Nation 27

CH 42: I Can Make This Work

[21 November 2021, Sunday]

The small group moved cautiously through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by a carpet of fallen leaves. The dark canopy overhead swallowed the feeble light of the moon, casting an eerie glow on the uneven path beneath their feet. Hours of traveling in the oppressive silence and pitch-black darkness had left the group both physically exhausted and mentally drained. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sent shivers down their spines, their senses heightened by the unknown lurking in the shadows.

As they trudged on through the silent forest, a sense of isolation enveloped them. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and each member of the group clutched their makeshift weapons a little tighter. The only sounds that accompanied them were the muted crunch of leaves and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees.

Many hours later, just as their weariness threatened to overwhelm them, the forest seemed to come alive. Birds chirped overhead, breaking the oppressive silence that had weighed on their shoulders for so long. Warm sunrays began to filter through the dense canopy, casting a golden glow on the once-darkened ground. The sudden burst of life and light lifted their spirits, and the group exchanged relieved glances.

The warmth of the sun's embrace felt like a comforting balm on their cold, tired bodies. They paused, allowing the rejuvenating rays to penetrate their frozen skin. It was then that they realized the true extent of the night's chill. The air had been biting, the temperature dropping to levels that had seeped into their bones, yet the adrenaline-fueled journey had masked the discomfort.

“Phew… How long do you think it has been?” Clara asked her brother.

“Hours,” Adam murmured.

“No, I meant how long do you think it has been since we left the facility? By my count, it should be November 21st…” Clara started counting her with her fingers, “1, 2, 3… 19… Oh whoa… We’ve been out here in the forest for about 19 days?”

“I guess…?”

Adam passed to Clara the waterskin he had been drinking from. As the group had been traveling for hours and it was uncertain of when they would finally rest or set up camp, Clara sipped at the waterskin, hoping to conserve as much water as possible.

“It was really lucky that Brien and Mike were skilled enough to use the skins of the animals they hunted to make these waterskins.”

Adam grunted as he continued to look ahead.

“Are you upset with me or something?”

“No, there’s just nothing to say.”

“Then look at me,” Clara demanded though she had not raised her voice. The rest of the group who were walking in front of them remained oblivious to the potential sibling spat.

Adam sighed softly and stopped to meet Clara’s gaze.

“What is it now?”

Clara raised a brow.

“Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? Why are you so grumpy this morning?”

“In case you’ve forgotten, none of us got much sleep last night due to the coyotes roaming too close to our campsite. Also, I’m not grumpy. I’m just exhausted. Not everyone can be as cheery as you- apart from those noisy birds you hear in the trees.”

Clara’s expression darkened.

“...Did you just compare me with birds?” she asked in a dangerously low tone.

“I… I was just saying without thinking. I’m sorry.”

“Aww~ I was just teasing you~ Anyway, I’m usually in good spirits around this time of day. I am a morning person, you know. Regardless of everything, the morning is the start of a new day, and it gives me hope that things could get better.”

Adam smiled softly and hugged Clara.

“That’s very lovable and optimistic of you to say that. I’ve always loved that about you.”

“Sheesh. Quieten down, will you?” David called out from behind the siblings, “Did you two forget that I was behind you? I only wished I had popcorn to munch on as I watched this little act you siblings were doing.”

Adam’s cheeks flushed as he stepped away from a giggling Clara.

“Speak for yourself, David. Your pitiful excuse of a complaint is the star attraction of the act!” Mike yelled from the front of the group.

At this point, the group had stopped walking altogether. 

Laughter and relief spread among the group as they basked in the newfound warmth. The forest, once a foreboding labyrinth, transformed into a haven of serenity under the gentle touch of sunlight.

Once the group had managed to catch a few minutes' breather, they started prepping to continue their journey.

“How long more before we reach the town?” Clara asked.

“No more than an hour, I think,” Jared replied. After all, the group was heading toward his hometown.

“Oh? Are we that close?”

“Yes, but we need to be careful once we reach the edge of the forest. The hill at the entrance of the forest is a little steep.”

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[About an hour later…]

Almost immediately upon reaching the entrance of the forest, the atmosphere shifted once again. The once vibrant sounds of nature faded away, replaced by an unsettling quietude. It was as if the very air held its breath. The group, now more attuned to their environment, grew wary of the peculiar pattern unfolding around them.

The city loomed in the distance and the forest has returned to a profound silence. The trees seemed to stand sentinel, their branches reaching toward the sky like spectral fingers. The group exchanged uneasy glances, sensing an unspoken tension in the air.

It was understandable that the proximity to the city might bring about a different set of circumstances, but the stark contrast between the vibrant mid-forest and the hushed outskirts of the urban landscape left the group perplexed. The city, once a beacon of civilization, now appeared foreboding against the backdrop of the eerily silent forest.

David clicked his tongue and Mike sighed.

Jared felt his heart sank.

The desolate town and unsettling silence could only mean one thing.

And it was not a good sign.

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[Point of view of an unknown person]

[At the edge of the forest on the Southern side, close to a nearby town…]

A lone survivor emerged from the edge of the dense forest and rubbed at his sensitive blue eyes upon the sudden brightness of the open space. Before him was a small town. Its modest structures peeked out from behind a makeshift wooden wall that encircled the settlement. The sight of the barricade hinted at a community that had learned to adapt and defend itself in the face of whatever challenges had befallen the world.

Despite the relative quietness of the town, the survivor's ears caught the distant sounds of life. Faint murmurs, the occasional clatter of tools, and the muted laughter of children echoed through the air. It was a stark contrast to the solitary journey through the silent forest, and the survivor's heart quickened with a mixture of relief and cautious excitement.

As a breeze blew at his wavy blond hair, a smile touched his lips.

“I can make this work.”