2 of them that stood tall with semi-automatic rifles and clothes that were spiked and strapped. They had warpaint across their faces. I ducked behind a car that's all rusted out and watched them from the corner. I could hear someone rummaging in the boxed truck. As he jumped out, he held something up as a prize and shouted in pride.

"WHOOOO BOYS, WE ONE THE JACKPOT!" he yelled. He looked like the leader of the 3 and held up the severed head of a person that fell victim to them. The other 2 cheered as they started tossing the head around between them all. That's when the leader turned around and began grabbing out the supplies they gathered from the car and tossing it around to the others.

"Boss is going to love this find and shit. We haven't been too lucky the last couple of times!" another one said. They began to start moving along with their winnings and as one turned around, he spotted me from the distance and smiled big.

"Well, well, well. Boys, how about a little more fun before we head home?" He yelled and pointed me out to the other 2. They all looked at me with sex-thirsty eyes and I knew I was in trouble.

I grab my gun from out of my holster and aim for one of them in the head. As I pulled the trigger, they ran towards me, dropping their supplies, thinking that they would grab them later. The bullet grazed one of them in the shoulder and took a piece of flesh out.

"You son of a bitch!" he shrieked as he grabbed his arm in pain. The others kept running toward me and I aimed again. This bullet went straight into one of their heads and he instantly fell to the ground. The other 2 looked in shock at their dead friend on the ground then at me, furious. Oh, shit! I grab my shit and begin running in the other direction. I looked behind me, seeing that they're catching up. I stop in my tracks and aim at them again. I get one in the chest, and he begins to fall to the ground. The leader of them keeps running at me in rage. I turn to run but I get knocked over by him tackling me to the ground and my gun goes flying. He then whips me around and slaps my face.

"You're a dirty bitch, aren't you?!" he says, pinning me down and smirking on his face. I struggle and try to get out of his grip, but I can't. He slaps me again, harder this time and starts to laugh. Still pinning me down, he begins to undo his pants and start taking them off.

"Don't worry, it'll be quick, then so will your death," he whispers in my ear and licks my face after. I keep trying to struggle and he pins me down harder as he starts to slide his hand down my pants and begins to take them off.

"Get off of me you fucker!" I screamed at him. He laughs as he has my pants down and begins to caress me with his dick. Before he slipped himself inside of me, I kicked him in the balls, and he toppled over to his side. I reach and grab my gun and shoot. He lay there still. I got up and pulled up my pants and stood over his body. I pointed the gun at him again and pulled the trigger 3 more times. I stand there for a minute and let my rage leave my body and I fall to my knees. I close my eyes and tilt my head back. 'Fuck this world.'