---

The sun was just rising over the horizon, leaving a peachy, pink color in the sky. As she rummaged through the remains of her old house River found old pictures of her family. There was one where Leanne was holding her baby sister. The part that shocked her was Leanne was happy in the picture.
"Guess you didn't always hate me, huh?" she chuckled and took the picture with her, leaving the house. Looking Down the street she saw someone stumbling out of the bar. River pulled out her knife and slowly started to approach the person.

---

Drowning her sorrows in a bottle was the only way she dealt with her life. When he woke and the shaking had stopped, Leanne got to her feet and wobbly walked through the bar to the door, taking a flask with her. Stumbling out of the pushable door, she fell over the curb and landed face first into the gutter. Looking to see if anyone saw, Leanne realized there were two figures on either side of her.
"Oh great." she spat out before passing out again.

It was a brand new day for Marcus and a chance for a new start. It was the first day out of the army for him. The war was destroying cities and entire countries.

Getting out of his cat, right after entering his childhood town, he discovered a devastating view. The bombs had already gone off there.

The streets were grim and quiet here, this town must have already been hit by the bombs. The silence was deafening as the only sound was Jace's own footsteps, he was ready however his flamethrower in hand and primed to turn someone or something to ash should it make the mistake of attacking him. He had been walking for a week now and he had seen his share of horrors left over from the explosions and firefights,from raiders wanting his weapons, to scavengers seeking to take his food, each one had burned as many others had before and as many more would in the future. Slowly he walked into the town his weapons ready and his eyes searching for anything or anyone who might prove useful to him.

---

River saw the other person and froze for a moment. The one that fell was a blonde, which got her thinking. Before when she lived in town there were only two blondes, Leanness and a little girl. It wasn't a little girl.

She shook her head and ran toward the woman that had fallen. "Lea!" she shouted, not thinking about who could hear her. Right as River got to her sister's side, the other person a guy, was just walking up. River picked up her sister, holding her against her, and held out her knife at the guy. "Don't you take another step." she growled backing away.

Marcus was still trying to adjust his eyes with the lighting since it was so sunny outside, and saw two silhouettes of girls. "I know that voice!" He paused there for a second trying to figure out who's that voice, he thought he knew. "Who is it?" he said softly. "I don't want any harm." Marcus passed his hands over his eyes and when the silhouettes got clearer, he recognized the two girls immediately. "River!"

With his military training he disarmed her quickly and safely when she pulled the knife on him. He slapped her hand and caused her to let go of the knife, making it go about 10 feet further onto the floor. Marcus put his hands up to show her he didn't want them any harm. He took a step back and pulled a chair from a table close to them on the terrace.

"Is that really Leanne?" He asked looking at her for the first time more closely. "Here sit her on the chair, i'll go check for some water." he slowly went inside behind the bar and shook some empty bottles around to find a clean one.

---

River froze and did nothing for a moment. Thinking about the name he said, River looked back into her past. "Marcus?" she questioned. When she remembered he helped Leanne make fun of her, she instantly went onto the defense. "Yes. Now what do you want?" she set Leanne in the chair and got her knife off the ground. When he moved she pulled out her bow and nicked in arrow, aiming it at him. "Don't think I forgot what you used to do."

He stoped moving right away and put his hands up again to show her he didn't want any harm. As River was there aiming her bow at him, Marcus saw something in her eyes he never thought he would see in that cute little girl. She got really strong in those past couples of years, Marcus saw that in her, he saw how determined to stay alive. A small smile appeared on Marcus's face and his hands dropped. "Wow River, you have grown up! I see that determination in your eyes, but I know too that you won't shoot me, so why don't you tell me what you are doing here?" As marcus just stood there with his arms now crossed.

---

She scoffed as he hes aid she wouldn't shoot him. She stood up and released the tension on her bow but kept the arrow nocked. "I won't?" River raised an eyebrow for a second. "This is my old town. Is it strange to see me back?" she stayed close to her sister, acting like a protective puppy.

In a surprising voice, as he wondered why she asked him that question : "After the bombing, I wasn't sure i would find anyone here. So yeah I'm surprised to see you here." He watched Leanne as she tried to say something but only a soft moan could be heard. The two of them stopped their conversation immediately. River ran straight at her sister, kneeling before her trying to talk to her make her come back to her senses. Marcus just stood there behind River, and that was when they heard a sound coming from the alley next to the bar.

River instantly stood and drew back her bow. "Show yourself!" she shouted out loud. River kept an eye on Marcus. She didn't completely trust him. "After you," River offered staying behind him. She didn't trust him behind her, let alone around her.

"Wait here." Marcus said as he decided not to fool around and to show her he didn't want any harm. He ran towards the alley. Just as he was about to take his last step before disappearing in the alley, an infected human appeared in the sight of River. Marcus pulled out a knife from his belt.

Suddenly the creature went to charge and attack, but before it could take a single step it was engulfed in a wall of white hot flame from deeper in the alley. The heat was intense like standing next to open forge. With a final scream of death the infected dropped to the ground and went still. Mainly just charr was left now. After that the fire let off and heavy bootsteps echoed in the emptiness of the town ruins. With a deep breath Jace stepped out of the alley so they could see him, if they were to attack, he would do what he had to do, he didn't want to kill them but that didn't change the fact, he was prepared to kill them. "I'm lieutenant Jace White of the United States Marines." He had given them his rank before DarkWater. He didn't move an inch ready to attack at the first sign of hostility. Are you all okay?"

River looked up and stared at the doorway. "Yeah, we're alright." she answered, wrapping her sisters arm around the back of her neck, trying to help Leanne stand. At first the two were wobbly, but soon got their balance and River walked Leanne to a bar stool and sat her down. Going around the counter she found a pint glass and poured some of her canteen into it for Leanne. "Here, drink." she offered her.

River looked at the stranger and put her bow onto the counter. "Thank you. Water?" she offered Jace her canteen. "You just saw me give my own sister the water, so you know it's safe. It's a thank you."

@SaikaAnge

Jace didn't move for a moment watching her like she was a ticking timebomb, after a moment of silence hw broke the stillness with his southern drawl, "Forgive my bad manners ma'am... he reached into his backpack and pulled out an empty canteen, "You wouldn't happen to have enough to fill this would you?" Jace held out the canteen to her, "If you don't mind my asking, what are yall doing in a ruined town like this? This place is just asking to deal with nasty critters...mutant animals and people."

River took the canteen and filled it up for Jace. "Manners sorta died with the world, I won't hold it against you. And this town is actually our home, well was our home. My sister was here when the bombs dropped and I was on the road." She explained pouring some tap water into a cup and put it over a fire she made on a table in the back of the bar, away from everything flammable. "So, now if I may ask, what is a marine doing in a small town like this?" she boiled the water then put it into her own canteen for another time.

@SaikaAnge

Jace nodded as she spoke, "Sounds like y'all were pretty lucky...lots of people died in the bombings...and the ones who didn't...changed." Jace didn't go any deeper into what he had said nor did he want to, "You know Fort Valor? Military base a couple towns over? Raiders somehow got in, in the dead of night. Me and my buddy Joel were down at the range doing some night ops tests...came back to find the whole base a pile of corpses." He breathed in a sigh, "Joel went to look for his wife, haven't heard word from him on our radios in a few days..." Jace smiled when he got his canteen back, "when's the last time y'all ate?"

River thought for a moment, she wasn't exactly sure when the last time she ate was. "I'm actually not quite sure. I was going to pick the area clean before we left. And I'm sorry about your base, that must've been terrible." she looked down and played with her hair. "I'm not sure about my sister. I just got her last night." River added. She then nudged her sister to talk.

---

Leanne looked up at her little sister then over at Jace. "Three days ago. I have been in this bar this whole time. Food was out there during the bombing. I had alcohol to keep me company." she answered taking a sip of her water and making a sour face in reaction. "Why do you ask, Jace?" Leanne made sure she sounded suspicious.

@SaikaAnge

Jace nodded as River spoke and looked to Leanne who looked pretty worn. When they both gave their answer Jace dug into his bag and pulled out an MRE, "Beef ,potatoes and a chocolate chip cookie, not great but filling." he laid the MRE down on the table, "I can hunt real easily for food...deer wander around aimlessly now...like they're still in shock." Jace looked between the two, "If y'all don't know where to go yet my suggestion would be to go to Colorado...theres a huge base up there...sort of the designated fallout base...if you went there you'd have food and water a plenty...along with enough marines to fight off anything that stalks the wastes."

@Kiss Of Night

"Colorado is a wasteland now. Everything is gone. Are you sure that it will still be there?" River looked at the meal then back at Jace. She had come from Colorado to here. Everything in between was dead or mutated. "We can try for it, but I came from there. When the bombs hit, nothing was left. And what did manage to be left behind, well its not pretty no friendly." River looked at her sister then back at Jace. If he believed it was still the right place to go, she would go. There wasn't much left here, or anywhere now.

Jace looked like he was thinking hard before he spoke again, "What about the forest near highway I75? If that survived then so did the base...but if that was hit...We'd have to get all the way to Texas..." He let his words sink in knowing himself how dangerous that type of journey would be.