The World of Myth Magazine

Later that night, when Rose dropped me off at home, I went straight in and fell asleep on my sofa. I was exhausted, I had been up all that day, and though being awake for long hours at a time used not to bother me, nowadays, I didn't think I could adequately function past sixteen hours.

It was dark outside when I heard a knock at the front door. I pulled myself off the sofa and made my way to the origin of the knocking. I was shocked at who I would find behind the door; it was Renee. She said she wanted to stop by and thank me for stopping Arturo; if I hadn't stopped him, he could have seriously hurt her.

I stepped aside and asked if she would like to come inside my home. As she did, I realized I needed to turn the lights on. The entire place was pitch black. I quickly flipped the switch to brighten the area up. When she passed me, her sweet smell lingered behind her and momentarily to me to a world of my own.

Renee stopped in the center of the Living Room and looked around. Eventually, she asked if I always keep the lights off. I explained that I had fallen asleep, and it was still fairly bright outside when I got home. I felt so nervous having her there; I didn't know why, after all, we had spent countless hours together—granted, most of it was running for our lives from hordes of Unluckys, but still—why was I so antsy?

She followed me into the kitchen; I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of champagne that I had lifted from the reception. I poured her and myself a drink and had casual chitchat. That was until she caught me off guard when she asked me why I did not oppose her being with Arturo initially. I tossed back my glass before giving her an answer and tried to give myself a bit of time to process what she had asked me.

Eventually, I told her it was none of my business who she was with. Renee stared at me for a few moments before asking why it wasn't my business; during that entire journey, we were close, and she knew I did not like Arturo from the beginning. I interrupted her from there. I told her simply that I wanted her to be happy, and if he made her happy, then so be it.

Renee finished her drink and gave me a soft smile. I hadn't seen that smile since Arturo came into the picture. Then, before I could ask her if she wanted a refill, she told me it was only eight o'clock that we needed to go out. I paused for a moment to process what she said; I grinned at her and told her I was too old to go out. After all, I was going to be a grandfather before the year ended.

She told me that she would not accept no for an answer and told me to get dressed and that we would have dinner and a few drinks. I knew I had lost that battle, so I gave in and agreed to go out with her. I wasn't positive what I had gotten myself into, but at least I knew there were no Unluckys involved.

We caught a taxi that took us into downtown Haven. I was in awe at the lights; I had never been downtown at night. The entire city was covered in neon lights, and everywhere I looked, there they were. The light cast a soft blue tent onto the town, which actually made it quite comfortable and inviting. The small area was overstuffed with sky-rises that reached toward the heavens.

The silence was peaceful, and I read the large signs which extended from each building—it was a very Neo Tokyo in its appearance. Then, finally, I turned to look at Renee. She had a slight smile as the different lights from the passing buildings bounced off her skin.

After a few moments, we stopped at a small building that was one to the public as a counter divided the passer-goer from the employees. A giant dragon hung overhead and illuminated the area with its white neon lights, which traced the beast.

Renee got out and turned toward me with a welcoming smile. I understood that was my cue to get out of the vehicle. We walked over to the counter and sat on one of the stools that aligned the counter and were quickly greeted with the smell of cooked beef.

I turned and asked if this was a hamburger joint? Renee nodded and explained that this was the only place in Haven that used natural beef. It was outlawed, and everywhere else, it used a sodium-protein compound that looked and smelled like the real thing.

An older man walked up to the counters, he looked tired, and his white apron appeared heavy with grease. Renee held up two fingers, and the cook nodded, understanding the order. He reached down and clanked two glasses on the counter; from the neon lights, they appeared to glow in the night.

The older man walked away and disappeared in the back. Renee told me not to be intimidated to drink what the man came back with. I could not help but scoff at that comment. I had stared down death itself how many times since I left Appleton? I have been bit, shot, stabbed, scratched, jumped out of the top story window of Palace City into a pool.

Renee chuckled and shrugged.

Eventually, the old man returned into view and held a large metal object that looked like a miniature aerial bomb. I jumped up from my seat and questioned what the hell he had in his hands—he looked at Renee, who again shrugged and explained she told me not to panic.

Renee grabbed my hand and softly pulled me back onto my stool. The cook released the metal container onto the counter in front of us, which caused the support beams underneath to rattle. He reached under the counter and pulled out a bottle with the look like and has the consistency of whole milk.

He poured it into our glowing glasses, then turned his attention to the bloody bomb in front of us. I told him that if it exploded and I lived, he needed to run for his life. The old man let out a hardy laugh and used a screwdriver to pop the top of the container—it was at that moment, that I realized it was an oversized martini shaker.

The old man poured a dark purple liquid into the glass with the milk-like fluid, and the glow rapidly changed from white to aqua-blue. I sipped it, and it was thick and sweet; I felt the alcohol as it traveled down into my stomach.

Renee explained it was a drink called Blue Milk, that it was an excellent combination with the burgers, which had been placed in front of us. It smelled like I remembered, and my mouth watered. We had lived on fruits and vegetables for so long that I could not remember the taste of beef.

Renee and I sat at the counter and chatted while we ate. The topics ranged from what our future plans were to our lives before the sickness. I realized something that heavied my heart in that conversation, the fact that I was happier at that moment than I had ever been prior to the outbreak. As an electronic salesman, I had no promise of a future, but now, I did, and it looked amazing.

But then I remembered all that died in the process of reaching Haven, which made my heartache. Then I thought of Helen, and I felt anger. How many tears did we shed over her to only discover that she was alive all along—living another life.

Renee must have read my face as she timidly asked if I wanted to go for a walk. I popped back into the moment and realized who I was with. Helen had occupied my thoughts long enough, and in that second, I decided she would never again have that power over me.

I stood up and took Renee's hand. We walked away from the burger stand and headed down the neon-lit sidewalk, hand in hand. We did not speak as we traveled toward the unknown, but everything felt right.

We eventually walked from the small box of enormous lights that was Haven and into the darkness. It was a part of Haven that had not been developed. We followed along the containment fence until we stood on a plateau that overlooked the downtown part of Haven. The nights appeared to dance and skip in the night; it was an amazing view. I turned to Renee and watched as she gazed out onto our new promised land.

Renee and I stood there in the darkness, without a word said for some time. After all that we had been through in the short time we had known each other, I don't think anything needed to be said. Softly I caressed my fingertips against her skin and gently stroked her moist lips. I advanced closer to her and felt her heart race as my fingers continued to travel along her neckline. She tried to speak, but it came out muffled. Was it hesitation or anticipation? The closer I got, the harder Renee began to breathe, and I could not wait any longer.

Finally, I grabbed her and brought her lips to mine.

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