22What's better? A lie that draws a smile, or the truth that draws a tear. A lie that draws a smile, or the truth that draws a tear? A lie that draws a smile, or the truth that draws a tear? A lie that draws a smile, or the truth that draws a tear. A lie that draws a smile... or the truth that draws a tear... Which is better, a lie that draws a smile, or the truth that draws a tear?
For half a century, wars have swept over the Earth, destroying everything that it came across. It seemed like there was no end to the fighting, and in reality, the end was just an illusion. Around the year 2100 A.D., the world was in devastation. After nuclear warfare, everything was in ruin and the few people that survived were struggling to live. As diseases and sickness swept across the face of the Earth, incurable viruses spread so that each human being wouldn't live past the age of 25.
All of us Within – Adrian
"Which is better, a lie that draws a smile, or a truth that draws a tear...?" Mary asked. Both she and Adrian were spending their afternoon around the ruins of an old office building. They had no idea what it was; they just sat wherever they felt like sitting, both sipping on their sodas, which they got by kicking the overturned vending machine. The cool air blew by the both of them; though it was dirty and polluted, it was all that was left of the immutable gray skies.
Adrian jumped off of the rubble, onto the eroded cement, "The truth of course!" He exclaimed, "It doesn't matter, the truth is always the best, it doesn't matter. Why would anyone lie to someone?"
Mary smiled, and clutched the rag doll that she held so tightly in her arms, "Heh, you're right."
Adrian smiled back at her. He always liked knowing he was right, but his teachers taught him not to gloat, so he didn't overdo it. Both he and Mary were six years old, just about the right age to start taking care of themselves, "You came here because you were sad. What did you wanna talk about?" Mary rarely talked about herself, so Adrian knew that when she wanted to talk it was important. He knew her more of a listener than a talker.
"Mommy died last night... I'm starting to live on my own now..." She said softly.
With Mary's sad expression, Adrian grew sad too, "Oh... My Mama's really sick right now... I'm scared about her."
"Be with her as long as you can. She won't be here for very long..." Adrian was surprised that Mary wasn't crying. She was only six, and she learned not to cry anymore. Although she wasn't crying, Adrian could tell she was very sad.
"It's ok, cheer up," Adrian spoke up, "As long as I'll be here for you, it's ok."
Mary looked up at Adrian, who was trying so hard to make her happy again, and it worked. She smiled with him, "Thanks... Adia."
Adrian jumped back onto the rubble; "So don't feel too sad, because you're not alone."
"Adrian!" Someone called, running down the twists and turns that threw themselves at him down the road. It wasn't like there was an actual road, but more of the rubble that was the lowest, or the easiest path of rubble that was to get from point A to point B.
Adrian turned to the side, "Rune!" he yelled out to his friend.
"Where were you?" Rune asked in a concerned, but reticent manner. Rune was the type that was slow to anger. He never raised his voice, though you could tell when he was being serious.
His jet black hair was always gave a sense of mystery to him – to other people that is, but Adrian knew he was just a normal person like the rest of them.
A surprised expression swept over Adrian's face, "Ah! I forgot. I'm so sorry."
Mary stood up, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I wanted him to talk with me, and didn't know that he was busy."
"Don't worry, it's fine." Rune replied smoothly, "You have time after school? I think recess is almost over."
"Sure." Adrian replied willingly.
Before long, the three of them began walking back to the classrooms. School for them wasn't very long, and they only had one recess for the entire session. When all of the kids left for recess, it was common for many of them not to come back. Adrian always went to school because his mother told him to never ditch school so he can learn how to make the world better. But for those that no longer had parents, there was no point in school or life altogether.
The town was just a spot of civilization in a vast region on Earth where life was nonexistent. It used to have a name, but no one remembered what it was called. Most of the trees and vegetation in the town were destroyed and replaced by dirt and rock during the war. Animals were almost never seen by humans since they were mostly extinct, except the small critters that came out only at night. The buildings that people used were made out of the ruins of old, run down buildings. Most people lived in huts, or caves; you would be lucky if you could live in an abandoned house that was left before the war, but it wasn't likely.
In the town, the only thing life revolved around was death. There was no escaping the town; going outside was harsh. If anyone even cared to live their short life, they had to stay inside the town to survive.
Just as they were walking down the rocky cement, something caught Rune's eyes that pulled him to a halt.
"You stupid!" Adrian heard Dennis's voice yell out. His loud, obnoxious voice was the most distinguishable out of all the kids; he made it that way intentionally.
Adrian and Mary both scanned the area to see where Dennis was, hoping they weren't the ones he was shouting at. Dennis was always the troublemaker. He was a good example for one of the kids that had no parents.
Usually, the air-headed Dennis would be seen with the appearance of his accomplice Cedric. Cedric was supposedly his voice of reason, but that didn't make him any better. Both of them basically worked together beating up people weaker than them to make themselves look stronger.
"You don't deserve to live!" Cedric yelled shortly after Dennis.
"Let's take a detour." Rune noted, "They won't like it if they knew we were watching."
After they arrived at the classrooms, they quickly took their seats; they used to be assigned but no one followed them. The classroom that they used was basically a cave in the rubble of run-down buildings and a straw roof to cover it all. Just as they had expected, about 10 more seats were empty. It was ridiculous how the teachers didn't do anything about it.
As usual, the teacher taught the same stuff every week. School was from Monday to Saturdays – the only reason why it wasn't on Sunday was because of church. They were only teaching the kids academics because they had to, but it's not like they understood any of it. Most of what they taught the kids were morals, and how to live. After all, they were the future of humanity.
Just then, Marcus's poor figure came waddling in through the door, which was really just a huge gap between the wood.
Adrian turned to see his pathetic-ness coming into the classroom. His black eye grew even worse from the day before, and it was even bleeding that time. The teacher looked at him, gave him a sad face, and then motioned him to sit down. That's all they ever really did, sad face, and motion. They didn't have anything to help him, so it was useless to try.
Disabled, Marcus limped to the desk next to Adrian. Because he was what the other kids called him "White", he was despised by the rest of the six-year-olds. Adrian, being the only one who didn't see why everyone hated him, was Marcus' only friend who let him sit in the desk next to him.
Adrian felt sorry for the teachers, having to watch the kids do so many evil things. They taught them every single day to be good, and they were never good. They taught them not to lie, not to steal, but that never stopped them from doing it. The teacher knew that the kids weren't listening to her, so why did she even keep teaching? She hoped that at least one child in her classroom was listening to her, and to her, that made all the difference.
"Now shall we all bow our heads for our closing prayer?" The teacher concluded at the end of the session. Then, the few students left in the classrooms folded their hands and bowed their heads, "Dear heavenly Father... I pray that your presence will shine down on us Lord this very day, and guide us as we leave this place."
As Adrian opened his eyes, he peeked around the classroom and saw the kids fiddling around with their fingers, and kicking each other from beneath their desks. Bowing their heads and folding their hands was just an act to make the teacher shut up. No one actually followed the prayer, like the teacher had told them to.
"And please, forgive us of our sins we may have committed this day against others, and may the Holy Spirit strengthen ourselves to forgive the others who have sinned against us. And I pray that you may lift our future generation in your hands Lord, and that you may bless these poor and innocent souls, and somehow you may reach out to them. And I pray this in your holy and most precious name, Amen."
As soon as she said "In your name, Amen", the class shot up and rushed out the door. There was a door to begin with, but since the procedure happened so often, it was now just a lacuna. None of the kids truly knew what the words "In your name, Amen" really meant, but it was just a "You can leave now".
"I'll see you later." Mary said to Adrian, just before she was about to leave.
"Okay. Bye bye."
Mary smiled, "Don't forget your meeting with Rune okay? Bye Adia."
Rune watched as she walked out the door, holding that ugly rag doll in her hand. She was always so soft and graceful as she walked. She never ran, or skipped like the other girls, but she just walked with a gentle smile on her face.
"Why does she call you Adia...?" Rune asked Adrian as he walked up to him.
Adrian rubbed his chin and looked upward, "I don't really know... She's called me as long as I've known her..."
Then he shrugged, and exited the classroom with Rune. The teacher looked up at the last two kids that exited her classroom. As she picked up the wet paper wads of spit and the straws that propelled them off the floor, she sighed and resorted in a silent prayer for the children.
"What did you wanna talk ta me for?" Adrian asked.
"You'll see."
Briefly after they left the classroom, they arrived at the snack shop. However, the snack shop wasn't as nice as it sounded. It was a small hut where the kids would go to after school and get a piece of bread for a nickel. It was one of the only places that people would go to just to get away from the bitter and rotten world.
"Get something." Rune offered.
"I'll just getta bread." Adrian answered, pointing to the broken piece of bread that was as large as a bottle cap.
"No, get something better. A piece of bread is just what we get everyday. Get something special today, a pastry."
"Huh?! No, I'm not gunna get that. I don't have enough money."
"I'll pay for you." Rune was always so generous and kind to everyone. That was probably the reason why he got along so well with the rest of the kids.
"Those are so expensive. I don't want one."
"Can I have two pastries?" Rune asked the man behind the counter, taking the initiative. He was only 16, but he was already considered an elder. Quickly, he exchanged the two pastries with Rune's 10 dollars. Adrian often wondered where he got so much money.
It wasn't long after they left the snack shop when Adrian had almost devoured half of the pastry. Rune was just taking small bites out of it.
"You know... that virus that's in the air, that makes us die at such an early age...?"
Adrian nodded.
"Everyone has it, and everyone is doomed to die in their 20's."
"Yea, I know about that. You would know a lot since your father is the town's Doctor."
Rune nodded. He was more fortunate than the rest of the kids to have a father who was a doctor. He could always help him when he was hurt, and he'd keep doing it until he was 50, and never die. "You also know how the doctors, the teachers, and the priests don't get affected by the virus. They get access to a cure that'll rid them of the virus."
"It's because they dedicated their life to serving the town... right? I know alluv this... why are you bringing it up all of the sudden?" By that time, Adrian was already done with his pastry.
"It's good that you know that." Rune concluded, "I want you to hold something for me for the time being ok?"
"Sure. As long as it's not too heavy, it might crush me, and I don't want to be a floor mat." Adrian replied stupidly.
Rune laughed. "Don't worry, it's not bad." Then, he gave him a plastic water bottle, filled with a clear liquid. The container was made of remnants that were found in the ground.
"Could you keep this for me?"
"It's not too heavy. I'm fine." Adrian didn't bother to ask why he was carrying the bottle, he was just carrying it.
"You're one of my closest friends, so I trust you with this." Rune said solemnly.
"I know this is important to you, and you're also one of my closest friends, so I'll take care of it for you."
Rune smiled, "Thanks a lot. I'll come back later to take it back ok?"
After they reached a split in the road, they parted. Adrian took the path to his home, and Rune took the path to the church.
"Remember, keep it somewhere safe ok?" Was the last thing Rune said to Adrian before he left.
Rune watched as Adrian walked down the road to his house before he continued towards the church.
Than knelt down by the alter next to his father, the priest. As his father spoke his words of prayer, Than repeated them and supposedly meditated on them after him.
Than hated going to church. All of the other kids just had to go for one day, but he had to go everyday. It was worse than school; he had to stay there longer after everyone left school. His father, the most respected man of the town, wanted his son to become a priest as well. He tried to raise him in the church, teaching him the ways of God but it was doing the opposite effect.
'I hate God,' He often thought to himself, and he was thinking the same exact words to himself during his prayer. 'If you love us, and you died to give us eternal life, then why don't you come down and save us? You don't love us, you don't even care if the human race dies. We don't need you.'
"Father, we received a letter from the doctor's kid."
The priest paused for a while, upset that he had been interrupted during his prayer.
"Oh I'm sorry-" The intern replied after he realized what he had done.
"Bartholomew, you can go. Come back right after."
"Yes father..." Than got up, bowed, and left the room with the intern.
During the entire prayer meeting, he's only been thinking of one thing; Rune's arrival. He told him to come at 12:00, but he was hoping that he would come a little earlier. What upset him was that the only thing that Rune gave him was a letter. He figured Rune did this because if he came in person, there was a possibility of Than demanding more, or changing the plans, and he didn't want that. Rune just liked things simple, and laid out.
"Here is the letter. It is addressed to you." The intern said as he gave Than the letter.
"Good afternoon Than." He read in his mind. He constantly checked to see if the intern was eavesdropping on him, but it was none of his concern, "The weather seems nice today. It'll get much hotter during the summer."
"Enough already..." Than mumbled under his breath. He skimmed down the letter.
"Tonight, I will meet you behind the school. Around eight, when everyone's asleep, I'll find you. I'll give you the solution and from there, you're on your own. Don't feel you need to pay me now, I'll receive my payment after the job is finished. Well, until then, I'll see you. And may God bless you."
"Always trying to sound smart with his words..." Than muttered as he stuffed the letter into his pocket.
"Papa, I'm home." Rune said just as he entered his house. His father was in his mid-20s, serving the town as the city doctor. He was respected among all of the residents, except his very own son.
"Don't move."
"Hmmm?" Rune mumbled, playing dumb. He froze in the doorway, just as his father told him to.
"Where were you this morning?" His father demanded.
"If you tell me why you're asking, then you'll have the right to hear my answer. It's a give and take-"
"It doesn't matter!" He yelled.
Instantly, Rune shut his mouth, surrendering to his father who was ultimately always the authority, "I was at the snack parlor with Adrian." He wasn't lying, he just wasn't answering his question.
His father still wasn't convinced. He, being the doctor of the town, was the one who had the solution to the cure to the virus. He had it heavily guarded, and no one could get easy access to it except himself, and considerably his son. He had it strictly reserved for the priests, and the teachers because of the scarcity of the cure.
Ever since the morning, he found that the solution he was ordered to deliver to the orphanage was missing. But, the only one who could have taken it was his son Rune, but he had no use for it.
"Take off your clothes."
"-for what?"
"Do as I say!"
Rune stripped off his clothes and left them by the doormat.
"Now go change, and come back here right after. Don't you dare think about leaving afterwards."
"Yes father."
"Here you go." Adrian said as he offered his mother a cup of water.
She nodded as she gratefully took it from Adrian. It had been several hours after Adrian had given him the water bottle; he was wondering when it would be when he would pick it up.
"I'll get you more." Adrian said as he headed towards the door.
"Adrian... you should eat your share. I'm worried about you. We only get a certain amount of food and water a day."
"That's the reason why you need more. Don't worry Mama, I'm not hungry. You need it more."
"Adrian..." His mother mumbled. She was 21, older than what most people lived up to be before they died. At the moment, she was lying in her blanket in her spot on the floor, waiting for her death to visit her.
He looked over his shoulder, "Hmm...?"
"You're going to have to start taking care of yourself now... I can feel the virus taking over my body; it's already consumed most of it. I don't have much time left."
Adrian paused, staring down at his splintered, bare feet. "I know... I know that Mama."
Then, he left to get her more water.
It was true what she was saying. She wouldn't be able to last another week in the condition she was in.
-Flashback-
"Mommy died last night... I'm starting to live on my own now..." She said softly.
With Mary's sad expression, Adrian grew sad too, "Oh... My Mama's really sick right now... I'm scared for her."
"Be with her as long as you can. She won't be here for very long..." Adrian was surprised that Mary wasn't crying. She was only six, and she learned not to cry anymore. Although she wasn't crying, Adrian could tell she was very sad.
-End Flashback-
Mary's mother had just died, and his was about to very soon. He would have to start take care of himself. He was considered one of the lucky ones, since most of the other 6-year olds already live alone.
Just then, he heard a knocking sound on the door. Adrian rushed to open it; it was Rune.
"Good evening." Rune said, managing to mask what had happened back at his house. After his father realized that there was nothing Rune was hiding, he managed to escape his household to get to Adrian's.
"Oh hey Rune; it's late. Did you come here by yourself?"
"I live close by."
Adrian sighed. He turned around, glancing around the kitchen under the dim light of the candle-lamp, "You're looking for that bottle right?"
Rune nodded.
"Uhuh... hold on, let me go find it really quick. Wait here."
Adrian left the door halfway open so Rune wouldn't feel like he was completely shunned from the house. Rune had to try and hide the panic that was arousing within him, waiting for Adrian to search for the bottle he trusted him with. Adrian searched across the kitchen counter, trying to remember where he had left the water bottle. Although he didn't remember where he placed it, it wasn't long before he found it and returned back to Rune.
"Here's it is."
Rune smiled, "Thanks a lot."
"No problem. You should go back now, it's gunna be dark."
"Hahah, ok. You're always right."
Adrian smiled.
"I'll see you tomorrow then."
He nodded, and closed the door as his friend left.
"Who was that?" Adrian heard his mother's voice come down from the other bedroom.
"It was Rune. He came to pick something up."
"Ahh..."
Right on time, Rune arrived. He was never early, and he was never late.
"I've been waiting for you since seven..." Than said softly.
"The note said eight didn't it?"
Than smirked at the reminder of Rune's uniform personality, "Here's the money."
"No. Give it to me tomorrow. I won't take it unless the job is done."
"The job isn't done yet?"
"All that's left is for you to drink it."
Than smiled, "You're such a honest-looking kid but you're so horrible."
"I don't quite understand what you mean by that."
"'And a good actor too. Well, I'll be seeing you again tomorrow. Until then."
"You should hurry back. Suspicion and curiosity don't rule our vision." He said, walking away.
"And you as well." Then, Than turned to the opposite direction.
He had to watch the path he walked down on his way back to the church. There was nothing to light that moonless night except the dim stars in the sky. At night, if he got hurt, there would be no one to help him since they were all asleep.
Finally, he arrived back at the church, the place he called his home. Anxiously, he opened the bottle and pushed it into his mouth. In the stillness and the darkness of the atmosphere, Than thirstily drank the solution, just as the deer panteth for the water.
Suddenly, Than's eyes widened as he threw the bottle onto the floor, "What kind of joke is this... this is water!" He yelled.
"Can water get spoiled...?" Adrian wondered after drinking out of his water bottle that he left on the counter. "That was yucky; so bitter..."
A/N: This is so difficult... you have no idea how many times I revised this thing lol. I'm so used to writing about teens and adults that I've completely ignored the aspects of children. At first, I was giving the children adult personalities... which is completely out of the minespan of a 6-year old. I mostly wrote about them to be cute... now it's hard to write them to be something other than cute T_T. Well, I hope u enjoyed the first chapter. Make sure to drop by a review.