I yawn as my tummy growls. We stop to rest for a while. To my surprise Mathew offered to keep watch.
After my head stops hurting I motion the others that we need to move on.
"Shoes" I say putting mine on. We should travel across the land, but stay near the water. We eventually find a road.
"That's what big people drive on with cars" Sophie spoke finally. She has a soft voice.
Down the road is the old farmhouse I saw many years ago. I point to it. Maybe they have food. Seeing the house gave me an idea.
"Maybe we can break in, and find food" I offer.
"There is just an old lady if I remember" I add. The car is here. We approach the house, "um find a window, and look to see if you can find the old lady" Kaleb suggests. I smile at his words. Kaleb is getting better. I stand on the back porch to stare in the window. No lady. I see a door then take my shoes off.
I reach to touch the handle to turn it slowly. The door clicks, but opens to the inside. I wave down Sophie telling her to get the others over here. I step inside to peer around the door before stepping inside. The floor is cold to the touch. Kaleb looks over my shoulder then we slip inside. I close the door after everyone.
"Find the mean lady" I whisper pairing off with Kaleb. He's my first choice.
The room we enter is where the food is made. It's connected to where the food is usually eaten. I walk into a bedroom. I hear water then poke Kaleb. We go back to get Destiny. The lady is in the shower. Destiny points out the door locks from the outside, so she closes it. With the door locked we return to the food room.
"No one else" Ian informs me, and we can find the food now. To be honest we ate everything we can get to except the cans because no one knows how to open them.
In another bathroom I drink water from the sink then soak my sock in the water before washing my scar. It stops it from hurting.
I do have to potty, so I shut the door.
After I'm done I look out the window for a second then gasp. I flee back to the others, "there's a pelican! They found us!" I warn. "What do we do?" Kaleb wails.
I can feel everyone's eyes on me. They want me to lead them?! I'm not good at that, but Kesha says I am smart.
"We can do what the soldiers did to escape. We have to split up. They can't follow us all" I tell them. I put my shoes on then meet the others by the door.
"Well it's now everyone for themselves. Good Luck" Destiny lectures us. She takes off leading us to follow. I break away then race to the road. It turns out Destiny is behind me with Kaleb, and Mathew, "you're the smart one. I'm sticking with you."
"Okay."
The pelican chases the bigger group of kids. There is short grass on the other side of the road, and it scrapes my legs.
"I think we should reach the city" Destiny tells me.
"There are more people, so it might be harder to find us if we hide with the people" she adds.
"This way then."
I lead them to follow the road. "I hope this leads to the city."
Tiffany
"Come on, come on" I urge. Sophie kept looking back. The pelican dropped soldiers, and they're after us. They came down after we split up, yet I didn't see any chasing Dylan's group. They must have escaped.
"Stop looking back!" I snap at her, and Sophie glares at me.
She's wasting her energy by being so concerned on they are. We have to focus on going forward.
"So I want to know where they are, shut up" she argues with me. I roll my eyes stopping.
"You really want to argue with me?" I taunt dauntingly. I'm so not in the mood for dealing with her.
I hate this girl. I wish she would get punished. Sophie frowns then tackles me.
"At least I don't still keep a pink bracelet under my pillow" she accuses me.
"Well maybe unlike you I still care for my family" I counter as we struggle through the brush. Sophie found it easy to forget her past that's why I hate her. She had deaf adopted parents.
For a moment I forgot about the UNSC soldiers until they were on top of us. I start to kick my feet, and scream. I reach down to bite skin causing my attacker to let me go, so I can fight them. I throw a pretty good hook if I do say so myself. The soldier doesn't look surprised that I start to fight him which in turn surprises me.
Did they know we'd fight back, or were they expecting it?
Well duh if your enemy is training someone wouldn't you expect them to fight back? Tiffany, you're an idiot.
I take a battle stance, and focus on my opponent.
"Stand down" he orders sharply. He's giving me orders? I don't think so. He's not my boss.
I snort lunging forward to tackle the soldier, but he's much heavier than I had predicted. This he uses to his advantage to pin me down.
"Either stand down, or I'll sedate you" he threatens, and I growl at him.
"What do you want?" I demand trying to bite on of his knees. Ignoring my question he continues to pin me.
"You want to sleep the next couple of hours? That can be arranged. It won't make me shed any tears" he stats.
I mutter many things that my mother would not approve of. The soldier grabs me by the neck to force me to my feet. You're lucky I'm not big. I slap myself mentally. Your cockiness got you caught. Way to go.
Eat this. I give him a kick in a sensitive place then follow up with an elbow to his nose.
The man stumbles back, and with new energy I bolt away. If he keeps bothering me I'll resort to killing him.
Spill their blood.
Dylan
We're so close!
I smile. Finally something is going our way. I urge the others on. We can make it. We're so close! I can see more of the buildings.
"Let's jog" Destiny says, and I pick up my paste a little bit. I pat Kaleb on the shoulder. At least you don't have to be afraid to lose. Part of kind of misses Kesha, but the other isn't sure if I should.
We're free now. No running in the morning, or being scared of a baton. The thing is I don't believe the UNSC will stop hunting us. We could have information that they want.
Wait haven't I already thought about this? I think I did.
We'll arrive at the city not too long from now, but the sun's dropping. We've been fleeing for hours. I wince again as my headache returns.
I need to lay down soon. At least the night time is cooler. Maybe there won't be as many bugs either. They bite your ears, and fly around your head. The constant buzzing is bothering. I freeze in place hearing a series of screams. They're not too close, and not too far. "Run!" I whisper fiercely then bolt. We take off running to the city.
"Stay off the leaves" I urge between breaths. At this pace we'll reach the city much faster.
The city is basically an island, but with bridges. I stop them to rest, and we hide in the brush. I close my eyes to let the pounding ease. At times I almost fell asleep, but shook my head to fight it.
"Can anyone here swim?" I ask sitting up slowly. I don't know how to swim because I've never been taught. Mathew raises a hand.
"You just claw, and kick. It takes practice to get good" he says. Once I feel better I nod then get up calmly. I motion everyone else to get to their feet. It's time to move.
"Mathew" I ask calmly, "would you lead the way?"
He stares at me surprised that I'd even consider letting him lead. To be honest being called the leader is odd because I'd rather follow someone else. That way if something happened it would be my fault. Kesha said I'm smart, and now I believe this is what she was talking about. Mathew takes us down the bank to where the water touches the shore. By not the sun has almost disappeared, yet the sky has purple, pink, yellow, orange, and red colors.
It's beautiful.
The water is freezing when we step in.
"Stay close. Very close" Mathew whispers as we start to paddle. I feel like something is poking my arms, and legs. Pins, and needles. Or was it knives, and needles?
For now the sky is pretty, and resting. No storms. I keep right up on Kaleb's side to watch him. Destiny is with Mathew who is in front of me. The distance wasn't very big, so we were able to cross in a small amount of time. It's a good thing too because as the night progressed the water became colder.
Well colder than it was. At least the cold water helped with my head. We climb on a concrete ledge then climb stairs to reach a sidewalk. The streets are mostly empty, and I'm quick to lead my friends away.
Maybe we can find a building to hide on the roof. I lead them down the sidewalk ensuring we can stand under the lights. I look everyone we pass in the eyes.
I can see you. I know you are there. No surprising me.
My fear of heights steers me away from buildings higher than four floors tall. There is a big long building with many lights, and it's three floors.
We walk along the sidewalk passing few cars parked. "We can circle around" I tell them watching more people pass by. No one seems to notice us which in my opinion is odd. There is a multi-colored car sitting at the building. It says something city police, but I can't pronounce the city's name.
"Destiny, do you know what police are?" I question pausing for a few seconds to stare.
"No" she replies standing next to me.
"Maybe they're UNSC" I suggest, but Mathew shakes his head.
"The car says city. It could be the city's military. I see a computer in the car" he adds, and I call him back over. We keep walking around the corner to the back of the building.
"Camera" Kaleb mouths grabbing pointing to the small grey box hanging off the wall. We sneak along the wall then around the next corner to find a ladder.
We climb on top of the roof, and find a corner to lay down. Still soaking wet I huddle close to Kaleb from warmth. We made it. We're safe, but the big question is what to do next. How will we get something to eat? Or to drink? I'll until the morning to decide. The other kids are counting on me. That's way too much pressure. What if I fail after all this time?
I close my eyes to finally rest.
Meanwhile
We bring the captured children to the evac point, and buckle them in. As for the second group the pelican lost their trail when they split.
Colonel decided to report to the head of ONI on her take, but the group we caught will be taken back to the base. The Colonel wants to have the medics look after them. After that we're going to have them in the brig to keep them out of trouble. 1st platoon is still at the Insurrection camp searching for information on who the children, and how long they've been there. The theory is that maybe they're were born there.
"Sergeant, what's the status if the search?" I question over the com. The pelican lifts up, and takes off. I spoke to the Colonel previously, and he informed the that a second pelican is on route to retrieve them.
"We've found evidence that they've been here for a while. There's a file, but it's encrypted. The Innies won't give it up, so we'll bring it with us for an A.I to crack" he began.
"Understood. See what else you can find the captured group isn't talking. I bet the Innies had something to do with that" I tell him stealing a look at the children. Most of them will hardly look at us. What have the Innies done to you guys? I wonder shaking my head. The trip back to base won't take long lasting about twenty minutes.
"Listen up I don't want any funny business. You're going to get checked out by a doctor then locked up until further notice" I tell them as we land. The pilot gives me a thumbs up before opening the bay doors. We take them single file inside to the infirmary.
Sergeant
"Sir, we found a door leading to possibly a basement" a Corporal approaches me, and I let him take the lead. A small squad is waiting once we arrive.
"Go careful, and keep in touch" I tell them before entering the pass code to open the door. Freezing air bites my face like being stabbed in the cheeks, and I gag.
"What is that wretched smell?" Someone curses as I turn my flashlight on then head down the stairs. The smell is causing me to shake my head. The flashlight reflects off something, and I lower it to see a metal barrel. I can't even pronounce the chemical written on the barrel.
"Sleeping gas..." I trail off as the an ODST stands next to me.
"What would they need sleeping gas for?"
"To keep them from escaping."
I shrug continuing the search. I cough several times, "ugh. It smells like someone died" I complain. Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to see a Private.
"That's because someone did."
The Private points to a door on the far side of the basement.
"We followed the smell, and found corpses lying in there."
"Traitors probably."
The Private looked at me with a disbelief look forcing a concerned one from me.
"Sir, these corpses are too small to be adults. On the side note COD is a single bullet to the head, executioner style."
Dylan
We slept undisturbed until the sun is high up in the sky, but at this time the roof had started to heat up. I arouse the others, and then we climb back down to the ground. As a group we head inside. The best part us when we pass a bathroom, but in between the bathrooms are water fountains. Thirsty, I head over for a drink.
Instincts force me to constantly check over my shoulder for enemies. We take turns filling our bellies with water, except now we need something to eat. That part I haven't figured out yet, but maybe I have a slight idea. Upon entering the store I saw two big plastic things on both sides of the doors that read "anti-theft system."
It means that every item taken from the store is being scanned, but I believe there are codes on all on the items that communicate with the machines. Maybe like a bar code, or something. The customers go to a line where someone who works here, runs the item over a machine before it beeps. After that the customer pays.
I know that all of the items come in a package, so it must be on the package. There are some fruits with a small sticker on it, and the sticker has lines with numbers. That must be what the machine scans.
I think more about it while I run to the restroom.
Afterwards I have everyone else watch out while I rip the tag off a fruit then slip it into Mathew's pocket. I do the same for Kaleb, Destiny, and myself. We leave the building like nothing happened. To my relief the plastic does not buzz. However, I saw a person in a blue uniform. It was the "police" Destiny had mentioned before.
She looked at us, and I give a warm smile with a wave. Let's try not to drawn attention, but it's too late.
The damage had been done.