Earth's Fall

Day Two: It's a Bloody Escape Plan

Miles

    They trudged through the hot sand, they've only traveled for a day and already Miles was exuasted. His body ached and sweat pooled off of his forehead. Adalia kept next to him, asking him every five minutes if he was alright and every ten minutes if he wanted to turn around.

     Adalia pointed to the sky, "Miles, look . . ." he followed her finger, at least fifteen vultures flew through the air, four more sat in the bare trees. He furrowed his brows in confusion.

     "What do you think they're doing?" Miles asked, Adalia shook her head.

     "I wasn't meaning the vultures, Miles, there's clouds." As if on cue, rain started falling from the sky. Miles caught a droplet in his hand, within five minutes, a steady downpour started, turing the hot sand into a muddy soup.

    "There's a cave about a quarter of a mile away!" Will shouted over the sound of nervous chatter. "Let's move forward, it is only a little rain." Miles put his head down and pushed forward. The rain began to hurt, falling at an abnormal rate.

     "Adalia, it hasn't rained here for years, where did all this water come from?" Miles asked, the girl from yesterday was falling behind the group, struggling to carry a heavy bag. Ignoring whatever answer Adalia was going to say, he turned and jogged to Macy.

     "Need a hand?" her wet hair stuck to her face she sighed.

     "That obvious?" she replied, Miles nodded, he took the bag and put it on his shoulder. "So far this journey's been great, hasn't it?"

     "Not exactly," he pointed at the large cave about forty feet away, "there's the cave." The mud was suction cupping his shoes, making it harder to walk than usual. "If City Salvation is real . . . What do you plan on doing?"

       "If City Salvation is real and we find it before the end of the world, I want to find a way to lead the others there. I mean, the rest will happen on it's own,' she shrugged. "What about-" a sharp howl cut her off. Several others followed, much closer than the first.

       "Everyone! Remain calm!" Will shouted, that's when the first wolf pounced. Chaos broke out as it attacked a woman, under the rain, Miles couldn't tell who it was. Everyone began running towards the cave. Miles grabbed Macy's hand and pulled her forward, faster. The woman's screams were soon covered by the other howling.

        "Miles!" Adalia screamed his name from near the front of the group. Macy screamed as a wolf came on her left side. He pushed her out of the way, the wolf sank it's teeth into his left leg. Miles screamed in pain. Two teenagers ran towards them, smashing the wolf in the nose with a thick stick. They slid their arms underneath Miles' and pulled him to his feet, helping him walk.

        "Macy, go up with mom and dad!" one of them shouted, she stayed by their side. Miles grit his teeth, blood dripped down to his socks and shoes. The group backed into the cave. 

          "We just trapped ourselves," Macy whispered, Adalia shoved through the people, she wrapped her arms around Miles. The wolves surrounded he outside of the cage. 

           "Push back as far as you can in the cave," Will shouted above everyone's panic, lightning shot through the air, followed by a massive clap of thunder. The wolves inched into the cave. The pain in Miles leg expanded, making it hard to walk. A gunshot echoed through the air, causing them to jump, the wolves began to retreat as another gunshot smacked into the shoulder of one of them. A man clambered into the cave, a gun on his shoulder. 

          He had dark brown hair with gray intermixed that matched his beard, his eyes were a crystal blue, he grinned smugly at them. 

           "Don't look too shocked," he laughed, he had a heavy southern accent. "You better sit down 'fore you bleed out," he gestured at Miles. Adalia moved in front of Miles. "I've got a first aid kit." 

              "So do we. We don't need any more of your help," Will grunted, moving to the front of the group. 

                 "And I'll just assume y'all know how to clean and patch up a deep wolf bite too. Let's make a deal, I'll patch up the boy, if you let me stay here for the night. I'll be gone before you wake up in the morning," he shrugged. 

               "Fine," Will grunted, "Sit Miles." Miles sat down, tears welled up in his eyes. The man gave a smug grin and crouched down in front of him, he allowed Miles to rest his leg on his. 

               The man pulled out a bag and grabbed a gauze, rubbing alcohol, bandages, a needle and thick thread. "I'm gonna warn you, this'll hurt a bit, I've got nuthin' for pain," he said, Miles nodded, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "The alcohol will burn, but I gotta get it clean," without warning, he dumped it on the wound. Miles let out a scream and tried to pull away, but the man kept his leg down with fir hands. "The names Jared, by the way." 

               "Miles," he hissed through his clenched jaws. Jared threaded the needle, and pushed it through his skin. Miles closed his eyes tightly and held in another scream. The next five minutes felt like five hours. Jared pulled out the bandages and wrapped the wound tightly. 

                  "You'll be fine, Miles, just try not to do so much walking for a while," he stood up and brushed the palms of his hands on his pants. "Where are y'all headin', anyway?" 

                 "City Salvation," Will said, putting his hand out for Jared to shake. They shook hands. "I apologize for earlier. I should've trusted you."

                "City Salvation? You are all sorts of crazy. I've been out here for weeks searcin' for that place. All I can find is dirt and bones. There ain't nuthin' out there." 

*SCREECHES* I've now finished two updates and need to finish the rest before I lose power. OH ONE LAST THING. I am only TEN away from 900 hundred followers *SCREAMS* I love you all so much, my two year anniversary is on January Second. Think you could get me to 900 before then?