I'm put back in my cell by this menacing woman, and of course I don't complain. But who does Miko think she is by just letting my dad be taken away? She has absolutely no sympathy.

"I'll come back to get you. You'll watch your father suffer soon enough. For his actions." 

Just like that she leaves. Now is my moment to think, when I'm alone. Back upstairs, I didn't see any of my friends or Alex or Mom anywhere. Could they have gone somewhere? Left, maybe? I probably have no way of knowing. Finally I decide to relax.

Laying down on my bed for prisoners, all I can think about is how I want to curl up into a ball and sleep forever. Be away from this hell, the madness. My dad needs me, because he'll have bruises everywhere in a matter of time. I don't even realize how much time has passed, until Miko shows up rather quickly. She lets me out, too. 

"Let's go! Your father's waiting."

Then I am escorted through numerous hallways until I reach a dark room with a desk and two chairs. We don't go into it, but instead Miko orders me to watch. My dad is being slapped across the face and tortured by one of the guards, and I want to cry out so very badly. Why would she make me watch this?

"Where are my wife and my child? Please, just tell me!"

"No! Actions deserve consequences. You didn't give us our promised supply, so you don't get to know."

Suddenly Miko storms into the room in a flash, and orders for the guard to stop.

"They're alive. Everyone from Windenburg. The ones not upstairs, at least." The feeling of security and relaxation flows through my body. It could be a lie, though.

"Well, where'd they go? Tell me!" 

I see that Dad is extremely infuriated, breathing shakily through his mouth. Miko, weirdly gives Daddy a cold, hard stare while the guard remains quiet.

"They've been released. They're not the ones we want, anyway. You are."

"Okay, so what do you want from me? To apologize for escaping?" Smiling morbidly, Miko pulls up a chair and faces Dad. "Nobody's coming back to Windenburg, you know. And you're going to stay with us forever, and your friends will live in peace." She steps out and takes me by the hand forcefully. Dad waves a small goodbye when I want to collapse in tears.

Outside I am dragged to, with Miko demanding I walk in the big truck awaiting me. Just then I wonder if Mom and everyone are there. I'm about to find out. Once I arrive, joy overwhelms my mind. They're okay! Everyone sits inside the truck, with no seats. But most of them are okay. And I know they're happy to see me too, because I hear a sigh of relief from Lucas, with his messy hair catching my attention.

On the left side of the space is Aunt Moira, Mom, Alex, Eva, and a woman named Luna. I don't really know who she is, but I recognize her face. "Marcus!" Mom calls for me and encourages me to sit with her. I immediately place myself next to her, wanting to cuddle her, but I'm a little too tense. 

"Thank God, you're okay." But I remain in silence. After a while, she notices. "Where's your father?"

"Don't worry, he's alive. But they still have him."

Alex looks at me throughout our short dialogue. Boy, has he changed. He now sports a very short haircut with a leather jacket, in addition to his one arm. Cool. 

"I'm glad to see you, little bro." I just decide to nod, because I'm stressed out.

On my right is Sergio, another guy I don't know, Lucas, and one of the co-leaders, Sofia. I acknowledge everyone but Mom and Alex with a small smile, and they look happy to see that I'm alive. Still breathing. But we're not in the best situation. "Where are we going?" I ask Aunt Moira.

"I don't know, to be honest, Marcus." I look down, in sorrow. They can't do anything more to my dad. Nothing. I want him here.

It is, obviously a bumpy road for us, as we move, getting to where we're going. Now I glance at everyone with me. Only a small group of us are here because everyone else either died or left when there wasn't enough food for everyone. Then I realize something. They don't know about the three growlers: Sofia's sister, Liberty, and Nina. I'll tell them later, I think. The mood is already ruined.

The vehicle is stopped eventually, and I see the truck door opening. We're free! But what happens next? Everyone steps out to reveal that we are dropped off in a grass field with some trees. I'm sure it is the same forest the grocery store is in. But the truck drives off in the opposite direction as soon as we emerge out. 

"What?" Sofia definitely is confused. "Why did they just leave us? Assholes!"

"Well, we're free," Sergio states. "Now we should probably find shelter before it gets dark." Mom nods.

 "Deal. So let's just keep walking until we find something, then." She points to the road, and looks at me. 

"Also, watch out for any growlers. Come on, sweetie." As a group, us, the remnants of Windenburg begin our quest to find safety. 

Everyone else is gone anyway.