Continuing to watch the street from his hiding place, Jacob saw more soldiers pass, all wearing the same grungy dark coloured military drab. All carried the same rifles in hand, along with several other strange looking devices, including those gas cylinders Jacob had seen on the street the evening prior. From his place of safety, he remained still for what seemed like hours. The sun began rising high above the mountains and now sat halfway between the horizon and directly above casting its bright blue-white light over the nearby buildings and into the store. Soaked in sweat from the sweltering heat normally reserved for mid-summer, Jacob found himself extremely thirsty. Afraid to move and unsure if the men outside were gone, he came to a point of unbearable thirst. Finding himself staring at the partially intact coolers, he longed for the bottled drinks across the store from him. Believing it may be safe enough, Jacob carefully manoeuvred through the store. Staying close to the outer walls as he approached the ruined coolers near the front of the store, he periodically paused to ensure it was still safe to go ahead. Darting across the aisle, Jacob grabbed the first bottle of soda he could before stepping back behind the end of a shelf to conceal himself from the street. Preoccupied with the beverage, now warm from sitting in sun light, he twisted the cap off releasing a loud hiss. Paying no attention to his surroundings, Jacob rapidly drank the satisfying fluid. With his thirst momentarily quenched, he could feel the sugar taking effect creating a sense of euphoria. Sitting with his back against the shelving, he closed his eyes in exhaustion for what seemed only a moment.
The sound of footsteps across the pavement snapped Jacob back to alertness. With his heart now racing from a surge of adrenaline, he turned to peer through the cracks in the shelving. Standing in front of the store was a soldier with his rifle drawn. As Jacob watched, he could see the soldier scanning the store through his thick googles, that reflected in the sun light behind the scope of the weapon. Pointing the muzzle of the rifle from one side of the store before moving slowly and methodically to the other. Freezing with anxiety as the soldier pointed the rifle directly at him, Jacob held his breath unsure if he had been discovered. Filled with a nauseating sense of panic for what seemed like an eternity, Jacob felt a sense of relief as the soldier lowered his weapon and moved down the street out of sight.
Muffled voices and crackles among static could be heard as the soldier talked over a radio from around the corner of the street, and out of view. After a brief period of silence, the soldier returned rapidly approaching the store. While raising his weapon the he entered the building through the hole in the wall, where the door once stood. Jacob watched as the soldier moved to the corner furthest from him before walking along the front of the store, pausing briefly at the opening of every aisle to shine his flashlight towards the back of the store. The movements of the soldier’s light shed light throughout the store, allowing Jacob to see a door at the back of the store, open and hanging on its hinges. As silently as possible, Jacob darted from one aisle end to another moving only in the shadows. Getting as close to the door as he could while remaining in the dark, Jacob stopped with twenty feet of an open area now between him and his escape. The soldier began moving up an aisle at the far end of the store from Jacob, the shelving concealing his view from Jacobs position. Seizing the opportunity Jacob made a run for the open door, while trying to move as quickly and silently as possible.
A loud bang reverberated throughout the small store, as Jacob accidentally kicked a piece of metal debris. Afraid to look back, he quickened his pace as he darted through the dim light towards the door. Pausing briefly to try to close the door, Jacob could see the soldier quickly moving through the store towards him. Talking on his radio as he made his approach, Jacob was sure the soldier was calling to alert others of his position. Unable to move the heavy metal door, twisted on its hinge, Jacob turned and ran up the dark stairwell. Footsteps of more than a single soldier could be heard in chase behind him echoing through the hollow cement column. Running out of breath as he climbed the stairs, he tried to open every door he came across. Loosing count of how many flights of stairs he had passed; Jacob came to the top of the stairwell and the last door offering any means of escape. Bursting through the unlocked door, he found himself on a hot brightly lit gravel roof, as the door closing loudly behind him. With sweat dripping down his face Jacob at once felt the effects of the intense blue star now high above the barren roof top. Attempting
