Chapter 8: 7._ It’s Hard to Make Friends

 

The nonis were leaving, the last rows were already on the other side of the street. A calm silence once again reigned over the abandoned street and Erica felt good. She had been able to give it her all without having to run away or hide from people, without having to go home and pack her bags or call her dad in a crestfallen voice because she had done it again. That had been the greatest victory.

Her human companions approached her, still stunned by the show of strength they had seen. They knew she could hold her own against nonis, but the recent fight had been something else entirely.

—That... that was spectacular!— celebrated Joaquín —Well done, Erica, you're amazing!

The rest of the crowd also took a few moments to congratulate her and thank her for saving them. But after the pats on the back and hugs of joy were over, and the refugees gathered to count each other and decide whether to go to the mall anyway or not, Erica broke away from the group and walked a few meters away. After beating Cromo she felt different. She had seen a warmer side of the nonis than she would have thought, even if they were her enemies. She started to grow anxious; she wanted to go and talk to them, she wanted to understand them, to know why they were invading her world, what Cromo had meant by "brika" and what that black thing that screamed and disappeared was. She had already made up her mind.

—Erica?

She turned around, found Joaquin walking towards her. He looked happy.

—What do you want? — she growled.

—Are you going somewhere? — he asked, jokingly.

—Yes— she answered —I'm going to where the nonis are.

This made Joaquín freeze for a moment, but then he shook himself and smiled at her.

—Are you really going to confront them now?— he exclaimed, excited.

—No, I just want to talk.

Joaquín meditated for a moment, surprised.

—You know you won't achieve anything by talking, right? They showed up attacking, they razed the city to the ground. It's too late to settle the fight that way.

But Erica shook her head.

—I don't care about the fight, I'm not going to end it. I only have questions for them. Bye.

The girl turned around and started to walk away, but before she could take a step, Joaquín grabbed her hand and pulled her. Erica stopped without looking at him.

—Wait, wait. This is all very sudden. What do you mean, you're leaving?

This alerted some of the refugees, who approached them silently to understand what was happening.

—I'm leaving, it's as simple as that. People come, people go. I'd say it was nice to meet you, but it wasn't.

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She tugged her hand to let go of Joaquín and continue on her way, but he quickly circled around her and stood in front of her with his arms outstretched, blocking her way.

—Wait, please, don't you see that we need you here?

Erica looked over her shoulder at the refugees, who were all looking at her in shock.

—I can see that— she admitted — but I need someone else. My dad is out there, he disappeared around the time the invasion started, and I need to find him.

Erica tried to move forward, but Joaquin grabbed her by the shoulders with teary eyes.

—Erica, I'm sorry... but your dad must be dead.

The girl rolled her eyes and brushed Joaquin's hands off her.

—You don't know my dad, he's fine, just somewhere else. Now let me go in peace.

—No, Erica! We all depend on you! Here you have people who love you, you have friends, you have....

But that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Erica couldn't take it anymore, and gave him a controlled punch in the stomach so that he doubled over in pain. She then grabbed his head, hit him with her knee, and as the boy's body fell, she kicked and sent him flying backwards.

—You're not my friend!— she shouted angrily. Then she turned to the rest of the people, paralyzed with fear and surprise— None of you are, so leave me alone!

And so, she set off on her march to anywhere far away from there. She passed by Joaquin, badly wounded and covered with his own blood, but she didn't mind seeing him like that. He had better be thankful that she had left him alive. But not long after she heard the sound of a rifle charging. A laser beam flew past her. Then she stopped and turned around, tense.

Crouched next to Joaquin was Mama Bear, pointing one of the rifles the young men had stolen from the nonis at her. She looked angry, furious.

—How dare you!— shouted Mama Bear —Joaquin was a good boy, he only wanted to make you happy! How dare you do this to him!

Behind her, the refugees plucked up courage and moved forward to support their Mama Bear. Erica gritted her teeth in rage and ran towards the lady. She shot at her, but the girl zigzagged so fast that it was difficult to follow her with her eyes. From one moment to the next she found herself face to face with her, Erica slapped the gun away, smashed it with her knee and threw it to the ground. Then she grabbed Mama Bear by the neck and lifted her into the air. The refugees begged and demanded that she let go, and tried to separate them by force, but Erica could take them all and more. Mama Bear looked at her, frightened. Erica grimaced angrily back at her.

—I've had enough of you!— she roared —If anyone else wants to bother me, I'll bust their head in! Did you hear me?!

To end her short monologue, she threw Mama Bear to the ground. The refugees recoiled in fear. Erica took advantage of the moment of silence to leave, she simply walked with her head down and her shoulders tense, ready to turn and kill the first one who tried anything, but no one dared. She walked and walked, and after half an hour, when she turned back, they were out of sight. After an hour she had calmed down.

At that moment she took a deep breath, enveloped in the relative silence of the abandoned city. She felt more cheerful, she could be herself again.

—People can be so annoying— she said to herself.

She wondered if in the distant future she would ever find real friends. She wanted to believe that someday she would, but it seemed less and less likely. The faces of the friends she herself had murdered haunted her every time she thought about it.

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