We are picking a few berries
"I didn't know berries grew in these lands!"
"Well, it seems you need to leave the house a little more" He says
"I hate this sand"
"Why?"
"Because it's hard to walk on them, and let's not talk about the fact that it's everywhere!"
My older brother Niv is blind, so I have to be his eyes. Well, he can use hands and ears. They became way more sensitive since he lost his eyes
"Niv, how does life look from your perspective?"
"Uhh.. Black I guess? Well if you mean how good it is, I'd say I am happy I lost my eyes"
"You're happy?"
"Yes. In the end, I lost my eyes, but in return, god gave me the strength to protect the ones I love. If I had my eyes, I wouldn't have this strength"
"Wow. You're like an old man when you talk like this"
"Depends what 'old man' is for you, because I am thirty, a lot of people already consider me old"
"No, you look really young and handsome for your age"
"Thanks Sakura"
"Why are you talking like I am a kid! I am turning fifteen this month!"
"Woah, you're already this old?"
"I am not 'old'!"
"But you just said you didn't want to be treated as a kid"
"Come on, you get what I mean, right? A messenger from god would, right?"
"No, only god knows people's intentions"
"Oh, I didn't know that"
"Anyway, this sun is going to hurt you if we don't head back"
After we picked some berries and logs, we headed back to our home
My brother held the logs of course, he's a strong man
We reached our home, and a lot of people welcomed us
"I am happy your safely back" An old woman says with a huge smile on her face
"Give me the berries" A young woman requests. I gave her the berries, and my brother left the logs for them to use them as fuel for fire, but at this time, the glowing ball in the sky is enough of heat
We headed to the old man's place, no not my brother Niv
"Niv, what is that big thing in the sky?"
"The sun"
"Sun?"
"Yeah, it's the reason why we can see, and it keeps us warm"
"We can see because of the sun?"
"Yes"
"Oh. That's really cool"
"It's also the reason I can't see. Since it's always dark for me"
"Wow! Can I thank the sun?"
"No, thank god who created the sun"
"God created such a useful thing just for us?"
"Yes"
Thank god we have a sun, even though it's really hot
We reached the place where the old man prays
"Hey old man" Niv says
"Good after noon, servant"
"I am not a servant"
"No, you are a servant of God. Now how was the scavenging?"
"We found a few houses with logs, we were able to ask the people there to give us some. They were kind enough to give us a few logs"
"Good, even great, did you use the idea I gave you?"
"Yes I did, and it worked way better than I thought, though, they were kind of scared"
"Of course they would, humans are scared of the unknown"
"I guess you're right"
"Niv. Can I borrow Sakura for a while?"
"Of course, take your time"
"Are you sure it's just for a while, old man?" I say to him, because he always says it's for a 'while' but it takes hours
"Yes I am sure"
And just like that, I was the old man's thing for a 'while'
And yes, he lied, it wasn't for a 'while' it was the whole day! How can someone be like this?
Today is the next day, and Niv asked me for help
"What are we doing today?" I ask Niv
"We're getting some meat"
"Meat?"
"Yes, we can't live on berries alone"
"Oh, yeah, I forgot"
"I heard a horse a few moments ago"
"That's why you called me?"
"Yes"
"Are horses big?"
"Really big"
We headed where Niv heard the horses, and while we were walking, I told him about last night, "Niv!"
"Yes?"
"The old man took a really long time last night!"
"What can we do?"
"Nothing I guess"
"Yeah"
"But I prefer to be with you!"
"Don't worry your time will come. Patience is key"
"Augh, I hate waiting~"
He ignored my attempt at nagging. What a cruel older brother he is
We saw a laying horse on the ground, well, I think this is a horse, according to Niv
"Is this a horse?"
"How does it look?"
"It's really big, it looks brown with a long face"
"That's probably a horse"
"They look really beautiful!"
"I wish I could see them"
"Didn't you say yesterday you were happy that you lost your eyes?"
"I guess I really appreciate them after all"
We got closer to the horse, and he asked me something, "Okay. Sakura, do you see any pimples or scratches on his body?"
I got closer, but I didn't touch it
"No, it doesn't seem like there are any"
"Good. Now look at its mouth, do you see any scratches?" He says as he gave me some gloves to protect my hands
I opened the horse's mouth and inspected it
"No, there are no scratches on his gums nor tongue"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I think"
"Hey, Angela is gone, now you have to do her job. People's lives are on your shoulders, I want you to be sure"
"Now you made me scared!"
I looked again to make sure there is nothing that might harm us
"I am sure there isn't anything"
"Okay. Take the knife" He says as he hands me a knife
I cut the horse's stomach, and a lot of blood start to come out
"Hey Niv"
"Yes?"
"Why can't we drink the blood?"
"Because a lot of people die when they do so"
"So it's dangerous?"
"If it gets on you"
After he said that, I realized the blood got all over my shoes, "Ah! The blood is on my shoes! Am I going to die?!"
"No don't worry, as long as it didn't touch your skin"
Phew, what a relief
As we waited till all the blood came out, I decided to ask Niv a question, "Why can't we just eat the meat?"
"The same reason as the blood"
"But we can eat it after cooking it?"
"Yes, because all the bad things are gone after cooking it on hot fire"
"Is that why bad people go to Hell?!"
"Yes"
After the blood stopped pouring, Niv cut some meat, and we headed back to our home
As we were walking, Niv asked me something, "Hey Sakura"
"Yes?"
"Does blood come out of you without you getting injured?"
"Yes it happened before, but Judy gave me some fabric to clean it"
"Oh, okay"
"Also, you shouldn't be asking girls about their private parts!!"
"S-sorry, I was a little concerned"
"You are a little too protective"
"Sorry, I just really care about you"
"I know you do, dummy"
We continued walking, and we reached our home
Around three people came out to help carry the meat, and I headed to my room
I changed clothes, and went back to that old man
Yes, he 'borrowed' me again for a 'while'
And yes, it was for the whole day. Again
I woke up early, and headed to Niv's room. It was locked, probably because he was praying. He's so dedicated, he spends hours praying. I think I should learn from him
He came out after a few hours, but I already ate my breakfast
"Hey, Sakura. You woke up early?"
"Yeah, my body hurts!"
"Oh, I guess we can't help it"
"Yeah, don't worry, I can handle it"
"Good girl" He says as he pats me on the head
"Didn't I tell you not to treat me like a kid?!"
He ignores what I said, and just giggles
"I heard from Joe that there were some zombies nearby, so I will spend the whole day looking around" Niv says
"Can I tag along?"
"Okay, but just promise me to stay behind me. I can't afford you turning into one"
"Yes sir!"
And just like that, we became companions in hunting zombies
We headed outside to get some zombies. Even though it's still morning
We started walking around the house
"Niv. Do zombies come in the morning?"
"Yes"
"Niv"
"Yes?"
"Is it fun to kill zombies?"
"Depends"
"On what?"
"Why am I killing them"
"What do you mean?"
"If I am doing it to protect someone, then yes"
"Oh"
We kept walking in silence for a while, and then I asked him another question
"Niv"
"Yes?"
"Why don't you shave your beard?"
"Because I can't risk any cuts. One small cut, and it's like I am inviting death"
"Oh"
"Is your hair long?"
"I think it's considered long"
He puts his hands on my head, and moves his hand till the end on my hair
"Wow. That's long"
"It just goes to my knees. I don't think it's that long"
"Do you want to cut it down?"
"I don't know if I'd look good though. Do you like shorter hairs or longer ones?"
"Personally, I prefer shorter ones"
"Okay then. I will cut it down!"
"But what about other people's opinions?"
"Augh. You mean the old man don't you?"
"Yeah, he's one of them"
"I don't know. I think he likes playing with my hair"
We walked a little further from our house, but I don't think Niv noticed, since I am supposed to tell him. I was talking to him, so I didn't notice
"Uhh.. Niv" I whisper
"What's wrong?"
"There is a zombie nearby"
"Stay behind me"
I do as he says and I stay away
Niv pulls out a knife from his pocket, and asks me to do something, "Sakura. Let him notice me"
I did as he said, and talked out loud. The zombie noticed Niv, and started to run towards him mindlessly
Mindlessly?
Because he ran, Niv was able to make out where he was and stabbed him in the heart, then, he used his hands to punch him twice. The punches were too strong for the zombie, and his head fell from its shoulders
"Is it dead?" Niv asks
"Y-Yes"
"Are there any houses nearby?"
I look around, and yes, there is a small house nearby
"Yes there is"
"Let's go there"
We started walking, and I decided to ask Niv, "Why are we going to the house?"
"Because it's most likely it belonged to that zombie"
"Ohh. I didn't think of that"
"Yeah. We might find something"
We got closer to the front door, and my brother decided to knock
..
..
..
No one responded. Thus, we opened the door
There was only one bed on the corner, and a table next to it
There doesn't seem to be any food, but I noticed some small clothes on the bed
"I don't see any food" I say
"Then, lets take the wood"
"What wood?"
"The one that the house is made of"
Even though he said 'lets' He is the one who did all the job, and I only guided him back
It took us a while to bring all the woods, and by the time we finished, it was already noon
I was already too tired, so I decided to take a nap, but before that, I told Niv something, "Hey Niv"
"Yes?"
"Can I stay with you for the night?"
"Why?"
"I don't want to stay with the old man, I don't like it with him"
"Sigh. Okay ,you're staying with me tonight"
"You're the best!"
He puts his hand on my head, and it's calming
And then it hits me
"Hey! Didn't I tell you not to treat me like a kid!"