"You get back here, young lady!" Her mother screamed at her from the door.

Jaded rolled her eyes and shook her head in the rain. Her mother would never venture outdoors in this weather and that was just fine with her. She was expected to be a proper lady but deep down Jaded knew that she would never be. The proper way was the stuck up way and that wasn't who Jaded was.

As the rain fell down around her she began to think. She needed to find her friends. She would try to find Ryssa first because Ryssa was ever reliable and had taught Jaded how to sit and watch those around her. So she began her search among the ruins of Detroit where her friend was last seen.

As she saw the bullet holes in the shops she noticed one man outside of Ryssa's favourite spot, the library. Moving towards him and nodding solemnly to those trying to get their businesses back in order.

"Excuse me sir, have you seen Ryssa? She had dark hair, tied back with a bandanna?" Jaded asked.

"Nope haven't seen her for some time. Have you tried the local hospital where all the dead are being sent?" He replied.

Jaded shook her head. She hadn't thought that Ryssa would die. Ryssa was a clever girl and could normally find her way out of any trouble. "No, but I will try. Thank you."

Now Jaded began to think of the worst possible outcome as she headed towards the hospital. As she saw the hospital loom closer she began to reach up and tie her curls back. She wanted to be somewhat presentable when she walked through the doors. No sense in being a drowned rat with horrid looking hair.

As soon as she walked through the doors she was stopped by a nurse. She turned her head in the nurses direction after plastering the best smile she could muster up in these circumstances.

"Can I help you miss?" the nurse asked.

"Can you tell me if a woman named Ryssa was admitted? Perhaps she was hurt amongst the recent war outbreak?" She asked with a hopeful tone.

The nurse glanced at the admittance pages. Slowly she picked up another stack of papers. Jaded could tell it wasn't the stack that would spell out good news. As the nurse checked she began to fret a little bit.

"It appears she is in the morgue waiting to be picked up by family. They couldn't reach any family. Do you know if she has any relatives?"

Jaded shook her head no. "Nope just friends. May I get her?"

The nurse looked doubtful before she sent Jaded down to the morgue. Jaded walked quickly and quietly through the hospital. She was still surprised it was standing after such a massive blood shed. Thinking on the war helped her take her mind off what was to come.

Once down in the morgue she spoke to the staff there. She let them know that Ryssa had no family to arrange her funeral and that she had already called the local funeral home. They would perform a small service and bury her. She signed the paper work that verified the information and Jaded got the hell out of the hospital.

Outside she felt like she could breath again. The fresh air helped and she was hoping she would never have to see that many people in one spot again for a very long time. Quickly she started for the nearest bakery. There was always comfort in chocolate. She spent the next few hours drying off at the bakery while she ate her chocolate cookies. She could think better now that there was a full stomach.

Jaded guessed that most of her other friends would be dead as well. She was sad that she had not joined them sooner, maybe she could have saved Ryssa somehow. Sighing Jaded carried on. She went towards the airport.

Once there she headed towards the desk to purchase her ticket.

"One way to Philadelphia please?"

The lady nodded as Jaded took out her wallet and began counting cash.

"That will be $119 dollars ma'am."

Jaded handed the young woman the money. As she took her ticket with a soft thank you.  Just in time to board the plane. This was where Jaded's journey would begin. Philadelphia.