Afterlife

 I stay up in the tree for a while until I get hungry. I start down slowly, as not to alert where we are. I drop down the last five feet and land in the wet snow.
 I stumble over and grab my backpack. Then I sit down on a nearby log and dig through my pack for something to eat. Glen is in the middle of the clearing sharpening a long stick.
 "We have to move soon," I say.
 "I know. I was going to ask you when." he looks at me.
 "Well... We could leave any time. Nighttime would probably be the best option. The Afterlives will most likely be hunting the city."
 I take a bite of the bread. It tastes like home.
 "Should we leave tomorrow?" he asks.
 "Sure."

 A few minutes later I'm back up the tree scouting for Afterlives. I maneuver through the branches with ease, but I still rush. When I look up at the ruins of the city where I once lived, it brings tears to my eyes. I can't forget.
 I look at the edge of the forest, but don't see any Afterlives. I breath a sigh of relief.
 I climb back down the tree.
 "Hey Glen, I don't see any outside the city." I say.
 "Alright. Let's go."
 We wander through the forest, stopping every few minutes to check for any quivers in the air. The one giveaway of the Afterlives. After each check we continue walking. I step in the holes he made in the snow when he walked through it so it would be easier.
 I start to wonder what would happen if an Afterlife showed up. What would we do? What if there were tons of them? My mind races.
 I try to distract myself by singing. I can barely hear myself, but it's enough to keep my mind from thinking sad thoughts.
 We walk in silence. I'm surprised he hasn't said anything yet.
 Glen and I have known each other since I was in grade four and he was in grade six. We're practically brother and sister.
 He stops so fast that I bump into him.
 "Wha-" he clamps a hand over my mouth.
 "Sshh"
 I stop talking and look around. The air right in front of me quivers.
 "1..." he says. I can barely hear him.  "2..." I start to get scared.  "3!" he pulls my hand and runs as fast as he can through the thick snow. I keep running; I can't look back.