Purpose

as we make our way through the dungeon-like hallway, brick spewing from the walls. 

Moving quickly left turn right turns trying to head to safety, not that anywhere we go is safe, but we seem to just attract danger.

We are wanted by anyone who can get their hands on us or at least those who try to.

Brian is still being dragged by his collar in my left hand.

 Luckily, there is not much height difference between us with these heels on.

He seems surprisingly comfortable, or maybe it’s curiosity.

Z in front guiding our way, weapons in hand moving swiftly as a jet cutting a sharp corner. 

Hair springing from her bun as she runs. 

Kimchi follows us In the back. 

I can hear him speaking to Z and the crew, navigation telling us how to get to the exit. 

On my left, the cameraman trying to stay in the middle and keep up while carrying all this equipment. 

we reach the lower levels of the building to a single door…

Z kicks it open with one thump.

it led us to an indoor parking garage.

We finally found where this boom came from.

Smoke everywhere as if a partial building collapsed.

the smell is like something burned and the air is clouded like breathing in sand.

Z puts her hands up for all of us to stop. 

I tug Brian, and he looks at me with an understanding. 

I look left and the cameraman following my every move stops without being told.

He has clearly done this before…

 Z disappears in the smoke quickly, as if she is chasing something.

 we hear gunshots and slashing noises left, then right, then left again. 

Screaming male voices fill the air, reflecting on Brian’s face. 

Fear just oozing from with expression.

Kimchi holds his ear.

 I turn slightly to hear what is being said.

I hear a faint voice saying we are 30 seconds out. 

My crew is always dependable, but what else can you expect when you and your followers all believe in the same things?

a pitch-black armored truck appears out of the smoke, driving straight towards us.

I let go of Brian’s collar. 

He snatches away and fixes himself while staring at me up and down. I walk up to him, our bodies touching.

 I look him in the eye.

  “I'm not a kidnapper, this is your choice… I have much to tell and you have much to learn,” I say calmly.

he pauses without a word and looks around in confused thought.

I say “or you could stay here and… try to survive?”

He looks up at me slowly and nods. 

I knew exactly what he meant. 

The truck swing in.

 its side is to us.

a loud screech as the van comes to a stop. 

Out of the back comes Z.

Waving for us to come.

 First, she helps the cameraman who had run to her as soon as he saw her face pop out of the van…

something about him I knew I would have to examine later…

Brian and I make eye contact and I push him towards her to secure in the van.

Kimchi and I follow in a hurry. Kimchi boards the van, and I look around.

the dust had slightly faded when I saw a male’s arm with nobody attached laying on the top of a rusted car. 

unfazed, I quickly close the door and climb inside.

The inside of the van was much more quiet, soundproof.

 I sit by the door, locking it from the inside.

I feel someone looking at me, so I turn…

Brian stares with a much softer look. It’s as if I have earned his trust.

The cameraman threw his bag off with a loud grunt. 

Z taps on the driver’s side panel and the van moves. 

Shortly after speeding and feeling a few bumps, we see sunlight shining through the small hatch towards the driver. 

We had made it outside… 

if only it were safer.

Z comes to me and explains our location.

We have just left the old compound of the west.

 We’re headed to the northern region to meet up with our allies. 

Do you still want to continue the Broadcast? 

Once we are out of range, the signal will be worthless”

I look up at her, admiring her ability to determine situations.

I Turn towards Brian, who is sitting there face in his hand, an elbow on each knee, hair draping over the sides of his hands, pretending not to listen... I pretend not to want to keep looking.

That’s what sweet Brian here is for…. He agreed to come, so let’s make it worth it, shall we?

Z nods and returns to her seat by the narrow hatch.

Brian looks up but quickly lowers his head back to the previous position.

I look around slowly.

Kimchi was in eye view first, the light from his device shining on my left side face.

a black screen full of code as he speaks in his earpiece.

The cameraman leans with a look of exhaustion on the armored wall, just riding and trusting. 

It’s almost too trusting.

 I get comfortable and I lean my hand back against the armored wall.

 I close my eyes.

I feel my curls dangle to the lower of my back and I focus on it before drifting into deep thought.

The ride was bumpy, just as it was when we came. 

Very few roads left since the Gods returned.

Although they have all the same left.

Humanity was doomed to repeat itself 

We were all born anew. 

I would risk it all for the new generation, lead us to a new dawn, a new age, and never repeat its past mistakes. 

The world seemed to forget about the end of the natural world as we knew it.

Just started again with whatever they had left.

as if they had learned nothing!

We will make them see…

These things, I thought as we head to the next destination.

I ponder when will be a good time to broadcast again; I know the people who saw the short tidbit were so confused. 

I knew it wouldn’t be as much of a surprise as when the gods returned just a short year ago. 

After that, nothing can sincerely surprise you except fear. 

Seeing my face again might stir panic, but I'm hoping to stir hope.

I try not to go into my memory as it causes me nothing but pain. 

All I see is the flash of a smile.

The most beautiful face I have ever seen comes to me, arms open wide.

I open my eyes to escape before I am pulled in… 

I look down in sadness, quickly regathering my composure before anyone notices.

I look around and I see everyone is occupied.  

Brian and my eyes meet.

He looks at me with a hint of curiosity on his face. 

He quickly turns away, and I slightly smirk. 

Look at him, trying to see what I was thinking about. 

Maybe he is seeing me as a real person instead of that monster. 

One thing is for sure, though.

Clearly, he saw me.

I tried to keep my mind at bay while I ride to my destination, but memories kept reoccurring in my mind despite my effort to change that.

I sat still and fell into the memories, at least for just a moment.

All I could hear was a loud roar. 

I closed my eyes to relive it.

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