Chapter 31

We are running for the woods as fast as we can and it takes me back to when I was running from the exact same place with Mikayla. My heart twinges at the memory and how little time she was with me. I feel as though I failed her. If only I had been stronger and knew more about surviving.

We reach the tree line and I slow down to look back to see the men standing a few yards back, not firing their weapons, but instead yelling into their radios which reminds me of the radio I have in my hand still.

"What are you doing? We have to keep going." Jackson tugs on my hand urging me to keep running.

Everything is happening faster than I can process so I look at him blankly and start running again. We run until my sides ache and I'm gasping for breath. We are through the wooded area and can see the highway from where we are.

I turn to Jackson, worry in my eyes. "I almost had the keys. We are probably going to need keys to go back undetected."

He shakes his head, "Yeah, you're right. But on the positive side we have one of their radios. We can sneak into range and try to listen in when things settle down." He shrugs, trying to throw me a grin.

I succumb to the positivity and smile back. "Okay, that's true. I just wish I could have at least grabbed those cigarettes."

Jackson reaches in his pockets and tosses something to me, "I thought these would come in handy."

I catch it just barely and see it's my pack of smokes from when I left home. "Wow. When did you grab these?"

He looks at me sheepishly, letting his hair fall in front of his eyes as he shrugs a little. "I just grabbed them awhile back and forgot about them until you mentioned cigarettes."

I hug him out of gratitude and he's a little startled at first but then hugs me back. I step back and open the pack, pulling out the lighter and one of the cigarettes. The first drag is like heaven after so long and so much stress. Halfway through and I can feel myself getting a little light headed already. So worth it.

When I finish smoking we start walking on the inside of the woods, following the road away from the facility. We are talking about Mikayla and what happened when suddenly an arrow strikes the tree next to my head, causing us both to drop to the ground.

I look at Jackson with panic, my heart racing. He holds a finger to his mouth and we stay still. It's only a few seconds that go by before a voice calls out to us.

"What are you doing out here?" The voice sounds young but firm.

I look at Jackson and he nods at me so I respond. "We are just passing through looking for shelter." I try to sound timid which isn't terribly hard as I am genuinely afraid.

We hear leaves crunching as the person comes closer to where we are. Then we see who it is. It's a young boy, can't be older than 14, carrying a wooden bow with a few arrows in a handmade sheath slung across his back. He doesn't look afraid judging his body language but his eyes are another story.

"Why are you covered in blood?" He juts his chin in my direction.

This time Jackson responds as we remain laid down on the ground. Twigs and rocks are digging into me but I resist the urge to move around much.

"We are from the facility a few miles back and through the woods."

The boy's eyes widen before he speaks, "I can tell by what y'all are wearing that you aren't with them. I've seen a lot of people go in there but only bodies come out. It's best to stay far from there. How'd you get out?" His eyes narrow with suspicion as he thinks harder on what we are saying.

"We fought our way out. It's a long story and we are tired and hungry and dirty." I sound a little whiny but at this point I don't care. I can smell myself and it's not pleasant in the least.

The boy nods, looking us over a little more closely. "Alrighty, follow me and we will get y'all cleaned up and fed. No funny business though. I want that rifle." He points to the rifle laying next to Jackson that we got off of the guard.

"Not a problem at all." Jackson stands and helps me to my feet before slowly handing the rifle to the boy.

Despite his small stature and age he doesn't fumble under the weight of the weapon. He has that farm hand vibe and I have a feeling that him and his family have been better off than most during this pandemic. We follow the boy silently as he leads us through miles of woods. It's getting dark and I can barely force myself to move by the time we reach our destination. Jackson looks just as bad as I feel by the time we make it.

Nestled in the woods is a small cabin that can't have more than a few of rooms. It's on the neglected side but after everything we have been through it may as well have been a mansion.

"This was my grandpa's old place before the world fell apart." The boy's voice is quiet as we make our way to the modest porch. Just as we get up the steps a small girl with unruly hair and a dirty dress comes bounding out the door and latches onto the boy like a monkey.

"You made it back. I thought you were going to end up like mom and dad." The girl cries, the dirt on her face streaked by the fat tears rolling down.

The boy pats her on the head and grins. "Hey now, you better get the table set, we've got company." He gestures to us standing awkwardly behind him and the girl squeals like a piglet when she notices us.

She runs back into the house, bare feet slapping the floor as the boy turns around. "That's my little sis. She's a bit wild."

His smile is genuine as he holds the door open for us. It reminds me of me and my sister. I forbid myself to think of her in the way I last saw her. I choose to remember her as the vibrant prankster she was when we were growing up. I will immortalize her in my mind just like that.

I look at the boy as we walk into the house, "I probably shouldn't sit on any furniture like this." I grin sheepishly as I point to my clothes.

He looks shocked as he takes in the full situation that is the blood and dirt on me from head to toe. "Yeah, I reckon we should take care of that."