I sit next to Earlene. Why did she have to die? And what in the world does she mean by “don't trust Jacob”? I look at Jacob who is standing looking off into the distance.

  “Mallory we should leave,” Jacob states.

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  “Why?”

  “We should get far away from other people. Let them kill each other off and maybe we can win together,” he says, not looking at me. I understand what he's saying but is it possible for both of us to win?

  “Um okay,” I stand up, and I give my last glance at Earlene. Why do I grieve for the old lady so much? I walk next to Jacob and we walk into the eerie dense forest.

  …

  We walk for a long time before Jacob says we should stop and that we are probably safe here. I embrace him in fear. We stay like this for a while.