Short Fiction Blog

Over the next few weeks, Andrew came to regret that he had saved Susan. She went in search of food nightly, and no one was immune to her wrath. Andrew became increasingly worried about the authorities.

 

Susan scoffed at him. “What are they really going to do to us, Andrew?” she asked one night when he warned her about taking a very prominent figure in the local government. “It’s not like they can kill us.”

 

“No, but they can make life miserable,” Andrew intoned. “They can start patrolling, watching our every move. They can also post warnings, keeping people in their homes. Then where will you feed?”

 

“I guess I’ll go inside for my meals then,” Susan shrugged.

 

“What happened to you, Susan?” Andrew asked. “Why are you doing this?”

 

“You said I needed to take care of myself, remember?” Susan quipped. “Well, I am.”

 

Andrew shook his head and sighed, “But not like this. Killing without regard. It’s not right.”

 

Susan laughed in his face. “Not right?” she shouted. “Was it right that my mother got beat? Was it right that she killed herself? Was it right when you beat my father to death?” She spat on the ground, and then continued, “Don’t get self righteous on me, Andrew. It doesn’t suit you.”

 

“It’s not the same and you know it,” Andrew threw back. “Your mother made her choices, and your father was a worthless piece of shit.” He looked down at the fallen man at their feet, and said, “This man never did anything to you. He was a good man according to all accounts. He even helped battered women’s shelters! You should have left him alone.”

 

“I’ve been around, Andrew. Seen other Stalkers taking whomever they please. Why should it be any different for us?”

 

“You can kill with impunity if you wish to move around constantly like the others,” he replied. “Personally, I like staying in one spot for a while. There are rules, Susan. We aren’t supposed to draw undue suspicion onto ourselves.”

 

“Rules? What rules?” Susan asked. “You never said anything about rules before.”

 

“Because you weren’t breaking any,” Andrew told her. “Now you are.”

 

He motioned for her to follow him. He wanted to get away from the body before someone came along. He knew he needed to explain, but wasn’t sure how. He had to make her understand that she couldn’t do whatever she wanted all the time.

 

“There is a Grand Council that oversees all Stalkers. They have Stalkers that enforce the rules for them called Elders.”

 

“What happens if you break one of their precious rules?”

 

Andrew sighed. This was the complicated part. “I’m not sure exactly.”

 

“What do you mean, you’re not sure?”

 

“I’ve never been before the Council. I’ve just heard about those who have.”

 

“Let me get this straight,” Susan said. “Other Stalkers have told you about some Grand Council that decides what’s right and what’s wrong for us to do. You haven’t seen this Council yourself, but you believe in it.”

 

She stopped, and turned to him, “Have you talked with anyone who has been before the Council?”

 

“No.”

 

Susan looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “So you don’t even know if it’s real,” she stated. “That’s what you’re telling me?”

 

Andrew looked away. He knew her logic was sound, but he still believed the Grand Council and the Elders were out there. He lived by a certain code that he knew would keep them away. He could see now that Susan wasn’t prepared to do that.

 

“I know they’re real,” he stated.

 

“You don’t know, you think they’re real,” Susan fired back. “There’s a big difference.” With a shrug, she continued, “And even if they do exist, they evidently don’t strictly enforce the rules, so I’m not going to worry about them.”

 

“I’m afraid you’ll be sorry for that decision one day, Susan,” Andrew warned.

 

“Maybe. Maybe not,” she replied. “It’s my life and I’ll do what I please.”

 

“I see that now. I’m sorry, Susan, but I think we need to part ways,” Andrew whispered.

 

Susan was startled. “What?” She grabbed him by the arm, “You don’t want to be around me because I’m not afraid of some mythical Council? Is that what you’re telling me?”

 

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Andrew sighed. “I’m not going to let you take me down with you when you crash.”

 

He tilted her chin up with his finger, “Be careful, Susan.” He then kissed her, and whispered, “I will miss you,” before walking into the darkness.

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