Page 2 of The Cousins and the Brunette

“Anything?” Kay asked, her voice a soft.

“Maybe.”

I pried open one of the crates, its wood splintering under my grip. Inside were rotting vegetables, barely edible but still food. I grabbed what I could, stuffing them into my worn-out backpack.

The smell hit me like a punch to the gut, but I swallowed my disgust. Hunger is the best seasoning, as they say. And boy, were we hungry enough to make these sad veggies taste like a five-star meal.

“Why do you think the Elites never come down here?” Kay yanked at a loose thread on her top.

“Because they don’t have to. They live their lives in those towers and in their stuffy mansions, looking down on us like we’re nothing,” I said, my tone edged with bitterness.

Sometimes I wondered if the Elites even knew we existed. Or if they did, whether they saw us as anything more than ants scurrying about in their perfect world. The thought made my blood boil.

“Do you think it was always like this? The city, I mean. Was it always this way?”

I swallowed hard and sighed. “Once upon a time, New Boston was a place of hope. People came here for a better life. The streets were clean, the buildings shiny. But then corruption seeped in, like poison. The rich got richer, and the poor...well, we ended up here.”

It was hard to imagine this hellhole as anything but what it was now. The idea of clean streets and shiny buildings seemed as fantastical as unicorns and fairy godmothers.

“That’s so sad. I wish I could have seen it before…”

I stepped ahead, scanning the area for any other useful items. “Yeah. Me too. But that was over two hundred years ago.”

“Brynn, can we ever change it back? Make it better?”

“No. I mean, I doubt it. All we can do is make this life better for ourselves.”

Kay’s optimism was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I wanted to protect that spark in her, but I also knew the harsh realities of our world would eventually snuff it out. Just like it had done to mine.

We continued our search, moving deeper into the various alleys. My keen eye caught sight of a broken drone partially hidden under a pile of debris. With a quick glance around to ensure we were alone, I knelt to examine it.

“Is it worth anything?” Kay peered over my shoulder.

“Maybe.” I deftly extracted a few intact components. “These parts can fetch a good price. Could get us some real food.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me. We were scavenging for scraps while the Elites probably had drones delivering their gourmet meals. Bastards.

“You’re amazing, Brynn,” Kay said, her voice filled with awe.

Her admiration made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t amazing. I was just a survivor, doing whatever it took to keep us alive. There’s nothing glamorous about dumpster diving and dodging danger at every turn.

“Just doing what I have to. Come on, let’s keep moving.”

“Where next?” Kay’s steps were light and steady beside me.

“There’s an old warehouse a few blocks from here. Sometimes we get lucky there.” I picked up my pace, adjusting the strap of my backpack. And stay alert. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Got it,” Kay replied, her small hand tightening around mine.

We made our way through the desolate streets, and I kept glancing behind us. I’d heard whispers of resistance movements, underground networks that aimed to overthrow the Elites. Maybe there was a chance for us. A way out of this hellhole.

The thought of rebellion stirred something in me, a mix of hope and fear. Hope that things could change, fear of what that change might cost. But then again, what did we have left to lose?

“Brynn, are you okay?” Kay’s voice pulled me back to the present.

“Yeah, just thinking,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Let’s focus on finding something to eat first. Keep your eyes open like I taught you.” I reminded her.

My sister and I approached the warehouse. It loomed ahead like a forgotten relic, its windows shattered and doors hanging ajar. The building looked about as welcoming as a hungry lion’s den. But then again, in this city, even a lion’s den might offer better odds than what we faced daily.

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