Sophie
We found the tunnel the Bearded Man told Luke about. It spat us out ten miles from Sodom closer than we've been in a year. The path ahead was clear, but the world behind us was still broken.
Ice and Ace carried Thomas on a stretcher we made from thick branches, woven leaves, and a glue we cooked from tree sap. It wasn't perfect, but it held. Thomas didn't move. Still breathing. Still silent.
Eve said, "We should camp here. Hit it first thing in the morning."
Most of the group agreed. Except me.
Ace groaned, "Yeah, I'm beat."
Ice nodded. "It's already midnight. It won't hurt to rest."
Luke hesitated. He wanted to push forward. But a good soldier is a rested soldier, and he knew it.
Still… something felt off. Eve never calls for early camp. Not like this.
We found a flat patch of land and dropped our gear. Eve said, "I'll take the first watch. It's my turn to watch Thomas."
That sounded like her again. Familiar. Reassuring.
Ace grinned. "Hell yeah. Do what you do best, Eve." He laid down fast, already snoring before his head hit the pack.
Ice curled up like a vampire. Luke wrapped himself in a blanket he stitched from scraps.
I didn't lie down. I sat on a rock beside Eve and smiled. "I'll stay up with you for a bit."
Eve smiled back. "Okay."
We watched the others sleep. Ace snored like thunder. Ice looked half-dead. We laughed quietly.
"Look at Ice," I whispered. "I'm dead."
Eve chuckled. "He's always like that."
Then the laughter faded.
I asked, "Why did you want to camp early? We usually push till three."
Eve shrugged. "I saw it wearing on the group. Carrying Thomas, pulling night shifts, hunting, hiking, it's draining."
I nodded. "True. I didn't think about it like that."
Eve smiled. "That's why I'm still your mentor. Remember that."
I smiled back. "I'm glad to have you, Eve. You've kept us alive."
Eve reached over and patted my head. "Likewise, sis."
I thought to myself: I trust her. She's been there since the beginning. She's family.
"I'm getting tired," I said. "I'm gonna lay down."
Eve peeled an orange and said, "Night night, runt."
I laid down. The ground was cold, but I felt safe.
I fell asleep but had the urge of unsettling and woke up. Quietly, I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
And then I saw her.
Eve. Standing over Thomas. Ice's katana raised high in both hands
Her eyes locked on his chest. Her grip was tight. Her stance was firm.
She was going to kill him.
I wanted to scream but I couldn't. It happened too fast.
The blade came down.
Then
Blank.
I blacked out.