Blackout Part 4

“I told you, this is the Sprawl. It’s kinda like a city, I guess. An’ no Hellhound’s come here, not ever. Most people don’t even think they’re real,” she scoffed. “But everyone’s heard of ‘em mostly. They’re hunters, that’s what I heard.”

Vas looked at his tag again. “Uh hu.” He said just nodding along. “Sure. Okay. Doesn't explain why I'm here. Armed.” He patted his vest again and fished around in a pocket. “With grenades.” He said pulling one out of a pocket. “Hmm.” He said inspecting it.

“On account of you’re lost. Didja hit your head or something?” She asked, digging around in her pack for an apple. “Trade ya,” she offered, holding it out. “It’s red even, the best kind of apple.”

Vas seriously considered the trade. But also considered what given a grenade to a kid might do. “Uh. No. I'm not trading a grenade to you …” He paused. “... safety concerns.” He added pocketing it. “Which way is out?” He asked.

Serena shrugged. “I guess it depends on where you want to go.”

“Out … Not here … I dunno … Mexico …” Vas waved a hand in the air futilely trying to grasping where the hell he was supposed to be going.

“You wanna go to Mexico?” She asked, scratching the back of her head.

“Alaska’s cold.” Vas said as if they was a perfect justification.

“It’s also kinda far.” She told him. “Are you just gonna walk?”

“Yes.” He motioned to his boot. “That is what feet and boots are for.”

“You could walk farther without boots weighing you down,” she said, trying to sound convincing.

“That would defeat the point of the boots now wouldn't it.” Vas said dryly.

“Worth a shot,” she told him, offering him the apple. “I can get you out if you want.”

Vas took the apple. “Yea?” He asked skeptical breaking it clean in half and handing back half.

“Yep,” she said, taking the half apple.

“I’m not giving you my boots.” Vas said flatly.

“Unless you’re dead. We made a deal,” she reminded him.

“Unless I'm dead.” Vas nodded crunching into his half of the apple.