Kenopsia - Chapter 102: Chapter 102

"Jeez, again?" I asked Adar.
There was not much to do in winter these last few winters but doing nothing seemed to drag on here, now that we had a place to stay at.
It was still cold and all, the light in the room was sickly and the little heater didn't do much unless it was in our lap and yet it was still something.
Last few winters it was hell, basically praying we wouldn't freeze to death where we were sleeping.
"I never lost my edge." He said with a grin, winning another round of cards, he must be cheating.
"Cheater."
"Nope."
"Whatever." There was not much to do so the mind had time to drift.
I was hesitant about that Cody guy but I guess that's what Andie felt for us plus it was her choice to let him stay so I'll be civil.
Andie.... I hadn't told Adar what she told me... It was still.... Shocking to say the least... Then again, we needed to adapt to this world, have done things no one in the old world would dare and thrive.
What felt like a fish bone across my throat was the kids, she let them die... But again I could also explain it away, they were already going to die and despite the lack of ethics, it let her observe the infection take over and the symptoms of it.
Even after all this time I don't think I remember seeing someone turn in front of me, either it was the dead surrounding them and we ran to save ourselves or if we could, most of the time we put them out of their misery while they were humans.
Andie is on a whole other level from us, while we kept our values, she threw them away to survive, none of us could have ever thought that far and sacrifice already doomed lives for knowledge.
I brushed my hair back with a sigh.
Then again, she needed too.... Three attempts.... I considered ending it, like everyone, when it became too tough but never to the point of trying it.
"What do you think of Cody?" I asked Adar, not wanting to think about what entered my mind, if she succeeded at any point neither him nor I would have survived our run in with the rotten bear and I don't know Jasmine's story so I can't rule out that she survived on her own until now or that Andie helped her too.
"An odd bloke but he just seems angry, not evil, I don't think Andie would have let him stay if he was a true danger." He said.
"Yeah..." Seeing how easily she killed those two men Adar ran across was proof enough that she could have killed him if she wanted.
I just had a hard time wrapping my head around her having done all this without leaving the comfort of this town, building up somewhat of a life here... I wish we had done something similar or just thought of something like that instantly instead of moving around with needless danger.
"We'll keep an eye on him anyway, this is our home too."
"I did literally spray paint versions of 'stay away' And 'keep out' On the ground and sides of building." I added.
"We'll need to check if the writing still is there after winter."
"True."
I picked up my head at the tinkling of the little bell by the front door, brow raised, no one had reasons to come in here and Adar and I were inside.
"Adar." I told him, grabbing the handgun I was given off the shelf in the room, we had pushed everything but that outside so the mattresses and all of the covers could fit more.
He grabbed his fire axe in his hands and I crouched, I was not the best shot but still, I had had time to learn, from so close I didn't risk losing sight of the target.
I opened the door, peeking out before signalling him to drop the axe, stepping off the soft ground and out.
"Hi, what are you doing out at times like this? Let it be blizzards said the lord above." I joked a bit as the younger girl stumbled in, the winter coat already covered in frosty snow... How did she even scale the wall?
I gotta admit to myself that I did try climbing it but I couldn't pull my own weight up on it even with the concrete stepping stone, it's not like I took the time to do exercises, I am not weak because the weak die first but Jesus Andie, to continuously do that several times a day with weights on you... I tip my hat to you... At least that sure is a secure spot to live in.
"It's Andie, she slipped and is saying stupid things." Jasmine said, I'd have waved it off if she didn't look so worried about it.
"In the snow?" I asked, dusting the layer of snow off the clothes before it melted, it was cold but still not as much as outside so wet clothes were not good ideas. "Hitting your head causes a person to act weirdly for a bit since the brain got a shock."
"She told me to be careful to burn the stuff she touched after she died because she didn't do it."
"That's.... Indeed worrying." I said, looking back at Adar who shared my look. "Tell you what, I'll come back with you and have a talk with her, I am not doctor but well I can shake some sense in her."
"Great, come." She grabbed my hand, dragging me to the door with hurried steps.
"I'll be back!" I yelled back towards Adar. "Stay here!"
I pulled the hood on the coat I was wearing as I exited, the cold already biting hard and Jasmine pulled me along.