~*Mitch*~

"Me," a woman's voice echoes through the room. Her accent was foreign, but, at the same time, it felt familiar. Like I've heard her voice my entire life, and never realized it was there. Have I?

"Who are you?" Jerome's voice was confused. "How did you get there?"

The woman laughs softly. "You ask too many questions, child. One question at a time please. English is not my first language." Her voice stopped echoing as she responded to his question.

"I'm the 'child?' You look like you're fourteen!" Jerome's voice clearly sounded offended.

"I've been on this planet for 329 years. You're a mere infant in my eyes." The woman laughs again, and my eyes widen with shock. 329 years?

"How is that even possible? The average city dweller-"

The woman interrupts Jerome, and even finishes his sentence for him, "Lives for 90 years, and the average wasteland born lives for an average of 60 years. Which is strange because the majority of wasteland born people, like Benja, have ancestors that lived healthily until 150 years of age, but that's besides the point.
"I first came to this planet when I was nineteen. My twin brother was murdered, one of my good friends had gone missing many months prior to me coming here, and my best friend nearly died when we crash landed on this heap of rock you call a planet. Three years passed, and I was killed by the same woman who killed my brother. Now, 326 years later, here I am! Does that answer your question?" She's not from this planet? She's an alien-ghost-thing.

"You're a ghost?" Jerome's shocked question makes her laugh again.

"How do you know my name?" I finally speak up, looking around Jerome to see whom he was talking to. A woman was sitting cross legged on a rock near the center of the room. She her blue eyes seemed to glow, and her curly dark hair was blowing in some non-existent wind. Ghosts are weird.

"I've known you and your family for a very long time," the woman says with a smile. "But I'll explain that another day. Right now I need you to listen to me." She knows my family?

"Why should we listen to someone who's been dead for 300 years?" Jerome states, crossing his arms.

"Because I've been dead for 300 years," the woman responds with a raised eyebrow. "And I know my way around this planet. Now, about the mater Sniper was speaking of. The longer you stay in this wasteland, you increase the chances of you, and your friends, dying at an early age. The people of the city, and many wasteland born are set out to kill you all, and the safest option for you is to leave through the mountains."

"How can Benja climb a mountain in his state? He can barely stand as it is!" Jerome motions to me.

"The two of you will figure out a way," the woman says with a smile. "I'll also be there to help if things get too out of hand."

"So you're going to haunt us. Great! That's just what I needed in my life!" Jerome throws his hands into the air in frustration.

"I don't haunt people," the woman's voice goes dark. "I protect them. I have been protecting people for as long as my spirit has been alive."

"If you're going to protect us, can you tell us your name?" I ask curiously.

"My name is difficult to say in English, but you can call me Juniper." The woman smiles at me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So let me get this straight," Star states after Jerome and I explain our situation to him. "We all have to leave the wasteland because a ghost told you that it's not safe?"

"I know it doesn't sound logical, but Star-"

Star interrupts me. "Benja, answer this question for me. When has the wasteland ever not been dangerous?"

"Before the war." I cross my arms. "I really need you to listen to me, Star. Would you want to risk Craft dying out here because you were too oblivious to the fact that everyone on this side of the mountain wants us dead?"

"He'll die if he goes and climbs that mountain!" Star snaps at me. "And have you even thought about yourself? You are going to die out there too!"

"I've survived with worse wounds than this, Star."

"Yes, but you weren't going to go climb a mountain, Benja! I don't know how much you know about mountains, but they have a habit of being really hard to climb when you're injured."

"I know that."

"Then why are you going on this idiotic quest?"

"Because I don't want to live out my last days hiding away in a building, waiting for death to knock at the door and shoot me between the eyes!" I glare at Star. "You do realize that's going to happen to us if we stay here, right? If we stay here, our names will be spat into the dirt as the five wastelanders who were killed by a bunch of city brats! I don't think that's how Craft wants to be remembered, and it's definitely not how I'm going to be remembered in this world." Star glares back at me before looking away and letting out a frustrated sigh. You have to listen to me Star.

"I'm going." Craft's voice takes me by surprise.

"What? No you're not!" Star turns around quickly to yell at Craft.

"Yes I am." Craft pushes himself up into a seated position.

"You're not going, Lachlan." Star's voice was deathly serious. Craft's name is Lachlan?

"I'd like to see you make me stay here, Vik," Craft snaps back at him. When did they learn each other's names?

An awkward silence fills the air before "Vik" lets out a huff of defeat. "Fine. You win. You can go on the trip, but only if you listen to me from now on. Got that?"

"Thank you for understanding, Star," I say with a smile before turning around to leave.

"Now wait a second, Benja," Star's voice makes me pause mid-step. "You know our names now, so it's only fair that we know yours." I huff and bite my lip. Why did I know this was going to happen?

"My name?"

"Yes. Your name."

"His name is, Mitch," Jerome's voice seems to come out of nowhere. "And mine is Jerome." An arm wraps around my shoulders, and I can immediately tell it wasn't one of Jerome's. It's one of Woofless'.

"We're sharing all of our names now?" Frags says excitedly, "Didn't think our friendship was at that level, but I guess it is now. My name is Preston."

"Mitch, Jerome, Vik, Lachlan, and Preston," Woofless says all the names with a dark tone of voice. "Pretty nice names if I do say so myself. All of them are better than mine."

"Which is?" "Preston" raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms.

"Rob," Woofless mutters before moving away from me. I look around at everyone around me, and I can't help but think about the near future. The six of us are going to travel over basically uncharted territory before climbing over a mountain range that could honestly kill us. But as I think ahead, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement. It's going to be one hell of an adventure.

"So. Who's ready for an adventure of a lifetime?"
__________________
The 1,234th word in this final chapter was adventure.

You're welcome.

Oh! Here's a picture of my dog Lilly, the love of my life! (And my leg):

Anyways,

:)

Much Luv,
Mickey-Kenzie

Above is a rare glimpse of a wild Mickey-Kenzie in her natural habitat.

(2018: OOF! Baby Mickey before her long needed haircut!)