Chapter 87: Starting the Trek

After kilometers in the dark tunnel which had now turned into a large water pipe, the landscape opened up to the Surface. Tom stumbled over the lip on to the dusty dirt. The night sky hung over them.

Tom offered his hand out to Ellie to help her over the edge. She grabbed it and teetered over. Her footing was looking less sure than when they started, no doubt the burns had something to do with that. Her hand was sweaty in his, but he managed to keep her on her feet.

A few meters after the tunnel, Ellie stopped and their hands separated. Tom turned back to look. The whole sky south was lit at the horizon. The glow lit the bottom of thick clouds hanging overhead where smoke poured into the sky.

"Bomb," Ellie said.

"It caused the explosion?" Tom asked.

Ellie nodded. "Looks like someone found us. That's the whole Sanctuary."

Tom felt a pang of anger. Finally, he found a place to feel safe where people accepted him and he could make a difference. Now it was gone. The whole thing. And