The doors closed behind Faethe with a loud bang, echoing around her as if she was deep within a cave. The very sound was like thunder reverberating within her ears, rumbling and rolling through her entire body. Even so, she glanced over her right shoulder to make certain the gate was fully shut before turning back and taking her first strides out into the smoldering wasteland that lay out before her. 

Overwhelming heat rose from below Faethe's feet, the ash blackening the ground holding onto any warmth that remained from The Fall. The silence that now surrounded her as she carefully took each step was palpable, reminding her of just how alone she was outside the safety of the Walled City. However, it was also when Faethe felt the most at peace. She didn't have anyone trying to get into her business or forcing her into being social with those she wanted to avoid. It was also her way of looking around and searching for her next home, knowing eventually she would have to leave when all those she knew would begin aging around her and she remained as she did. 

As Faethe's sunlit blue gaze drifted around her burnt and decimated surroundings, she couldn't help but really notice that silence that she sought after. It was strange, something that made her feel uncomfortable and off rather than being at peace like she normally was. The outer wastelands weren't usually so quiet, they were usually crawling with mutated predators and what remained of the Scorched -people that had been mutated by The Fall.- It was putting Faethe on edge, making her extremely nervous to be out there alone all of a sudden. At the same time, a strange calm was washing over Faethe knowing she had a bit of protection in the form of her curse, something she was never very proud of. 

Not wanting to get stuck inside her head while out in The Wastelands, Faethe shook any thoughts about her curse of immortality from her mind. She couldn't let the guilt of being unable to die like everyone else cloud her attention in any way, shape or form. She needed every ounce of her attention on her surroundings, not wanting to get surprise attacked by anything or anyone while searching the nearby buildings that may still be standing. 

Gathering herself and putting her focus back on her task at hand, Faethe started back on her path through The Wastelands towards the blackened buildings that poked out of the ground like dark spires in the distance. She figured if she were going to find anything, she would find it by traveling further out to the areas where no one dared to traverse. 

Faethe prayed she could find something useful to bring back to the walled city. 

**** **** **** ****

Time had been lost to Faethe long ago, the overbearing heat making any trek or activities within The Wastelands seem far longer than they really were. Moisture had begun to form on Faethe's brow, sweat dripping down the sides of her face as she finally managed to reach the destination of one of the buildings that was miraculously still standing to some degree. 

A few rusted cars sat in her way, barricading her advance towards her destination. The black ash on the ground covered in a multitude of footprints, some older than others. It was difficult to really tell how long ago any of them were made, especially since the lack of rain or wintery weather wasn't there to wash away the older footprints like it would before The Fall. Though, the footprints that did litter the ground around her looked fresher than those closer to the Walled City. That alone raised Faethe's awareness of her surroundings, reminding her that she wasn't alone out there and she needed to keep an extra eye on the land around her. 

Faethe deviated from her straight path, climbing over the rusted cars and making her way towards the buildings that had obviously seen far better days than what their current state proved. 

The entire front side appeared blown out, its top half snapped and toppled over onto anything that may have been resting behind it. The stone it was made of was completely blackened, the initial flaming blast from The Fall's beginning torching anything that had rested within its blazing path. Anything that may have been inside was incinerated, turned to nothing but blackened ash for all to look upon. If anything had managed to survive The Fall, it would be an absolute miracle. Anything that remained, Faethe needed to snag before the Scorched had a chance to claim it. 

Faethe's sunlit blue eyes drifted up and down the dilapidated building, taking in the outer structure to make sure it was structurally sound. She wanted to make certain it wasn't going to topple down on top of her. It was the last thing that she needed, parts of the building that still managed to stand toppling down on her head. Getting stuck inside and under a building for all eternity was not a pleasant thought and one she wished she had never thought of in the first place. Who knew if anyone would actually come searching for her if she didn't return to the Walled City. 

On second thought, Callen might come searching for her. However, she didn't need that happening either. She didn't need that man to risk his life for her when he was needed at the city to protect those still living within the walls. 

Shaking her head rapidly, Faethe forced the thoughts of Callen from her mind. At the same time, she stepped into the ruined building, startling slightly as her foot sank into a rather deep pile of dark soot. Faethe's heart stopped for a beat while her bright blue eyes shot down to where her foot now rested, buried ankle deep in the ground. Who knew what was buried beneath the ashes, the creatures that used it to their advantage to hide and snag their prey at the last minute. 

Faethe's only relief came as she slowly breathed out a breath, pulling her now blackened boot free from its ashen prison. She could only imagine what would have happened if she had gotten her foot stuck within a Predator hole. 

Continuing inside, Faethe brushed a strand of her silver hair out of her face. A couple of hairs having fallen free from the ponytail her hair was tied up in, now dampened by the building sweat the heated air swirled around her. Shadowy soot rested upon her skin like a dusty blanket, ash having been kicked around with each careful step she managed to take. Her gaze drifted around the room she had entered, keeping a careful eye out for anything or anyone that may have been nearby. 

Faethe stopped in the center of the room, probably a lobby at one point in time, and leaned down to brush some of the thicker ash away from the ground. Her fingers barely brushed the top layer when her entire body shot up straight, eyes flying off towards the gaping entrance hole she had just come through not moments before. The sound of high pitched screaming and unnervingly loud growling resonated from somewhere in the distance. It sounded so close, yet at the same time, it sounded so far away. 

For that split second, Faethe was frozen in place, unable to get herself to move from where she was standing.  She felt as if she had been turned into a stone statue by the sudden fear that gripped her tightly. She hadn't been expecting to run into anything so soon, but she had to remember, she was out in The Wastelands and there were plenty of enemies that roamed the lands nearby. It wouldn't have been a surprise to find something roaming out there, but with both the screeching and the growls, it sounded like a combination of the Predators and the Scorched. 

Gunshots echoed in the distance, jolting Faethe out of her fear induced stupor. Her eyes were wild with panic, unable to discern just how close the shots being fired truly were to her. It was almost as if her hearing had been muffled underwater, making things sound further away in the distance than they probably were to her. 

Instinctively, Faethe slowly slid her hand down her right side and stopped only when it rested above the gun holster on her hip. However, that's exactly where it stopped and remained. Her hand grasped at air, nothing but emptiness welcomed her hand at the holster where her gun should have been. It forced her stomach to once again knot up and her sunlit blue gaze to drop down to the holster where her hand now hovered above it. The fear in her eyes lasted for only a moment before realization settled into her mind as to where her weapon could have disappeared to. 

Anger began to flare up within her like the raging fires of The Fall, her mind rushing to the conclusion as to where her weapon had vanished to. She was more than certain that one of the two soldiers messing with her before she left had snagged it while trying to feel her up. If she was correct in her thinking, she also knew the exact moment and which soldier it had been that took it as well. 

The very thought sent both a burst of rage and frustration through her entire being, her anger exploding like a bomb that had been waiting to go off. She was now essentially defenseless aside from the dagger strapped to her opposite leg. 

"Damnit!" 

Faethe practically yelled out into the open air of the building, forgetting that she wasn't alone out there. The full reality of the situation hit her like a subway train at full speed, bringing her back to the present and the fact she was still standing there thinking over everything that left her nearly defenseless in The Wastelands. 

As another round of ear splitting shots rang out in the distance, only this time closer, Faethe's body seemed to throw itself into a state of auto pilot. Her feet moved across the ashen ground, quickly carrying her through the dilapidated building she had planned on searching through just moments ago. Though, despite moving out of the open, there wasn't many spots that she could actually use to hide in. Everywhere she looked, there was always some part of the building that revealed the outer world of The Wastelands. If she wasn't careful, she knew she would be easily spotted and an easy target for anything that may have come her way. 

Resigning herself to the fact she was unable to find a good hiding spot for herself, Faethe ran around the corner from the large open lobby and pressed herself up against the closest wall she could find. She strained her ears to listen to her nearby surroundings, listening for anymore gunshots, anymore sounds of Predators or Scorch that may be roaming around the area thanks to the commotion outside the building. She was listening for anything that may be coming her way, not wanting to be caught off guard anymore than she already had been. 

With each crack of the gun, each explosive blast from the weapon being shot was being counted by Faethe. It was her attempt at narrowing down what type of weapon was being used and if it could potentially be a threat to herself if the user made their way to her hiding spot. Screams and growling mingled with each shot, the anger of whatever was out there overwhelming and shaking Faethe straight down to her core. She was attempting to stay strong and not let the fear take hold of her again, but her hands continued to tremble and her body ran cold as if she had been put on ice all of a sudden. 

Slowly reaching down to the sheathed dagger connected to her leg, Faethe freed the blade from the tattered leather it rested within. Her fingers wrapped around the handle tightly and brought it upwards, preparing to embed it into anything that may rush into her hiding spot. Even if it wasn't the best idea she's ever had, she hoped it would give her the chance she needed to actually escape from the open room she stood within. 

With her immortal heart crashing around in her chest, Faethe had nearly found the courage to attempt sneaking out and escaping the area. She thought if whatever was out there had been towards the front of the building she could sneak out the back somehow and make it to a more hidden location. However, that idea came to a screaming halt when she heard the sound of rushed footsteps shuffling and kicking up the nearby ash. It was so close, Faethe could have swore it was coming from the room on the other side of the wall, the lobby she had been in moments before. 

Whoever or whatever it was, it was heading straight for her hiding location. 

Faethe focused herself, working on calming her tensely anxiety ridden body. She had her blade poised in the air, ready to attack the intruder that had infiltrated the building she was hiding within. Even if it was a Predator or Scorch, she was hoping to do enough damage to make some form of an escape out the back. It was the only direct solution she could come up with on the fly, the only solution that might give her another day even if she really could care less what happened to her out there. She didn't care if a failed injury to a Predator could potentially lead to her being mauled or that a Scorch could infect her with a single scratch or bite. None of that mattered when you've lived for hundreds of years and were tired of what your curse had to offer you. 

Maybe it would give her the peace she's been praying for for some time now. 

As each brushing step in the ash grew closer, breathless grunts began to reach  her ears like someone forcing themselves to run through sand. Each footfall that slid against the ash piles had her heart beating faster despite it sounding very big like what she was hearing outside of the building. Though, that alone was an estimate based on what she could hear and the small bit of shadow beginning to peak around the edge of the wall. From what she could conclude by her quick assessment, it had to have been a Scorch. That alone gave her some hope of getting out of there, but it also meant there may not have been just one since those creatures tended to roam in packs. 

Without hesitation and not wanting to give that sense of hesitation to settle in any further, Faethe spun around the wall to face whatever was intruding on the building. She brought the dagger down as fast and as hard as she possibly could. Though, the moment it made contact she only hoped it was a killing blow so she could turn and run out of the building through any opening or breaks in the walls in the opposite direction. 

However, her defensive demeanor broke as her eyes locked with what should have been her enemy and victim. 

Faethe's sunlit blue orbs widened with absolute horror, the sensation washing over and causing her soot covered skin to pale at that which was in front of her. Panic overflowed within her like a tidal wave crashing upon the sandy beaches she once walked and played on as a child. 

She was realizing she had made a big mistake when she attacked.