I watched Lyod walk ahead of us in the orange yet hazy, smoky sunset. Jaden limping behind, wearily. He was coughing and swearing under his breath. I slow my pace to walk next him, couldn't help but feeling sorry for him. He clutched the inhaler tightly in his palms, Staring at the cracks in the sidewalk as we walked. Nickie hadn't said anything to anyone, shaken by the trauma.
"What do you want?" He snapped, giving me a death stare.
"Nothing," I shrugged, "Just wanted to check if you're okay, that's all."
He scoffed, "Well, I'm not okay." He didn't say anything after that, like he had already said enough.
I sighed, We'd been walking without anymore breaks after the pharmacy. So that meant we were tired the hell out but Lyod wouldn't let us stop. Not even for five minutes. He said the sooner we were out of here, the better. We were far off the area where we saw... those people. But one can't be cautious enough, I guess.
"Look," I said, "Once everything gets normal, we'd get you-"
"Normal ?" Jaden scoffed, "What are you talking about? Do you seriously believe that we'll get out of this alive? Cause I'm kinda having second thoughts."
"You know things will get normal." I frowned, "Not for the world, but for us. Things will be better for us."
"Tell me, Harry: You really want to live in a world where only you get the advantages?" Jaden glared, his eyes bloodshot, "Do you?"
I stared at the ground, I didn't know what to say. Maybe I did want to have some advantages. Not all of them but some. I'm not that selfish. But I mean it's not my fault everything ended up like this. I'm not selfish to think about a happy life, which I bet everyone would think.
"Like I thought." Jaden sneered, "You'd throw everyone behind yourself just to be the first."
I gritted my teeth, my fists clench, "What's up with you, huh? 6 hours ago you were the one to tell me that we should totally do this, in case you forgot?"
He raged, "Oh yeah? Guess what? Now I changed my mind because if I keep this up, keep running, then no doubt I'll die."
I rolled my eyes, "You're exaggerating."
I went too far. I knew that when Jaden's fist met my cheek. I stumbled back and fell hard on the ground. Nickie turned back, gasping as she rushed to help me on my feet. I waved my hand at her, refusing her help. Rubbing my cheek, I knew I had a cut on my lips. I tasted copper in my mouth. It had to be a gnash. Wiping the blood with my sleeve I got up. Lyod was staring at us blankly, not bothering to do anything. Just stand there like a statue like he always does. I touched the cut with my fingers and winced. It hurt. A little. Jaden had no right to hit me like that!
"I think you're just exaggerating!" Jaden sniggered, mocking my words, "It's just a little cut."
"Jaden!" Nickie stared at him.
"He deserved it!" Jaden muttered, pointing at me with disgust, "When I answered your question Harry, you should have shut up and left instead of speaking hell!"
"He was just trying to lighten the mood, Jaden!" Nickie defended.
"No offense, cuz, but tell your pal here to keep his mood and opinions to himself ! I don't want to be consoled. Especially not by him." Jaden barked. Then, started walking.
Lyod nodded at us and then did the same. Groaning we followed.
"Sorry about that." Nickie said, "Jaden doesn't-"
"Don't care."
And that is what happens if you try to act nice.
I laid on the grass. Everyone was sleeping under the dark grey sky. Which, according to Lyod, is night. All of them have been sleeping for an hour now. We were in this abandoned park. Nickie was drowsing on a broken bench, actually looking peaceful. I wanted to sleep like that; calmly. But I couldn't. Maybe the grass was prickly... or wet? Nah. If that was the case then how were Lyod and Jaden-? Jaden... I can't believe he hit me on the face like that. I didn't deserve to be punched. If anyone did, then that would be Lyod. Who was taking us somewhere I can't believe could be true.
I stood up, brushing the mud from my shirt and pants. This place looked so boring that if I took a stroll, I'll fall asleep. That was my plan. Kicking at a stone, I took one last glance at my friends sleeping, then headed out in the trees. Yep, this place was boring. But it was a park, so it was bound to have a playground, right? I took of in a random direction, and in about five minutes, I found it. But the swings were broken and the slide looked old and unpainted. One more slide down it and it'll definitely break. The money bars were... you know... broken. everything was. There was a sandpit but no sand.
I walked towards it, just for a closer look. This place was all rusted and not sturdy and just a whole lotta sadness. Clearly no one had 'played' here since... years, months? I gripped the monkey bar, so thin. It was never meant to be climbed on. This was definitely boring.
I sighed, thinking what our new life will be like. Just the three of us. Jaden always teasing me, this fight and punch, forgotten. Me, taking long walks to the library. Maybe even go to my old house and look through that research room Dad never allowed me to go in. And Nickie would be happy, and not go around planning escapes. I'll probably ask her out if she'd want that. And Lyod... He wouldn't be there with us. Yeah. In my fantasy, Lyod would be long gone.
I smile. Not bored. We should probably get going. I turned my face, only to see a man, a stalker, standing close to me. I breathed. He was so close that I could smell his breath. Cigarettes. Before I could react, I was punched hard on the face, same spot where Jaden had hit me. I collapsed on the grass. I hit the metal bar and groaned, curling up in a ball.
"What the fu-!?" Before I could even swear, he kicked me in the ribs. I opened my mouth to let out a cry but I couldn't because it completely took the wind out of me. The man clasped his meaty hand on my face, so tightly that I couldn't even breath through it.
He took out a gun with his free hand and gave a smile. The kind that creeped the living hell out of you. He placed it against my forehead, eyes bloodshot.
"Try to act smart and I'll make a hole through that pretty face of yours." He whispered, the smile still on his face. "Do you understand me?"
I nodded, freaking out. He lifted me with my shirt and said, "Walk."
I did. Walking slowly, praying for anyone to come and help me. His gun pinching my back. I had to do something. I had to do something fast. I don't want to separate myself from this group. I'll have to fight a mad man with a gun. I had to get the hell away from him.
"Hurry," He hissed, "Or did you not understand what I-?"
I hit my elbow on his nose. He screamed, but still had the gun in his hands. Should have hit him harder. Either way, I ran. Or at least attempted to. The buff man recovered quickly, running after me. He grabbed my legs and I fell. I let out a short scream, Kicking him on the face. He let go and I broke free. I needed to go back to the group I hope they heard the commotion at least. I needed to-
It's been a while since I was slapped. It was the worse thing to experience. The man pushed me towards a tree, gripping my hands and pressing me against the trunk. I wanted to scream but adrenaline had left my body. He had the nasty smile on his face, blood running down from his nose. He twisted my right hand's wrist and I tried hard to scream. Then raising a fist, he punched me on the face again. And again, and again. I felt blood on my face and in my mouth. I probably looked messed up.
He released me and I fell on the ground. My legs were shaking with pain and I couldn't move. My cries for help came out nothing but whispers. But I didn't give up. Pathetically, I tried to get up. Thought myself a hero but no. I was punched in the stomach. I rested my head on the ground. Alright... I give up. I don't care where he takes me as long as there's a doctor there.
The man leaned closer to me, smirking, "Don't worry, kid, this is all for the best."
He injected me in the neck, I was too weak to react, so I let him. My eyes went droopy as he lifted me up.
I smiled all weirdly to here my friends calling for me. The sky looked bluer. Like unicorns. But unicorns aren't blue. They're... rainbow. No, they're pink. I wish my hair were pink. But that's not possible unless you're a unicorn. Wait... Why am I talking about unicorns...?
I grin at the man, "Hey! I know where you're taking me!"
"Where?" He asked, smirking.
"To my Dad!" I shout, excitedly.
"Yeah," The man replied, "That's it. But if you don't stay quiet then that wouldn't be possible, okay?"
I nodded, putting a finger on my lips, firmly. Going with a stranger. I could still hear My group calling for me. Were we playing hide-and-seek...?