The silence of the last few days was oppressive but now that I had someone to talk to, I didn’t know what to say. I had many questions but emotionally, I felt raw and used up. The strange woman didn’t start any conversation, she just lead the way, wading more than walking, through damp knee-high grass. I realized just how far she must have come to find me. Which made me suspicious.

I had to know. I opened myself to her and immediately recoiled as if I had been slapped, breaking the connection. For a second, I stopped, senses reeling. Her feet never slowed, and I had to hurry to catch up.

That had never happened before. I added another question to a growing list that started with who she was, what she was doing, and why she was helping me. She must have felt something, why didn’t she say anything?

As we turned onto a small path, a thought occurred to me. Since I had left the camp, death had followed close behind and I wondered if I would kill this woman too. I should’ve left then, but I didn’t care anymore.