Everything is a disaster. The world is crumbling, robots are hunting people like it's their favorite sport, and Mason? Mason is treating it all like an inconvenience at worst.
We stop in what used to be a warehouse. Mason lets me drop onto the floor while he starts rummaging through shelves like he owns the place.
Dust swirls in the moonlight streaming through shattered windows. The cold concrete hitting my skin as I lean back against the wall, trying to focus on something other than the pain radiating from my side.
"You're a quiet one, huh?" Mason says without looking up.
I attempt a shrug, but everything hurts. "Not much to say when I'm trying not to pass out from blood loss."
Mason actually laughs. "Yeah, fair enough."
He pauses, then, "You're lucky I found you when I did. If that bot had gotten its hands on you…"
"I know." I don't want to think about it. "You seem like you know your way around this… whole mess."
Mason smirks. "I've been at this for a while. Long enough to know that running in blind only gets you killed."
I glance at his axe, at the ease with which he carries it. There's something about him, something more than just survival instincts.
He catches me looking and raises an eyebrow. "What?"
I shake my head. "Nothing."
Mason shrugs and tosses me a water bottle. "Get some rest, mate. You'll need it."
I barely manage a nod before my body finally gives in, exhaustion dragging me under.