Ajax Winston
The rain and hail pattered on the window, the strong winds turning the droplets into ice. The bus trundled on a dirt road, ploughing through the mud with a mechanical roar, slowly but surely heading for their destination. The driver was an old fellow, late sixties with a scraggly beard and crazed eyes. Ajax knew that he could take him down and escape with ease but was there any point? In the middle of nowhere, in the strongest torrential rain this country had ever witnessed, in a time when aliens are invading?! He knew himself that he was a dead man. They wouldn't come and fetch him, they had other people like him. Degenerates, outlaws and psychos waiting in the overcrowded prison cells.
'At least now, I mean something.' Ajax didn't know what he was in for. The world's gone to shit, the government was down, the president declaring martial law. The army ruled now and they were all about efficiency. All he knew was that he missed his execution by hanging. They couldn't afford to waste electricity nor bullets any more. He knew he was here for a reason other than his life being "a waste of resources" as the Warden aptly put it.
Mr. Winston sighed, resigned to his fate. There was no point in fighting it now, he's made too many deals with the Devil. Another one would dig him further into the depths of hell. He solemnly looked out into the distance, with an old bus driver for company in the long road.
"So, what did ya do ta get here?" Ajax whipped his head towards the bus driver, raising an eyebrow. He suspected that the man didn't care where he was from. He probably shipped dozens of prisoners already. He relaxed into his chair, recalling the days of old with as much hate and wisdom he could muster. There was a brief bout of silence between the two of them before he responded. "I went too far." he said softly, the rain getting louder and louder.
There was another brief silence before the bus driver grumbled something under his breath before saying "My name's Steve. I ferry people like you, too and from that there facility." He gestured to the looming shape in the distance, a dark building with harsh red lights shining on its grounds. "Usually, your type'll go crazy, bunch a good for nothing psychos." Steve snorted, as if recalling one of his prisoners with great spite.
"One bastard tried to kill me with a damn toothpick, he was the first one I ever got to ferry. Shot him right in the gut, five times. Crazy little asshole, thinking he was an adult or some shit. That's why I demanded to put these bars here." The bus driver gestured to the metal bars separating the driver from it's passengers. Ajax's eyes widened into surprise before his face turned into disgust. Killing wasn't something that was to be taken lightly, though he'd done it several times before, killing a child when you had the chance to knock him out was unfathomable to him. This is what the apocalypse did to you.
"If I had to rate you in how sane you are, you're probably a solid nine outta ten. Those tattoos look nasty but ya haven't tried ta kill me yet." Ajax made no comment, opting to silently look out of the window. Soon enough, the bus came to a halt in front of a huge facility. Dark looming buildings, flashing red lights, guards, attack dogs and sniper towers. Barbed wire fences and high walls made the perimeter, a thick metal gate seemingly the only entrance. There stood a welcoming party.
Leading the group was a lab coat, some high and mighty scientist. Guarding her were two US Marines dressed in black and red camouflage. Not that it really helped hiding them from sight. Ajax stood with a resigned sigh and walked towards the entrance. Before stepping down onto the wet, muddy ground, he heard Steve grumble. "Hope ya survive." He then snickered as Mr. Winston's feet touched the wet and muddy ground. He drove back from where they came.
Now in the pouring rain, standing in front of the woman that would almost kill him, he said one word. "Hello."
Pathetic Ajax.
