Episode Seven, The Breaking
The evening was encroaching fast upon the survivors as they maintained their steady march south of their original campsite. Johnny and Jenna hadn't had to work hard at convincing the others that the site was no longer safe to stay in since the strange demon that called himself their king had left. He had promised the return of his minions on the very next night.
The group inevitably decided that their safety and freedom from the encroaching monsters was far more important than food and clothing. Johnny had made the comment that they had no idea what was in the food that would be delivered in the first place. For all they knew the food could have been contaminated with something that could make them all sick or maybe even a drug to knock them out, making their capture all the easier.
Brian's legs felt like they were made of led as he pulled on his half of the door which held the limp body of the man Adam had stabbed and left to die. The group debated over Adam and Sheri's disappearance as well but decided that the issue of chasing the two down was the last thing they needed on a priority list after the attack. Brian did wonder if the vanishing of the two had anything to do with the sudden ambush. After all, Sheri had known of this place before she even got on the ship, to begin with. Who could be blamed for thinking Adam could have been in on it with her the entire time.
"You look like you need to rest for a bit," Carolyn told him in a low tone.
Brian looked to his side to see the beautiful Carolyn walking next to him with concern painted on her face. Her large eyes glanced his way before looking back ahead. Sweat beaded down her chest and ran in lines between her large breasts as she made long steps to stay at the same pace with his long legs.
"You look pretty tired yourself," Brian stated, trying to make his tone playful. "Johnny will take a turn in a few more miles."
The three men had been taking turns pulling on the door. Two men pulling the door behind as the third walked along to rest from the weight of the drag. Johnny's legs seemed to be hurting him as much as his own. Jeff wobbled a step causing Brian to almost lose his grip on the corner of the door.
"Are you okay," Brian asked Jeff.
"I'll be fine," Jeff stated, shrugging. After a moment, Jeff looked to see Brian's concern and continued. "My muscles aren't quite back to normal yet since I've been out for so long without moving."
"It's almost dark," Carolyn said. Brian looked up to see the dark gray sky turn the tops of the trees into black outlines.
"We'll need to stop under shelter soon," Brian agreed. "Those monsters will be heading toward the camp soon."
"The camp is miles behind us," Carolyn said. "Do you think they'll be able to find us tonight?"
"I don't know," Brian answered honestly. "Who knows how they are able to find us."
Johnny and Jenna seemed to be slowing their pace and looking around as they held their heads close in a discussion. The two women that had been taking care of the wounded were looking back at the door and frowning. The manner of which the door was bumping around as it was being dragged made the two on edge.
"Alright, everyone," Jenna called as she stopped and turned to face them. "We're going to have to stop for the night. We need to stay below the cover of the trees and be as silent as possible. Absolutely no fires."
Brian gestured toward a low, bushy tree with his head and Jeff nodded in understanding. They dragged Sam toward the tree and gently lowered the door the ground. Brian stretched his back and pressed a hand against the tree to take some weight off. He was afraid that if he tried to set down, he wouldn't be able to get back up.
"Let's loosen the ropes on him," one of the women that had been treating him said as she approached. Rebecca, he thought her name was.
"We can't," Brian said solemnly. "I'm sorry, but if we have to run, we'll need him secured so we can drag him along.
Rebecca frowned but gave no argument. She bent down and lifted the large leaf from his stomach to inspect the wound. She claimed the leaf held properties similar to what an antibiotic would be able to do, but was unable to force feed him a concentrated version of the leaf and therefore a surface treatment was the only method available. She acted as though the treatment was merely buying a bit more time for the man.
"If we are attacked," Rebecca started before shaking her head. She paused for a moment before continuing. "If we are attacked, you must leave him behind. I know it sounds harsh, but he's dying. There's nothing I can do. He's still bleeding. We were able to slow it, but a gut wound is very difficult to treat even with proper supplies."
"He deserves to die anyway," Brian heard another woman say and turned to see the two women that Adam had returned from the ship with walk away. One of the women was looking over her shoulder as they stepped into the growing shadows of the forest floor.
"If what they said was true," Carolyn whispered, looking at the women walk away. "They are right in their thoughts. I don't like the idea of murder, but we must survive and can't afford to have someone who would do something like that with us."
"Aren't we doing the same thing to him by leaving him," Jeff asked before he plopped down on the ground and leaned his back against the tree.
"I don't know," Brian said, frowning. "I'm hungry. Let's go see what supplies we have left from the berries and mushrooms that we found before leaving this morning."
Brian's legs wobbled from exhaustion and Carolyn placed her hand over his chest. He looked at her to see the concern in her eyes again.
"I'll get us some," she offered with a pleading expression. "Just set down and rest."
Brian wanted to argue, but his body was so tired that he didn't have the energy for a debate and did as she asked. His legs gave out and he fell the last few feet to the forest floor before leaning back on his elbows and looking across the area to see the shadows begin to cover all the forms of the survivors.
"I've done all I can for now," Rebecca explained as she turned to walk away. "Please take care of yourself. Exhaustion can be just as dangerous as anything out here."
Brian watched the woman disappear into the shadows as she returned to her friend. He felt an immense amount of sorrow for the woman. She had seen her mother the night before. Or at least the shell of her mother. Some kind of mind control seemed to have taken over her mother and the woman hadn't even noticed her own daughter.
Another shadow turned into Carolyn as she returned with a small bowl made out of weaved grass. Carolyn sat down next to him and pinched her fingers into the bowl. She pulled out a small berry and held it to his lips. He opened his mouth and accepted it. He bit down and closed his eyes as he tasted the juices of the sweet berry flow over his tongue.
"Tell me Daisy's okay," she whispered in a distant voice. "Tell me I'll get my Daisy back."
