[88] Ground rules

The moment the truck's doors slid open, the cold air of the early morning hit us. We were parked in the heart of a ghost city, the remnants of its former vibrancy now replaced with an eerie silence that clung to the ruins like an ominous shroud. A sea of desolation stretched out before us, the cityscape a chilling picture of the world we once knew.

Cody's crew busied themselves with the unloading process, their movement a stark contrast to the stillness around us. Each one was handed a firearm, their fingers tracing the cool metal with practiced ease. I watched as Kaya was passed a new hunting rifle, her fingers brushing over it with an experienced touch. Cassidy got her hands on two new pistols, their matte black surface catching the dim light that filtered through the overcast sky. I received an AR-15, its weight familiar and reassuring in my hands.

"All right, same old rules apply," Cody announced, his voice bouncing off the hollowed-out buildings around us. His eyes, reflecting the cold light of dawn, swept over the group, ensuring he had our full attention. "We got eight hours. In that time, we grab everything valuable we can find and load it onto the trucks."

As he paused, a gust of wind swept through the area, kicking up dust and debris in its wake. Cody squinted against the wind, waiting for it to die down before continuing, "And remember, there's no room for selfishness here. No stashing goods for personal use. There's gonna be a body search at the end of this. Don't test me."

A murmur of understanding swept through the group. The rules, while strict, were necessary. In this broken world, trust was a luxury we couldn't afford. Survival was a collective effort. Any personal agenda could put all of us in danger.

Cody's gaze finally landed on us. "Alright, folks. Time to make some money!" The declaration rang out, echoing through the desolate city, stirring the dormant resolve within each of us.

"Hell yeah!" Cassidy raised her gun in the air, several others also responded to the rally cry, I raised my gun as well, but didn't let out a cry. Kaya just held onto her gun the whole time. After everyone dispersed, I turned to Kaya and Cassidy and said:

"See that?" I began, stretching my hand out and pointing towards the imposing structure that stood at a distance. Amidst the desolate cityscape, the Core shopping mall looked like a giant beast, its shattered windows reflecting the early morning light, like eyes glowing in the dark.

The mall, once a hub of activity, a symbol of consumerism and luxury, was now an eerie monument to a world that had once been. Despite its dilapidated state, it was impossible to ignore its looming presence. If anything of value was left in this city, the chances were it would be there.

Kaya and Cassidy followed my gaze, their eyes narrowing as they studied the building. We were silent for a few moments, the magnitude of what we were about to undertake settling in.

"Let's go for the big one," I finally said, breaking the silence. The statement held a note of determination, an unspoken pact of unity among us. It was more than just an announcement of our chosen destination; it was a commitment to our collective survival.

Cassidy, ever the fighter, gave a slight nod of her head, her lips pulled into a thin line. "A good place to start. If we're lucky, there should still be electronics, clothes... hell, maybe even some food left." Her words were pragmatic, focused on the practical aspects of the task ahead.

Kaya, on the other hand, seemed thoughtful, her gaze still fixed on the mall. After a moment, she said, "It's risky. It's big, it's obvious. But the payoff..." She let the sentence trail off, leaving the potential rewards to our imagination.

There was a pause as the three of us absorbed Kaya's words. She was right. The Core was a risk, but a necessary one. If we were going to survive, we needed resources, and this place could be our best shot at securing them.

"Alright," Cassidy finally broke the silence, clapping her hands together with a determined look on her face. "Let's gear up, then. The sooner we start, the sooner we're out of this ghost city."

Q: Where would you scavenge first in a ruined city?