Iyisha pulled the strap of her bag tighter across her chest.
The packs had been unbearably heavy when they first started traveling together. Now the weight sat differently on her shoulders. Still heavy, but easier to carry.
Was it the mutation?
She still didn't know what her body could actually do.
"Come on," Marybeth whispered.
She moved ahead first.
Malcolm followed close behind her, and Iyisha fell in behind him.
They kept to the shadows, staying close to the walls and dark corners as they moved through Hyde. No lights. No talking. Just the soft scrape of boots against dirt.
If anyone was watching from outside the town, they needed to look like nothing more than shadows.
The night air was cold, the wind brushing against Iyisha's skin and making the hairs along her arms rise.
Soon the first inner fence came into view.
Hyde Town was surrounded by three defensive fences. Layers built over the years with whatever materials they could find.
The first one was easy.
