Prologue:
February 13th, 10:34 P.M
Today the skies were clear and full of twinkling stars. In the far distance, you can make out a building in the forest clearing. It was a peaceful until a gunshot ripped through the night.
A young girl jolted awake, sweating. She quickly turned to the bed beside her, where her brother was sleeping, then she took a deep breath before turning away towards the window. She looked out into the sky when she noticed some movement coming from the forest. There she saw, in the small clearing, A group running away from the tall building in the distance. Then she turned away and laid back down on her bed.
Hmm. Who are they? What are they running from? She wondered as she drifted back to sleep, the sounds a muffled in the background.
Maybelle
The Excited Twin
Run. Run as fast as possible. Don't let them catch us. We can't go back. We will never go back. Never.
It feels like we've been running for decades when we finally slowed down to a stop.
"I-I think we're far enough now." said Anthony, my older brother, between gasps of air.
"We need to rest." said Jim, another escapee.
"I agree, but some of us have to be on the lookout." Murmurs of agreement rang through the group.
"I could do it." suggested Jim.
"No. You rest, you used your abilities a lot back there. If you use more, it could have a negative effect on your health." said my sister, Rosalie.
"B-but" stuttered Jim.
Rosalie shook her head and took Jim to a nearby tree, making him lean against the trunk and rest.
"Then who should?" someone said.
A flurry of voices rang out, some volunteering, some wishing to rest, and some wishing to continue moving. My brother tried to silence them to avoid attracting unwanted attention, but it proved to be futile. As everything was starting to get out of control, a voice rang out. "I'll do it." I said, surprising me and silencing the rest. Everyone turned towards me.
"C-cause like you guys did more than I did earlier." I stuttered, looking down. Silence. It was just getting unbearable when my brother spoke.
"I rather you don't, but if that's what you want to do. I'll agree, but please be careful, I don't want to lose anyone." Anthony said.
I nodded.
"Alright," he said." Who else wants to and can be on the first watch?"
7 other people raised their hand.
"Okay, the rest gather closer and people on the first watch spread around. We will switch later in the night. Remember your weapons, stay alert, and stay as silent as possible. Stay safe." Anthony announced.
We nodded and sprang into action. Me and the rest of the watch group spread around the rest of the group, encircling it. While the rest gathered large leaves and made makeshift mats to sleep on. I scaled a tree, a wooden bow in hand and makeshift arrows in a sling on my back. I stayed there, under the inky black sky, with the gentle breeze brushing my face. I was losing the feeling in my legs, when I heard something below. The sound of… footsteps. I looked down and saw a group of 10 guards from the facility coming our way. I quietly got off the tree to look for the others. I spotted June about 8 trees away to my left. I quickly climbed the tree and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned with her dagger poised to attack. When she saw me, she lowered it with an expression of relief.
"What-" she begins to say.
I held up a finger, and motioned her to follow me. She nodded. When we got back to my spot, the guards were closer than I expected. I pointed them out to June. Her eyes widened, seeing the group.
"What do we do?" I mouthed.
"I'll go call the others." June mouthed back.
"You stay and try to hold them off until I come back." I nodded as June left.
I turned back towards the guards. How would I keep them there until June comes back? I can't use arrows, or else it may alert them, that we are close. Then a plan came to mind, it was basic and a little stupid. I don't think it's even going to work, but you wouldn't know if you didn't try, I guess. I'm ok with getting caught, what can I do anyway. Maybe I can lead them away. I crept away from the tree and gathered a small pile of pebbles as quietly as possible. I crept closer to the group. Hidden in the trees, I used the air and lifted the stone with a swift motion and aimed to one near the back.
Thunk. Square in the head.
"Hey! Why did you throw that at me?" exclaimed the one I hit to the one behind him.
"I didn't!" I picked up another stone.
"Then who? The air?"
I aimed it at the person closer to the front. Thunk. Another headshot.
"Maybe it's those-"
"Hey! Did one of you knuckleheads throw that at me?" demanded the guy I just hit.
I grabbed another stone. "No! It's probably one of-" Thunk.
This time, I hit a woman in between the two guys who were arguing earlier.
"Ouch! Which one of you decided throwing rocks at each other was a good idea?!" she said.
"Apparently John over there!" said the first person I hit.
"No I didn't!" said, I'm guessing, John. I picked up another and threw it at John. Thunk.
"Hey! What was that for?" he said.
"I didn't do that!"
"Well, it must be someone!"
I threw a stone at every person in the group.
Until everyone is arguing and accusing each other. I didn't really think it would work, but the thing that matters is that they were distracted. Now, I just have to wait for June to bring the others. I took a deep breath, leaned against a tree, and tuned out their arguing.
"WHAT IF IT WAS THE ESCAPEES?!"
I froze. The arguing stopped. I peeked from behind the tree. They were looking around. I quickly whipped out an arrow. I just need to hold them off until June and the others come, no big deal. But, I need to avoid getting caught first.
"He's right, it must be them. Quick search around!" one with red hair said.
They started looking through the bushes and trees, getting closer and closer to my spot. I held my breath with my bow at the ready. 20 feet. 10. 5. 1.
Rustle, rustle.
They paused and turned towards the noise. I let out a breath. Swish. Something flew towards one of the guards and landed in his neck. Then he collapsed, unconscious. The rest, now looking around frantically. I smiled to myself, knowing it was June and the others. I picked a large stone. This time aiming to knock out. Thunk, thunk. One by one, the guards fell. Until there was no one left standing. I waited a few minutes before finally coming out of my hiding spot. Then slowly the others did too. After we restrained the guards and took their weapons, we discussed what to do next.
"We should feed them to the wolves!"
"No, we should feed them to my plants!"
"Leave here."
"Tie them to a tree!"
"Kill them."
"We should take them hostage."
Everyone paused, thinking through the suggestion. Slowly we all agreed. We all carried them back to camp. As we neared the camp, a scream rang out. We quickly dropped the hostages and ran over. When we reached there, a few people were around someone.
"What happened?" June asked.
"Nightmares." said Anthony.
"Ah. Hope they're feeling better now."
"Yeah, feeling better than before..."
"Just letting you know we brought back some hostages that can be useful."
"Oh... Then leave them over there," Anthony said, pointing to an area with a large trunk. "Then you guys should get some rest.
"Alright,"
After making sure everything was ok, we went to grab the hostages. We set them against the trunk. Afterward, we headed towards some empty mats made with what it appears to be leaves. We set our weapons on the side next to our mats. As I lay there, I thought of the past before all of this. Oh, what I would give for it to be like that again. I sat up, looking around our makeshift camp. There were people leaving for patrol, gathering food, guarding the hostages, and resting.
"Hey, May? Can I sleep with you? I don't want to be alone." said someone behind me. I turned, it was my younger brother, Jack.
He has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. When transformed, his hair and eyes are deep blue. Though he was only a year younger than me, he still looked about 8 years old, but I don't mind. I think he looks adorable.
"Sure bud. Come, lay here." I said, patting a spot to my left.
He walked over and laid down. I did too. We stayed like that for a bit before he spoke.
"Do you think we're ever going to mom and dad again?" he asked.
I thought for a moment, "I'm sure we will, now go to bed, you'll need some sleep." I'm not sure. I'm wondering as much as you are.
He curled up closer to me, "I hope we do, I want to know them better than just a few blurry memories." he whispered to me.
"I understand."
I waited until I heard his breathing even out before closing my eyes and drifting into an uneasy sleep.