LONG ROAD AHEAD

19

They decided to stay in the ruins for a few days to recuperate from their heatstroke. The building they held up in was huge, bigger then any structure she had seen still standing. While Craven slept, Phoenix decided to tour the ruins. She went room from room, floor by floor until she reached the main floor. She walked through the shops Craven had told her about. He was right; the ancients wore some odd clothing.

She walked through the shop and saw pictures of beautiful women dressed in extravagance. Phoenix stopped at a rack. There was a dress. The skirt was floor length. The fabric was a ruby red colour, but it was covered in so much dust; it almost looked grey. Phoenix dusted it off a bit and removed it from the wrack. She shook it hard a few times to get most of the dust off. She ran her hands over the fabric. It was sheen and sparkled even in the low light of this room. The fabric slipped through her fingers and felt smooth. It was a very pleasant feeling against the skin.

 Phoenix held the dress against herself to see if it would fit. It was not practical, but she still wanted to wear it. Taking the dress with her, Phoenix moved on to the next shop. She found a shop full of jewels and gold. She walked up and down the store, looking into each glass case. One of the cases had been shattered, and glass was scattered amongst some rings. She looked at the one on her hand. This must have been where Craven had gotten it.

She moved on to the next shop. The door was shut and locked, but it was made of glass, and she could see inside. The shelves looked stocked with containers and… were those candles she saw in the back? She would love some light at night. Phoenix looked around for something she could use to open the door. She walked farther down the hall and found a red metal cylinder with a short black hose. She had no idea what this thing was for, but it was heavy and would be useful. She took it off the wall and carried it back to the shop she wanted to gain access too. Standing in front of the door, Phoenix threw the heavy cylinder through the glass door, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

She kicked out the remaining larger shards clinging to the door’s frame and stepped through. Once inside, Phoenix inspected the products. She could not read the words on the bottles. She removed the caps and smelled each one. Most of them smelled rancid, but she found the occasional one that smelled rather nice. She poured small amounts into her hand to feel it. It was thick, almost gelatinous liquid. She moved it around in her fingers and watched as it began to get thicker. If she had to guess, Phoenix would say it was a form of liquid soap. Excited to find soap, she decided to take a bottle with her.

Moving to the back, Phoenix found the candles she had seen from the door. She grabbed a box from behind the counter and tossed the liquid soap, the dress, and many candles into it. Picking up the box, she kept exploring. Farther down the hall was a shop that had shutters closed, so one could not see what was inside. Curious, she put down her box and tried to open the door. It, too, was locked. Only this door was wooden, but the long windows next to the door were glass. She went back to the last shop and picked up the red cylinder and used it to smash the windows. She then placed it in the box in case she needed it again.

She walked around inside. It was dark, and there were tall standing glass cases on each wall. Each one was filled with small boxes. She opened one of the cases and took down a box. Lifting the lid, she smiled then she checked the other boxes. They were all filled with cigars. Cigars were extremely rare in the wasteland. Since the soil was largely useless, growing the tobacco to make cigars. The only way to get one was if a scavenger who braved the perils of the ruins found some and sold them for profit. In the odd chance this ever happened, cigars were outrageously expensive. Yet this place was packed wall to wall with them.

Phoenix grabbed five boxes and tossed them in her box of treasures. She searched the counters and found some small handheld objects. She picked one up and held down a button. A small flame popped up, and Phoenix grinned. Well, this was handy. She took all the ones on the counter and threw it in the box.

 Picking up her box Phoenix moved on. She found a shop that had odd, useless objects, strange hats, more books, things she could not even identify. She found a small box with a turn-key. Curious, she turned the key and then opened the lid. A little man woman in a strange dress popped up and began to spin slowly while a beautiful song played. Phoenix smiled. She liked this. She closed the lid and tossed it in the box.

Phoenix moved on through the building and found what looked like it had once been an amazing kitchen. Recalled Craven telling her he found something that gave off the water in this room. She found what she thought looked like the right place and put the box down on the counter next to her. She twisted the knobs, and a loud horrific groaning and rattling echoed as the pipes shook, and moments later, water began to flow freely.

She held her hand under the water. It was cold. She was used to cold water. Phoenix began to strip down using the water source and the liquid sope she found to bathe herself. Clean, Phoenix began to dress once more. She was just pulling her shirt on when she heard the door swing open and then closed. Phoenix turned, expecting to see Craven, but she saw nothing, just the door swinging back and forth as it slowed to a closed position. Something had come in, but she did not see anything.

Slowly Phoenix walked along the counters trying to see over them. Leaning over, she caught a glimpse of a long scaly tail. She backed up quickly, searching the counters for a weapon. She had left her’s in the room with Craven because he had said there was nothing dangerous here. He was wrong, and she was unarmed. Phoenix found a long sharp metal object that looked like it might have been used as a roasting spit. She pulled it down and held it as she would a sword.

She kept backing up as she saw the beast come around the corner. It was low to the ground with six short legs. It was reptilian in nature. Ten feet long from nose to tail. Its snout was long, and its jaws mighty filled with three rows of long sharp teeth. It had four eyes on either side of its head. It growled when it saw her, and a long forked tongue slipped in and out of its mouth. At the end of its tail were long spites. Phoenix had never seen anything like this. She might not be sure what it was, but she was damn sure it wanted to eat her.

Suddenly the thing attacked. For something with short stubby legs, it moved with lightning speed. Phoenix quickly jumped up onto the metal countertop. Out of its reach, or so she thought. The thing swung it’s tail up and swiped her feet out from under her. Phoenix fell backwards off the counter on the other side. As she scrambled to get up, the thing came around the corner and tried to chomp her. She swung the metal skewer and stuck it in the head, but it did nothing to slow it down. Its scaly head was armoured.

Phoenix took off running, but it was right behind her. She jumped up on the counter once more, leaping from one to the other trying to evade it. It charged the counter, striking it with its whole body, and the counter toppled. Phoenix fell, and the counter landed atop her. She tried to get free, but she could not move fast enough. The thing came around the side and charged her with its mouth open. Phoenix grabbed the skewer and thrust it into the monster’s mouth and up into its brain, stopping the creature dead.

With the threat over, Phoenix pushed the fallen counter off as she crawled out from under it. She would have a few achy muscles, but otherwise, she would be fine. Catching her breath, Phoenix retrieved her box of goodies and kept the skewer with her as she headed back up to the room.

As she walked into the room, Craven got out of bed and stared at the bloody skewer. “Did you run into a little trouble?” that was an understatement.

She threw the skewer on the nearest table. “Something just tried to eat me.”

“What?”

“I have no idea. I have never seen anything like it. It is in the kitchen… dead.”

“Are you hurt?” He asked with concern.

“No,” She said, putting her box down. “I did, however, find some things.”

“Like what?” He asked, coming to her box. She took out the bottle of soap and offered it to him. “Liquid soap.”

Craven got excited as he took the bottle and removed the cap to smell it. “Really? Soap? Wow, it smells good.” He then leaned in and smelled her hair. “You smell good too.”

“I bathed in the kitchen before that thing showed up.”

“Bathing sounds like a great idea. I think I’ll do the same.” He said, heading for the door with the soap in his hand.

Phoenix picked up his Glock from the table and whistled to get his attention. Craven turned, and Phoenix tossed the gun to him. “Just in case there is more than one.” Craven caught the weapon with one hand and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans as he walked out the door.

***

Craven crouched next to the monster Phoenix had killed. It was huge and horrifying. Its body was armoured with thick scales. He was mighty impressed that she had managed to kill it alone. Phoenix was one tough chick; he would give her that. Craven took a good look around the room for any threats, then took a moment to figure out how to lock the door. He did not want anything with jaws or claws sneaking up on him with his pants off.

Walking back to the sink, Craven put down the soap and undressed. Standing at the sink, he began to wash up. He was thankful that his bath was uneventful. Redressing, he grabbed the bottle and left the kitchen. He decided to look around a bit and see if he could find anything interesting to make their stay a little more enjoyable. He found a few rooms that looked like they might have been a bar at some point in time.

He hopped over the bar and dropped down on the other side. There were tons of bottles on the back bar that still had liquid in it. He bulled them down one by one smelling each bottle to see if the booze was still good. He was not sure about the shelf life of 300-year-old liquor. Every bottle in the first two bars was rancid. Even the ones in the stockrooms.

He had gone through all of the bottles on the back bar in the third and had gone through most of the storeroom when he found a small case of a dark liquid. He pulled the first one out and opened it. When he did not recoil from the smell, he dared to taste it. He moaned with happiness as he smiled. That was some good Scotch. He put down the bottle and opened all the others testing them. Craven did a small celebratory dance. He had found an entire case of Scotch that was still drinkable.

He returned all the bottles to the case and headed upstairs with them. Happy with his find Craven sprinted down the hall to the room they were occupying. He took one bottle out of the case to show it off and walked into the room. “Phoenix, look what I… wow,” he came to a breathless stop when he saw Phoenix. Lit candles were strewed around the room, and the sun was setting outside the window she stood in front of.. the flickering flames made the long red dress she wore shimmer.

The fabric draped her body in such a way it accentuated her feminine curves, drawing attention to her breasts and hips. The skirt went right to the floor, but he could still see her bare feet. She had taken her hair out of the braid she usually wore, letting it tumble down her back in heavy curls. Craven put the case down, keeping the bottle in his hand as he approached her slowly, taking a moment to appreciate the sight before him.

“I found this in one of the shops,” she told him. “It’s a little bit big, but I really wanted to wear it. After all, when would I ever have the chance to wear something this fancy again?” He still had yet to say anything. Phoenix bit her bottom lip and ran her hands over her belly nervously. “Do you like it?” She was self-conscious. She had spent all her life fighting tooth and nail; she never had the chance to be feminine. Even for a woman as strong as any man, sometimes she just wanted to be seen as a woman.

Craven smiled. “You look… stunning,” he held up the bottle in his hand. “I found a whole case of Scotch. Still good. What do you say to a few dozen drinks?”

She grinned. “Bottoms up,” he pulled off the cap and took a big drink, then offered the bottle to her. Phoenix accepted and took a drink before offering it back. “I found something else,” She said, walking back to the table.

Craven watched as she opened a small wooden box and took out something he had not seen in a long time and only in shops. Phoenix walked back and offered it to him. “Where did you find cigars?”

“There is a whole shop full of them. No one lives this far, so there were no scavengers to pick the stores clean. I thought you might like a few, so I grabbed a couple of boxes.”

“A couple?”

“Five,” she grinned.

“Five?” Craven laughed. “You do have an uncanny knack for finding the good stuff,” Craven noticed another box on the table. Curious, he walked over and picked it up. “What is this?”

“It’s just a music box,” she said, watching him. “You have to wind it. I thought the song was pretty.” He could not help but notice the sad look on Phoenix’s face. “My mother had a music box. It played a similar song.”

Craven sighed. He knew she missed her mother. He did not want her to dwell on bad memories. Craven turned the key, winding it up. He lifted the lid, and the music began. He placed the box on the table and let it play. He left the bottle and the cigar next to the box. He walked over to Phoenix and took her in his arm, coaxing her to dance with him. They had no way of knowing if they had a future, and they could not live in the past. All they had now was the moment, and this moment was perfect.