“Going somewhere?” Silas said to Eli from his seat on the porch bench.

Eli turned to him, the front door of the house closing behind him.

“I figured I’d give you all some alone time to catch up.”

Silas raised an eyebrow at him, “Oh really?”

Eli was quiet.

Silas stood up, standing roughly eye level with the young man he was growing more fond of by the day.

“Is that the only reason?”

Eli turned to better face the man.

“There’s something I have to take care of.” His tone shifted dead serious.

Silas smiled, “Then I’m coming with you.”

“No.” Eli said immediately.

“I figured you’d say that. Which is why I’m coming regardless.”

Eli’s expression and tone remained cold, “No. You’re not. Not only will you get killed but likely me as well, you’ll just be in the way so stay here with your precious family.”

He started down the stairs, veering off towards the route out to the road.

Silas stood by the deck rail watching him go.

“Where’s he going?” Alyssa asked as she came out of the house.

“Not sure, just said that he had to do something.” He answered, not bothering to turn around.

Alyssa sighed as she came abreast with her father, “I’m worried about him.”

Silas continued staring in the direction Eli walked off in, although he could no longer see him. The shadows lengthening with the ever earlier setting sun.

“I am too.” He said softly.

“It’s almost like he wants to die”

His face reflected his somber thoughts.

“Hey Dad, wanna play some chess?” She asked, trying to cheer him up.

He turned to her, his eyes shining. “That’d be nice.”

He threw his arm around her shoulder and kissed her forehead, “Maybe you’ll finally beat me for once.

She shoved him away.

“That was rude.” She said jokingly before walking into the house ahead of him.

Silas took one last look off into the woods before entering the house.

“You better not die on me kid.”

“Do you want to be the white or black pieces dad?” Alyssa called from inside.

“Doesn’t matter to me what color I beat you with.” Silas responded as he stepped inside, the door closing behind him.

Once he broke out of the treeline on the road Eli quickened his pace. He wanted to set up his plan as far from the house as he could and he had no idea how long he had to do so.

He was planning to set up an ambush on whoever was sent to pursue him and his partners, covering the tracks the three of them had left as he made his way to the opportune site.

“If only I knew who he was sending after me.” Eli thought to himself as he marched on down the road.

“It’s a safe bet that one of them will be Marcel, assuming he’s still alive, he’s the best tracker they have.”

Tracking them through a city would be extremely difficult, but not impossible. If there was one person capable of doing it Eli knew it would be Marcel.

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Eli allowed a small smile to reach the corner of his mouth.

“For once Silas and Sebastian being so damn clumsy might work in my favor” He thought.

Those two most certainly would’ve left things for Marcel to pick up on, and Eli could use that against him. He estimated he had somewhere between twelve and twenty-four hours before the group pursuing reached the spot he had in mind, most likely somewhere right in the middle. They had a head start on Eli but tracking through the city would slow them down considerably.

“I can only hope one of them isn’t tagging along” He said, which sent a shiver running down his spine.

He increased his pace once more, attempting to push those thoughts from his mind.

The sun was dropping ever faster below the horizon, the onset of Winter once again being made all the more apparent. By now Eli had slowed his pace, he was rotating between jogging and walking every time he reached a count of 120 in his head. To help him keep track he slid one of six beads along a piece of paracord from one end to the other, once they all ended up back in their original position after his count he would switch his pace.

He spotted a small house along the road and made his way towards it. He had left all of his camping supplies back at the house, electing to only bring what was necessary for his ambush and a small pack of emergency supplies that never left his person. This house would allow him to get a couple hours sleep away from the cold. Eli knew he’d need to be rested for the encounter in the very likely case that things didn’t go as planned, but he couldn’t afford more than two to three hours.

He checked the back door, finding it to be unlocked.

“That’s a good sign”

He slid it open slowly and carefully made his way in, beginning to sweep through it like he always did. This house was a rather small one, a single story with one bedroom. Eli breezed through his search quickly, finding nothing.

He chose to make the best use of his time and go right to sleep.

“Hey Eli. Hey Eli, wake up.” A woman’s voice said softly, gently nudging him.

He groaned softly, yet remained asleep.

She shook him a little more assertively.

“Eli wake up please.” She said louder.

The increased intensity in both her voice and shoving pierced his subconscious. He opened his eyes slowly, inhaling deeply to rush oxygen to his brain.

Looking over at her he smiled, before softly saying: “What is it Elise?”

The woman named Elise was kneeling over him, a warm smile rushed over her face seeing he was now awake, “I thought I heard something off in the woods. I got scared”

Eli sat up now, more alert.

“What did it sound like? Was it far away?” He questioned.

“I-I don’t know. I’m sure I’m just over reacting.” Elise said embarrassed.

“You don’t have to feel bad.” Eli said, covering her in a warm embrace.

She buried her face in his chest, all her worries seeming to vanish in his arms.

“It’ll all be okay, I’m awake now.” He said, kissing her forehead softly.

“Yeah, I know.”

Eli peered up into the night sky, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. The stars shone brightly, piercing the meager forest canopy like it wasn’t even there. The two of them were camped out in the forest on the outskirts of their former hometown, living in a roughly put together lean-to. It had a grey tarp for a roof which was covered in a layer of pine bows thrown on top of that, acting as camouflage and supplying insulation from the night Spring sky while remaining waterproof should it rain. The floor was constructed similarly, pine bows were covered by a tarp which they lay their sleeping bags and blankets on. Another smaller tarp could be pulled down over the front opening in bad weather, however tonight it was raised up.

In front of the shelter was a fire pit, although currently the fire was nothing more than a bed of coals. A few feet beyond that there was a wind break Eli had also built, nothing more than a short wooden wall made from branches.

“You should try to get some sleep Elise, I’ll stay up and keep watch.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, head still pressed up against his chest.

“Yes, it’ll be alright so just get some sleep.”

“Well okay, if you insist.” She said, “But you have to keep holding me while I do.”

Eli chuckled softly, “I think I can manage that.” He squeezed her.

“Hey, not that hard!” She said.

He laughed again, “Go to sleep.”

“Whatever.” She said coldly.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Their happiness was quickly interrupted by a voice from beyond the meager illumination of the fire.

“Well isn’t that just adorable.” It said.

“It’s so sweet it makes me sick.” Responded another.

Both voices were male, originating from the same area out of sight.

Eli shot up in a frenzy, ripping his bowie knife from its sheath on his hip.

“Who’s there!?” He shouted.

Elise quickly scurried to the back of the shelter.

“Awe isn’t that just adorable, look how mad he is.” The first voice responded back.

“I’m absolutely quivering Nate.” The second said.

Eli took a step forward and felt a tremendous force connect with the left side of his jaw, sending him onto the ground. Disoriented, he looked up at what had struck him. A large man was standing overtop of him from where he’d been hit, he had a wicked smile on his face.

Branches snapped in the direction of the first two voices, stepping into view now were the men Eli reasoned were their owners. His heart sank when two more silhouettes emerged from behind them.

“Now then, how about we have a little bit of fun boys.”

Eli shot up from the bed in an instant. He was covered in sweat and on the verge of hyperventilating. He tried desperately but couldn’t stop shaking, all he could do was suffer through it.

It took between five to ten minutes for him to calm down. He placed his head in his hands, transitioning his tears to his palms.

It took another five minutes for him to move again, as hard as it was he knew he had to get on the road again, he couldn’t afford to waste more time than he already had.

Eli shrugged the rucksack onto his back over his quiver once more, buckling and tightening all the straps, before grabbing his recurve bow and setting out once more.

“I’m sorry Elise.” He said barely audible for even himself to hear.