Greyson was walking ahead, looking at the sight before him, lost in thought. How could he not? He just watched someone living an everyday life less than a week ago get bisected from a single swipe of a dragon's talons. While seeing others get melted, their corpses left on the concrete road. Anna was the only thing keeping his head cool. She was the first to see the first person to die. All Greyson saw was the body falling, splitting apart before collapsing into a pile. That Dragon was of blood and death. How could he hold back? Why was he still holding back? He knew why, how could he not? Anna might not follow him and die with him. She was with him to survive. She even clarified that she isn't that much of a fighter. Not that he fully believes that, having watched her yell profanities while she shot at the spider bigger than himself. He had carried her all the while he had run.
He didn't understand fully why he wanted to join her. Maybe it wasn't entirely a lie when he said he wanted to team up with her because of her possibility of survivability. He didn't want to say she is cute, and she knew what she was doing. So when he saw the slaughter, he knew that logic was what he needed right now. He didn't want to listen to her words, his rational mind yelling at him to keep his cool and at least follow her lead. She had been horrified seeing the people die, but she didn't seem shocked about seeing people die in front of her.
"Greyson? Are you okay now?" (Anna)
Her speaking snapped Him out of his thoughts as he kept moving. He wasn't paying attention while thinking to himself. Although his path should lead him to his friend's hangout spot, they usually go when something happens—a tornado, flood, bad breakup, a late-night bender, and possibly an apocalypse. The hideout they headed to is an old school building that used to be a church. Over the years, many tried to purchase the land to use the building, but like a curse, something happened. Then the owners never bothered to do anything with the land or the building, not even bothering to ensure people stayed off the property. So like any rebellious group, teenagers and college students made it their hangout spot. It isn't easy to see into but easy to see out of. If you're good at hiding, if the cops get called, they will struggle to find any teens and college kids.
...
Anna saw how often Greyson fell into thought while they walked. Anna could guess that he grew up in this town, and he also made it pretty clear that the appearance of the towers didn't affect his personal life much. All these events might be somewhat traumatizing for him. At this point, Anna had disconnected part of herself from the situation. It wasn't that hard for her to do. She had to make sure to remind herself that this is reality and she can't forget or change that fact.
The trees kept them covered but didn't hide the flames burning the town and the running victims. The dragon had gone to the city's center, seemingly bored as it had moved to lie down. Other creatures crawled out as the dragon fell asleep, its rumbling breath sounding like a train in a town with no loud noise other than the screams of those attacked.
"It's asleep." (Anna)
Greyson seemed to be looking at the smaller monsters that crawled into the streets.
"I don't think that's a good thing." (Greyson)
"You're referring to the fact that it's easier to pay attention to one large target than hundreds of smaller ones, right?" (Anna)
Greyson looked at Anna with a complicated expression.
"You were being honest when you said you are analytical, weren't you?" (Greyson)
"Analytical Pessimist. Prepare for the best, expect the worst." (Anna)
Greyson snorted a smile gracing his face slightly. Although she hadn't known him for long, Anna felt slight relief flow through herself. There is no nice way to say it, he is easy to read while also making her feel mental and emotional whiplash as a constant.
A building, a crumbling church that looked abandoned and covered by graffiti, came into view. Anna nearly stopped in her tracks. Survivors.