Ashes

Past and present

Edie

I was carrying four legs around my neck and a pelt thrown over my back. Food for the rest of the month, and a cover for cold days.

I held my breath as I reached out for my zip line. Personally, this was the worst part of scouting. Relying onto something you made yourself with all the wrong tools and materials... But it works. I don't know how I didn't kill myself yet!

I lift my legs and start sliding down. I closed my eyes, waiting to hear the click and feel the tug at my arms... Instead of that, I get a crispy breaking sound of my "stop buckle". I open my eyes as my body slams into a red Ford. I slid onto ground, trying to force the air into my lungs.

I picked myself up, brushed the rust out of my clothes (or at least tried) and continued my journey. My pace quickened as the low growl fills my ears. As if it was warning me not to come any closer... Another growl came my way, and I had to roll my eyes. If this thing thinks it can attack me... Well, it is right.

The growl turned into a roar. A scrawny body jumped in front of me. The creature had long limbs and black, greasy hair. Its skin the same color as the lead in the old bullets. This sight would make every stomach turn, but I could see the fear in its eyes... It made my heart beam with confidence.

I dropped the legs onto the floor. Our gazes were locked. Its orange eyes were wild with fear, but something was forcing it into this duel...

The creature got up on its legs, flashing me a pair of naked tits. This was a woman, long time ago. Well, she's feral now, and I can't help her.

I pulled out my machete. She understood my move - this was the time to make her decision. Too bad she decided to stay... I was feeling merciful at the moment.

She lunged at me, her arms reaching for my face. Her fingers were inches away from my eyes when I swung my machete towards her. The blade etched into her ribs, producing a gut-twisting crack. The feral woman was thrown aside with all my might. She started screaming with her deformed cords. So much pain...

I gazed at the machete. It was covered in dark, slimy blood. "This is what you get when you mess with humans, darling..." I said, towering over her squirming body. I grabbed a fistful of black hair and pulled it back. "It's okay, you won't hurt for long", I said before hacking her head off.

I put the legs around my neck. I made sure not to stain it with the infected blood... But it didn't really matter. I continued my fast-paced walk, carrying her head in a plastic bag. It would be ridiculous to leave a blood trail leading straight home, right?

***

I was home before the first star showed in the skies. I poured the blood out of the plastic bag and placed the head on a car next to the entrance. Other stinking heads were in the patches of tall grass in front of the building... If I had any sanity left, I'd be grossed out by my actions. Well, I had none left and my cat didn't mind the foul stench. Also, ferals hate the scent of their own dead so they keep away from my home... Business with pleasure - sending message and keeping them away from my cat.

My back support belt had many keys. I knew every single one of them. The building I called home had 27 doors which hid at least three more behind them... And my brain could tell which key belongs to which door by its shape alone...

I climbed to third floor. Walked into the third apartment. Locked the doors and took off my belt. My cat clearly wasn't at home, she would've greeted me if she was.

I washed my hands, lit the candle in the kitchen, sorted the knives on the table. I cleaned the legs, cut them into strips. Everything ended up in a bucket filled with salt. The deer pelt ended up in the balcony to dry. When I finished with all the small jobs I took off my clothes and threw them in the "dirty" bag. I blew out the candle and turned towards my bed - a pile of dog pelts. I was about to sink into warm fluff when I heard an unexpected sound from the kitchen.