She was a slim, petite woman and the going was rough as she slowly picked her way through the undergrowth in the dark. She held her young son close against her; he was five years old and sleeping, making the trek to the rendezvous that much more difficult. Taking the trails would have been easier, but the trails were likely being watched. Fortunately, while she was slowed by the child's weight and the difficult terrain, she didn't have far to go. She finally got to the old logging road and saw the truck parked there. She rushed to the passenger door and scrambled in, buckling the sleeping child into the car seat.
She exited the truck and moved in front of it, watching back the way she had come. She was frightened but knew they would soon be on their way, but the wait for him was nerve-wracking. It was very quiet as she listened, waiting to hear anyone else's approach. Her eyes had become used to the darkness while she had been waiting. Finally, she heard someone making their way through the forest. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man step out onto the road. She ran toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm safe," he said as he held her close against him. "We have to go" They moved away from each other and went to the truck, he got into the driver's seat and she got in on the passenger side. He reached out and stroked the child's hair. "How is he?"
"Sleeping," She replied, "I'm making sure he doesn't wake up." He nodded, started the truck, and carefully drove down the rough logging road. As they moved along, There were sudden flashes and sounds of explosions in the distance. She gasped and turned to look back the way they had come. She could see the flashing of various bright colors and the steady red-orange glow of a fire. She looked at him, eyes wide. "What's happening?"
"I did what I had to do." He said, eyes fixed forward, his face set in a stern, grim expression.
"What does that mean? You did what you had to do?" She yelled, "WHAT did you do? My god, Evan, what have you done?"
"I bought us time." He replied, still not glancing at her
"Bought us time?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Bought with what."
"I think it's best not to talk about it now. We need to get as far away as possible, as fast as possible."
"Evan…"
"Damn it!" he shouted. "We can talk about this later! You can hate me later! You can leave me later! Right now, I only care about getting you both away from here and safe." He glanced briefly at her, then at the child, before returning to the road. "As long as you're safe, nothing else matters."
They drove through the night, disappearing into the mist that shrouded the valley—a mist occasionally illuminated with flashes and erie glowing auras. They ran as far as they could, never looking back and never stopping. As far as those who were left behind after that night were concerned, they were as good as dead, and all they had left behind was destruction and death.
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