As I wake from my slumber I stretch out, looking around at my surroundings. It’s quiet. No one seems to be speaking to each other, just doing their jobs as though nothing was wrong. I stand up and brush myself off, stepping over the other beds to get outside. Taking a look around, I spot Sara pulling animals out of hav-a-hearts. I head over and on the way I see Olivia and Bowman, who seem to be doing okay considering what we’ve been through.

“Morning Sara”, I call out, looking at the animals she’s caught.

“Good morning”, she replies simply enough. I nod and go over to my tent to check out all the pelts that are drying, ready for me to begin making supplies for winter. I pull down a couple of fox pelts and grab my materials from the sewing kit found in the truck. Sighing, I sit down and begin making clothing, starting with a jacket.

Almost as soon as I start, Olivia walks in and I look up, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes?” I ask.

“I found someone who can help me with medical if you don’t mind”, she says.

I smile and reply, “you don’t have to ask me, it’s up to you. Besides, I’m not the one in charge here, it’s either Sara or Bowman.”

“Alright well, either way, his name is Austin. He’s one of the older guys here”, she says, smiling. She then waved goodbye and left my tent.

As I was left alone again I begin to think to myself, cutting out the pattern pairs for a hood for the inside of a jacket along with the liner. I take down the boar hide that had been drying. It’s about as durable as leather, and so I attach the fur to the leather and make it into a jacket. I sew the buttons on and drop my needle on the table, sighing and sitting back in my chair.

“C’mon Maddy, you have to get this done”, I say to myself as I stand up. Biting my lip, I grab my bag and put on the finished jacket, then head outside to search for Bowman. My eyes sweep the area and I see him working on weapons.

“Bowman!”, I call out, jogging over to him, “Hear me out when I say this. I want to leave camp for a bit. Get more fur, and see if I can’t find anything. There has to be something out there.” I bite my lip again and hope for a positive answer. It doesn’t come.

“Absolutely not”, Bowman says sternly.

“But wh-”

“I said no.”

“Ugh, y’know you can’t tell me what to do”, I say, frustrated at the lack of consideration. I cross my arms and stomp back to my tent. I set my back down and angrily start on the next jacket.

After a while, Bowman walks in, looking around before turning to me.

“You can go”, he says, “I didn’t want to say yes in front of Sara or Olivia, they would kill me. Just bring this with you”. He hands me a walkie talkie, which I tuck into my bag.

“There is something out there. I’m not sure what, but there are weapons, guns, medical supplies and we need them, so go before Sara gets in here”. He gestures to the back of my tent and I grab my bag before sneaking out the back of my tent and disappearing into the woods.

Sara pops her head into my tent after I leave and sees Bowman.

“Where’s Madds?” she asks, confused.

“She went to get water”, he said and left, leaving Sara wondering. She sighed, leaving the tent to go over to the medical tent and Olivia.

“Heya, how’s it hanging?” Sara asks as she walks in.

“Pretty good”, Olivia replies, “Austin just went to sleep. He’s doing a great job so far. He buried Jesse for me, which was hard”. She sighed.

“Hey, it’s alright, I promise”, Sara says to comfort Olivia. Olivia nods and then smiles

“Just between you and me, Austin is pretty attractive as well.”

Sara rolls her eyes and grins.

“Oh I see, I’m glad you think so. I think you have a chance”, Sara says and Olivia nods.

“Maybe so, but I don’t wanna talk much about it in case he comes back.”

Sara agreed, “Yeah, that’d probably be best. Hey, have you seen Madds anywhere?” she inquires.

“She asked Bowman something and then they went into her tent,but I’m not sure.”

Sara nods, “Alright, thanks. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Sara then leaves, grabbing her bag before heading towards my tent. She glances around before heading out the back entrance with a smirk.

A couple hours pass and I manage to make it about two miles past the helicopter we had stayed in overnight. Walking forward a little ways more, I notice something glinting like glass. I run towards it, and a run down city comes into view. My eyes widen as I get closer and closer to it, but my awe is broken when I’m tackled to the ground. Spitting the sand out of my mouth from the tumble, I look at my attacker to see Sara and splutter.

“What are you doing here?” I question.

“I’m here to keep you from getting killed”, she says, snorting and getting up off of me, “So where are we going?”

I get on my feet and notice that I’m coated in a black substance. I try to brush it off with no luck, as my hands are now covered in it.

“Well if you haven’t noticed”, I snap, “there’s a run down city. I was headed to that.”

Sara turns her head and her eyes widen.

“Woah! Wait, you haven’t seen Squad one anywhere have you?” she asks.

“Uh, no....whoops” I rub my head and look around before starting off towards the city again.

“C’mon, the city isn’t gonna explore itself.” I say. Sara begins to follow and about half an hour later we reach the city, both of us awestruck by what we see.

“We need to find shelter, first thing”, Sara says as I walk into the city.

“Yeah we do, but look at this place. It’s awesome!” I say with a wide smile on my face. I turn and notice Sara is smiling as well. We look around and I point out a small shack beside a tall building.

“We can set up there”, I tell Sara.

We walk up to it and go inside, setting our stuff down. We find a rough, torn up couch and lay back, relaxing.

“I didn’t think Bowman was telling the truth”, I speak up and Sara turns to me.

“He told you? Why wouldn't you share it?”

“I didn’t want people being stupid and coming out here and getting killed” I say in response.

We lay back again and stretch out, letting ourselves unwind. But the peace doesn’t last long. Not five minutes later, the door is busted open and two members of Squad one burst through the entrance: Danny and a scruffy kid with dreads. Sara and I jump up, but it’s too late to fight back. Danny shoots me in the leg with a tranq and Sara jumps out the missing window, booking it out, thinking I was right behind her.

Once I pass out, Danny grabs my arms and the other kid grabs my legs. They carry me out of the shack and into the city, eventually finding their way someplace underground.

Sara continues running, and about a mile away she finally looks over and realizes I’m not following her.

“Hey Madds?”, she says, worry creeping into her voice, “This isn’t funny, where are you?” She looks around frantically, as if that will make me appear. Looking back at the city, it hits her that I’m not coming back. I never made it out.