Chapter 2: The Chipped Boot
They walked without incident for two weeks. On the first night Theresa built a makeshift lean-to from the scavenged cloth. And they shivered together beneath the likewise makeshift blankets night after night as they continued on their journey. At the start of the third week, Theresa stopped Amber at a woodland crossroad. “What is it?” Amber asked. Theresa pointed at the mud. Amber looked at the mess of boot prints and wagon tracks, then shook her head. “What am I looking at?” She asked. “I have seen that boot print before. The one with the chip in the heel.” Amber looked again, “I’ll take your word for it. But so what? We’re on a road. I assume they are traveling in the same direction as we are.” “They’re not,” Theresa said. “They have crossed our trail twice, at this crossroads and the previous crossroads. The tracks have been fresh both times. They’re keeping pace with us. Watching us. I suspect they are hunting us.” Amber shivered, “Who are they?” Theresa shook her ...