Part 5 (1/2)

”If we stay here any longer, we're going to get flattened.” Tex grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the exit, all the while dodging the stone missiles.

We made our way to the mouth of the cave and I felt something smash into my shoulder. I cried out before I could even think about m.u.f.fling the sound. I didn't need Tex to worry about me now. We had to look after ourselves in a situation like this.

”What are we going to do?” I groaned, standing just outside the cave. That's when I realized my pack seemed too light. It should have been heavier.

I had forgotten a few of my water bottles that I had carelessly taken out. Without looking at Tex, I quickly ran back towards the cave. A meteor catapulted out of nowhere into the side of the mountain, filling the mouth of the cave with tons of rubble. Dirt and rock exploded into the sky, pelting every inch of my body. I fell flat onto the ground and covered my head. Dirt blanketed me, creating a layer of filth across my body.

Tex was immediately by my side, but not a second later another meteor came barreling out of the sky.

And another.

Each one brought with it the sound of a gunshot. A trail of smoke followed behind the flying boulders, mixing with the dirt and debris that convulsed from the desert with each thunderous impact.

The cannon fire was relentless, a constant detonation. There was absolutely nowhere to run. All we had was hope-hope that we'd survive this onslaught of deadly projectiles.

The desert exploded around us into hundreds of dirt geysers that continuously rained down on us, stoning us and turning the air around us into a dusty veil.

”Tex!” I pleaded. I had no idea what to do or where to go to from here.

His hand wrapped around mine and I instantly felt safe, though never really out of death's promising grip. We just ran for it, not entirely sure where we were running to. We just ran in hopes of escaping the heavy artillery produced from the skies.

There was no point in speaking, for even screaming was drowned out by the sonic booms. The skies were masked with cloud-like contrails-so gray and thick they canceled out the moon.

We had ran for over an hour when we finally stopped. The attack had mercifully halted. The clouded sky had yet to dissipate, but I could almost make out a brightening behind the smoky substance. We had less than an hour to find safety.

I rested my hands against my knees, trying in vain to catch my breath. Tex was at my side immediately, examining me for any fatal wounds.

”I'm fine,” I shrugged him away, which caused a bolt of pain to shoot through my arm. My entire body was sore. I felt like I had barely escaped a stoning by an angry mob. ”How are you?”

”I've been through worse.” The side of his mouth curved ever so slightly. His answer left me wondering about his blinded eye all over again.

The desert was newly scarred, covered in both deep and shallow pits that we had to find our way around.

He grimaced and looked towards the sky. ”We don't have too much time left. The next safepoint is too far away. We're going to have to head in that direction and hope to find something to shelter us from the day.”

G.o.d must love me; we found a crater that had been newly formed in the side of a hill. It was deep enough to hide us from the daylight, though I wasn't too sure how we'd fare against the higher temperatures; we were so used to the caves and the cooler climate they held.

Tex led us about thirty-five feet into the hole when we were met with a wall. We were pressed against it, watching as the world outside of our subst.i.tute safepoint brightened. Every minute, the light grew closer and closer until it was almost biting at our toes.

Tex broke the silence. ”I have a feeling we won't get much sleep today.”

Chapter 8.

[ Elle ]

Night fell and I was dog tired. Sleep had come in short intervals all throughout the day. The unimaginable heat mixed with the light that threatened to consume us kept us both awake and too afraid to sleep.

”I'm not saying I regret coming with you, but holy c.r.a.p!” I stretched out all my limbs and stepped out into the night.

”I won't lie. Your little bunker would be the equivalent to Heaven right now.”

I laughed and it hurt. My lungs ached from overuse. I was pretty sure they were coated with dust as well. I didn't want to journey on tonight. I just wanted to curl up and hibernate for a couple of years, but that crater wasn't even close to safe.

I took a long pull from my water bottle and it dulled the gritty, uncomfortable feeling in my throat.

”It seems we've been to h.e.l.l and back in under a day.” Tex commented as he scanned the map. ”Good news is, we're over half way to the next safepoint, so we won't have to travel long tonight.”

”That news makes me so happy I could just cry.” I brushed a fake tear away from my eye.

”Please don't.”

”How compa.s.sionate.” I rolled my eyes.

”Compa.s.sion died when the world died.”

I shut my mouth. I had a feeling that world was code for Sarah and Danielle.

[ Tex ]

After a couple hours, we finally made it to the next safepoint.

We were beat; it had been both a physically and emotionally exhausting couple of days, but when was it not with us? I laid out the blanket and Blondie immediately took the side closest to the cave wall. She was out within seconds-the last twenty-four hours were etched into her heavy, labored breathing.

I went to fiddle with the lantern, but I thought better of it. The girl had the right idea. As grimy as I was, I didn't have the strength or the state of mind to do anything but exit this world for the day.

The blanket was large enough, so I could take a side to myself and not be in an uncomfortable proximity to her.

It was halfway through the next night when we both came to. Our stomachs were both b.i.t.c.hing at us; the lack of food was our grumbling wake-up calls.

After devouring every ounce of expired, tasteless food that was buried away in the cave, we cleaned ourselves up. I was pretty sure it'd take years to get every ounce of grime from our pores.

It was a luxury to feel well-rested for once. Though my muscles were still slightly sore, I didn't feel like dropping dead of my own accord. Looking back on the events over the last couple of days, it really was an amazing thing that we were both still alive. We should have been meteorite pancakes. Or at the least-buried alive. But, no. Here we were: alive and kicking.

Speaking of which...

”Hey, Kid. Since we won't be leaving until tomorrow night, how about some more training?”

She perked up then, pulling her knife from its holster and slicing at the air. It was either this or I was sure she'd come up with some inappropriate question to ask me that I wouldn't want to answer. I buried those thoughts back into the recesses of my f.u.c.ked up mind and flashed a smile in her direction. Blondie grinned and disappeared outside.