Chapter 31 - The End of the Longest Day

"Move slow and surround it." Nico whispered. "On my signal we'll both take a shot."

"Alright." I responded softly.

I circled around to the right, while Nico moved over to the left. I leaned my shoulder against a tree and quickly drew one of my arrows. I peered out from behind the tree and aimed at the target, waiting for the signal. Nico then peeked out from a tree across from where I was and raised two fingers. He looked at the target and then directed his gaze towards me. As he swiftly dropped his fingers, I released my arrow and made contact with the target.

"Nice shot comrade!" Nico exclaimed.

"If there were any others in the area I'm sure you just scared them off." Mali stated.

"It's alright since we already have two more of these." I pointed out. "I told you this was the same fox I missed earlier."

"Another gray fox huh? I wonder if anyone found a dear?" Nico asked himself.

"We have to get back to the campsite now. Judging by the sun it should be about six o'clock."

"You searchers have some pretty neat skills." Nico stated.

"Using the sun to tell time is pretty easy actually." I replied kneeling next to the fox with my knife.

I placed the blade onto its neck and gently pushed it into him before he finally stopped moving. I placed my hand on its back and stared at it for a while.

"These guys are pretty small huh?" I asked.

"I would love to have one as a pet." Mali stated.

"Let's head back." I said as I pulled my arrow out of its body.

Today has been the longest day of my life. It feels like it's been years since I've last seen a sunset. Please God, keep any more challenges you may have until tomorrow. I don't think my body can handle it right now. Thankfully our journey back to the campsite wasn't greeted by any surprises. It also seems like the other groups had generally the same luck that we had. I guess everyone's eating fox tonight.

"You guys really just abused the fox population in this area." Nesha said as we walked pass.

"Here, take the bow and try finding something else." I responded.

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"You guys can place them behind the last cabin." Captain Kane as we approached her.

"Yes mam." We all replied.

Shea, Khiara and the others were already working hard to prepare this into a meal for everyone. Lj and the other searchers who didn't form a team seem to be working on preparing the campfire area. I wonder if there was anything expected for me to do. I can't be bothered. I'm tired. Surely they wouldn't mind if I doze off for a while.

"I figured Captain Kane wouldn't be able to handle this adventure, but she's proving me wrong so far." Nico stated.

"Hey Nico don't tell anyone, but I'm gonna take a quick nap alright."

"Regain your strength comrade." He said in a cool demeanor.

I stumbled into our cabin and dropped my knife and bow onto the ground. I sat against the back wall and removed my arrows from my bag and dropped those to the ground as well. I placed that one change of clothes I had back into the bag and used that as a pillow. Finally, the end of the longest day.

.....

7:56 p.m.

"Lj, have you seen Ejay?" Lici asked.

"When I went into the cabin a while ago he was in a heavy sleep."

"I guess the kid's exhausted." Lici replied sitting next to the now burning campfire. "Hmm, there was something I wanted to talk to him about."

"You look kinda disappointed." Alyssa stated.

"What's there to be disappointed about?" She replied with a smile.

"You should really go wake Ejay up." Alyssa exclaimed. "He didn't eat anything today right?"

"He could rest for a while longer." Lj responded. "I told Rodney he'd volunteer to be in the first group of night watchers tonight. He could eat something then."

"I wouldn't want you as a brother yanno." Alyssa said.

"How many people per group for night watch?" Lici asked.

"Four people. I think we're gonna be working on a ninety minute rotation."

"Hmm, I'm coming back." Lici said as she stood up.

She slowly walked through the busy camp with her hands folded behind her back. Groups of people can be found hanging around the campfire, while a few others were strolling around the campsite. There was still a small amount of sunlight illuminating the area and fireflies were beginning to float around in the nearby woods. Lici found herself approaching the cabin which was occupied by the five captains. She crept up to the door and raised her hand to knock on the door, but right before she did a voice was heard on the other side.

"The walk for tomorrow will be the shortest of this journey." Zhaire stated. "Depending on obstacles and our pace, we could be at the campsite as early as three in the afternoon."

"Reason being tomorrow we will be meeting up with the other party." Rodney added. "The circumstances we agreed on is a campsite that we both can arrive to early in the day. We camp there overnight as usual and the next morning, for whatever the reason may be. If the other party has not shown up by 7o'clock the next morning, then they should be left behind."

"So to summarize, if we arrive to the campsite tomorrow and the scientist's group doesn't show up by the next morning. We leave them and continue this journey ourselves." Violet stated.

"That's the plan, but hopefully we only have to plan this for precaution." Zhaire replied.

"The kid isn't going to like that." Miles said. "Francis was it? He seems like the emotional type."

"If it comes down to the worst case scenario I'll talk to him." Rodney stated. "However we should keep this from the kids for now. This isn't something any of them should be worrying about right now."

"Hmm, interesting." Lici says to herself as she walks away.

9:27 p.m.

"We might as well start with who we have here." Nesha stated.

Some of the girls gathered in a cabin before it was time for lights out. Most of the others were still sitting around the fire, further away from the cabins.

"We're really only missing Lici and Angie." Alyssa pointed out. "I haven't seen Lici since she left me and Lj earlier. Then Angie..."

"Maybe we should go and look around for Angie." Regine suggested.

"It should soon be time to head in for the night and I think she just needs her space for now." Mali stated. "Now, Alyssa brought something interesting to my attention earlier today. When we arrive to Africa, we will eventually have to start repopulating the planet."

"I figured it was going to be something like this yanno." Nesha stated.

"Well we already know who you'll be making babies with." Alyssa said.

"Why you don't leave me alone." Nesha replied while laughing.

"Beside from this married one, I'm interested in who would you guys hook up with in this group?" Mali asked.

"Khiara is be with Ejay and Lj, I'm just saying." Said Alyssa.

"No no no, I really only see the both of them as brothers." Khiara responded.

"Oh so you tryna keep it in the family?"

"Girl-" Khiara tried to say before getting cut off by everyone's laughter. "See, I'm coming back, let me get my water bottle."

Khiara walked out of the cabin and left the other girls as they continued to talk. She turned on her flashlight since the light from the campfire didn't extend as far as the cabins. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Angie sitting outside of one of the other cabins. Instead of acknowledging her in anyway, Khiara turned and walked the other way. She quietly opened the door of their cabin as she remembered hearing from Lj that Ejay was sleeping inside. Upon entering however she noticed two shadows, one laying on the ground and the other sat against the wall beside the other figure. She shined the light towards them and found Lici sat next to Ejay who was still asleep.

"You're gonna wake him up you know." Lici whispered.

"Sorry, I didn't expect anyone else to be in here besides him." Khiara replied. "What are you doing in here?"

"I was waiting for him to wake up but he really is exhausted. I guess I'll leave him for tonight."

Lici carefully stood up and walked pass Khiara to exit the cabin. Khiara noticed that there was a folded piece of paper next to Ejay. She decided to leave it and rejoined the other girls.

10:00 p.m.

"E... ake... wa... up... Ejay!"

"Huh?"

"Finally you woke up." Dameer said to me as I struggled to open my eyes.

A big part of me hoped that this was all a dream and I'd woken up back in the city. Reality is really worse than any nightmare.

"You're on the first shift." Lj stated.

"First shift?... For what?"

"Night watch." He replied. "Since you already got a pretty good nap in, it's only fair that you take the first watch."

"Their waiting for you outside." Dameer added.

I stumbled to my feet and stretched for a few moments. I grabbed my flashlight, bow and bag with arrows and I walked outside. Rodney was stood there with Cory, Lici and one of the guards I hadn't met yet.

"Took you long enough Francis." Rodney exclaimed.

"Sorry sir."

"You guys are on watch for right now. After an hour and a half had passed, you can go wake the people who are scheduled for the second shift. All you have to do is keep a look out for any problems around the site and keep the fire burning. Easy enough right?"

"Yes sir." We reply in unison.

"Alright I'll see you guys in the morning."

"Can you guys give me a minute I need to relieve myself." I stated.

"You really do things at your own pace huh?" Cory said to me.

"C'mon, it's not like we have much to do anyway." Lici said. "I'm gonna sit at the campfire, it's starting to get cold during the nights."

It feels like everybody's words aren't even registering in my head properly. Before Cory was even finished with his statement I was already walking off. It's dark out here but it's not impossible to see because of the moonlight and fireflies. The fireflies really make this place look as peaceful as we wish it can be. I walked into the quiet woods a bit without using my flashlight and lowered my pants next to a random tree. After I was done, I stood their in the silence of the woods for a few moments. I don't know why but my body just wouldn't move and I wasn't thinking about anything particular. My entire existence went blank, until I noticed a shadow moving pass me. It had the outline of a person and walked steadily so it shouldn't be an infected. However I couldn't make out who it was. Like a magnet, the shadow pulled me from my position and I followed quietly behind. Why don't I say something? What if it's just someone going to the bathroom like I did? No they wouldn't move this far from the camp. I followed the figure for almost a quarter mile into the woods before it suddenly stopped. I hid behind a tree and continued to watch on from a short distance. They stood their for a while and the more I watched them, the better I was beginning to see them. It was definitely a girl, with hair reaching below her shoulders. I also noticed that they were holding a gun in their left hand. A guard? Angie? Mali? Regine? It's not the guy I left with Cory and Lici. While I'm trying to figure out who it is they slowly began to raise their left hand. Wait... stop. They raised the gun to their head. Why haven't I moved yet! Move! I ran toward the person and grabbed their hand which was holding the gun. They tried to pull away but with one strong yank I was able to free the gun from their hand. They fell back onto the ground and I immediately pulled out my flashlight and shined it at the person before me.

...

"Why?" I asked. "Angie, why?"

"Give it back." She said to me as tears rolled down her face.