Vagabonds

Chapter 1: The End of the World

The world had ended in fire and ash, leaving behind a barren wasteland that had once been home to millions of people. Survivors were few and far between, forced to scavenge for food and supplies among the ruins of civilization. The sky was a constant gray, and the air tasted of death and decay.

Amidst this bleak landscape, two figures moved through the ruins of what had once been a bustling city. One was a tall, broad-shouldered man with weathered features and a rugged, unshaven beard. His name was Jackson, and he had been a soldier before the world had ended. He had seen things that no man should ever see, and had survived against all odds.

The other figure was a young woman, petite and wiry, with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Her name was Maria, and she had grown up on the streets, learning how to survive by any means necessary. She had a quick wit and a sharp tongue, but also a deep sense of compassion for those in need.

As they walked, Jackson kept his hand on the hilt of the machete strapped to his belt. He was always on high alert, ready for any threat that might come their way.

"Jackson, do you think we'll find any food today?" Maria asked, her stomach grumbling audibly.

"I hope so," Jackson replied, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. "We're running low on supplies."

As they rounded a corner, they saw a group of scavengers up ahead. The group was made up of six men, all heavily armed and wearing ragged clothing.

"Looks like trouble," Jackson muttered, gripping his machete tightly.

Maria stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the group. "We could try to negotiate with them," she suggested. "Maybe we have something they want."

Jackson shook his head. "They'll just take whatever they can get. We need to be ready for a fight."

The two of them crept forward, moving slowly and silently. As they drew closer, the scavengers spotted them and raised their weapons.

"Stay back!" one of the men shouted, brandishing a rusty shotgun.

Maria held up her hands, trying to appear non-threatening. "We don't want any trouble," she said calmly.

But the scavengers weren't interested in negotiations. They opened fire, bullets whizzing past Jackson and Maria as they dove for cover.

Jackson emerged from behind a pile of rubble, swinging his machete in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the air, striking one of the scavengers in the neck. The man fell to the ground, gurgling blood.

Maria darted forward, lashing out with a makeshift spear. She impaled one of the scavengers through the chest, then kicked him away as he fell to the ground.

The other scavengers hesitated for a moment, then turned and ran. Jackson and Maria watched them go, their hearts racing with adrenaline.

"We need to keep moving," Jackson said, wiping the blood from his machete. "There'll be more of them out here."

Maria nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "I know. But at least we got some supplies out of it."

As they continued on their journey, they both knew that the world was a dangerous and unpredictable place. But they also knew that as long as they had each other, they could face whatever came their way.