BRAGR) Bird In A Cage (Patreon)

Leaving behind the cries and screams of the people outside, I made my way back to where Angel was. The girl was, like her name, an Angel. A race that was kind to everyone. I was sure some of those traits had already started to blend into her original personality like mine had become much darker.

We were two sides of the same coin, but we loved each other deeply. So, seeing her crying did not sit well with me. When I returned to the roof, I found my waist instantly tackled as Angel hugged it while softly sobbing.

“I’m sorry. You should not have had to see that.” I gently stroked the top of her head as she shook it back and forth.

“I am not crying about the death of others but because you are forced to carry such a burden.” My eyes widened. I had not expected that at all.

I gently ran my fingers through Angel’s hair as I whispered softly, “It’s fine. It does not bother me. Maybe if it was before it would but to me this is just like in my dreams. Life is about survival. It’s either them or me. But as a leader, you have to make harder decisions. You only need to walk by my side and share the new world with me.”

“No! I want to share your burden to! Zoe, you can’t take on all the bad things and shield me. I am not a bird in a cage. Those who dare to try to harm you I will smite them down with my magic with out a second thought! I will not allow you to be the only one making hard decisions. I know I can not do much now. But soon… once I get used to things I will hold your hand and walk by your side. So don’t try to lock me up.” Angel’s tear-filled plea resonated with my soul. I looked down at her and gently wiped her tears away with my fingers before planting a kiss on her lips.

“The my dear Angel, we shall walk side by side.” I replied with a soft smile. Angel was right. She was not a bird in a cage. She was her own person. I was just worried about her own sanity. “We will take things slow. Once the monster wave is over we will walk around and look at the after math. I know it will be hard to stomach but you will get used to it.”

 “Mmm… I know. Thank you Zoe.” Angel hugged me tightly. It was strange we were having such a warm moment with the screams and cries of those around us pleading to be let in as the roars of monsters filled the sky. I think we were both no longer human. Our humanity had long been lost.

“Zoe. The military is asking for us to let them in.” Derrick, Angel’s father, announced as he walked over to us.

“No chance.” I replied firmly. “Only those I gave promises to are allowed in. No one else is allowed to cross our barrier. I long warned the people many times during my interviews that they needed to play the game but they did not listen. They probably thought I was insane but now they want me to help?”

I paused as I thought for a moment. “Wait… We can let some military in but that jack ass Davis can not enter. As long as they submit to me they can enter. They will need to give up their equipment and work under me from the moment they step through the barrier. Anyone who agrees and does otherwise will be killed on the spot to make an example of them.”

“Understood. I will explain things to Miss Hilde.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. Derrick was scared of Hilde. Mainly because he accidentally touched her butt one day, or so he says and got knocked out. Angel laughed so hard that day I thought she was going to laugh a lung up. Since then, he went from calling Hilde by her name to Miss Hilde.

“Alright, I leave it to you. But Derrick.” I called out to him, causing him to stop.

“I wish you would call me dad already. But what’s up.” Derrick had been asking me to call him dad for a while now.

“Then Dad. Do you think I am evil?” I had been wondering about this for a while now.

“Not at all. I am a businessman. If anyone is evil it would be me. I have taken advantage of people my entire life. Now that the world is ending and supplies are low I am by no means willing to give up any profit. Even if thousands of people will die because of it. So your far less evil than I am since I would have kicked all these people who are useless out of the territory as soon as I knew the apocalypse was about to start.” Derrick’s reply was a bit surprising, but I understood. He was a businessman through and through. He only saw money and those close to him.

“Plus if I did, my daughter would kill me. I want to live a long life.” Derrick added with a chuckle before walking to the stairwell. I could only shake my head. He was indeed a character.