New Earth

The last can of meat was gone. They are also down to nine protein bars. The water purifier had been out of commission for almost eight weeks and they are left with only eleven gallons of drinking water. All of that could be easily remedied but Quinn got sick.

Aristia put her hands on his brother's forehead and sighed. He was burning hot and there's no medicine left in their small shelter. She fishes out the soaked cloth from the small basin on the side table and twists it to take out any excess water. She put it on her little brother's forehead and adjusted the course banket over his body.

Aristia felt like a ton of bricks is pressing down on her chest as she looked at her sleeping brother. Quinn was sleeping fitfully and she's powerless looking at her pale brother.

"Hey, you almost ready?" a voice from her left sounded. Heloise, her little sister was leaning on the bedroom door frame. A concerned look on her face was displayed.

They stared at each other for a while before Heloise's eyes watered and her chin wobbled. Aristia wanted to laugh at this crybaby but she thought Heloise might jab her if she did so.

What she could only do was hug her crying sister in her arms.

"I'm scared," Heloise whispered, choking on her tears. "Why don't we let Snow and Calista go alone? They can get us the medicine for Quinn."

Aristia shook her head and patted her sister's head. "We can't, they had made the run for us last month. I can't make them do the runs for us this time."

Heloise knew that it would be dangerous for her sister to go out there and so she was disinclined for her to do that.

Heloise wiped the tears on her eyes and showed her a determined look, "Why don't I go this time?"

Aristia frowned, "You are unfamiliar with the terrain and we had to go further this time. This isn't the usual run we always do, you know that."

Heloise looked at her sleeping brother. She knew exactly why Aristia had to go far and risk more on this run. Quinn is sick again. He is often sick but they had a ready medication for him in the past. But now all of it is gone and her brother is suffering.

The sound of three short knocks and two fast knocks had been the signature signal of the group.

"They are here." Aristia got her empty backpack, secured her hunting knife on her boots, and looked at her sister again. "We will be gone for almost three days. You have to be brave for me and take care of Quinn, okay?"

Heloise nodded her head. "Take care. If you feel something is not right, you run and get out of there, okay? And don't forget these."

Heloise tossed her two decanters of the smelliest perfume they have.

Aristia bundled herself up, ascended the stairs, and opened the hatch above her. She got out, close the hatch, and dump a handful of dried leaves and twigs above it.

A girl in her early twenties and another that is younger than her helped her hide the hatch.

Aristia, Snow, and Calista had been doing these runs for almost six months now. They go out of the forest from their underground shelters and risk their lives for their family's sake.

They would usually go to one of the towns nearby to loot. The risk of being found is high so they only do this once a month. But their run for today borders to dangerous.

They plan on going to Garrion, the abandoned city nearest to them. The place had long been deserted but the danger of being found out is too high since that city is one of the places that Zarkenians patrols.

"Come on, slowpoke. The others are waiting." Snow said, she's twenty-eight and the oldest of them. Her fiery red hair is swishing back and forth as she trudges to the uneven path of the forest.

Aristia stopped and looked at Snow questioningly, "Others?"

Snow looks back at her briefly and continued walking, "Rowan and Green will join us."

Calista, the youngest member of their small party at the age of sixteen, clung to her, "We met them, those two siblings, when we made a run two months ago, remember?"

Aristia tightened her backpack still looking displeased. "But why do we have to invite them on this run? You know the risk is much higher if we have many people."

Snow stopped and turned to her, hand on her hips. "We didn't know the safest and quickest way in and out of Garrion City. The two had been there several times and they know the place like the back of their hands since they used to live there. We know nothing of the place so we have to depend on them just this once."

"The price? Half of the loot?"

Snow flipped her hair and continued walking, "Already been paid, dear."

Aristia was puzzled, "What? How?

Calista tugged at her arms and whispered, "She let pervy Green touch her."

What?! "Snow!"

She ran up to her but Snow waved her hand dismissively, not looking back, "A done deed, dear."

Aristia felt guilty, it was her who needed to be in Garrion but why does it always have to be her friends to suffer for her? "I'm sorry."

Snow flicked her forehead. "What are you sorry about? It wasn't all because of you, I was feeling frisky, the guy offered, we made a deal, sealed it, end of the story."

Aristia knew Snow was just making up excuses for her sake, "But-"

"No buts, dear. They are here."

I whip my head and sure enough, the Monroe twins are standing under a cypress tree a few meters away from us.

Green was the first one who saw us. His eyes lit up when he saw Snow walking in the distance and licked his lips slowly. Aristia didn't know what was thinking about but she's sure it's nothing innocent.

He grinned at Snow and went in for a hug, "Hey there, sweetcheeks. I missed you."

Snow put a palm on his forehead impeding his momentum, "And I don't so get out of my way, little boy."

Green staggered and dramatically clutched his heart, "Little boy? Are talking about my little junior, my sweet Snow? You really have a way of playing with my heart like this. Why don't I re-acquaint the both of you again, my sweet, sweet Snow?"

Rowan saw them too and waved her hands to them. They also live in an underground shelter near Snow's. She was a good kid compared to her lascivious brother. Perky and sweet like Calista.

"How is it going? Hear Quinn isn't feeling well?" she inquired.

Helplessness sounded like a dull cord inside of her. "Yes, that's why I need to make this run."

Rowan eyed her, they were of the same age but she felt like Aristia is mature for her age. "It will be tough."

Maybe having people depend on you will make you mature overnight.

Green and she could still be considered lucky to have a full set of parents, though they were old and the two of them brothers and sisters have to make the runs, nevertheless, the anticipation of going home to their shelter, loot in tow, thinking their parents waiting, eager for their return is enough.

Aristia lowered her head, "I know and I'm sorry for dragging you all to this."

Rowan patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, we also need this run. Mother's medication is running low and the nearby town pharmacies had been looted clear."

All of them were silent, it was a known fact to them. The three towns nearby are nearly depleted. Sooner or later they wouldn't have a choice but to go to Garrion and loot. The place was risky, dangerous, with the minimal guarantee that they can go back.

Snow clapped her hands and they were pulled out of their stupor. "We need to go, the sun is high up. Put your camouflage on."

They all fish out bottles of perfume and spritz it generously all over their bodies.

"Oh, wow. That is one scent you have going on there, Tia baby. Even wild animals would turn the other way once they get a whiff." Green waved a hand in front of his face trying to dissipate the cloud of strong perfume.

Even Aristia coughed, her eyes stinging from the repugnant smell. "Heloise. She combined all our perfumes. Gosh, this stinks!"

All of them laughed and they go on their way to ascend the forest.

Their group of five people had to travel northwest for eight hours until they reach Garrion. They did this on foot and made several stops along the way to replenish their body.

It was nighttime when they got to the border of Garrion City. Hidden amid car piles, they made another stop.

Snow motioned for them to put on their mask and tuck their hairs. They spritz another batch of strong perfume and stealthily, as they could, scout the area of one building. Once they made sure that no one was there, they entered.

Green led them, they never talked, instead, they used hand signals to communicate. Green motioned for them to follow his footsteps, avoiding clutters on the stairs and making minimal noise as much as possible.

They don't want to alert the roving drones of their presence yet. No, make that ever.

They entered an office with rows of cubicles. All of them looked for spaces they could rest for the night. They divide the nightshift with everyone, three hours of guarding the door and the vicinity. Green volunteered to have the first shift.

It was cold so Aristia didn't take off her coat, she sat down on one of the cubicles and fish out the half-eaten energy bar from her backpack. She took one bite and gave the rest to Calista beside her.

The girl smiled and ate the rest in relish.

As she was taking her bottle of water, a whirring sound that they were so familiar with echoed on the place.

Her entire body grow cold.

Drones!

F*ck!

The group was frozen solid in their places. No one dared to move, even breathe as drones scouted the area outside. Bright light kept darting past the place they were at. and each time it did, they felt like their heart would burst out of their chests.

No one speaks for a long time. She glanced at Snow and Rowan on the isle opposite ours. The fear in their eyes mirroring hers and Calista.

Calista tugged at her shirt.

"Drones?" she asked in a low voice.

I nod my head and put my index finger right to my mouth. Calista understands and covered her mouth with both hands. They have to be cautious, the looters they once met said drones can pick up noise even from afar.

Something moved in my peripheral vision, I looked at Snow and Rowan, they were waving at us and pointing on the floor beside Calista. I glanced at Calista beside me and noticed one of her feet showing from the gap in the cubicle, my whole body trembled.

Calista also noticed it and retracted her leg as fast as she could. Drones out there are equipped with thermal imaging. They could detect us through heat signals.

But in the process of withdrawing her foot, Calista knocked over an empty can of soda. Clanking noise rattled the whole place.

A burst of light flashed the whole office from the floor to ceiling window. One, two, three, four, five.

Five drones are out there lighting up the place. Hovering, waiting, listening.

Then the lights were turned off but the whirring noise is still there. Unease swept through me.

Rowan made a move to peek if the drones are still there. She catches my eyes. I pinned her with a hard stare and shook my head slowly, I motion with my hand for her to stay still.

Don't move. They are still there.

I motioned again with my hand by hovering it over my face downward and mouthed, Thermal scanner.

Yes, the drones are using thermal scanners on them right now.

Horror, panic-stricken, and fear colored everyone's face.

Doomed, they are doomed!