Finding Destiny

Chapter 11 - Meeting Piper

Amber's P.O.V.

I looked behind my back every now and then as we proceeded from the 
city. But, to my relief, nobody was on our trail, at least as far as I could see. As we egressed from beneath the cloud of the depression, I pried my eyes from the rainy street and gray buildings, riveting my attention fully to what we were walking towards.  Sunlight now beat on my head as I scanned all directions. On either side of me was nothing but trees sprinkled about miles and miles of sand. Sort of like a forest that was thinned out in such a way where if I looked in certain places, I could clearly see the mountains lining the horizon.
The weather wasn't bad, though. It was similar to how it was in the afternoon back at home, which was convenient because that meant we all had dressed appropriately.
Me in my favorite pair of boots, blue jeans, and red flannel.
Joy in black jeans, converse and a purple hoodie.
Parker and Grayson were dressed similarly- except on top of their long sleeve shirts, Grayson wore a gray hoodie while Parker sported a denim jacket.
"Where do we go now?" Grayson inquired, breaking the sound of silence that had been a result of four, curious observers.
Parker scratched the back of his neck. "I honestly have no idea. I think it would be smart to go where people will be....Just not back there."
I glanced back one more time. It felt like Sodom and Gomorrah. The city looked dark, drenched and almost cursed, underneath a fierce bed of clouds that seemed only the cover the perimeter of the city, leaving everything around it, chipper and dry.
"Follow the path," I muttered, pointing out the train track that cut cleanly through the wilderness. "If people would be anywhere, the train track will lead us there."
"Good idea, Amber. But what about food? We could be traveling for days."
I hesitated and then smiled. "We don't need all the answers, Parker. Why don't we just use blind faith? We don't have much else of a choice."
He stared at me for a fraction of a second and then sighed. "You're right. Let's go."
I giggled. "Good, an adventure I get to lead." I jumped on top of the train track and gestured for my companions to follow.
"We shouldn't walk on the track..." Parker protested.
"Who's stopping me?" I asked,  continuing to balance myself on the railing of the train track.
"An oncoming train might," he replied frowning.
I rolled my eyes and kept walking. "There are leaves and dirt covering the tracks it looks old like there hasn't been a train gone through here in years. You really think one will run me over now?"
"This isn't exactly home and you can't be too careful." He replied, almost snappingly. 

"Fine then," I rolled my eyes, hopping down. 

For the next couple of hours, we walked, at first in silence but eventually, we were talking and laughing. I decided to take this time to get to know Parker and Grayson better by observing them as well as peppering them with questions. 

Grayson was the type of person that stuck with the people he knew best - that being Parker. His shoulders slouched just a bit as his dirty-blonde, Bieber haircut fell over his face. He didn't speak very much. So, I determined he was an introvert.

Parker was an introvert too - but just barely. Which, once again complimented me. I was an extrovert, but just barely. Opposites attract, right?? 

He, like me, was also artistic, but he was artistic in a different way. 

I liked my art and photography while he preferred expressing his artistic qualities in the form of music. 

"I wish you'd brought your guitar with you. I was really looking forward to seeing it," I said. 

He nodded. "Yeah.... I used to wake up early and go play it on the gazebo at the park whenever I had a free Saturday.... Or sometimes Sunday after church when the neighborhood couples would sometimes be taking walks as the sun was setting....Just so that I could have awhile to wind down and maybe help someone have a brighter day. Music is pretty powerful,  But, you know. Seniors don't have much time for that - especially if they're already falling behind like me."