Shielded

--- Part 2. Again, comment as to whether I should continue, and any criticism is welcomed.---

Autumn stepped out from her hiding place and smoothed down the too-big jacket she wore. She'd stolen it, too along with the food in her pack. The Chief didn't give luxuries to low class members of the community like Autumn's family. It was black, and made from some sort of waterproof material.

She took one wary step onto the black road; it was surprisingly warm. She glanced around, in fear of someone - or something - watching her. Autumn placed her other foot on the surface, thankful when her surroundings stayed unchanged. What had she expected to happen? The road to blow up? Someone to tell her off for walking on it? She was being over panicky. Nothing like that would happen out here in the real world.

Autumn took the direction the vehicle had gone, and followed the road as it meandered around fields and trees. The road seemed to last forever, a repeated pattern of meadows, forests and rivers at its borders. As she came to yet another bend, Autumn noticed various stray corn stooks spread about a yard apart from each other. She continued walking briskly, there had to be a whole field of them, right?If this were the case, she could shelter there for the night, maybe even take a nap.

Just as Autumn had suspected, a vast field of the crop stretched over a low slope. There was no fence to stop her, so she crept into the edge of the field. The stooks stood well above her head in height, and dusk had just fallen, so there was no danger of anyone spotting her.

Autumn backed a few metres from the road and then perched herself by the thick base of a stook. Now she was down, she fully felt the exhaustion that had been creeping up on her during the last few hours of walking. Autumn shrugged off the backpack carelessly, and propped her head against it, using it as a pillow. She wouldn't sleep. She would simply just lay here for a moment and then prepare a meal for herself...

Autumn was jolted awake by rustling and the sound of heavy breathing. She sprung into a crouching position, a weak attempt to protect herself. There was more rustling, and then a strong beam of light cast over the stook adjacent from her. She let out a muffled squeak.
"Who's there?" called a hoarse voice.
Autumn froze. She held her breath; in the now freezing cold night, it would have shown as a white cloud escaping her mouth. Suddenly, a tall figure came into view, clad in dark coloured trousers and harsh, thick soled boots. The figure was holding a long tube, which seemed to be the source of the light. As if it had heard what she was thinking, the beam was cast upon Autumn's face, stinging her sleepy eyes. She could now see the figure was a middle aged man. His mouth formed an O.
"Oh my Lord," the man said.
Terrified, Autumn closed her eyes and cursed her mother for bringing her into the world.