“What are you doing here?” Natalia jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice coming from behind her.

“I... I wanted to...to...” she stuttered.

“You shouldn't be here,” her mother said sternly.

“I'm sorry, I just wanted... I was worried...”

Pulling Natalia in for a tight hug, her mother stroked her hair and said. “I'm okay, Natalia, but it's not safe for you out here.”

“I know. I'm sorry, Mummy.”

“It's okay this time, but don't do it again, okay?”

“Okay, I promise.”

“Good girl,” she said smiling down at her. “Now, stay close to me, okay?”

“Okay.”

Natalia followed closely behind her mother as they quietly made their way around the abandoned building, looking for her mother’s friend.

“Don't make a sound,” her mother whispered.

Nodding, Natalia held her breath, thinking it would help her hear better. It didn't. It just made her heartbeat even louder in her ears.

Without warning her mother grabbed hold of her hand and started running. Natalia tried her hardest to keep up with her, but her little legs just couldn't go as fast as her mother’s longer legs.

All but dragging her out of the building, they headed straight for the woodlands surrounding the building. Natalia tripped on the uneven ground several times, and she would have fallen on her face if her mother hadn't been holding her hand.

Natalia knew she was slowing her mother down, but instead of complaining or leaving her behind, her mother stopped just long enough to pick her up so she could carry her.

“Don't look back,” her mother said as she started running again.

Natalia held on tightly as her mother ran as fast as she could, tucking her head into her mother’s neck so she couldn't see behind them.

It didn't take long for her mother to start slowing. Natalia was a big girl now, she was nearly seven years old, so she knew it was her fault her mother couldn't keep up the pace.

Panting heavily, her mother stopped and lowered Natalia to the ground.

“Stay here, Natalia,” she told her, pushing her into a hollowed-out tree. “And don't move until I come back for you.”

“But Mummy...”

“No buts, Natalia. Stay here and stay silent.”

“Okay,” Natalia whispered.

Without another word, her mother ran off, leaving her all alone in the middle of the woods. Natalia knew why her mother did it, but that didn't help the fear from gnawing at her stomach. Fear for herself, but mostly for her mother. She knew her mother was leading the monsters away from her.

She knew it was her fault they had been spotted, even without her mother saying so. If she hadn't followed her mother out of the bunker, then the monsters wouldn't have seen them.

Natalia knew she shouldn't leave the bunker, she knew it was too dangerous outside, but she wanted to be useful... she wanted to make sure her mother was safe.

Natalia thought it was safer for her outside than her mother. The monsters didn't kill children, only the adults of her kind... Humankind... but never children. No, they had a far worse fate for children. Which was why Natalia's mother was desperately trying to lead them away.

Natalia hunkered down in her hiding spot, determined not to give herself away. Listening intently, all she could hear was the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the beating of her heart in her ears.

She didn't know how long she had to wait for her mother to return, but she hoped it wasn't too much longer. It was getting darker and colder as time passed.

Yawning, Natalia curled up into a ball at the base of the tree, trying to warm herself as the temperature dropped and night fell with still no sign of her mother returning for her.

Natalia waited hours, but she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Sending up a silent prayer that her mother would return for her soon, Natalia closed her eyes and fell asleep, cold and alone.