Once the sun came up they began to walk,

  and walk,

  and walk,

  Soon dusk once again took over their senses, and exhaustion set in.

  Hope and pride held them still, for a moment.

  They sat down to rest

  watching the tracks from the sidelines

  Simply waiting for their train.

  exhaustion lulled them, calmed them, soothed them like nothing else could.

  The thoughts of continuing to follow the path haunted them,

  the threads of humanity beaten and screwed into life; here a permanent scar. It caused such pride to have control over the most uncontrolled thing.

  The rocks under foot began taking a life of their own shifting swirling racing and scuttering under the clamps in the ground, the ground began to shift under their feet again.

  Their legs begging to give out from under them again,

  failure was truly never the option they saw in their future,

  but the snow encompassed them there.

  And it didn't seem that bad of an option now.

  I found a place to sit

  Time passed and I couldn't say how much.

  I felt warmth grab at my arms,

  my head swallowed in silks and cotton,

  I couldn't think clearly,

  I couldn't breathe fully

  I couldn’t move, Finality.

  It’s found me.

  My head throbbed, my limbs ached but it was a bed I found myself in,

  When I woke up a woman was sitting on a stool beside me.

  She slid a dish of something towards me. All fear melted the second I had a warm plate in my hands again. She didn't say anything, just waited.

  The broth was thin, herbal, it was soft and aromatic. Oil pulled to the top bubbling and spacing from the longer cook time, it’s handmade. The rice is full, absorbing the broth over too long of a time, sweating and sweetening the piece. Thickening the mixture, it's full of small pieces of chicken, it's beautiful heavenly, not professionally done by any means but human.

  So human…

  “Are you alright?” I pulled my head from the bowl, looking her in the eyes.

  She's young yet, with an angelic voice and curls, she has dark eyes, and straight short lashes, and seems tired, worried.

  “Better. Much better… Thank you.”

  “Juno found you on the tracks?”

  She's terrified.

  She's looking at me like I'll bite.

  I was already so grateful to have food and a warm place to rest for at least a few hours until the cops or someone comes to pick me up… I didn't want to push it.

  “The food is wonderful, did you make it?” She relaxed a bit.

  “I did, you're in good shape for being on your own. Did you come off the trade roots?” she probes again.

  “No, I uh just…” My minds gone numb, dull.

  “It’s ok… I understand, my name is May. Everything is going to be alright, just try to relax, I’m going to ask some questions now, alright? Just do your best.” I didn't say anything, just continued to eat. She took a slow breath in.

  “Let's start with a name.” I froze, my mind going blank.

  I never had a good memory, but my name?

  “I'm sorry I don't…” she didn't seem surprised.

  writing something down on the note card she had tucked away.

  “How long have you been awake?” I knew what she meant but it felt odd speaking about it.

  “A month or so, a few weeks at least.” She looked at me like she knew exactly what I was going to say before I even thought of an answer.

  She must have seen my confusion, as she took a moment to give me the clarity I desperately needed.

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  “Did you see… anything odd?” The memories hit hard, they came up from nowhere, I was tearing up before my brain even realized why.

  “It came out of nowhere.

  It tried to get away… I…oh my god.” the words came out airy hollow. Something about it felt wrong. She shifted a bit.

  She knows what I did,

  no question.

  “You're alive. It’s… it's not your fault,” I started to realize I wasn't getting out of here, and no one was coming.

  “We all woke up here. The Shrouded you saw out there in the woods, those things wandering aimlessly. They are bodies, like them we were led here to die, but pain or stubbornness woke us. It woke you, there was a reason you wanted to live even if you don't remember. You've done nothing wrong… You're going to be ok… it's over.”

  I sat in shock for a moment. This doesn't make any sense.

  I'm dead or dreaming,

  The exhaustion finally broke me.

  She sighed, looking at me for the first time, calm in control of this moment holding the room together. Like she's done it a thousand times.

  “You’ve been through so much, I know things don't seem to make any sense right now but you're not alone anymore. We can stop here, you're alive, that's all that matters right now.”

  “No, Please...” I need this.

  I need to know.

  I'm already going insane but answers. this close. I’m not letting them get away.

  She took a deep breath and spoke slowly, clearly picking words carefully.

  “I walked for almost a week, everything looks the same. After a long while I found one of the things, it was farther gone than the others, rabid. Whatever it is that removes people's life, their souls, their existence. They look half dead being torn apart piece by piece, kid, it's not a pretty sight. The longer they are out there the more of themselves they lose in it slowly becoming part of it…”

  she stopped talking and took a deep breath in, grabbing my hand and urging me to look at her.

  “I know the only thing you want right now is to understand what's happening and I promise we'll explain everything we can… but we need to get you cleaned up darling.”

  She's still very nervous,

  she's lying,

  She knows something.

  Gently pulling me to my feet, she began addressing the cuts on my hands, the blood in my shoes, and the sores on my arms, that cold burning sensation returning as the clothes were taken from me. Her words echoed in my head for the time being only one remained.

  “Becoming part of what?”

  She didn't respond…

  Quietly ushering me into the bath.

  taking the taters of what I knew to be my life away with her as I stood empty.

  As much as it's nice to be back in humanity,

  fear still stood beside me waiting.

  Clothes ill-fitting sure, but warmer.

  and to face myself in the mirror again…

  a second thought we might not have met before.

  My hands fluff my hair and glide across the counter top.

  Picking up the razor and shaping the curls, and smoothing the edges.

  I look older than I'd like without it.

  A second thought, the clothes fit fine. I just need to give it a week or two to fill them in again, I didn't realize how bad I must have looked after being out there. I stepped back out into the room I woke in, my socks scuttling across the hardwood with the old sweater falling down to my knuckles.

  I look soft, I guess this is more friendly.

  I trudged over to The dresser grabbing the bandages she left for me.

  It seems she took my tools when I arrived here.

  I stepped hesitantly out into the hall, warm lighting and muffled voices.

  It seemed calm…

  I stepped down the stairs into view. As May stood to greet me, she and two men were sitting around a fireplace. My heart jumped around in my chest and my throat.

  They're waiting for me to join them.

  The less smiley of the two stood to follow her over.

  “So you're the one Juno brought in.”

  He wasn't really speaking to me as much about me.

  “May said you haven't found your memory yet.” He spoke a bit slower after I didn't react all too much to his hello…

  “I'm Richard, that's my husband Will and you've met May. The kids are resting and I'd like to have a word with you before you are introduced.” Something about the blood on my clothes and bruised knuckles must not scream kid-friendly.

  But before I could speak, he continued.

  “You'll need a name while you're here.” May looks sympathetic.

  “Bug, call me Bug.” I blurted out before my brain caught up. Rich shared a glance with his partner but I didn't quite catch what it meant, neither did May. He stood to join us. Will spoke Methodically softer than Rich but more confident than May.

  “Kid, We aren't looking for more mouths to feed but if you've survived this long I'm sure you can be taught to care for yourself.” He wasn't wrong, but I didn't care for his tone.

  “For now, know that you have a place here.” It wasn't as comforting as he mentioned it to be but all the same, it was something.

  May ushered me back upstairs, interrupting Rich as she did so, but they let me leave.

  She spoke softer than before, still nervous but I don't think It was me this time.

  I don't think she knew exactly what to do with me.

  But she was fighting for me, I couldn't quite tell if it was for me to stay though.

  I spent some time thinking, a long time.

  Before I realized it was late.

  I was tired. yet stressed, too stressed to sleep.

  I pulled myself up.

  I hate looking people in the eye, they always seem to look through me.

  I don't know these people…

  Slipping out of bed and creeping to peek out the window something about it felt familiar. The woods were quite light snow still coded the grass but it was light just enough to reflect the moon over the field. A few sheds and buildings could be seen on the tree line but most of what was out there was empty short grass or dirt I'm sure at some point was farmed but nothing stood now now no supports, trellises, or scarecrows.

  I pulled away from it and walked along the wall running my knuckles along the path I found myself walking hours before. The light spilled under the door. I pressed my ear against searching what my eyes couldn't.

  Here might not be any safer than out there.

  I'd rather die by my rules than life by someone else's… let me at least know my options.

  I gently tested the door,

  Unlocked.

  Curiosity maybe a bit of fear, truly a strong motivator,

  Because before I realized I was face to face with Rich,

  sitting across from me staring through me.

  I wouldn't be surprised if he was staring through the door the same way.

  “Evening.” I couldn't tell if he was upset or if it was vindication in his voice.

  “Sorry.” I offered as he laughed a bit. Unlike May he didn't see me much as a threat I suppose. But I can't say that laugh was a friendly one.

  “I wasn't going to… I um…”

  “Juno got nervous and tried to jump out a second story window the first night. And none of us slept well after being out there so long. Not mad, kid. I told May not tell you everything up front but looking at you I see why she did."

  “Why did she?” his face hardened for a moment.

  “That name, it isn't a common one kid.” I felt my body go cold, what an odd thing to say.

  He stood walking me back inside my room. I turned to speak but he closed the door behind me before I could ask anything more about it.