Luccia walked next to Gabriel. “I’ve put up with you this far. I think I can put up with your company a little while longer.”

“You’re a real brat. Do you know that?”

Luccia responded with a sly smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Dr. Lieberman, Ian and two others also decided that following Gabriel would be the best course of action. When the train driver and two of his crew decided against accompanying them, Gabriel wished them well and led his troupe back toward the train crossing.

As the group was splitting up, the figure in the shadows returned and followed Gabriel.

The light of day had begun to fade and dusk was approaching. After several hours of walking, the city of Hammond came into view. In the wooded area near the road, the figure in the shadows raised his rifle and looked through the viewfinder. Through the cross hair sights within the scope, he panned the group and stopped at Gabriel. The figure steadied the rifle, trying to keep Gabriel’s image steady in the center of the cross hairs. He flipped off the safety switch with his thumb and placed a finger on the trigger.

Gabriel’s leg had begun to bother him, so Jake had decided to lead the group towards the city. Gabriel hadn’t taken any medication since the soldiers had confiscated it. Suddenly, a jolt of pain went up the Achilles tendon in his injured leg. Instinctively, he ducked, grabbing his leg. As he did, the sound of a rifle firing filled the air and the man beside him fell to the ground, a large hole gaping in his head where the bullet had passed through.

Jesus Christ! Someone is shooting at us!

A second shot rang out. Gabriel had an idea where it came from and dropped to a kneeling position, returning fire from his M-16 rifle. The bullets ripped through the leaves and branches near the unknown shooter, who ran deeper into the woods to get out of range of the return fire.

“Run! Head into the city! Go!” Gabriel shouted.

The troupe ran as fast as it could. Gabriel kept turning back to see if he could spot the shooter but saw no one.

As Gabriel and his troupe began to fade into the distance, the shooter approached the dead body of the man he’d shot instead of Gabriel, his intended target. He held his semi-automatic sniper rifle close to his hip.

Lieutenant Delgado watched them as they neared the town of Hammond.

Go ahead and run, Gabriel. There is nowhere I won’t find you. I’ll be seeing you again real soon.