Salvation

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            The apple was clutched between my teeth as I held it precariously between my lips. My hands were busy as they wrapped the duct tape around my undershirt. I was using every survival skill I had ever learned in my 19 years of life.

The duct tape provided a layer of protection that the biters couldn't get through easily. The trick was to not tape your joints, you wouldn't be able to move. I let the tape drop onto my thighs as I held the apple in my hands, finishing the bite.

The fruit was sour and made my cheeks hurt from the taste of it, but it was food regardless. Two more apples in similar states sat in my bag. They were the only three big enough to harvest from the tree.

I finished off the apple, throwing the core off to the side as I picked the tape back up. Tearing off a strip, I wrapped it around my shoe that was beginning to pull away from its sole. I had never done this much walking in my life, but it was good. It kept my mind busy.

The farther South we went, the warmer it got. It darkened my skin even more than it already was. But with the warmth came more activity. I had to constantly be on the lookout. Not only were the biters in more multitude- but so were the humans and wildlife.

As I was putting the tape back into Easton's bag and slipping my leathers back on top of my tape covered clothes, I heard the shuffling behind me.

I paused, holding my breath as I listened keenly. The slight shuffling happened again, and I grabbed my bags throwing them onto my back with my bat in hand. My gun was on my hip as multiple knives were strapped onto my body. I whirled around, my bat defensively positioned up as I watched the figure emerge.

It was a large man, his body dirty as he was clothed in clothes of the old world. The jean material was uncomfortable and itchy on my skin, but some of my parent's generation wore them freely. It reminded them of a time they grew up in.

This man's jacket was coated in the same jean material and both were coated in dark blood, some dried but most of it was wet-fresh. His face was covered in hair, a beard grown long and curly. His head was completely bald, a stark difference to the hair on his face.

And he was grinning at me. I was frozen as his eyes narrowed at me. "What's a little thing like you doing all on your own."

"I'm not alone." My bluff came quickly as I grasped the handle of the bags tightly.

"Oh?" He raised a brow, questioning my statement. "If you're not alone then who's with you?"

I glowered at the man who was easily nearly twice the size of me. "My people." The words spat from my lips as he chuckles.

"You're a brave little one," He stepped forward, I fought every instinct in me that was trying to get me to run the other way. "But I don't think you have any people young one."

"You have no way of proving it." My words were hard, my heart beating out of my chest as I heard the shuffling start behind me.

My feet were moving before I could stop myself. I was running through the forest as the man was shouting commands behind me. I had heard the horror stories, I knew what it meant for evil to come after you.