Chapter 1: Many Firsts and a Last
It was dusk when I awoke. I always had impeccable timing. It was late but the General Store should still be open. As far as little towns went, Agua Fria is a pretty big one. Being big meant attracting attention. Attention meant visitors from out of town at any hour would come looking for supplies. I got up and dressed. It was the first time I’d gotten dressed past noon. It was odd though, that it looked like the sun was rising, just in some kind of mirror world. Finished with the dressing, I was about to set out when a memory hit me like a bolt of lightning. I remember the shadows. The fact that I was being watched by some undefined figures out for blood was enough to make me shiver. A chill ran down my spine. I pulled a quick 180 and ran back upstairs to my room, where I opened the bottom dresser drawer. There, mixed in with assorted clothes, sat a 9mm pistol. Grabbing the gun and 3 clips I left the house. I had a date. One with a gecko meat sandwich.
Now outside, my mind kicked into full gear. ‘First time being out this late. There’s still music coming from the saloon.’ I walked down the street toward the General Store. ‘People are still out’ I think to myself. I try and keep to myself but I still get the occasional “Hey Logan!” or “Howdy Kid!” I just nod, smile and keep going. ‘How can they not tell I wanna be left alone? I know they’re trying to be nice and neighborly and all that sappy shit but really? I didn’t even acknowledge your existence you fool! Go away!’ I can’t help but chuckle at that thought. Laughing at silence? Do you know who does that? Special people. Maybe they think I’m retarded or something and they’re saying hi to make me feel better.
“Hi there Logan! Nice to see…” is all Mrs. Jennings got out before me, in all my wisdom, screamed “I’M NOT RETARDED OK?!?!?!”
Mrs. Jennings was a quiet lady. Very kind hearted also. She’d come over every now and again and drop of some food or offer to mend my worn out shirts. Had I had known that it was her talking I never would have screamed.
“By Notch's Beard Mrs. Jennings I’m so sorry!”
“It’s alright Logan. Really it is.”
“I still feel bad. Any way I can make amends?”
“Not right now child, I’m off to cook dinner and hit the hay.”
“Ok. Let me know if there’s something you need. What’s the word around town?”
“There was one thing…I remember! A girl was lookin’ for ya, and a cute one at that. He said she needed help with a job. Good moneny she says. I told her to wait by the General Store and I’d come get ya.”
“I appreciate the help ma’am.”
“Any time child. Oh and I told her you were tough and handsome, so put on a show.” Mrs. Jennings said with a wink.
“Will do ma’am. Good night.”
The amends for the yelling would have to wait. I walked down the street and turned to the General Store with a new spring in my step. That had been the first time I’d yelled at an adult and to be honest, I felt pretty good about the whole situation. I just felt bad about who the yelling was directed at, if that makes any sense.
Turning the corner was the first time I saw the girl. She was shorter than me (maybe about five feet six inches to my five eight) but still looked to be about the same age. She stood leaning up against a wooden post supporting the General Store roof. She wore a white tank top and baggy tan cargo pants. She had long blonde hair that was kept in a ponytail and a look on her face that said she was bored out of her mind. She occupied her time by blowing a stray hair out of her face and letting it fall stray once again. “Hey there, are you the girl looking for help?” I said.
“Yessir,” she said in a country accent, brushing the hair behind her ear, “are you the ‘tough and handsome’ boy that woman told me ‘bout?”
“The one and only,” I say with a smile.
“Well then oh tough one, the name’s Applejack, or AJ for short,” the girl said, extending her hand.
“I’m Logan, Logan Jastion. Pleasure to meet you,” I say taking AJ’s hand and giving it a shake.
“Likewise.”
“So my lady, what troubles you?”
“Well Mr. Jastion, I’m in quite a bind you see.”
“Mr. Jastion was my dad. You can call me Tal or Logan. Whatever you prefer.”
“Tal?” AJ asks curiously.
“It stands for the average Logan because I’m nothing special.”
“What happened to ‘tough and handsome’?”
“About as made up as a land full of ponies.”
“Hahahaha. You’re funny Logan. But back to business.”
Noticing the sun had gone down, I say, “Why don’t we go to the Saloon and talk over a bite to eat?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Applejack says.
With a bowing motion and a gesture to the saloon I say, “After you.” and follow AJ. I notice the leather Jacket she’s wearing. It has a light blue circle on the back. On the top of a circle it says “MANE” and the word “SIX” is displayed on the bottom. Right in the middle of the circle is the number 3. ‘Must be some kind of gang’ I think to myself and disregard the jacket for the time being.
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It was late now, maybe 11’o clock even so the saloon was still full of activity. Mostly the activity was drunks dancing with whores, so you can imagine the look of surprise on the barkeep’s face when to 15 year olds walked in.
“What can I get for you sirrrrrrrr….” The bartender’s words fell off and his eyes grew wide. At this Applejack giggled. ‘That’s actually pretty cute’ Logan thought to himself.
“Hey Mr. Marscot, can I get two gecko meat sandwiches please?” Logan said with a smile.
“But I don’t got any caps.” AJ whispered
“I don’t either, but Mr. Marscot knows I’m good for it, right?” Logan said, looking at the now facepalming barkeep.
The bartender replied with a sigh and said, “Of all the people in this town a fifteen year old’s gonna’ bleed me dry. Sure kid I got ya covered.”
“Thank ya sir,” AJ said
“No Problem young lady.” Said Mr.Marscot
With their two sandwiches and drinks, Applejack and I took a seat in a secluded corner of the room. Almost simultaneously the questions started flying. The only problem being that, due to the fact I usually don’t talk to girls, I was a bit on the embarrassed side.
“So…Nice weather huh?”
Now before, outside of the General Store, I was able to be witty. That was because I had something to work off of.
“I guess, ya know, if ya like the desert heat and all. Not too fond of it myself” AJ replied.
“At least it’s a dry heat. Hahahaha.”
‘Oh lord I can’t believe I just said that’ I think to myself, ‘she come here looking for a strong, handsome man and I nerd it up.’ Then I had a sudden realization: ‘Why did I care what she thought of me. It shouldn’t matter…right? Could I be…no that’s impossible! I just met her!’ My palms started to sweat. This was getting really awkward really fast. But just then AJ came to save the day.
“Ok it’s time to cut the shit. I’m not blind. I can see your piece there.”
She points to my 9mm
“Yeah. Protection ya know. Can’t be too careful out here on the wastes.” I say trying to play it off like no big deal. But again another thought struck me: ‘Why was she looking at my crotch area?’
Applejack leaned forward, resting her chin on her now interlaced fingers and narrowing her eyes lustfully, the way women often do when trying to pry secrets. “So, have you gotten yer feet wet yet?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ya know, have you done the deed? Spilled some blood? Killed anyone?”
“Yeah…I have.” I said. I had too, and it was something I wasn’t really proud of.
Noticing my silence, AJ spoke up. “You don’t need to tell me right now. We can talk about it tomorrow.”
“That’d be better. Speaking of tomarrow, where are you gonna’ stay Applejack?”
“I’m not sure yet to be honest”
“Well then you could stay with me”
“That would be mighty fine. Thank ya kindly.”
“No problem at all. Now let’s eat. The steaks are getting colder by the second.”
This was the first time I’d ever had dinner with a girl, and it wasn’t like I thought I’d be. Not at all.
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That night was tense to say the least. I slept in my bed, but I didn’t expect AJ to roll out her sleeping bag in my room. I didn’t sleep again that night, but my eyes weren’t always glued to the window like nights before. I had noticed Applejack’s body now that she slept. She had curves like a mountain pass and some other distinguishable features also. Her chest for example. For being a young woman her age she had some pretty big…personalities. I turned back toward the window when I had some “movement south of the border” if you know what I mean.
‘That’s gotta be it.’ I thought to myself. ‘The girls bangin’. I knew it couldn’t happen that fast.’ With that thought came a knot in my stomach. Like a pitcher threw a lead ball and the bottom of my stomach was the mitt. I knew what my heart was trying to tell me. 'I was never a believer in love at first sight and I'm not going to start believing now'. Again my heart called my bluff. ‘Really heart? Really? You can’t let me have this?’ One again the knot come back. ‘Ok ok. I’ll admit she is attractive but that’s all.’ Knot. ‘Ok fine! Damnit! I love her!’ Now it was out (in my head anyway). I couldn’t deny it anymore. You want proof of love at first sight? Boom, right here mofos.
After my internal argument I saw a sight that shook me to the core. The shadow figures. They were back and in more numbers. Unable to fend of the looming beast that is sleep, I fell to its power. Any thoughts of Applejack forced out of my mind by the 15 to 20 silhouettes running across the desert.
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I awoke the next morning…to the smell of smoke. I jumped up and got dressed with the leather armor I keep in the bottom drawer, under my 9mm. Gunshots were what I heard followed by screaming and yelling. “WAKE UP APPLEJACK! TOWN’S UNDER ATTACK! WE GOTTA GET MOVING! LET’S GO!” AJ gets up and ready to go at the word “attack”. I grab my 9mm pistol and all the clips I had.
“I need a gun or somethin’!” Applejack screamed, the fire of guns growing.
“Here’s a shotgun! Do you know how to use it!”
“Yeah!”
“Good! Ammo up! The raiders must have attacked!”
We run downstairs and out the door. The road was littered with an array of dead towns folk and dead raiders. The dirt road was stained with blood. The sky was ablaze. The raiders attacked in full force and caught the town off guard. Rounding the corner I saw a dead Mrs. Jennings and her house burning. ‘Looks like I’ll never get to repay that favor.’
We neared the front. The crackle of gunfire was now a roar. AJ took up a position around the corner of the General Store. I was across the street in the door way of the saloon. I shot at the advancing raiders. Boom. Miss. Boom. Miss. With the third shot I hit one in the leg. The raider fell to the ground. “Eat shit asshole!” I screamed as I shot the fallen man in the head, finishing him off. I heard shotgun fire from across the street and saw a raider loose his arm. I gave AJ that kill in my head. A man tried to run over to me with a repeater and was cut down before he made it. The raiders were close now. I took too more shots and killed another attacker. Three shots are how many it took to kill the next. Bullets whizzed by my head each time I popped up to shoot. I was running low on ammo. I thought that AJ was to when I turned to see her being overwhelmed. I ran over to her side and shot down the street while she fired down the alley to our right. Then I heard that sound. *click* I was out of bullets.
“AJ I’m out!”
“I’m getting’ there!” she screamed back.
“We need to fall back!”
“No! We need to get outta here!”
“What about the defenders of the down!”
“They’re dead! We’ll be soon if we don’t get movin’!”
I knew she was right. The look in my eye must have showed her I’d come to terms with running so we both ran down the alley and out of the town of Agua Fria. We ran and ran and ran some more until my hometown was just a speck on the horizon, one light, burning in the abyss. The realization that everyone and everything I’d ever known was up in smoke hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Logan. Your bleedin’…”
I hadn’t noticed. I must have been hit when I ran across the road. I couldn’t believe any of what just happened actually happened. But when I finally accepted the destruction before my eyes, I dropped to my knees and cried. It was the first time I’ve cried since my mom died. It was the first time I’d let anyone see me cry. After I’d cried for a good half hour from the mixture of pain and grief, I got up and turn to AJ, who hadn’t moved since my crying began. “Let’s go.” I said and turned my back on the fire that still raged in the now night sky. That was the last time I saw my home as my home.