End of Days: The Hunted

Chapter 17

Tom slowly got up from the damp cave floor. He walked past everyone, whom were still asleep. He went outside and stretched as he yawned. It was a bright warm day compared to last night. The sun was nowhere to be seen, but the clouds were a soft red and pink portrayed across the light blue sky. It was beautiful. A bird chirped from a tall tree. Tom whistled back at it and the bird sang rhythmically back. Tom whistled back and forth with the bird. He felt his nose to make sure the swelling went down. It was much smaller than last night, and he could breathe much better. He felt good. "Today's gonna be better than it has been." he watched the sun peek from behind a pink cloud, "I hope."

Matt nudged Mary awake, "Good morning."

"Good morning." she smiled.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked.

"Better than I have been lately. What about you?"

"Great. I slept wonderfully."

Tom entered the cave, "We should probably head out. It's a good day to move and we best stay in front of those soldiers."

"Hey Tom." Matt paused, "I'm sorry about last night."

"It's fine." he started walking toward the others, "We better get moving."

Mary touched Matt's shoulder, "Don't worry. He always says that. It's his way of forgiving you."

"Okay." he got up, "Let's wake everyone up."

They traveled across a dirt path as the sun beat down on them. Sweltering heat had drained them of any energy they had felt that morning. "Man, it's hot!" exclaimed Brute.

"I know." said Saul sweating excessively, "It sure did get hot after the sun came out."

"Maybe we should take all of this armor off?"

"Sure. It will definitely help. We can take a rest over near that tree there."

They stopped under the shadow of a huge pine tree and tore off their heavy armor. Brute let out a huge sigh of relief, "That feels good."

"Five minutes, then we head out again." Saul pointed toward a cave, "We should search there first. They may have used it as shelter."

Brute whined, "Only five minutes?"

"Brute, shut up. Would you rather stay here, or finish this mission and go home?"

"Go home."

"Okay then."

Saul started toward the cave, "Come on."

"We should've stayed in the cave." Rachel expressed how unsatisfied with the heat she was, "It was cold in there."

Tim held her hand and pulled her along, "Yeah, but this is safer."

"I don't see how." she pouted.

Tom suddenly stopped in front of them all with his hand. He turned to them and put an index finger in front of his lips. He then started off toward a tree and crouched down. Mary swiftly went to his side and her eyes widened. Mary and Tom quietly spoke to each other for a few minutes. Then they suddenly returned to the group. "We need to turn around. Now." demanded Mary.

"Why? What's going on?" asked Luke.

Mary frowned, "There is some sort of camp over there."

"A camp? What do you mean?"

"A concentration camp." Tom paused for a moment, "For Christians."