DeadZone

Chapter Four: Hunted

The next day...

Kent was already up. He was at the trading post, conversing with the Trader.

"Did you always work in a similar position back then?" Asked Kent.

"No not really. I used to be a lumberjack. Selling lumber and building with it. That's how I managed to build this entire trading post in the past years." Explained the Trader.

"Wow. That's really impressive." Replied Kent.

"Thanks." Said the Trader.

"Hey, Kent!" Exclaimed Kathleen.

Kathleen came running into the trading post to regroup with Kent.

"You ready to set out?" Asked Kathleen.

"More or less." Replied Kent.

"Alright. What are we waiting for then?" Asked Kathleen.

Kent and Kathleen started their final stretch to the helicopter. Kent waved goodbye to the Trader as they walked under the archway. But unknowingly, they were going to be followed. As they walked down the street, the military group met up with the Trader.

"Have they left yet?" Asked the leader.

"Yes. They just left now, I suggest you wait a few minutes so that you can stay out of sight." Suggested the Trader.

"Alright." Replied the leader.

Kent and Kathleen were discussing Kent's plan for finding his friend. Asking things like: "Where should we start looking?" or "How long will it take?"

Kent only responded with "I don't know." As he felt unsure about the plan.

"Hey. I never caught your friends name. It would be beneficial to know, so I can ask around whenever possible." Suggested Kathleen.

"His name is Damian Korse." Replied Kent.

"That's a nice name." Said Kathleen.

Kent pulled out the map. And started to estimate the travel time.

"If my math is correct and my luck hasn't run out, we should arrive in Zeroton in 4 hours." Said Kent.

"I'm hoping you're right." Replied Kathleen.

"Me too. But I'm doubting myself." Said Kent.

They resumed their trek to Zeroton. While the military group who were hunting them followed not to far behind. They continued to follow them for two hours. But came to a halt when Kent and Kathleen stopped. The military group didn't know why Kent and Kathleen stopped.

Until they heard something.

The sound of a screech echoed through the damp and muggy forest they were situated in. It sounded like a Remnant. But this wasn't just an ordinary Remnant. Throughout these years of survival, the cause of this unfamiliar screech was only seen by a few. And that few people who came face to face with it never made it out alive to tell the tale. There was only misleading stories that spread like a disease.

Another screech echoed, but it was different.

Instead of being a high-pitched screech, it sounded more like a roar.

Kent, Kathleen, and the military group could all hear it now.

"Holy shit..." muttered Kent.

"What the hell was that?" Asked Kathleen.

"We need to get moving, right now." Said Kent.

Kent started to run, and Kathleen followed. They leaped over fallen logs and moss covered boulder frantically.