Kendra got ready slowly. She wasn’t looking forward to going back out there. But she knew she was the best person for the job. She’d already been there and was going to be the guide for today’s trip.

As she walked up to Shayla’s shack she saw who was waiting. Levi, Clint, Keeley and Sarah were waiting. The camps best hunters. They usually went out in pairs and so far they hadn’t lost any of their partners. Kendra felt sad and angry about losing Jason. But she told herself it wasn’t her fault. There were just too many things changing all the time.

“Hey you guys.” Kendra called out as she walked up on the group. The guys in the group waved back. Keeley and Sarah both called out to Kendra.

“How you doing Kendra? It was rough hearing about Jason.” Keeley greeted Kendra.

Kendra mumbled something that wasn’t heard.

“Shayla already told us a little about what happened. Can you add anything to the situation?” Sarah asked.

“I don’t know what I can add. Jason and I went to a large tree on the other side of town. Jason saw something shiny and he went for it. We both got attacked at about the same time. I didn’t get a good look at what was attacking us. Jason got pulled underground and I left because I knew I was outclassed.” Kendra explained.

Levi snorted. “Figures a girl would bail.”

“Hey now. We don’t need this kind of talk here.” Shayla interjected.

Levi had always been sort of a jerk but with the end of the world; he was more of a jerk. There were dark rumors about what he and Clint had been upto after the event happened. No one ever had any proof and so far the pair had pulled their weight in the camp.

“What are you guys using for weapons?” Sarah asked. “Metal has been acting wonky ever since the event.”

“Ugh. I know.” Clint sighed. “All the metal seems to have started to dissolve or rust at an accelerated rate. No one seems to know what to do about it. I have a baseball bat I’m using and a fire hardened spear.”

Levi nodded at this. “Yeah, depending on the area it's a mace and spear world. You never really know how much you rely on metal until it all seems to disappear.”

Sarah nodded at this. “Well it’s not gonna get easier the longer we wait. Let’s get to it.”

Sarah clapped her hands and turned to walk away. Kendra called out. “Hey, wait up for me.”

The group fell into an easy stride as they headed over to the other side of town. The town looked run down and abandoned. Rolsville used to have around 2,000 people in town, but after the event people disappeared or were killed by monsters. The survivors congregated at the middle school. People or families that hung out on their own tended to vanish and never be heard from again.

As the group walked along it was easy to see what Clint meant. Houses were falling about. Everything made of metal was falling apart. It made foraging for food difficult. It wasn’t uncommon for the scavengers to find exploded cans of food in the homes they were searching. People were trying to start a garden but it was only a couple of months since the event and food hadn’t grown in yet. There was sporadic contact with people who lived out of town but less and less people were coming in. It had been a week since someone had come into town.

And there were the animals. Animals were changing. Growing larger, more aggressive. The coyotes were the size of wolves. The turkeys that wandered on the outskirts of town were getting bigger. It was reported they were about the size of a small raptor. A four foot tall murder turkey running at you had a way of loosening one’s bowels. The gobble of the turkey had deepened to the snarl of an unmuffled engine. And the turkeys were growing claws.

As the group got closer to the tree, Levi commented on the surroundings. “Is it just me or are the trees getting noticeably bigger over here?” Levi asked.

Kendra thought about it. “I think you are right. The trees over here are bigger. It’s not something we noticed because Jason and I were over here a lot.”

“You know I don’t think there were any survivors from this side of town.” Sarah said. “You don’t think there is something weird about this side?”

Kendra shrugged. “I don’t know. Up until recently the only weird thing we found was that oak tree.”

“Alright you guys. We are getting closer. Let’s tighten it up.” Levi said. Everyone in the group got quiet and slowed down. The oak tree tree they were looking for was huge. It towered over the neighbor. Its branches rustled in the wind. There was an opening beneath the tree.

“That wasn’t there last time.” Kendra whispered as she pointed at the large hole under the tree.

“Look at the size of that hole. Whatever is in there is huge.” Clint said.

Levi grunted. “You probably just didn’t notice it last time you were here.”

Kendra was visibly frustrated with Levi. She didn’t like being dismissed in such a fashion. She had managed to survive just as long as everyone else.

Levi continued. “I think we should check it out. Go inside and see what is making that hole.”

Clinted dissented. “I think we should try to draw whatever it is out. Maybe try a fire in the entrance?”

“Hmm. That might work.” Levi said. “You got your fire stuff?”

“Yeah. I got some flint and tinder. It’ll take me a couple of minutes to get one going.” Clint replied.

“Alright. Everyone spread out. Gather the firewood we need and pile it in front of the hole. There are plenty of trees around here. We will get everything we need right here.” Levi told them.

Kendra and Sarah went one direction. Levi and Keeley went another direction. It took them about ten minutes to gather up the deadfall they needed for their plan. Clint took it and began working on the fire. Once it was started they realized the problem with their plan.

“The fire isn’t drawing right. The smoke isn’t being pulled in.” Clint complained.

“Right. Looks like we’re going in.” Levi said. “I’ll go first. Clint you take rear. You girls stay in the middle.” Levi waited for everyone to take up positions and then he slowly walked up to the entrance. It was almost large enough for him to stand up straight. His head would just bump the top of the entrance. His spear was almost too long. He hunched his shoulders, tucked his spear against his shield and began shuffling forward. Kendra, Sarah and Keeley followed behind him. Each one had a brand from the fire to provide light. Clint brought up the rear.

They slowly shuffled their way inside. The tunnel was even bigger once they got inside. The tunnel got wider and taller. There was enough room for Levi to stand up.

“It’s wider than I thought in here.” Levi said as he entered the first room. “There has to be something awesome in here.”

“That’s what Jason said right before something got him.” Kendra told him.

“Well that isn’t going to happen to me. Jason was a loser. I ain’t a loser.” Levi confidently boasted.

“Look, there’s another tunnel leading deeper inside.” Clint pointed out. “We should follow it.”

“I don’t know. We got attacked on the surface last time. Who knows what’ll happen underground.”