As he walked, he found that he was not the only one heading to the gates.
Whenever the klaxon rang, it meant rations were being handed out or the worst thing possible, an elemental storm.
For rations, it rang twice but for the elemental storm, it rang continuously. The only way to survive an elemental storm was to be inside the city.
If not being outside was a death sentence.
It would blow everything in its way into smithereens even the houses. Whenever it rang, every one would rush into the outer ring of the city.
Everyone he passed almost looked like him, wearing washed out gray clothes.
They passed him by without minding him.
The only thing accompanying him was the cold wind that kept on blowing and bringing dust.
The key to surviving in this world was, have a keen perception and mind your own business, if not you would find yourself at the end of a knife for a mere sip of water.
Wesley tried not to bump into people just to avoid trouble, he was quite lucky that he lived near the southern gate. It would take him at most thirty minutes to reach it.
Due to being weak, he only arrived at the gate in an hour.
The southern gate had two heavy black thick doors that opened on to the sides. The doors looked to made from the same metal that the houses were made out of.
He was not the first one. There was a din of noise of people murmuring and a line of Outers that led to an official in black who was seated on a metallic chair.
This was the official in charge of handing out rations. He had flowing blue hair and was wearing black brocade robes. He looked clean and healthy.
'Probably a warrior'. Wesley thought.
'Rats, line up well for me if you want your rations.' another official in a pale blue robe shouted.
The rations were given in form of black cubes. The cubes had a two chambers, one space for nutrient bars and another which held water which according to the federation was supposed to last a person an entire week.
As all that fit inside a cube that could be held in one palm, he failed to understand.
'I hope I don't see Grog today''. he pondered as he lined up with the rest of the Outers.
The more you don't want something to happen, life shoots you in the back.
As the people in front reduced in number, he felt a tap on his left shoulder.
He looked to his left and came straight face to face with Grog's smiling face.
'Hello Wesley, how are you doing?' Grog queried him with a grin on his face.
'How is the cough, do you need me to take you to healer?' he continued.
'No' Wesley answered
'I will be fine'. he spoke in a very low voice. He knew if Grog ever took to a healer, he would never come back alive.
'Well if you need help and I mean in anything, I am always available' Grog told him with the meanest smile one could have.
'Alright Wesley, go on and pick your rations, I will continue to make my rounds.' Grog continued. He slapped him on the back and walked away.
Everyone around him took a hesitant step away from him. All Outers knew Grog was bad news. Anyone associated with him were either warriors or prospective dead people.
It would not take a genius to know to which group Wesley belonged to.
'Hmm' Wesley sighed to himself.
When there was only a few people in front him, he felt the wind picking up which made him shiver.
As the wind continued to blow, he realized a problem. It was becoming colder and at the same time, no one was moving anymore.
He looked aroumd only to see the official in blue not moving. His face was frozen in fear as he looked at something behind them.
'Now what?' Wesley asked himself in dread as he also looked behind.
What he saw made doubt his eyes for a bit. The world that was peaceful a while ago had changed drastically.
There were dark clouds moving in towards them at a speed that made him realize that even if he ran, they would over take him.
'Elemental storm'. someone cursed out. At that point the klaxon blared out continuously.
'Run to the gates' he heard someone shout. And that is what everyone did.
As he ran he saw Grog and other people entering the gate. He did not know why he was always conscious about Grog or it was the red armor that stood out.
He watched as Grog suddenly stopped inside the gates and looked around. After a bit, their gazes crossed.
Wesley saw a smile start spreading on Grog's mouth and his heart dropped to his stomach.
'Close the gates' Grog shouted out.
The grinding of the gates as they begun to close made everyone who was still outside increase their speed.
Wesley realized he was not going to make it. The last thing he saw as the gates closed with a boom was Grog waving at him with a smile on his face.