Chapter 22: The Forgotten Fields

The open field stretched endlessly before them, bathed in the soft, late-afternoon light that made everything feel dreamlike and strange. The tall grass swayed gently in the breeze, its golden tips catching the sun’s rays and creating a shimmering effect that almost seemed to blur the landscape. Nate, Bella, and Finn moved carefully through the grass, each of them casting wary glances around as they walked. After the ravine and its haunting echoes, the quiet of the field felt almost suspiciously calm.

Finn scanned the horizon, his brow furrowed. “This place looks abandoned, but I don’t trust it. Feels like something’s lurking under all this quiet.”

Nate nodded, his instincts on high alert. “Stay close. We’ll keep moving until we find some sort of shelter before nightfall.”

Bella glanced around, her gaze thoughtful. “Look — over there.” She pointed to a cluster of dark shapes just visible through the grass. As they moved closer, the shapes took form, revealing the skeletal remains of old farming equipment — rusted tractors, broken-down harvesters, and carts tipped onto their sides, half-buried in overgrown weeds.

The sight filled them with unease. It was clear that whoever had once worked this land had abandoned it in a hurry, leaving behind the heavy machinery as if escaping from something unseen.

“This feels like a graveyard,” Finn murmured, his voice low. “A graveyard for places people forgot.”

Bella touched one of the rusted tractors, her fingers brushing over its faded paint. “Whatever happened here, it was sudden.”

Nate scanned the area, his expression grim. “Let’s move on. These old machines make it easy for something — or someone — to hide.”

They continued through the field, their steps careful as they wove between the scattered remnants of the abandoned farm. Suddenly, a faint movement caught Nate’s attention. He raised a hand, signaling for Bella and Finn to stop, and focused his gaze on a figure moving through the grass several yards away.

The figure was small, no more than a child, their hair tangled and clothes dirty. They moved cautiously, glancing over their shoulder as if afraid of being seen.

Bella’s face softened with concern. “It’s a child… but what are they doing out here alone?”

Before Nate could respond, the child noticed them and froze, their eyes widening with fear. Without warning, the child turned and sprinted toward a cluster of low buildings on the far side of the field — small cottages, partially collapsed, but still providing shelter.

Nate moved forward, his voice calm but firm. “Wait — we’re not here to hurt you.”

The child hesitated, glancing back at them with wary eyes. After a moment, they slowed, though they kept a safe distance, watching the group with a guarded expression.

Bella stepped forward, her tone gentle. “Are you alone? Is there anyone else with you?”

The child nodded, eyes darting back to the cottages. “My sister. She’s sick. We were hiding when… when everything happened.”

Nate exchanged a glance with Bella, his expression serious. “We can help. We have some medical supplies. Take us to her.”

The child hesitated, then nodded, leading them toward the cottages. As they neared the structures, the sight of another figure, frail and huddled beneath a blanket, came into view, lying against the wall of one of the buildings.

The child led them to the girl, who was barely conscious, her face pale and her breathing shallow. Bella knelt beside her, checking her pulse and feeling her forehead.

“She’s burning up,” Bella murmured, her expression troubled. “It looks like an infection… one that’s been untreated for too long.”

Nate took out a small vial of antibiotics from their pack, handing it to Bella. “This might help, but it’s a long shot.”

The child watched anxiously, clutching the edge of the blanket. “Will she be okay?”

Bella nodded gently, though her face remained serious. “This will help, but she needs food, water, and rest. How long have you both been out here?”

The child shrugged, their voice small. “Days… maybe longer. We hid here when people started to change. My sister told me not to go far, so I stayed.”

Nate’s expression softened, a rare glimmer of sympathy in his eyes. “You’ve done well keeping safe. We’ll stay tonight to help your sister, but tomorrow, we have to keep moving.”

The child nodded, grateful but still cautious, keeping a close eye on the strangers as they tended to the sick girl. Bella gave the antibiotics and offered some water, hoping it would be enough to ease her symptoms.

As dusk settled over the field, the quiet took on an eerie edge, the silence broken only by the distant calls of night birds and the rustling of the grass in the wind. They set up a small campfire near the cottages, the glow of the flames casting long shadows over the abandoned structures. The child huddled close to their sister, watching the flames flicker, their eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude.

Finn glanced at Nate, his face thoughtful. “Hard to believe kids like this are out here, surviving all on their own.”

Nate nodded, his gaze on the distant horizon. “The world changed fast, and people had to adapt, even the youngest. But no one should be out here alone.”

Bella sat beside Nate, her voice soft as she watched the siblings. “We’re giving them a chance. That’s more than most people get these days.”

They ate a quiet meal, each of them lost in thought, the weight of their journey pressing on them as the stars appeared overhead. Despite the hardships, a sense of purpose filled the air — a reminder that they were more than just survivors; they were people helping one another, even in the darkest of times.

As morning broke, the girl’s condition improved slightly, her fever subsiding and her breathing easing. The child watched over her with relief, though the exhaustion on their face was evident.

Nate stood, his gaze on the path ahead. “We’ll take you both as far as we can. After that, you’ll need to find somewhere safe to settle.”

The child nodded, gratitude and relief mingling in their expression. “Thank you.”

They packed up their supplies, helping the girl to her feet, her movements slow but more stable than before. Bella supported her, offering quiet encouragement as they began their journey anew, the four of them moving through the fields toward the next uncertain stretch of land.

As they walked, Bella glanced at Nate, her voice low. “You didn’t hesitate to help them. Most people wouldn’t have stopped.”

Nate shrugged, though his expression was sincere. “We’ve been helped too, in different ways. It’s just… the right thing to do.”

Bella smiled, a warmth in her eyes as she looked at him. “You’re more than just a survivor, Nate. You’re someone people can rely on.”

Nate met her gaze, a sense of purpose settling in his chest. With Bella by his side, and the others depending on him, he felt a strength that went beyond survival — a determination to make each day count.