1 The Mother

I held my hand over my eyes, gazing towards the ever stretching field of grass. My son, Owen, was stood in front of me, waiting for direction. He was good. Despite us going the same way we always went, he paused to let me point in a direction. We had no choice but to travel along on this same path. Fifty miles east, there would be nothing. Twenty miles west, there would be nothing. Ten miles south, there would only be the bones of those whose life had been drained by...them. Our only option was to head north, continuously….until we met the end.

I was unsure of this end, what lay there. Maybe the end was a cliff, where Owen and I would have to jump from. Maybe...maybe it was simply nothing. I wasn't sure, and still we had to walk. Owen turned his head back to me, his mop of brown curls hidden beneath a red beanie. Ever since they broke into our world, it has been nothing but cold. The highest it got was seven degrees celsius.

"Mum?" Owen said, and my eyes darted to his. He had his father's eyes, green and discerning. The rest of him looked like me, but I still found myself seeing Jacob through Owen. Just when we laid awake at night, watching for the beasts. The pretty forest green would look up at me, and just...just for a moment I would see his father. I can't remember how many times it's happened, how many times I've cried into my own son's shoulder. Too many.

"Mum?" Owen repeated. He must be getting tired...of me or of the journey, I couldn't say.

"Sorry, Owen." I said, releasing a heavy sigh, "Just stuck in my own head." Owen shot me a wry smile, and reached for my hand. I took it.

"It's okay, mum." He replied, "Where to?" I looked back out at the field. The briskness of the air, and the dullness of the sun had made the area look blue. Maybe the word for it was bleak. I couldn't remember, which was becoming a growing problem for me. I lifted my free hand, and pointed out towards the horizon.

"That way." Owen's eyes followed my finger, and he took a step forward. I stumbled after his quick little steps. The ground was covered in a thin layer of frost, the sound of crunching making me cringe. We'd been at this for a long time, but the fear of being heard still crawled my spine.

We walked for awhile. Walked around great metal beasts covered in ice. They slept, waiting in that slumber for one wrong move. One move that would tell them life was still here. Grass had grown over the silver of their legs, but underneath the foliage always laid two red, piercing eyes. The eyes they used to drain people with, to claim lives with. Their gaze was chilling. I clutched at my son's arms as we neared the hill.

The walk had slowed significantly. A steady wind had set in to batter at our slowing legs. I glanced at my son, measuring the speed of his breaths and the chattering of his teeth. We'd have to find shelter soon for the night.

The wind howled, and a chill set into my frame. We met the slope of the hill, and I paused. A voice had muttered something against the wind. I turned, searching for the source. There was nothing, no one but Owen, me, and the beasts. That, or we were being followed. I couldn't tell anymore.

Owen had let go of my hand, and when I looked back at him, he was halfway up the hill. I felt a nerve twitch, and I quickly caught up with his pace. I snatched his hand onto mine, pulling him back into me. He let out a small grunt, and we tumbled down the hill. We landed with a thud, and I froze up, ears pricking to any sound. I was listening for the beasts creaking bolts. Owen pushed off of me, whipping around. He looked confused. He just didn't understand.

"Mum? What happened?" He asked, "Are you okay?" I sat up, glancing around, and then clutching his hand and standing. I pulled him up to his feet.

"We stay together." I said, "The beasts may sleep, but they're still alive. Waiting...waiting for us Owen….you know this. You know they're waiting. We can't be apart. I have to protect you. I have to, Owen. Please promise me you won't leave again, please." Owen reached out to give me a hug, and I wrapped my arms around him. I laid my chin on top of his head and sighed.

"I promise, mum." He said into my chest. I stroked his hair, standing with him for as long as he'd let me. He pulled away, taking my hand again, and leading me up the hill. The hill was difficult, the cold stiffening my muscles and joints. I wanted to give up. I should give up. Owen kept tugging me along- or was it Jacob? No, no it was definitely Owen.

Eventually, we reached the top of that hill, and we were staring out at a vast, and empty plain. The sun was setting, casting a pale orange glow over the horizon. I looked up at the sky, the first star had appeared. I remembered Jacob always telling me to wish on the first star in the night sky. I closed my eyes, releasing a low breath.

"I wish for escape…."