Survival

Alaric

We slept on the beach. We didn’t leave. I could never do that to her. Now we have escaped we need a plan. We need to get back in. Into the Dome. The sun is rising, a white patch over the red sky, I sit and watch as hues of orange emerge and the sea licks the sand, covering more and more with each greedy splash. I tap Skyrah and she sits up rubbing the sleep from her eyes, hair flatter on one side, a sluggish expression, her face not totally awake.

“What?” she whispers.

“I wanted you to see this” I say pointing to the sunrise. She shuffles closer and I wrap my arm around her shoulders as she leans into me. The beautiful silence speaks a thousand words. Sometimes silence is better than words. The silence thanks her for everything she has done. The sky glows softly. For the first time ever I feel content. Finally at peace. I stand up and walk into the forest and get a large stick. I get the knife out of my pocket, Skye gave it to me last night. I start to sharpen one end, soon enough the wood shavings cluster around my feet. I take the spear and walk into the ocean, I start to thrust it into the water, every time I pull it back up its empty.

“Give it here” Skyrah demands, opening her fist, fingers wriggling. I reluctantly hand it over.

“You’re doing it wrong” she says standing as still as stone “You don’t have to move your body like that, you have to wait, you’ll scare them off, when you feel movement, a quick swing down and, there you go” she says holding up the stick, a large fish hanging off the end. I stomp out of the water, maybe she’s right about the maturity thing, she’s always right. I gather some more branches and dead leaves for a fire. I get a fire going, blowing on the embers lightly to spark it, luckily it bursts into flames. Skyrah cooks the fish and another one she caught. It’s not much but it’s enough to survive. I wake everyone and we eat in silence. It’s fascinating how silence can have different effects. Sometimes it’s beautiful and stunning. Other times it can be tense and uncomfortable. Strange. I ask Skyrah to walk with me.

“We need a plan, to get back in I mean” I say looking down at the sand.

“I know, but we can’t get too close, they’ll still be looking for us”

“I know” I sigh.

“The hovercraft exit I fell from can’t have been too far up, I passed out but not for long”

“We can get a look from a distance” I suggest

“Yeah, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea for your family to come, it will be dangerous”

“I agree” I say, we turn back and pitch the plan to the family. They don’t disagree. Skyrah takes her gun and I take the one I picked up, she takes the knife and we leave the makeshift one with my parents.

“I love you” I say to my family and hug each one.

“I’m going to finish the government and their plan forever” I say. Skyrah and I turn and walk off into what could possibly amount in our deaths. Skyrah takes the lead, gun clasped tightly to her body. You can see in her eyes how bad she feels, for all the people she has killed, even if it was to survive she still regrets everything, she still hates herself for it.

“I don’t understand why it’s so bad when it’s dark out, I haven’t seen anything” she says balancing on top of a small rock.

“It depends what part you are in, but trust me you don’t want to know what lives out here”

“I do though, I’m curious” she says and topples off the rock, stumbling slightly. I shake my head and smile a little.

“How are we going to get back in?” I ask, my arm drags down from the weight of the gun.