I Tried To Protect Her

The road home was long and winding, giving me time to think. Sulfur filled the intoxicated air and there were still a few fires; aftermath of the most recent attack. My worn converse kept my bare feet inside from being ripped to shreds by all the glass covering the sidewalk- you had to be careful here. If you were hurt, you were dead. The thought made me think of Annie- what would become of her?

She wasn't strong, or brave- but she was smart. Yet, deep inside of me, I felt that it wouldn't be enough. Her body was failing, she was dying- and there was nothing I could do about it.

A cargo helicopter flew over me, its old and rusty state caused the aircraft to squeak and moan as it continued down its route. Part of me was scared it would collapse in the air, killing the at least twenty people it had been carrying. But you couldn't let fear overcome you here- there was no room for it. Only instincts- survival. But I have something else too, I thought, I have Annie.

After a few blocks I stopped to rest beside a cracked fire-hydrant. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you were able to find a little bit of water remaining in its hollow holder. Unfortunately for me, there was none. But I was alright, having drank at the river merely a few hours before. After sitting for about two minutes, I was on my feet again- you could never stay in the same place for a long period of time. That thought, again, made me think of Annie. She was alright for now- her vitals steady. But the fact that we were forced to move every two or three days could be potentially fatal.

I neared the abandoned neighborhood we'd been camping out in- we'd chosen the place because it'd seemed the safest. Sure, the houses were near decay, but it was the best thing I'd been able to find. The house I'd decided on was an old and small one-story, but half of it had been completely torn off- from what? I didn't know. But it was better not to think about it. As I neared the house, I heard a sound and stopped, frozen. A Mestipan, (classified as carnivore-four legs- razor-sharp teeth- green and red scales- height- 8ft-weakness: water- weight- 1,000 pounds- found dead: 50) was circling the house that Annie was in.

Years before the nuclear bombs had attacked earth, the government had been experimenting on fossils, attempting to recreate dinosaurs. They did not succeed, but what they had made were new species altogether. There were about fifteen of them- and this was one of the more deadly. Annie. I had to get to Annie.

The green and red monster was doing a scope around the house, snorting and swishing its scaly tale. I crept up as far as I could without it seeing me and peered into the open, decaying wall. She was still there. I could just make out Annie's blonde-white curls beneath the heated blanket- she was asleep. She didn't know it was there. Perhaps that was better. I decided to take my chances and crept closer to her fragile body while the Mestipan was on the other side of the house, invisible to me.

If I can't see it, it can't see me, I thought as I kneeled down quietly next to Annie. I lightly touched her warm shoulder and she stirred, opening her pale-blue eyes, "Caleb?" she whispered, sitting up slowly. She winced a little but otherwise was fine. I held her waist with my hands so as not to let her fall as she kissed me. "Annie," I mumbled as a sound came from behind us, "there's a Mestipan just outside."

Her eyes went wide and she grabbed my hand, gripping it as the scaly tale of the creature rounded the side of the house.

"We need to move,"

Her face turned pale but she nodded, gathering our things while still sitting up in the blanket. As she organized, I risked another glance outside; the monster looked as if it were searching for something: that wasn't normal. Could he have smelled Annie and me? But no, strong sense of smell wasn't in its description. So what was it then? But I didn't have time to ponder for long. The Mestipan rammed its head into the wall just across from us, letting out a growl.

The house shook, but not too much. I turned back to Annie: she'd packed up our things in a flash and was holding her side, taking deep breaths. I picked up the backpack with our belongings and then hoisted her up into my arms. I didn't ever need to worry about the weight, she was as light as a feather. I felt a stab of guilt- she could've stayed with her family in New York, she would've been safe; well fed, uninjured. But I reminded myself, she chose to be here. The Mestipan's growling brought me back to reality and I let Annie wrap her arms around my neck and rest her head on my chest before creeping out of the house, making sure not to step on anything that would make a noise.

We'd almost made it around the corner and onto the street when there was a hissing noise and I turned to see the creature staring daggers at me. Its eyes were cold and inhuman, as if to say, "You're just one in the trillions, you can join them. It wouldn’t make a difference."

I personally didn't mind death, it was just a thought, but Annie- I would care if Annie died- and I wasn't gonna let that happen. I backed away slowly, feeling her breath on my neck. I could feel blood on my hands as I fixated her again in my arms- she needed her medicine.

Suddenly, the creature pounced toward us, opening its jaw wide. My instincts were to hug Annie close to me, closing my eyes- ready for the end.