Danger Days; the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.

I wiped the mint green hair out of my sweaty face as I walked down the crumbled California road, the sun beaming down on me, and the rest of the world. It was 2019, the big ball of light finally burning through the O-zone layer seven years ago. The only green I’ve seen since was my hair, reminding me of what used to grow all of the Earth. Then everybody started dying. That is, until Better Lives came along. I know two things about Better Lives. One, they’re the biggest industry in the country. Two, I’m supposed to be running from them. I’m never supposed to let them catch me. That was the last thing my mom had told me before she was taken, and I haven’t seen her since. I’m twenty now, and I haven’t seen another soul in those seven years.

It was starting to get dark, and I needed to get into a secluded area. I looked to see mountains in the far distance, they’d have to suffice. I started heading in that direction, not liking that I was so far from the road. There were still some people with cars who managed to get from town to town, something that took me weeks, nearly. That’s what I was doing now, I was trying to get to Battery City.

The heat beamed down on me, causing me to squint through my old and over-used glasses. It seemed as though the mountains didn’t want to get closer to me, like I had been contagious. I sighed as I pulled the canister of water out of my satchel, thinking that now would be a good time for just one sip. Just one. I barely came across any water that didn’t look contaminated, and if it looked contaminated, there was a likely chance that it was. I took a swig of my water, my extremely dry mouth going down to really dry. I put the canister back in my bag, happy to see that I was finally walking up to the mountains, deciding to head up a few stories before I found a place that I seemed fit to sleep safely.

I heard a faint sound, looking back to the road, and watched as a car drove by, “Just your luck, Sunshine,” I said to myself. I didn’t let the nerves eat at me. I was trying to survive until the world was better again. Until it was how I had remembered it when I was a little girl. I threw my bag down, pulling the only book I had out. ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ was the name of the book. I could tell you each and every word, since I’ve read it about a hundred times, if not more. It’s the only book I’ve ever had since I was on the run. I traced the words as I read them, and I read them until the sun went down. I packed up my book, and leaned against my backpack, watching the stars. I had learned to make my own fun all of this time, but tonight, I was just going to relax.

I turned to my side, rolling up the sleeve to one of my arms, where a tattoo had been marked into my skin. It had been there as long as I could remember. It was a circle with a line under it. I never knew what it meant, so I made it out to be the sun. The sun over the land. “You’ll always be my Sunshine,” she repeated her mother’s words, then retrieved the small radio from her bag, in order to not crush it. She traced the graffiti with it before her eyes closed, and she drifted off into sleep.

<<^v^v^v^>>

I woke up early, the heat beckoning me. I realized I should get a move-on, and get back to the road quicker. I quickly packed up all of my things, willing myself to not drink my half full canister of water. I shouldered my bag, and headed down the small hill. As soon as I got to the bottom, I fell straight onto my face. I rolled over in pain, realizing I had never tied my shoes. I lay there for a few seconds before sitting up, and tied up my worn out combat boots, making sure my black jeans were tucked in nicely. I went through my bag quickly, making sure nothing had broke, and decided to leave the radio out. I’d know if I was getting close when I could pick up a station.

I zipped up the bag, once again shouldering it as I stood up, the radio in my hand. I made a diagonal route to the road, which would save my a few minutes or so. I got out my sunglasses, putting them over my eyes as I walked, happy the sun wasn’t fully out just yet. As I advanced towards the road, I decided to flip on the radio, a frown tugging at my lips as I only picked up static. I flipped through stations until I called it quits and turned it off again. I kept walking, and stopped at the sound of a motor running behind me. I turned around to see a gray Firebird Trans Am approaching, an American flag design along the front, and a silhouette of a spider on the hood.

The car stopped next to me, and I could see four figures in the car, all wearing helmets. I looked at them awkwardly and they stared back, “where are you going,” one asked, a yellow mask covering the top of his face.

“Battery City,” I informed them, and the one in the passenger seat and the two back seats looked at the guy, his red hair shining in the coming sun.

“Well lucky you,” he said, gesturing for me to get in, “come with us,” he said, and I nodded. The person in the passenger seat stepped out of the car, his yellow leather jacket noticeable, not going at all with his green and purple zombie mask. He pushed the seat forward, and I crawled in, sitting between two people with helmet; one of them being a gray space helmet, a yellow lightning streak on the right side of the black lens, which made most of the front of the helmet. The other helmet was a yellow motorcycle, which had white, pink, and blue painted on the top, and ‘GOOD LUCK’ written on the black front of it.

They both looked at me at the same time, and I quickly faced forward, kind of scared, “What’s your name,” the driver asked, and I hesitated before answering.

“Sunshine. Sunshine Fear,” I told him, and I could see him nodding. Well, I’m Party Poison,” he introduced himself before pointing to the person in the passenger seat, “This is Fun Ghoul, and you’re sitting between Jet Star and Kobra Kid,” I looked to either side of me, trying to see which one was which. Party seemed to notice this, so he piped up again, “The one with the words on his helmet is Kobra. Don’t get it wrong, though, he really doesn’t wish anybody good fortune,” he said in a joking tone, and I turned to look at Kobra, who shook his head.

I held in my laughter as I faced the front again, “so you guys were going to Battery City? I mean, I don’t want to get in your way,” I said, more than thankful for the lift the guys were giving me.

“You’re right,” Party said, stopping the car, “get out.” He stated bluntly, and I gulped. I grabbed my bag, waiting for Fun to get out so I could, until all of them started laughing, and the car continued, “we live there, don’t worry. If you don’t have a place to stay, you’re welcome to our place,” he offered.

“I..I don’t want to put-“ I started, but was cut off by Fun, who looked back at me, their voice muffled as they talked.

“You’re not fucking putting us out. That’s why we offered,” he said, causing me to shut up.

“So where are you from,” Party interrupted, and I cleared my throat.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly, “I don’t remember anything before my….I don’t remember,” I justified, not wanting to go into a rant about my past.

“Have you ever heard of Jersey?” he asked, and I nodded, “that’s where the four of us are from. We grew up together,” he informed me, and I smiled, wishing I remembered where I was from. I looked down at my hands, fidgeting with them, until I decided to put the radio back into my bag, checking for my other various items.

“Where are you families,” I asked, playing with the zipper.

“They’re all still there,” Party informed me, and I nodded in understanding. I had no clue where my mother was, or if she was alive even. I hope they knew how lucky they were.

“So why are you traveling alone,” Kobra asked, and I looked back down.

“It’s a long story,” I answered, “I don’t have friends to walk around with. I’ve been alone for 7 years,” I told them, hoping they didn’t think I was looking for sympathy.

“What is this ‘I have no friends’ nonsense?” Party asked, and I looked up at him, “You have four amazing friends. They’re all right here,” he smiled at me through the rear-view mirror, and I couldn’t help but smile back. I could see through the windshield that we were approaching a few building, some pretty tall. Fun looked back at me.

“Welcome to Battery City,” he said, turning back. I could only wonder what my new friends looked like, leaving me curious, but I was still cautious. Who knew if they could be cannibals or something along those sorts.

“Why did you guys leave the city, anyways,” I asked, and it was quiet for a second before Party answered.

“We were looking for something,” he said, obviously being careful with his words.

“Oh, like what,” I asked curious, a smile playing on my face, “maybe I’ve seen it,” I declared, and I could see his eyes on me.

“I doubt it. It would be a very, very hard thing to find, Shine,” he said, giving me a nickname, causing my smile to grow. We finally approached an old Diner, some of the letters of the huge sign missing. Everybody piled out of the car, including me, and it went back to the sun beaming down on me. I started feeling light headed, as often as I did, which Jet seemed to notice.

“Let’s get her inside,” he insisted, picking me up, Kobra picking my bag up, and carried me bridal style into the building, which I had been overly thankful for.

“You can place her on my bed. Looks like she needs some rest,” Party said, and he had been completely right. Jet carried me into a room, Kobra on his heels with my belongings. The walls of this room were covered in drawings, just like the desk had been. Clothes were strewn around the room, and the bed was just a mattress laid out on the ground with red sheets. Jet put me down on the bed, and I thanked him, and my bag was placed at the foot. The left, giving me smiles beforehand, and left me alone in the room. I turned over, looking at the picture taped to the wall. I started drifting off, knowing I needed it.

<<^v^v^v^>>

I woke up the sound to laughing, noticing that what little sun had been able to get through before wasn’t there. I slowly rolled off the mattress, and picking myself up. I quietly followed the sound of the laughter, peeking around the corner to see four boys. My friends. I didn’t know which one was which without the masks, except Party, because of his hair.

“yeah, and I like her green hair,” on with brown and curly hair going past his shoulders and an eyepatch said as he took a swig of something form a bottle.

“I think we should let her stay,” one that was seemingly shorter than the rest of the group said, “I mean, we can’t just let her go back out there. Especially not with the Exterminator looking harder for the Key. It’s dangerous,” he said, and I smiled. They wanted me to stay with them.

“I never planned on throwing her back out there,” Party said, “she looks like she’s close to death, anyways. I mean, who wants to travel out there,” he said, eating something out of a white can, a sign on it similar to the one on my forearm.

“So she stays,” another one said. He looked like Party, but had more of a slim face, and blonde hair that went in every direction.

“Yep,” Party said, “should we go tell her now, or let her sleep,” that’s when a bug decided to fly into my mouth, causing me to cough.

“Looks like she’s already awake,” the one with the curly hair stated, and I couldn’t defend myself. I was too busy dying.

“Shit, are you okay,” the short one with black hair came over to me, helping me to a seat. I just sat there like an idiot, trying to talk as I choked, my eyes watering up.

“Fuck, get her some water,” Party started panicking, and there was a bottle of water in front of my face. I took no time in grabbing it, drinking down as much as I could before I set the bottle down, gathering my breaths.

“Are you okay,” Party asked, brushing my hair out of my face.

“I don’t care what anybody says. Flies are deadly,” I said, earning a few laughs, though I wasn’t really making a joke. Somebody started rubbing their hand on my back in comfort as I gathered my breath.

“So I guess you heard that conversation,” Party said, and I nodded, “What do you say?”

“I don’t know,” I sat up, “Are you sure there’s enough room?” I asked, and Party snorted.

“If there wasn’t, we’d just kick Jet out,” he said.

“Hey,” the one with the brown hair yelled out, leading me to assume that he was Jet star.

“Oh, shush. All you ever do is walk around naked,” the one with the blonde hair retorted.

“Shut up, Kobra,” he said. So then, if that was Kobra, then the short one with black hair was Fun Ghoul.

“Shine?” Party took my attention back, and I looked at him. He had a questioning look in my eyes, egging me on. It seemed as she wanted me to stay. I hesitated before I thought about it for a minute.

“I guess I could stay, if that was alright,” I said, earning a few cheers.

“Great,” he hugged me, and I couldn’t help myself but hug him back. I had friends now. Family, maybe.

©Shannon.

Notes