I don’t know why I was fleeing through the desert with a group of people I didn’t know. I couldn’t remember their names, not even the one walking next to me who was my own brother. A tiny part of me kept looking at him and thinking he couldn’t be there, that he was dead. But then he’d favor me with one of those grins of his and I’d shake it off, and turn back to monitor the progress of the others.
It was oddly quiet as the group of fifty people trudged through the brush and sand. No one said anything, not even when we came to the top of a small hill overlooking a warehouse. It appeared to be abandoned and though there were a few cars out front, there seemed to be no one inside.
Something about it bothered me, and I wanted to leave and follow the road. But the others were too tired from all the walking and ignored my suggestion that we move on. It was finally agreed that we would rest for a while before heading on our way. I still didn’t like it and as the others wandered off to look for food, I wandered off into the building. The sense of uneasiness just continued to grow the longer I was inside.
“Sis, you should rest too. It’s a long walk to the next town.”
How he knew that I didn’t know. I couldn’t say why I knew staying there was dangerous either, it just was.
“I know it’s a long walk brother, but something’s not right.” I stopped and turned back to look at him. “Can’t you feel it?”
He shook his head and I knew that he thought I was imagining things.
“Why don’t you go and find us some food? As soon as I take a quick look around I’ll come and join you.”
He sighed. “Okay, just don’t push yourself.”
I smiled reassuringly, “I won’t. I promise.”
I waited until he had left to continue looking through the building. The first level was empty other than the people I had come with so I took the flight of stairs to the offices that overlooked the place.
