The Only She

Chapter 2- As The Tide Turns

After I dash out the fire, I sit on a molded log and go through my pack. The worn leather is still warm from sitting in sunlight for so long. I feel inside for one of the only two weapons I own. I find the small pocket knife and take it out of it's jacket, savoring the feel of the cool metal on my warm skin.

I hear something behind me, and I shove the knife in my pocket and turn. I let out a sigh of relief. It's just a blue bird.

Trampling out of the woods I've been in for so long, I think of why I didn't leave sooner. Fear. From what I've seen on my hunts, society is broken.

The thought snakes through me like a thorned vine, but I keep moving.

Soon I find a small tree and take a left. The heart of the forest was my main hideaway, but there was no animals there to hunt.

I realize just how scary this trip is going to be. What if someone captures me? What if I get attacked?

Just then I step on a patch of thorns. I cover my mouth and try to be quiet as possible.

After I tumble over more vines and weeds, I reach the outskirts of the forest. Dusk is beginning to fall and the cool breeze sweeps over the trees, making me shiver inside my wool shirt.

At the edge of the forest, I hesitate. Do I really want to leave my home- my safety- for something that mind not even exist? And for who- a bunch of strangers? But I remember Jonas, his laugh, his smile, and how I'll never see it again.

My feet continue forward, but my heart stays behind.

The pavement is cracked and smeared with an unknown substance and I carefully step around it. Houses line the street ahead, and I duck behind a house that had an X on the door.

A few more houses follow and I carefully dart behind them so I'm not exposed. Who knows what's out there.
Night finally falls and I can't see. I should've made camp a few houses back. Now I see nothing but the darkness that I think is cracked road. One step. Safe.

The wind russles leaves around me, and I jump. The air smells like wet Earth. One step. Something crumbles, and I step back, but it's too late. Before I can stop myself on the pavement, I am engulfed with water. And I can't swim.