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I don't remember how long I slept and dreamt but I was sure of one thing...

I am alive.

And I need a map.

I sat on the cot, breathing in the strong smell of cigarettes that caught me even through the closed door. I walked out the room within a dire trance and spotted Dempsey walk swiftly towards a tiny passage way and decided to followed him.

He smelt of the fresh scent of rain and a mixed hint of heavy and cheap cologne. I inhaled it fully and sniffed more as I followed him. I heard my converse squeak over the swampy land and followed him to the outside of the facility. I knew he didn't notice me but my eyes were fixed on his broad back.

We stopped and unknowingly he turned—"JESUS!" His blue eyes went wide as I smiled sheepishly at his self. A tiny grin playfully tugged at the corners of his lips and he growled underneath his breath.

He bent to pick up a bucket. "I need a map." I said and stared at his self.

"A map?" He ruffled his wet hair, completely uninterested. He crouched and started arranging tin cans into a cardboard box full of other eatables. "I think Doc's got one, ask him."

I grimaced; I felt the least to wander any nearer to that guy's vicinity.

"Do you trust him, the doctor?" I crouched too and stared deep into his eyes, they were so calming...

"For what? What happened?" He said.

I stared deeper into his eyes as if I could search some hidden hint of an answer, they were of a bright blue color and he innocently tilted his head.

'He is clueless.' I wondered whether I should keep myself any closer to him and scooted a little away, the mere presence of him made me feel safe and made me afraid at the same time...

'What would he do if he knew where I come from?'

"Nah, it's just that he's a little, well, off." I said.

"Did he say something to you?" His huge frame froze, concern flooding his physique.

I stood up, waited and started walking away slowly, a little absent-minded, "Everything he says sounds like a threat." My laughter died just as quickly as it sparked.

"It sure does. I've found him like that, guy's kinda weird."

I quickly checked for Takeo around me. "Hey, can you teach me how to shoot a gun or something?"

He hummed a bit and with a flick plucked a small gun from his belt. It wasn't of the nineties that's for sure...

"Here, pull the trigger, lead comes out the other way. Simple see? This here's the safety."

He quickly ran his expert hands to show me how to reload then handed the gun to me after his non existential guide, the gun was cold and not as heavy as I wondered it to be. I being an amateur at all of this hesitantly shoved the gun underneath my belt at the back. Suddenly, he swiped by to open a huge dagger and gave an unsettling smile on his soft features, canines jutting playfully at the corners; I felt my heart run cold.

"Here, keep this." He shoved the dagger at me after sheathing it back on. He crossed his arms and inspected what he had just done.

"Thanks. I just wanted to thank you for sav—

"Hey, stop. I know you're grateful and all," He focused his unsettling eyes on me for a second,

"I know."

He raised his ragged eyebrows to emphasize his point and I felt a huge smile involuntarily break out my pretentious cold nature at that moment.

I felt...safe.

Then slowly he turned to then marched back into the facility, I watched him progress to indulge in a conversation with Takeo who had been standing there for some time and I wasn't sure of. He came forward to whisper something to Tank. I didn't wait, I moved outside and after wandering close to the facility settled down to sit on a wooden crate at a corner of a trench alley. The smell of cigarettes tingled my nose, I followed the smell to notice who it was.

It was the Doctor smoking; he marched to the other end of the trench and looked around curiously. He had a thick bundle of papers under his left arm and a piece of some kind of a staff under his right arm. I immediately reached him out.

"Hey! Doctor! Do you have a map of some sort?" I panted as I ran towards him. His eyes darted and he looked startled, the head of his cancer sticker illuminating brighter, he raised an eyebrow and puffed out a plume of smokes on my face, it was certain that he did it to annoy me.

"Nien. I don't have one. Go avay." With that he swiftly turned on his heels and started marching inside.

'What the fuck?'

Anger, unadulterated anger bloomed in my mind and I balled my fist tightly, keeping myself back from snapping harsh words at him. I saw him stride away with all his pride, glory and his crown of exclusivity. I reminded myself that he was an extremely important person to be with and maybe even be friends with, if it meant that I acted all affectionate. I felt my features lighten up and forced a smile to betray the utter murderous intent I had for some mustached fucker.

'What an asshole... .' I maintained my smile and decided to follow him.

The room was huge and the walls were plastered with a pattern of old faded off-white tiles, a steel cot in the middle with a movable tray aside, it catches my interest and I heard his heavy footsteps resonate from a deeper room which had orange light pouring out the cracks of the chipped wooden door. A whole couple of rooms were situated a bit deeper in the facility, I reckon it  to be his own personal haven of isolation. I felt a tinge of pride as I realized that I could take a glimpse into his mind, the mind of the infamous Doctor. But deep inside, I had the thought of burning the whole place down.

Even the mere presence of his name sent harmful intents to resound in my mind, a feeling of hurting him back with all my might.

I heard heavy bulk of papers to be kept on a table, some drawers opened and the jingle of metal clanking with one another broke me out of my stupor. I noticed a small bed at the left corner of the room beside a tiny door-

I closed the door behind me and walked in and waited beside the edge of the entrance of the inner room, and then I saw him...

He sat on a chair that accompanied a tiny table; it seemed to complement his need to be close to his precious books and scientific objects that I had absolutely no idea of identification, a small cupboard which was partially open stood to reveal stacks of books. The Doctor himself was busy scribbling away on a few pieces of paper, unable to make out what it was, I started to focus on his face, a light layer of sweat cascaded over his forehead and a slight frown settled upon his features. He smoked his cigarette harshly and wrote with his right hand, a few old maps lay there tauntingly beside the table lamp.

'He's such a liar, useless piece of—

A bloodcurdling scream from outside tore away his attention, he stood and stepped on the stump of his cigarette and swung the door open until it hid me while it opened fully. I felt my blood run cold as he marched away by being a few centimeters away from me. And then he was gone.

I creeped into the room and noticed his cursive handwriting fill up a few pages, it seemed like he was keeping a log of some sort. I carelessly looked around to notice a tattered teddy bear propped upon the wall in a corner, it had blood and pieces of dirt stuck on it.

'Hmm..-

Suddenly, I got startled as I heard boots march into the room, I quickly hid behind the door...

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