Episode 100

Previous Episode 

 

Next Episode

 

            “Hey, what’s that over there?”

                        Famous Last Words

 

            The sun was beginning to set.

            Long shadows were sent across the coral surface of the island.  The black potholes had grown darker while the orange day was beginning to descend into the western horizon.

            Sarah walked at the front of the group, her machine gun clipped to her harness.  She stared at the desolate surroundings, trying to make sense of it.  The expansive rocky ground disappeared into the edges of the sea while the hilly topography seemed at the same time abnormal and natural.

            Isaiah walked in the middle of the group, his long rifle over his shoulders.  His trench coat flapped in the warm air that coasted over the plains as he faced forward, aware of his surroundings without seeing them.

            Til walked at the rear.  His machine guns in his hands, he constantly checked their position with the most prominent landmarks he could identify.  His cautious eyes checked in every direction, even glancing back to the north at their backs.

            He turned to face forward, then did a double-take.  A moment of paranoia swept over him and he stopped, still looking over his shoulder.  In the span of a breath, he resumed walking.  He clipped his gun to his harness than started to dig through his pockets.

            “Everything okay?” Isaiah asked.

            Til didn’t answer.  He pulled out a small signaling mirror and held it subtly over his shoulder.  He scrutinized the image in the mirror for a moment, then put it away.  He looked down at his hands and itched his fingers.  “Remember that time I went to play ski ball with Donovan?”

            Sarah perked up.  Her hands cautiously moved towards her gun.  “No, when was it?”

            “It was at six o’clock, on the fifth,” he said.  Quietly, he counted to five.

            The trio spun around and dropped to their knees, their guns readied.  Their attention spread over their entire rear, none of them moved.  Sarah watched the horizon for a moment, then started to slide away from the other two.  As she did, Isaiah knelt down, lying on his belly with his rifle extended.

            “Alex,” Sarah said into her earpiece, moving onto a slight mound, able to see better.  “We have a contact.”

            “You what?!” Alex exclaimed.

Sarah watched the horizon for a moment.  In the dark shadows that mixed with the western light, she was able to see into the distance, able to see a figure, low to the ground.  “Confirmed,” she said calmly.  “We are not alone.”

 
Previous Episode  

Next Episode