The Beaten Path Is In Better Shape Than I

When Surviving Is The Only Way To Live

My mini-meltdown session lasted most of the night, but even after, I still didn't sleep. I kept watch out of the small hole formed in the bent door: no one - not even those who appear human - could find us..

How long would it take us to walk to my house from here? My estimate was around two days if we went back through the city. But I immediately crossed out that idea. They were probably heading for the city first. They would look like people, and if they were looking for us, we'd be so screwed.

Was driving too conspicuous? I thought so.

Was it a risk I was willing to take? Probably.

I shifted, and could just see some cars lined up down the row.

Definitely.

Was I willing to steal to get home?

That was a hard decision.

Walking. We could walk. It would take us awhile, but...

People were coming outside now, in the early daylight. I watched as the turned the corner and came towards us. I thought for a moment: no one had driven past us to park those cars. Had those people been here all night? Where did they sleep?

I listened intently, hoping to pick up something.

"...the cameras don't reach past this corner, but that was the last place we saw her." A man in a security uniform asked.

"Did she have anything with her?" A woman asked. She looked like she was made specifically for business.

"A backpack. It was weird, though. If we had better footage, I'd be able to confirm this, but I think she had something else on her back."

"Something else?"

I saw the guy rub the back of his neck. "I don't know. It just looked like she was carrying more than a backpack."

"Was she having trouble? Maybe it was just heavy?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She made a disappointed sound. "Fine."

They made their way towards us, and split apart, searching.

The man and woman stayed together a bit longer.

They began conversing in another language; one I couldn't recognise. As soon as they began speaking, their faces changed, and there was a lack of... emotion? Probably.

She came closer to the door of the box, and I moved out of view before she could see me. I prayed to God that Atom didn't wake up or cause any noise or even move as I heard her step up. I practically felt her gaze move through the cargo hold.

I held my breath, knowing she was searching. She stayed there far too long for comfort, and I thought we were dea-caught.

I thought we were going to get caught. What would happen? Would she be with them? Help us get away?

Risks were not an option. We were going to stay alone together, me and Atom. Lest we die for someone else.

It seemed like an eternity before I heard a sigh, and the clicking of her footsteps as she walked away.

I let out a breath, and collapsed to my knees as silently as I could. I curled up, pulling my knees close.

I don't know how long I stayed like that, but I felt frozen for a long while. But more pressing matters tipped my scale back towards logic.

I went through my bag, finding all that I had to eat and drink.

Out of everything I brought with me, and if I remembered all that I'd packed into my duffle bag, I'd packed a total of seven boxes of nature bars, two bags of trail mix, and half a box of drink mix, along with three bottles of water.

Rationing.

There was no way we'd make it with this little for how long the trip around the city would take.

We'd have to find more food.

But where?

It's not like we were in a forest. There was no where we could hunt - not that I really had any business doing that. Doubtful I could kill an animal even in these desperate times.

Hadn't I killed that-

No. Not now. Not for now. Later. Worry later.

We'd just have to make a stop. Maybe a store by the suburbs? If we could find a way to hide for awhile; from the people, too, than we could make it in and out, no problem.

I'd have to keep Atom somewhere. Somewhere he'd be safe but safe alone, so I could run-

We'd use what resources we have available to us when the time comes.

I had just finished packing our stuff back up, when I heard Atom stirring. I climbed my way over to him as quietly as possible.

"Hey, buddy." I whispered.

He stretched out, yawning, and opened his eyes just barely, squinting at me. "Hi."

I found it kinda strange. I had figured that I'd have to calm him down. Break the news to him that it all hadn't been a dream. But he seemed fully aware of what was happening.

I let out a thankful breath.

"Time to get moving." I urged him up into a sitting position, and he let me pull him forward.

"Where are we going?" He asked as I went to work with rolling the blanket up so that we could hit the road as soon as possible.

"We're going to go find my family first. They'll be able to help us."

"Help us what?" He asked, in that innocent sort of way.

"Help us find your family." I said, smiling as I turned to him, throwing the bag over my shoulder. I held out my hand to him. "Come on. Let's get going. The sooner we get there, the better."