Beyond Midnight

|03|

Fray

A rustling in the foliage draws my draining attention to a spot between two large trees. I squint, seeing a small figure coming towards me through the sunny patch of forest. I narrow my eyes, my tired state unable to process what I'm seeing for a moment.

I startle, jumping up as the sleepy fog passes over me. I had almost dozed off. I've been sitting here for a long span of time. The sun has moved over halfway across the blue sky. I step back as the shadow grows nearer, and that's when I spot her, for it is most definitely a she.

The female is tiny, and frail, frailer than the other human I've seen. But she is still obviously female. Her small breasts fill out her shirt, and her long hair shines gray in the beams of light that drain from the tree branches above.

My hair is also gray, but hers is much lighter than my own. And this female appears to be well beyond my own age. Her slight face is lined with too many wrinkles to count. Her slim arms and legs are dotted with brown spots from sun exposure. It is obvious she has been alive for many years. She is a senior, but she is still beautiful in her own right. All females are amazing to look upon, but I suppose that is just myself being unaccustomed to seeing them at all.

The female looks around cautiously, but she does not see me, she simply bends down to check the broken trap that sits on the ground.

It only causes me to become angry. How dare any male let a female out by herself to check traps? It is a male responsibility to care and provide for all females. The females are meant to stay in the den where it is safe while they wait for males to bring their food.

They are too sacred to simply send out into the wild.

My anger becomes so much that I step out of where I was hiding to confront this female. When the tiny thing sees me, she leaps back, falling on her behind as she stares up at me with large, frightened eyes.

It would seem I have scared her. I wish that I could simply apologize, but she does not understand my language. It seems an ingnorant thing to even try communicating with her, but I cannot help myself.

"Do not be afraid, I simply wish to know where your den is." I say calmly, hoping my voice will sound soothing to her. Instead of being calmed, she scrambles on the forest floor, dirt and leaves and sticks scattering as she desperately claws for anything to gain purchase. When she does, she's turning and running away, a startling scream erupting from her.

I sigh, knowing I probably should have approached her with more stealth. She must be terrified. It is no use getting her back, in fact, maybe it is a good thing that she runs, because I can only guess where she is running to. Her den.

Grabbing my com from my waist, I bring it up to my mouth, pressing the button and speaking into it.

"I have found a female, she is leading me to the human den, I will send you my location once I have found the rest of the humans." I say, already moving to follow after the creature that is not as fast as she thinks that she is. I would easily be able to capture her.

My com spits out several replies from my very excited team of warriors. They are ready for whatever may come, anxious to see a female for themselves.

I shake my head, trying not to be too excited myself. But, I must approach with caution. I have a feeling that not all is as it seems.

Soleil

I look up from my book when shouts ring out through the hallways. I slam the thing shut with a thump, forgetting the pages completely as I throw my legs over the side of the bed and sprint for the doorway in alarmed curiosity.

Since the compound is actually an old abandoned Middle School, and the halls are filled with metal lockers that only amplify noise. Each classroom and office is a small home of sorts. I see others poking their heads out at the sudden yells.

I leave our room, shutting the door behind me and following the chaos that seems like a constant stream. I see people running past me, doors slamming shut as family's disappear in their own rooms for protection from whatever may be going on.

My heart sinks, wondering what happened. There's so many unknowns in this crazy world we live in. There are people who would steal from us, kill us, kidnap us. There is no end to what could possibly be going on, but I plan on finding out one way or another.

I spot Momma, she's running towards me with a pale face and haunted eyes. When she spots me, she hurries over and pulls me to her chest, burying her head in my shoulder as she leans down to hug me, clutching at my back like a mad woman.

"Thank goodness you're all right. I didn't know if you were here or if you went outside, I swear I thought... I didn't know..." She's trembling, clutching at me and sobbing into my shoulder.

Panic strikes, seeing my strong Mother reduced to a heap of tears. She's terrified.

"Momma, what's wrong?" I stroke her hair gently, hearing her sniffle as she continues to hold onto me as if I'll be torn away from her at any moment. I've never seen her this scared, not since Dad left.

Finally she pulls away, looking down at me with tears running down her face.

"There are men here, huge, scary men, and one just chased poor Debby through the woods. Oh, Soleil, they won't leave. They're standing around outside, all around the outside gates. They look like they're just... waiting for something." She shivers, her brown eyes clouded with fear. I understand what she's saying, but I can't quite picture it. Big men outside the gates?

I feel bad for having a strand of excitement run through me, especially when my Mom is acting like this. But, I can't help it, nothing exciting ever happens around here. Ever. Even if it is dangerous, it's still something out of the ordinary.

"Let's go back to the room, what do you say?" I murmur, rubbing her back, trying anything to make her feel better. She nods, sniffling. I can see that she's still petrified, and I need to get her mind off of it.

We walk together, our elbows linked. As much as we argue, I know my Momma only wants what is best for me. It's hard for me to see it sometimes, but we are both stubborn, we butt heads, that's how relationships are sometimes.

Right before we get back to our room, Momma looks at me and presses her lips together as if she's in deep thought. People continue panicking around us, but I try to tune it out.

"What?" I wonder. She shakes her head.

Suddenly we're stopped in the middle of the hallway, facing each other in this grave situation.

"You have to promise me you won't go outside, Soleil. Please. When I thought that something might have happened to you... I just couldn't bear it. Please, for your Momma's own peace of mind, just stay inside for now. Alright?"

Her request only makes me picture countless days of being locked up in these full walls, eating the same foods and doing the same chores without breathing any fresh air or seeing the sun without glass separating me from it.

But, when I see the pain that stares back at me from my Mother's gaze, I know that I have to promise her. Even if I don't like it, this is for the best, for her and myself.

"Alright. I promise, Momma."