Sweat dropped from Daniel’s hands as he crouched in the bushes. He wished he had time to climb the tree, but it just wasn’t possible. He would have been caught for sure.

He had never been out this far before. Before now, he had been kept inside the walls, just as nearly every other person in Dryland was. You had to be be an officer in the red section in order to even look over the walls.

But now here he was. His mentor of 17 years laid dead, back in what had been called home to him only a few hours earlier. He had no idea where he would go. He had no idea what he could do.

Daniel held his breath as one officer drew close. It seemed like hours before the officer moved on, but Daniel held fast.

He was so close to freedom, and he wasn’t going to mess it up by breathing.