Chapter 14 : November 6 – 5 PM
Greg and Catherine walked side by side. Greg argued hard about taking a backpack with their coats and blanket. He told Catherine they'd find someone before the sun went down. She argued back until he finally gave in. Since then, they hadn't spoken. It was now late afternoon, fifteen after four to be exact. The sun was merciless as it beat down on them. Greg knew he was sunburned, even if he couldn't see it the glaring heat. Even with his sunglasses the light off the dry land and sand was bright.
"I wish I had a hamburger," Greg said.
"I wish I had a bottle of water."
Greg bobbed his head. Silence came again, pulling each away to their private thoughts for several minutes.
"Gotta good story to tell?" Catherine asked.
"No."
The heat caused the air to shimmer and illusions of water formed on the sand in the distance. It was so hot and he was so tired. He let his eyes droop as he daydreamed of a swimming pool and bottles of chilled water and lots of girls and--
"Greg."
Greg didn't open his eyes. He wanted to stay in his daydream. It was nice and cool there.
"Greg, look at me. Greg?"
Greg opened his eyes, staring at the dry ground in his line of sight.
"Greg, look at me," Catherine urged.
Greg looked up. Something was wrong. The land jutted in angles it shouldn't and was colored bright colors like some comic book.
"Greg, please look at me," Catherine begged with desperation. "Open your eyes and look at me."
Greg jerked awake, staring up at Catherine. She knelt beside him, silhouetted against the sinking sun. Dusk sent colors shooting across the sky as the sun was slowly slipping below the horizon. The oncoming night was like a vampire pulling heat from the land. Greg sat up, looking at Catherine when she sat next to him.
"Are you with me again?" she asked.
"What happened? Weren't we walking? How did I get on the ground?"
"You passed out."
"For how long?"
"A couple hours. How are you feeling?"
His stomach rumbled loudly. She smiled.
"Aside from the obvious."
"I'm fine I think. Aren't we close to that farmhouse yet?"
"I don't know. Why don't we keep walking until dark and then we can take turns sleeping?"
Greg nodded.
She got up and held her hand out. He let her help him back to his feet and the two started walking again.