Hiding in the Shadows

[Kleopatra Selene]

Part One: I Stand Alone

Introduction

In this world, in this generation, life is all but extinct. Those who do live must live in hiding, for fear of the dark monsters that lurk in the night and in the day.
To be captured means only one outcome:
Death.  

[Kleopatra Selene]

Chapter One

I feel myself grow weak.
The monster circles me, growling and salivating in hunger. I'm going to die here, is my last thought, before I slip into unconsciousness.

I awake, gasping for breath. This nightmare has haunted me for months. Thank goodness it's only a dream, though. I sit up in my mat, looking around. Everyone else in our ragtag little team of humans is gone, to breakfast or chores, no doubt. They only let me sleep because my last mission was so frightening, I think.
In my last mission, which I completed months ago, we were robbing a store for supplies--medicine, diapers, and, most importantly, food and clothing. We'd just made it out--I hadn't even gotten to the car yet, but my comrades in crime had--when a monster reached us, glowing in abomination and delight in catching me. I just barely escaped, with the help of my lover, Brennan.
Rising, I stretch, sighing in contentment. The monsters are gone, away and unaware of our secret hiding place. And thank goodness for that.
Brennan walks in, and smiles at me. "So, Rachel, you are awake. I am glad. Did you have the nightmare again?"
I look away.
He inhales deeply. "You did. I wish I could drive the nightmares away. But..."
"But you can't," I finish, sadly, for him. "You're going on another mission again, aren't you?"
Since my capture, I am on leave of missions for an entire year. Just six more months to go, I remind myself. However, Brennan is one of full-time goers, so more often than not, he's out stealing a slab of cow while I'm stuck on garden duty.
"Yes," he says, and I blink, unsurprised but sad.
"Okay. When are you leaving?"
He hesitates. "In a few minutes."
I shrug. "Just promise you'll come back."
He picks up my chin. "Don't I always?" he jokes. He doesn't kiss me--we're too close for such miniscule displays of affection--only cradles my chin in his palm and then looks me in the eye, now solemn. "I promise to return." He smiles, and walks away, leaving me, sitting up in my cot, staring after him in disbelief.

Maria, the unofficial head cook of our group of thirty-two humans, smiles at me. "I saved some breakfast for you, Rachel. How are you feeling?" she asks, handing me a bowl of grits and a napkin with a crusty piece of toast.
"Why does everyone ask me that, every day?" I demand. "It's been six months. I'm just waiting for the next six months to hurry up."
She clucks her tongue. She's sixty-five, one of the oldest of our group, but still kickin'. Maria's the unnamed Mother of our team. "Now, don't act all feisty. Bren's gone, isn't he?"
"How can you tell?" I ask, fairly certain it's because I'm acting stubborn and tired. Having Bren gone takes the energy out of me.
Max Trevors, the leader of our group--forty-two years old, with white-blond hair, green eyes, and a wiseness beyond his years--runs up to me. "Rachel, there's a problem. We just received information regarding the mission that's just left..."
"What is it?" I ask bluntly.
"It's Brennan." He stares at me sadly. "His group...they're walking into a trap."