My lips quivered looking at him. He too, I can see it in his eyes. He wants to help. But getting out of there is more important. "I cannot save everybody and I cannot save anybody if I'm dead. Got it." I parroted his words.

We headed towards the back side of the mesa where a water break is located. It's a concrete fence just about waist level that looks over at least a 200-meter drop to the riverbank down below. Do you think it would be like in movies where there is lighting that can assess where you'll fall? No, it's pitch black. "We gotta jump," Bennie said frowning. "Safety?" I asked with a bit of apprehension. "None but I'm sure it's deep. Deep enough. Maybe." Bennie answered. Well, that's reassuring I thought. "Just keep your hands to the wall and keep swimming towards the bank over there. That way you won't get swept by the current. Remember to always keep following the wall because you'll never know which is left or right when you fall down the water break." Bennie explained. "Got it," I replied.

Then Bennie just jumped. No hesitation. No fear. Just straight badass. I was about ready to jump when I looked at my right checking to see anything particular.

That's when I saw her. Frozen like a popsicle. We were so fixated on the jump that we forgot to check our surroundings. At least 40 meters to my right, an office lady looking over her phone beside her Tesla Model 3 horrified. She was just standing there with murder in her eyes. Like watching something that is way beyond her understanding. Whatever it is, is more horrifying that the hundreds of people ready to tear out the gates just to get in. That is when the shots started popping off. *Pah *Pah *Pah.

I ran towards her all 40 meters with a sprint because I knew, whatever was beyond the gate was gonna get in. It's not a matter of if the gate will hold but until when the gate will hold. She still stood there, frozen. Even with the sound of pistol shots over the entrance gate. I grabbed hold of her hand and dragged her towards the back of the mesa facility. She just let herself be dragged off.

Reaching the railings, I shook her. "Hey!" I shouted. Snapping my fingers before her eyes. Still nothing she's like lucid or more like shell-shocked about something. " I got no time for this," I stated.

I stood her straight up, making sure I wouldn't knock her out just in case. Planted my right foot firmly, knees a bit apart. bent a little and *WHAP* slapped her like Will Smith did at the Oscars. "Ow!" she cried. Finally a reaction. I shook her up, grabbing her shoulder and telling her "We've got to jump!" She stood there looking at me while clutching her cheek saying who in the world are you? Looking at me like I killed someone's dog or looking like America's most wanted terrorist. All it takes is a good stimulus to make sure a person's brain doesn't freeze up during an emergency

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She just said "Ok." moving like do I have a choice after what you did? But the sound of metal crashing was all it took for her to jump with me at that moment. Towards the unknown, away from whatever is happening at the entrance.~~~~~

I opened my eyes. I stood up and ran towards Abigail grabbing her shoulders and shook her awake. " Abigail! Abigail!. Abigail!" I prompted. She woke up with a scream but remember she was with us, she calmed down. Bennie shot up ready for a fight but relented when he saw me holding Abigail. "What? Making a move on her already?" he asked,

I ignored him. This was the piece of information I was missing. The reason why despite everything I dragged Abigail with me. I could've just left her behind, ignored her even. I asked her calmly and slowly. "What were you looking at your phone at the mesa before we jumped in the river?." I anxiously stated. I waited for her to answer. No need to rush we need an answer and I'm sure as hell pressuring her would have the opposite result.

"What?" she looked at me accusingly, but when she saw my serious look she knew I was serious. Even Bennie stood up. He sensed it was something very important.

"Uhm. My chat friend, greenGrass. Well. I don't know if my friend was a he or a she. That's just how anonymous chat boxes work." she chuckled. I was getting irritated just waiting for her to get to the point but rushing her is now a no-go. "greenGrass sent me messages, snippets, and pictures. I was just traumatized about it and passed it off like a joke or something. Now that I thought about it but it was all too realistic, too real."

"What is it about?" I clarified. "The snippets of videos and pictures?" she replied. "Yes," I said grimly.

"You won't believe me even if I told you. Besides it's highly unlikely. I pass it more like a prank." she stated amusingly. "Try me," Bennie added. Abigail looked over her shoulder towards Bennie and sighed. "greenGrass sent me some pictures and short videos about people eating people in the border town." she answered. "I mean, cannibals right? In the middle of the town. Like there's the garrison there right? Police? Border patrol? So yeah I passed it as a joke." she answered lightly.

I pinched my head. Lowered my gaze. A few seconds later I looked up at Bennie. I saw him with that look again. We just stood there. Not believing what was so obvious from what Abigail told us.