I'd never been in a car before. There were only three cars in the Community and only a handful of people knew how to drive them and they were only used for supply runs. If you were a guard for the wall, like Clovis was, then you could be a driver. I don't even think Hirsh knew how to drive a car. He was probably too old anyway.

"This is weird," I whispered to Madi. It was like floating really fast. "I like it, though." She looked green and didn't move her eyes from the road. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "I think I'm going to throw up."

"Why? I didn't think you'd be that nervous around Clovis," I whispered.

"Shut up."

"Are you getting car sick?" Hirsh asked.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's when the movement of the car makes you sick," he explained. "Once we stop, you'll feel better in no time."

It wasn't a long drive to the outer walls. We passed by several fields before Clovis came to a stop at the tall, metal gates. Once he parked, he went around the other side and helped Hirsh out of the car. Madi took in the crisp, evening air and the color was starting to return to her face.

"This way," Hirsh said. He pointed to a narrow set of stairs along the side of the wall. They reached to the top of the wall where a few guards were patrolling.

"We have to climb... that?" Madi said.

"Don't worry, they're much more stable than they look," Hirsh said.

"I don't really like heights..." her voice trailed off.

"If you don't want to go up them, I can stay down here with you," Clovis offered. Madi looked flustered, so I rescued her.

"That's a great idea!" I said. "We'll be back in a jiff!" Madi shot me daggers, but I knew she was grateful. Hirsh and I slowly made our way up the staircase. Each step was accompanied by an unsettling creak, but Hirsh didn't seem too worried, so I tried not to be either. If anything, I could run back down the stairs much faster than he could.

We had almost reached the top of the stairs when I heard a faint voice in front of me.

"Help me," it said feebly.

"Hirsh, are you okay?" I asked him. He turned around and smiled.

"I'm old, not dying Zuza."

"You didn't just ask for help?"

He shook his head. I looked up at the guards atop of the wall. They seemed fine.

"... Nevermind." I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that was starting to swell in my chest.

We got to the top and Hirsh led me over to the edge.

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"Look out, what do you see?"

I peered out over the ledge and squinted my eyes. The fading light made it hard to see, but I could see shapes start to form out in the distance.

"What are those jagged things out there?"

"Those are mountains."

Once I could see better, I greedily took in my surroundings. The land was a nearly blank canvas, only interrupted by some trees, rocks, and mountains far away from me.

"What do you think?" Hirsh asked.

"It looks... lonely." I wouldn't say I was disappointed with what I saw. I just didn't know what to expect.

"Lonely is a good word for it. There's not much out there. Roamers don't come out this way. Not for a long time."

Below us, I heard the faint sound of whimpering. I looked to try and find the noise, but only saw some trees and rocks.

"What is it?" Hirsh asked, giving me a worried look.

"Do you hear that sound?"

"What sound?"

"Whimpering... like someone is hurt."

Hirsh looked at the two guards near us on the wall. "Do you hear anything?" he asked them. "Perhaps I'm just getting too old." They shook their heads.

"Help." The feeble voice said again. "Help me."

"They spoke again!" I exclaimed. "It said 'help me'! We need to do something!" I paced along the wall, trying to find them.

"Zuza, calm down for a moment," Hirsh said, reaching out to me. I ignored him.

"Hello?" I called out. "Where are you?!"

"Help." It said again. I closed my eyes and focused on the voice.

"Say that again," I yelled.

"Help me." The voice sounded like it was getting weaker. I heard it to my right. I ran across the platform.

"I'm here!" I called again.

"Zuza, what are you doing?!" Madi shouted up at me.

"Where are you?" I mumbled more to myself. I leaned over the wall and scanned the ground. Rocks. Rocks. It's all just rocks and plants!

"Speak again!" I yelled to the rocks. I'm going crazy. I'm literally yelling at rocks.

I waited.

Silence.

Please, say something.

"... Help." It was hardly more than a whisper, but I found the source of the noise; A boy clung to a boulder, his clothes ripped and his skin scraped and bloody. He lifted his head a fraction and looked at me before closing his eyes and crumpling to the ground.