Free A New World: Taken by John O'Brien

emitted when breathing out in cold air.   The cloth traps the moisture and minimizes any visible breath.   Every little bit helps.
    The air chills as dusk begins.   The sun once more gives warning that its time is drawing to a close.   I rise from the bushes and slowly make my way to the edge of the trees.   I see the chain link fence through gaps ahead and look to make sure I’m close to where I saw the limited gap in light coverage.
    “I’m at the edge of the tree line between the second and third towers,” I radio Greg.
    “Copy that, Jack.   Good luck and call if you need,” he responds.

A View From Inside
     
    She isn’t out for long.   The sound of the van door opening intrudes upon her darkened world.   A dull, throbbing pounds inside her head accompanied by an occasional sharp, shooting pain as if an ice pick is penetrating her skull.   Her eyes are open but the blackness remains.   The fear inside heightens as she recalls the attack and what she assumes is her subsequent capture.   She remembers heading out in search of her kids and her fear mixes with anxiety about finding them.
    A pair of hands folds under her shoulders and she feels herself lifted.   The bag over her head is removed and the blinding light of the day increases the pain already in her head.   She is helped to her feet and she glances around as best as she can squinting from both the increase in light and the pain.   She recognizes that she is at the high school and therefore knows she wasn’t out for long.   Standing on her shaky legs with a man on either shoulder helping her, she is walked into what used to be the main school office.   Confusion reigns as to why she was attacked and why they are keeping her.   She is brought into the main secretarial office and placed in one of the brown plastic seats lining the walls.
    “Don’t struggle or try to get away and it’ll go easier for you,” one of the men says.
    The threat in his voice unsettles her even more.   She knows she is not in a good situation.   Due to the drastic change in her cicumstances , the room looks so unfamiliar from the many times she has visited the school for one reason or another.   The office reminds her of her kids and a knot of worry forms in her stomach.   She just wants to get out of whatever she has found herself in and go find them.   Balance would be restored to a large degree if she could just find them or at least know where they are and how they are doing.
    The man who talked to her leaves and enters one of the other offices only to return a short time later.   “Come with me,” he says standing by her shoulder.   He and another man help her to her feet once again.
    She is placed in another chair and faces a man in camouflage fatigues sitting behind a desk.   The rays of the sun outside filter in through open blinds behind him.   Dust motes sparkle in the air where the bands of sunlight find their way in.   The mostly balding, slightly overweight man stares at her for a moment with his chin resting on steepled hands.   Lifting his head and sitting upright he clears his throat.
    “Do you mind telling me what you were doing walking around alone?”   He asks.
    “I was looking for my kids,” she replies.
    He shakes his head in confusion momentarily.   “How is that you were able evade the ghouls for so long?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.   I haven’t evaded anything.   I woke up this morning and my kids were gone.   I set out to look for them.   You wouldn’t happen to have seen them would you?   Two girls and a boy, teens.   My son is about six feet tall with blond hai..” she begins to say.
    “That doesn’t matter now,” the man says interrupting her description.   “What matters is that you follow the rules around here.   You’ll be put on a work team as soon as your head heals to the point where you can work.   Breakfast is just after sunrise and dinner when you return from the