Silence

Chapter 12 - Cold

It's been hours since either of us has said a word.

The sun has started to rise, casting long shadows in behind of us. We are both exhuasted, but we don't dare stop. Gods knows what's following us.

Suddenly, Sal stops. I fall into sand, which has become increasingly rocky, exhausted. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, voice scratchy and dry. He sighs, sitting down beside me.

"We can't keep going like this," he groans. "Neither of us are in good shape, and if we don't find food or water soon, we are going to die out here." He sniffs, frustrated. "I don't want to die."

I push my feet under the cool sand, letting it fall through my toes. I don't know what to say, and I feel the same way. I'm tired, dizzy, and don't feel like I can keep going.

But I want to survive.

"We're going to have to get used to it," I say, looking at the sky. "We can't go anywhere, and we can't stay in one spot. Cayson found us once, he's gonna do it again."

Sal grimaces at the name but says nothing. I feel bad for what I did to him. He could still have a chance, but now, because of me, everyone wants to kill him. If I had just done something different, like maybe not killed Doctor Cayson-

"How was Cayson alive again?" I ask, the whole thing coming back. I had killed him, but I just saw him again. Is that normal for nadics?"

"Honestly, I don't know. The whole government is full of secrets most employees don't even know. But if he can come back once, he can probably do it again."

"Reassuring."

Sal lets out a chuckle that leads into a cough. I lay down in the sand, arms on my chest, feeling the cold seep into my back. The millions of stars still shining above made this seem surreal. It almost felt like I was back on the beaches of Senapri, enjoying a peaceful sunrise.

It seems like forever ago, even though it's only been a few days.

Sal stirs, as if he's about to stand up. I look over to see what's wrong, and he's facing away, staring intently on the horizon, into the long shadows of the mountains of sands.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, but he puts a finger to his lips. My ears perk, and I sit up quietly. I can't see anything except for the dark rolling hills of rock and sand. Nothing stands out, but I'm getting anxious by the way Sal is acting.

So much for relaxing.

Sal stands up slowly, motioning for me to stay down. I obey, but I can't help stretching up a little, curious.

I still can't see anything, but Sal is slowly creeping away from me.

"Sal, you're scaring me," I whisper, not moving.

"There's something moving," he whispers back, not taking his eyes off of the thing. I move closer, saying against the ground.

"Maybe it's one of those bastin things," I offer. He shakes his head.

"It's too quiet."

I peer in the same direction he's looking, trying to see anything. I still can't see anything well, but...

"There's something moving!" I exclaim quietly, frozen.

A figure, tall, was pacing back and forth, not very far away from us. Sal crouches down next to me, staying perfectly still.

"I don't think they've seen us yet," he murmurs, glancing at me.

Just as he finishes, a small fireball lights up the area, igniting between us and the fugure.