A Monika to Remember: Part Three

We enter the storage house, and it's a blast to the..present? past? In it contains objects that I'm all too familiar with, but for these people they must be sacred artifacts meant to be dissected or preserved. I note that many of these things won't work without electricity.

"Electricity? Could you explain?"

"Basically, it's energy we use to power stuff like this," tapping a rusted refrigerator

"Would you know how to make that?"

"I'm sorry, no. I mean, I had good grades in science but I'd have no idea how to create a power plant, especially with the resources we have."

"That's unfortunate..let's turn our attention instead to weapons then."

"Sorry, say that again?"

"The ruins of New York are currently overrun with mutant animals and humans hungry for flesh. They make our excursions there to find new technology and readings fruitless. We need a way to combat them. We can't even make it to Monika's grave in Central Park because of how many there are.."

"Yeah, what happened to the "prosperity and happiness of the human race" that she was preaching about? Violence won't lead to a future like that."

"It's the means to an end! The knowledge and artifacts of our ancestors will allow us to reach the modern era. I've read the stories and achievements of the people in the AD period. Why would I want our race to wait another 2000 years to get back to those times? I wish to use those amazing things you call computers now! I want to ride in a car, not a rash, uncontrollable horse! If I could harness that which makes the cold winters and sweltering summers bearable, the townspeople would embrace me rather than shun me for my beliefs...If the cost for this would be to put down rabid, brainless animals, then there is no debate on the course of action. Don't you agree?"

I keep silent and continue rummaging through the garbage. "Monika, have you found anything that could help us get around New York?"

I did spot something that could be useful, but I keep it to myself. To please him, I show him a dull kitchen knife that could be used as a weapon if sharpened. We also find a honing steel, and I show him how to use it. I remember Natsuki complaining one day about how her knife at home could barely cut through a tomato, and Yuri gave her tips on how to make it serviceable. I prick the sharp side by the thumb, and you could consider it a blade now. Thanks, Yuri.

The bald man was impressed by the whole process. "This could change everything. I would love to search for more blades, but it is getting rather dark. There's always a tomorrow, right? Let's go have some dinner."

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I sneak back into the storage house with candle in hand and begin again to search for the object I neglected to mention to the bald man. I retrieve it and check if it works or not. It's missing a vital piece, but I manage to find it lying around in another coalition of trash a few piles away. But man, only that many uses left? I slide the other component in and configure the weapon. Everything checks out, I think. It'll have to do I suppose, though it's not like I want to use it anyways. It's just for protection on my journey. I make way for the entrance when I notice the shadow eclipsed by the moonlight.

"Couldn't wait to get back to searching for technology? Or trying to hide something that would be useful?"

"You're close to the answer, but far out of reach. Much like everything else here, don't you think?" I can't suppress my smirk.

"Monika, why do you intend to impede our progress? Do you not care for the fate of the people here? Do you not consider the worth you can put to our cause?"

"Look, I know you are a huge believer in that biography about the other Monika, but that doesn't mean I'm going to drop what's important to me and follow this prophecy, real or not. There's a mystery I have to solve about myself and this world before I can move on. I need to find out if there's a life waiting for me out there, or if it happened already..
Besides, I like, really have no interest in helping out someone like you. You lust for power, not peace. You want the technology of your ancestors so you can claim ownership and put yourself at the top. To quickly advance to the previous modern era you can indulge in. It's not all that it's cracked up to be, believe me. I don't want to have any part in giving you any sort of power."

The bald man sighs. "I was hoping for the fulfillment of the prophecy to be more fruitful than this. I find your touching speech to be ironic, Monika, as you have given me power already." He brandishes his knife. "And I will use it to get what I want out of you!"

He rushes towards me, and I brandish my own weapon. I pray it's functional. I throw my candle to his feet, which halts his progress for a brief moment. I pull the trigger, aiming my pistol in the general area of his leg. He groans in agony, and crumples to the ground. The candles' flame begins to catch onto his robes. The gunshot was loud, people must have awoken from the sound. I dash to the entrance of the storage house and make my way outside the town, to the direction of the New York ruins.