Suddenly, Amens eye shot open. He got up was fast as he could and dug up the rocks underneath the platform. Methodically, he opened the box to reveal the revolver and some bullets as well.
2587… click…
0000… click…
As he reloaded the gun with bullets, he grabbed his coat from the rack, making it hug his shoulders and body, the only warm thing there was. The handle of the gun felt cold. In a hurry, he stuffed the gun in his pocket and stood up.
The door opened and Amens stepped outside. Like a shadow, he ran silently towards a stronghold that was away from the main battle area. Hands in pockets, shirt tucked, eyes wide. Alert and prepared, he went around the corner to find one of the strongholds held by The Gilded Dregs. As expected, no one guard was there. The silence between Amens steps were almost deafining. To create a more silent atmosphere, Amens made his steps lighter and slowed his pace.
Creak…
Slowly, the large metal gate that protected the inside was violated by Amens, opening wide and revealing the precious insides of the facility. Suprisingly, the traps were all deactivated and lots of shelves seemed to have boxes missing. Amens reached out for the box beside him and opened it. Inside, there was some ammunition which fit into his gun.
How convenient. He thought.
Although he was disappointed by how little there was left, he was still a little but grateful since without the war, this place would be full of traps and smooshed with guards. Whilst checking all the boxes, he discovered some blood smeared on the wall and on the floor. Amens shifted his body weight to the side, giving him a better look whilst still staying in front of the shelf.
At the end of the trail was a dead body. Multiple shots fired into the chest and thigh. Flesh exiting the holes. Thankfully, it was next to a vent which took the smell of rotten blood away from the building.
Click…
Amens' hands met something inside the box. He turned his attention to what his fingers met. Before he saw what was there, he noticed that his cut scabbed, stopping the stinging pain. His eyes met with what was inside the box. Money. Lots and lots of it. With eyes wide, full of surprise, he started selfishly and greedily lining his pockets with money, burying the gun with riches. Once he couldn't carry any more, he thought to himself.
How come the raiders didn't take this money.
As he thought that, a click noise behind him appeared. It sounded like a revolver getting read to be shot. Amens tried to get his gun but the money slowed him down. As his hand touched the handle, he quickly threw his hand out of his pocket and turned around. The ringing sound of coin rolling on the floor filled the quiet room.
What?
No one was behind him. There was only him, the boxes and the shelves. No-one else. Nothing else. With his eyebrows furrowed, Amens put the gun back into his pocket and picket up the coin off the floor and back into his pocket.
Probably nothing. He thought.
To make sure it was "nothing", Amens looked left and right, the swishing of his head making a crack sound from his neck. When he confirmed it really was nothing, he continued the scavenge and salvage the boxes, trying to forget about that startling noise. Finding both a box of matches and a box of cigarettes, he put one in his mout ph and blew on it.
Once he realised nothing was left in the boxes, he sighed. As he was pleased and his pockets were full, he left the silent building and onto the quiet street. The sound of the tobacco burning filled the night as the smoke lifted up into the air, blending in with the pollution. Both of the boxes of cigarettes were placed in his inside pocket's which were empty. Like every other night, he stared at the clouded night sky, wondering when the stars will see him again.
Cough… cough…
When he arrived at his house, he did his usual routine. He continued his passage in the journal.
At night, I raided one of The Gilded Regs' strongholds. The place was already raided but the items I needed and wanted were there. A corpse sat near a vent so the building didn't smell rotten. I thought someone was behind me but no one was there. It's never too bad to be a bit paranoid. I found a pack of cigarettes and matches. Like always, the sky was clouded. Will the stars even bother to peek at us poor souls?
He closed the journal as he took the cigarette out of his mouth and onto the floor.
Scratch… scratch..
The rubbing of his shoes and the cigarette on the floor made a sort of scratching noise. Once he sat down on the mattress, Amens placed his fingers in his shoes, pushing the sole so his feet were free from it. His routine was built so he wouldn't need to focus on such trivial matters and would have time to think about other things rather than thinking about taking his coat off and shoes off. It was practically muscle memory at this point.
His room was small and square, with the door being where his feet were when he was lying down. The desk was in the corner furthest and in a vertical position from the door and opposite from the corner the mattress was in. He stared at the ceiling. Eyes empty. Hands on chest. His heart beat slowly. His face expretionless.
Slowly, Amens rose up and took a morsel of bread for eating. His mouth crunched and thawed at the stale food, making an obnoxious sound that was almost sickening. After he finished the bread, Amens fell onto his bed and closed his eyes. His mouth felt dry as he turned to the side. All was black until he saw something strange.