The air around them was suffocating; the sun was far overhead, bearing down on their forms. Their boots sank with each footfall, pulling their legs down with each stride. It felt as if a weight were tied to the trio, making every motion, every movement, laborious and taxing.
The trees swayed in the cool breeze, their shadows flickering against the harsh rays that bore down. As they marched onwards through the fallen trees, a thick mist rolled in, obscuring the view of everything more than fifty yards away. Anne pushed through, Seren leaning on her back, their progress slow and grueling. They were utterly lost.
"We should take a short rest here and recover," Marcus told them calmly. "There isn't much of this day left, anyway." His voice lacked emotion, sounding cold and dead. "When the sun rises tomorrow, I suggest we turn in a different direction. I don't think we're traveling correctly."
"Do you not know where you're going?" Seren muttered with exhaustion.
Marcus shook his head and stared down at the mud blankly. "No, I just..." His voice trailed off for a brief moment, as his mind raced to find the right words. "I just want to get out of this wasteland. I'm having a hard time navigating when I'm constantly looking out for multiple things." Marcus swallowed the knot in his throat. He needed answers, and he needed them now, but he had to be strong.
"Yeah, that's totally understandable..." Seren nodded his head in understanding before glancing back at Anne. Her body hunched against a wall, head on her knees.
Marcus sat across from the other two, his own head slumping against his chest. He glanced upwards towards the sun one last time before darkness enveloped the land.
"I don't think I can go on anymore." Anne yawned.
Marcus scratched the stubble growing on his jaw. "So do you two want to sleep tonight? I'll watch the night shift. So, if there's anything wrong, don't worry about me." Marcus sighed.
"Sounds good to me." Seren and Anne began to drift off into a deep slumber.
Night settled upon the forest, and everything fell silent as not even the leaves rustled or swayed anymore, just utter emptiness. Marcus kept guard, waiting for something, anything, but to no avail. All around him remained dark and barren. His legs crossed over each other as he gazed off into the distance. There's no telling what lurks within the shadows, perhaps something sinister.
However, it's safe and sound to say Marcus' eyes have become more accustomed to the darkness, revealing bits and pieces of what lies ahead. An eerie stillness lingered, only disturbed by the faint howls of a distant creature that echoed throughout the landscape.
Marcus stayed awake the whole night, listening for the creatures he heard, not noticing he was almost falling asleep from lack of energy. The silence was almost overwhelming as he quietly listened to the noises and the faint crackling of wood burning on a fire that seemed so distant.
Marcus strained his ears, trying to hear something, anything, even though it was difficult for him to stay awake. His body was stiffening, and his eyes were twitching shut. Finally, the first faint sound of breathing broke the quiet. The sounds of insects clicking and chirping was a comforting sound compared to the dead quiet of night.
Marcus sighed before mumbling to himself. "Please Lord, I beg of you, absolve me of my sins."
***
Light broke the sky and woke everyone up, a brief moment of tranquility before they resumed traveling. It was easier walking, with the mist gone, but the fog never completely disappeared, and the cold lingered, numbing fingers and cheeks.
"You said we had to move in a different direction in order to get to the city. How do you propose we get there?" Seren inquired as they proceeded through the dense wilderness. "I'm sure you'll be able to get us there."
Marcus's voice, tired and haggard, was barely audible.
"Alright." He replied with a smile.
The group hiked through the wilderness, struggling through mud and puddles of muddy rainwater, which had not dried out. After trudging through a marshy swamp of knee-high muck that almost sucked their legs down, they made a clear path and came to a river, filled with swift and cold water. "Alright, I remember this, we should be getting close now." Marcus muttered, hopping across a few stones sticking out above the rushing current and crossing safely.
Seren carefully guided Anne over the same stream, avoiding slippery rocks and jumping off dry ones. Anne was noticeably unwell, shivering in her boots from both the cold and the stress. The river was much deeper than they originally anticipated. The icy cold seeped into their bodies, making their movements slow and labored, but somehow they managed to keep their balance on the stones.
Upon reaching the riverbank, they laid down for a moment. Ahead of them, there were endless fields of dead grass and twisted tree limbs that grew on the outskirts of a clearing where they rested, except now, they were bathed in rays of light and warmth from the sun. Marcus helped the others to their feet, and together they trudged onwards through the harsh wilderness.
"How close are we to the city?" Seren asked, shivering against the cold.
"A half day's journey by foot I presume."
"My goodness." Anne sighed, then straightened, resolutely squaring her shoulders. "Then let's get moving. We can't afford to lose another day." She frowned.
They walked briskly. The landscape became increasingly familiar. Then, as the sun was just peeking above the horizon, they spotted something beyond the craggy rocks. The unmistakable gleam of steel towers rising through the foggy distance.
They reached the outskirts of the ruins. They stumbled onto a concrete sidewalk, only to find nothing but piles of debris. Decomposing vehicles and abandoned buildings were left in disrepair and ruin. There were no signs of life besides a flock of sparrows perched atop the roof, scavenging through the remains of a downed food vendor.
"Be cautious," said Seren in a hushed tone. "If this is indeed a populated area, then someone may be lurking around here somewhere." Anne and Marcus followed close behind him, looking at the darkened structures all around them as they carefully stepped through the debris. The city felt completely empty and desolate. It felt like walking through an abandoned museum after hours.
Their footsteps echoed through the eerie stillness as they climbed over broken walls, broken glass, and metal scrap that covered every surface. "We're not finding many places where you can actually rest," Marcus whispered.
Anne whispered back.
"Don't worry too much about it. Look," Seren pointed ahead. "There's a store there. Maybe we can go in and gather supplies."
As they approached the abandoned building, a sudden rumbling shook the ground beneath them.