"Grandpa?" I inquired.

"It's me my boy", he chuckled smiling.

"I-I- we thought you had died. Everyone was worried. What happened?" I asked.

"I'll tell everyone once they get down here", he answered. "In the mean time, why don't you go get yourself some sleep." He patted me on the back reassuringly and smiled. "I'll still be here when you get back. Don't fret."

I don't say anything and hug him. I didn't let go for a minute or two. Only when he pried me off did I let go.

Mary places her left hand on my shoulder and gently guides me down the through the tunnels which had been carved from rock and stone.

She leads me into a room with several beds that already had several bags of supplies on them.

I was startled when Mary spoke, "Pick a bed and place any personal belongings on it."

I walk over to the bed farthest away from the door and place a picture of my family on the bee and walk back to Mary.

"Are you done?" She inquired.

"I am", I respond.

"Very well. Follow me." She walks out of the room and walks down another tunnel then another tunnel then another tunnel. I felt like a mouse trapped in a maze never to find its way out. Eventually we reach a massive cave. Small pools of crystal clear water dotted the cave floor. Staligmites and stalagtites rose like spears from the roof and floor of the cave.

I followed Mary to the middle of the cave where there was a massive beautiful quartz that took the shape if a tree. Standing around the tree were the Council of Elders. They turned to look at us and happiness formed on there faces.

"Its good to see you alive and well Samuel. You too Mary", said Luna, the head elder. "We gave much to discuss."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Unknowns point of view,
Several hours earlier:

I run when I exit the city gate. I run past everyone and every thing. I run past my old friends begging me to help them as mutations tear them apart.

I run past the mine that was lit up in flames and littered with bodies. The same mine that was meant to help us was destroyed. I stopped only to search of o soldiers body for any weapons, food, or water. I found only some crackers, a bottle if water, and a plasma shot pistol with only five rounds left.

I stand up and run even though my legs were sore and tired. I pushed my body to the maximum until my legs gave out and I fell to the ground. I rolled over so I was laying on my back and I noticed I was in a forest. What spooked me mist was the fact that night was descending upon the world. I need to find shelter and fast.

I drink the entire bottle of water quickly and eat the crackers. I stand up and start walking straight not knowing where to go.

I jump at the sound if a mutation screech and a woman screaming. As quickly as the screaming started it was was silenced. I looked around me and saw a oak tree with a few low hanging branches. I walk quietly to the tree and hoist myself up and start to climb the tree. When I get about twenty feet off the ground I find two branches that make a little bowl. I climb to the branches, crawl into them, and fall asleep.

I walk up to the felling I was being watched. I opened my eyes and saw a wood nymph. I remember talking about nymphs in class one day. They were one if the most friendly of all mutations. They were like Santa's little helpers of the human race.

I smile at it and its beauty while it hovers around me. The morning Sun flustered of of it's brown body. It flutters off and brings back some berries. I try one and recognize it as blackberry.

I crawl down from the tree only to land on a soft object. I look down at my feet to see a half eaten body.

Fear engulfs me as a notice the mass if bodies that covers the forest floor. The wood nymph flies down and lands on my shoulder and starts chattering.

Based on the tone of the chattering it wasn't afraid but more like it was telling me to go forward. And so I did. Forward into the unknown.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Samuels point if view:

After the discussion with the elders Mary escorted me back to the room where my bed was and told me, "You need to sleep. Your family should be here when you awake."

I crawl into the bed and put the picture under the pillow and went to sleep. But my dreams were invaded by nightmares about the future.

In every dream I was being stalked by a shadow. A shadow that had now body to copy. A shadow that didn't need light to appear. A shadow that breathed and moved as if it was alive. A shadow that could kill...

I woke up feeling as if I was being watched but was horrified when I saw the shadow that haunted my dreams was plastered upon the roof a moved slowly as if nit wanting to be spotted. I pulled the covers over my head and held my breath not wanting to be spotted.

I could hear breathing coming from directly above me. The breaths got louder until the blankets moved from its breathing. My lungs screamed fir air and I ever so quietly released my air then breathed back in. I did that until I heard some snore in their sleep and felt a breeze move the covers off of my head.

The shadow had disappeared but I knew it would be back. For it was in the nature of a Slinjar.
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