Wastelands

As I moved through the desolate wasteland, my newfound body still felt foreign and unwieldy. Each step was a reminder that I was no longer the 17-year-old high school student I once was. The scorching sand beneath my feet was interspersed with the remnants of a battlefield: rusted swords, broken barrels, and metallic shards half-buried in the dunes.

Through the haze of dust and heat, I spotted a figure sprawled on the ground. Drawing closer, I saw it was the injured red-haired woman. Despite her wounds, there was an unmistakable aura of strength around her. Something about her presence demanded respect.

"Hey!" I called out, my voice sounding strange to my own ears. "Are you okay?"

She stirred, lifting her head to look at me. Her piercing red eyes were filled with pain, but also a glint of determination. "I'll manage," she replied, her voice strained. "But we'll need to find shelter. A sandstorm is approaching."

'Hugh, since when did I get in ropes with you. Well It's better than being stranded here, I'll follow along for now.'

I nodded, extending a hand to help her up. As our hands touched, a jolt of energy seemed to pass between us, solidifying the sense that she was someone extraordinary. I didn't know who she was, but she clearly had a story of her own.

Together, we trudged through the shifting sands, the wind picking up and carrying with it the biting sting of grit. The movement was slow due to me having to support her body. In the distance, I could see monstrous forms clashing—gigantic creatures locked in battle, their roars echoing across the wasteland. The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, a reminder of the perilous world I had been thrust into.

"We're almost there," the woman said, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. "There's a cave up ahead. We can take refuge there."

With a renewed sense of urgency, we pressed on, finally reaching the mouth of the cave by nightfall. We'd been walking for two or three hours without my realisation. The moment we stepped inside, the noise of the storm outside was muffled, and the oppressive heat gave way to a cooler, more bearable atmosphere. The woman collapsed against the cave wall, breathing heavily.

"Thank you," she said, wincing as she adjusted her position to alleviate the pain from her injuries. For the first time I managed to look for the at the woman. She had red cascading hair that fell to her boozum and red bewitching eyes that blazed with a strong energy. Her skin soft , yet tanned under the harsh gaze of the sun. A real beauty. "You are probably wondering who I a. I'm Aria, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Aria," I replied, still feeling the oddness of my situation. "I'm…well, I'm not sure where I am right now."

Aria looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion before letting around a hearty laugh. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No, I'm not," I admitted, deciding to withhold the full truth for now. "I don't even know where here is."

"I can't imagine anyone on Tindor who hasn't heard of the Wastelands," Aria explained, her tone softening slightly as she shuckled. "A place where only the strong survive. Where death is a companion eternily by your side. You're lucky you found me otherwise you'd be dead, but luck won't keep you alive for long out here."

'But wait aren't you the one on the verge of death'

I sat down across from her, trying to process everything. From her confidence bout it seemed that she was viewed herself as very strong, so what on earth caused her to become in this condition. "What happened to you? How did you end up injured like this?"

Aria's eyes darkened as she recalled her ordeal. "Let's just say that I was ambushed by a group of bandits. Some very strong bandits. They were after something I had, something important. I managed to fight them off, kill a few and got some running but not without getting hurt."

Her words confirmed my earlier impression—Aria was strong, stronger than anyone I had ever encountered. But she was hiding the full story, Clearly not everything was being said. However, now she was vulnerable, and it seemed that I was her only ally in this hostile environment.

"We should rest," she said, closing her eyes. "The storm will pass by morning. Then we can figure out our next move."

"Are you not afraid that I'd attack you and steal this important item?". It was a genuine question, for someone on the verge of the end surely she'd be more cautious. 

She quickly looked at me as if I'd asked an incredibly stupid question then she drifted off to sleep.

'Aren't you injured? Won't you bleed out? This woman is so confusing!'

I took a moment to slowly examine my surroundings. The cave was small but provided adequate shelter. Outside, the sounds of the monstrous battle continued, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking in the Wastelands.

I lay down, exhaustion finally catching up with me. Despite the strangeness of my situation, I felt a flicker of hope. Aria's presence, her strength, gave me a sense of purpose. Maybe this second chance at life was an opportunity to do something meaningful. To become someone who mattered.

Morning came, and the storm had passed, leaving the Wastelands eerily silent. Aria had already started lightly stretching her body before pointing out of the cave.The landscape around us looking almost serene in the early light. The giant monsters from the evening and night before were nowhere to be seen.

"Do you know where I should go?" I asked, hoping Aria had some sense of direction in this vast, desolate land.

"There's a settlement not too far from here," she replied, her voice still weak but filled with determination. "You could find help there. And maybe some answers. But they'll most probably kill you."

"Kill me!" My body instinctively shuddered at the thought of another death. I had just come back to life—or so I assumed—and the idea of being killed again was terrifying. "Why would they kill me?"

Aria's gaze softened slightly, as if looking at an innocent puppy. "The people in the settlement are wary of strangers. They've had to be, given the dangers of the Wastelands. Trust is hard to come by, and they may see you as a threat."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" I asked, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. "I can't just wander the Wastelands alone."

Aria considered this for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I have a proposition for you," she said slowly. "I'm badly injured you see, and I can't even move about. I need a specific kind of sustenance to heal properly. Your blood, specifically."

"My blood?" I echoed, taken aback. "Why my blood?"

"It's complicated," she replied. "Let's just say that certain abilities and strength I possess come from a rare condition that requires me to consume the blood of those with potential. I can sense it in you. In exchange, I'll train you. You'll need to become stronger if you're going to survive here."

I hesitated, the idea of giving my blood to someone—even someone as seemingly powerful as Aria—was unsettling. "Are you a vampire, perhaps?"

Her eyes shirked a little, a fleeting shadow of something deeper. "Something like that," she said.

My unease grew. "What exactly do you mean by 'something like that'? Are you going to turn me into one of you?"

Aria shook her head, her gaze steady. "No, it's not like that. I need your blood to heal, to regain my strength. You won't become like me. It's just...a necessity." Her eyes darted quickly around the room, for a so called strong warrior she wasn't very self aware at times.

I stared at her, the internal conflict evident on my face. The logical part of me understood that without her guidance, I wouldn't survive in this harsh land. But the idea of her feeding on my blood was disturbing, to say the least.

Seeing my hesitation, Aria softened her approach. "I understand your fear. This isn't easy for me either. But this is the reality of the Wastelands. We must do whatever it takes to survive. And if you let me, I promise I will teach you everything I know. You will become stronger, capable of facing whatever comes your way."

I took a deep breath, weighing my options. Trusting her felt like a gamble, but it was one I had to take. "Alright," I finally said. "Just... be quick about it."

Aria nodded, her expression grateful but still focused. She gently took my wrist, her touch surprisingly soft. "This will sting a little," she warned.