The pain seared through Matt’s body. Cut and bruises, some superficial, but others would need attention from someone with medical qualifications. Despite attending a first aid seminar a few months ago, he didn’t trust his memory nor his lack of practice for anything other than a bandage. Even for that, he would need something to patch himself up. He remembered enough to know that dirty rags would only make it worse, making the dirt and whatever substance the Corrupted were made of seep into his wounds.

While the physical pain was enough to make him wince whenever he put too much weight on his leg or made any movement with his core, it was nothing compared to the psychological impact that Amy’s departure had on him. He thought he had a partner in her and, in a strange way, she gave him purpose. He hated being on his own, living for himself, and the thought of wandering the Islands alone gave him a hollow sensation in his chest. It was almost enough to make him collapse.

He forced himself to keep walking and to ignore the intrusive thoughts that plagued his subconscious. Everyone had lost loved ones in recent days and, thus, like anybody else, he would have to push through.

“Focus on survival,” he whispered to himself repeatedly. He had been granted a gift, supernatural powers that only existed in science-fiction. While anything was possible since the apparition of the Corrupted, he believed, it would be a shame to waste his abilities by giving in to despair.

His first step would be to go back to a safe place and mend his wounds. While he wasn’t excited to see King Lebel and his two sons again, especially after Amy had alienated them, it was the closest inhabited settlement. He had not made enough of a bad impression so they would leave him to die… or so he hoped.

Matt looked ahead and glanced at the wooden fortress that had been erected a mere two weeks ago. While it should have done little in the way of keeping the creatures of darkness out, the Corrupted seemed to keep away, almost as if they respected the concept of a walled bastion, as if to say “we’ll let you rest in your new home. We’ll wait until you’re out looking for supplies before we get you.”

He chased the thoughts from his mind and sighed. So far, they had little evidence that the monsters were nothing but mindless monsters. And now, he had to deal with another type of monster: people.

A trio of lightly armed guards stood between him and the large double gate. Where they were once relaxed, they stood up from their bar stools and got ready to intercept him. Two of them he knew: Tommy and Raphael, both his age or only slightly older. They had gone to school together a few years back, and he despised them both, the feeling being mutual. Raphael, a tall and large guy, naturally built like a truck. He didn’t need to workout to get his shape, being all part of his DNA. Matt, being of smaller size, remembered being bullied by him more often than he would have liked because of it. Tommy, on the other hand, was average in terms of build but was considered to be attractive by the girls back then. A perfectly symmetrical face, blonde hair, blue eyes, and an unassuming piercing on his left ear, he hung out with the “popular kids”, whom Matt had nothing in common with. He considered all of them jerks, and the apocalypse didn’t make their attitude change much, at least towards him.

“Well well, look who’s back!” said Raphael with a grin. “Can’t say that I didn’t expect it.”

“A displeasure to see you both as always,” retorted Matt.

“Where’s your girlfriend? Did you lose her along the way?”

The question stung.

“She… she’s gone.”

“Wow. Great job, man,” mocked Raphael, with a hint of anger.

“You’re so incompetent it’s painful. You should have listened to everyone telling you not to leave. You just had to play hero for her, didn’t you?” added Tommy.

Their taunts were getting to him, but they had no idea what they were talking about. It was who they were, Matt tried to tell himself, ingrained into them to lack any sense of empathy in the name of so-called manliness and, of course, strength. Yet, they were unaware of what strength he and Amy had found. Their worldview was so narrow, and in his perspective, too many people thought the same way - it was a widespread disease which he hoped he could change someday.

“She’s still alive. She just had to go somewhere. With someone else. Don’t feel like explaining.”

Raphael chuckled. “So, she’s not dead, she just couldn’t stand to be around you any longer? Wow, that’s a relief.”

The two men laughed, while the third one stayed out of it, focused on a novel. Being short on patience and exhausted as he was, Matt had a strong desire to use his new abilities to punch them both and be gone before they could react. But then, his chances of being accepted in the community would very likely diminish by a great amount.

“Look, are you two done? Can I come in, or…”

“Or do I have to shift past you two goons,” he thought.

Tommy knocked twice on the large wooden gate. Matt could hear the large beam locking it being removed, and the way opened for him. Without adding another word, the young man moved in, not looking back, but still hearing the whispers of the two guards. He knew they were talking about him still, but he could not afford to care any longer.