“Isolation”

Chapter One 

The waves crashed against the hull of the vessel, rocking it back and forth. Josephine held her son close, feeling the saltwater spray on her face as she stared out at the endless expanse of the ocean. They had been on the run for weeks, using their advanced gear tech to explore uncharted territories and escape the unknown dangers that pursued them. But now, they were stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no food or supplies left. They had fled their past life, but at what cost?

As the sun began to set on the horizon, Josephine knew they needed to find a way to sustain themselves. The sound of the waves grew louder as her thoughts got even louder. The wind picked up, making it harder to navigate. She tried to use a lider to scan the surrounding area for any signs of life, but the instruments were malfunctioning, likely due to the prolonged exposure to saltwater. It seemed as though their luck had finally run out.

The girl’s mind began to race as she contemplated their next move. She thought about the possibility of encountering hostile sea creatures, or worse, being completely alone with no hope of rescue. The thought of her son’s safety weighed heavily on the mother’s mind, and she was determined to find a solution. But as the night fell, the darkness enveloped the boat, and the ocean seemed to take on a life of its own. It was as if the past had finally caught up with them, and they were at the mercy of the unknown.

Josette hugged her son even closer, feeling his small frame shivering in the cool sea breeze. She tried to keep her mind focused on the task at hand, searching for any signs of land or civilization. But the hours passed slowly, and fatigue began to set in as Josephine jumped back into the sea to hold onto the ship and continued to swim aimlessly through the dark waters. Josephine began to wonder if they had made a mistake by embarking on this journey and if the risks outweighed the potential rewards.  But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that Josephine had a responsibility to herself and her son to push forward and find a way to survive, and finally be able to live.

 It seemed as though their fate was sealed.

As the first light of dawn began to peek over the horizon, Josephine spotted something in the distance. It was a small town, perched on the edge of the ocean. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The town seemed deserted, and there was no sign of life. Josette knew they needed to be careful, as danger could be lurking around every corner.

Chapter Two

As Josephine approached the town holding her son in her arms, saw that it wasn’t completely abandoned after all. She saw signs of life. Fresh footprints in the sand, doors that had been recently opened, Smoke rose from chimneys, and the sound of faint chatter could be heard in the distance.  She cautiously made her way through the town, trying to stay hidden. But curiosity overpowered her.

Her heart swelled with hope, knowing that there were people nearby who could help her and her son. But as she drew closer, she began to feel uneasy. The town didn’t seem entirely abandoned, but there was something off about it.

Josephine cautiously made her way through the deserted streets, her senses on high alert. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her. Her son clung to her tightly, his small body trembling with fear. They walked for what felt like hours until they finally came across a small shop with a flickering sign that read “Open”.

Josephine pushed open the door, the creaking of the hinges echoing through the empty shop. She called out, but there was no answer. The shop was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the smell of dust and mildew. Josephine noticed a small jar of canned goods on a shelf and quickly grabbed it, hoping to find more supplies.

As she turned to leave, a sudden movement caught her eye. She whirled around, her hand reaching for her gear tech, but it was just a rat scurrying across the floor. Josephine let out a sigh of relief, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone.

They continued to search the town, but everywhere they went, it seemed as though someone had just left. The doors were left unlocked, and the lights were still on, but there was no one to be found. Josephine began to feel as though she was walking through a ghost town.

As they turned a corner, they came face to face with a group of people. Josephine’s heart leaped in her chest, relieved to finally find someone who could help. But as she looked closer, she realized that something was off about them. Their eyes were sunken, and their skin was pale and sickly.

She slowly started to back away, step by step. But as she turned away she was faced with more of these sick townspeople. She had two choices, kill them all with a bullet from her overpowering gun or talk to them.

“Hello? I’m sorry I didn’t mean any harm, I was just trying to find food.” she whimpered

“Oi lady” someone jumping from the back started, “We ain’t gonna kill a scummy gal like you.” 

“Oh yes, we will.” footsteps came closer. But a hand stopped him.

Josephine froze.

Everyone in the front said nothing but just stared down at the things she had, they seemed fascinated by her gear tech. Yet everyone in the back had things to say. They couldn’t see.

A leader in the front started talking, “ Everyone shut up, If we even dare try to touch her she will blast our guts out in a matter of seconds.” The people went quiet. 

“The new guy told us something about these.” He went on, “New technology, able to kill anything in sight.” 

 “Everyone scram, and let me deal with the girl.” he locked eyes with her.

They listened yet stared from a distance by their houses and shops.

“I promise ill just buy a few things and leave you guys alone,” Josephine said with confidence this time, knowing they are scared.

“We will give all you want for free, just remember this town’s name. Nemesis End. Remember we did you no harm, and remember our name means vengeance.” he stated with a cold stare and left.

Puzzled, she went to go get what she needed wanting to get out of there. Feeling uneasy about this town. 

As she was getting her final needs, She noticed a man sitting on a bench, staring at her intently. He looked different than the pale townspeople. He looked familiar. but Josette couldn’t quite place him. Suddenly, he stood up and approached her. She started to leave in a hurry.

“Josie?” he said, his voice filled with disbelief.

Josephine looked back at him, and then recognition dawned on her. “Kai?” she gasped.

It was Kai, a childhood best friend who she hadn’t seen in years. They hugged each other tightly, and  Josette felt tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t believe that she had managed to find someone she knew in this strange, strange town.

She started leading him to the boat while he started talking. 

Kai explained that he had been living in the town for a few years after he had run away from a place they used to call home. He had found a community of people who had also escaped from their lives, and they had banded together to survive. They weren’t hostile – they were just trying to stay alive but they didn’t want any more mouths to feed and any more bodies to take care of. The only reason they took a fondness for him was because of his stories and knowledge about what else lies around this town. He was the new guy the leader was telling her about.

They got to the boat and Kai’s face dropped. He noticed the little child inside. 

“Oh kai, I almost forgot, meet Renjiro! He turns 4 soon!” Josie joyfully mentioned.

“Mhm, hello Renjiro.” he looked away.

“Hi.” Renjiro muffled.

“Oh, Renji quit being so shy.” His mother, Josephine playfully announced.

Renji sat back down in the boat, while Josie pulled Kai aside, and whispered in his ear, 

“ You shouldn’t mention a father, uhm..” she looked up with glossy eyes. “I do not know where he went, or who he is.”