Humanity Forsaken

Time For a Run

I wake up to the familiar sound of light snoring beside me. I slide out of bed and slip into my uniform and boots. I step into the early morning sun and rub my eyes. As my vision focuses I see the guys getting gear ready and the van is warming up.

"You ready, bro?" Khalil asks taking a drag off his cigarette. 

"Yeah, pretty much," I squint my eyes, "You still have some!?" I ask with a smirk.

"Hell yeah," he points toward the tool box in the bed of his truck, "That bitch is loaded with cartons. Tyler's present from El Paso I guess." I chuckle

"Of course!" I cackle, "I'm gonna get the guys and Kayla so we can see Jade before we leave."

We wait outside of Jade's place patiently. Aysa joins us outside after leaving the inside. He looks frustrated. Right as we reach a lull in the conversation she steps out.

"Excellent. You can listen." she smirks at Aysa, "Now, today, the main thing is food. If you find a deer, kill it. Bring it back. Travis knows how to deal with that. But food, medicine, anything you think could be useful," she turns toward Khalil and I, "I'll be overseeing the rifle lessons today. You've taught them all the basics?"

"But, you already teach them the archery... Are you sure?" I ask.

"I'll be fine. Just gotta make sure everyone can aim." she replies with a smile.

"Are we taking horses?" Kayla asks.

"Not today, I don't want to risk losing any of you or a horse. Take the van. If you guys aren't back by sunrise, we're gonna have a problem." she nods and we all nod in understand and we part ways. 

We set out on our run. We begin to discuss our plotted course while in the van.

"So, you think nobody has hit these places yet?" I ask Khalil pointing at a map the two of us are holding. 

"Yeah bro, I'm pretty sure it's off the path enough that we will be able to gather quite a few supplies." he replies.

"Hey guys," Aysa starts looking back from front seat, "Let's try to get home before dinner." He smiles wide.

I smile back but it feels forced. I know the history between Aysa and Jade and it sits poorly with me. I try to be cordial but I find myself sitting in silence in his presence often so as to not say anything I might regret. As far as I know he doesn't have any ill will toward me but I'm sure his advances are done with their past in mind.

We pull up to a string of houses. It appears as if the people who lived here simply vanished. It's an eerie silence only disturbed by the sound of our boots stepping on fallen branches and twigs. Khalil is on point at the head of the group. I am on his right with Nick to my right. Of his left shoulder is Aysa and on his left is Kayla. We move is a wedge formation as creep toward the first house. Khalil motions for me to move up. I align myself with the brick wall. The brick wall radiating with stored heat. The rest of the group stacks up behind me. I prepare to send the 'ready' signal down the chain until, I see a figure in the window across the street.