Locked (Chapter 3)

By the way, if you are confused with the plot in the story… just read chapters 1 and 2. They are in my previous posts.

Chapter 3 - A New Troop

I was now racing through the forest, they were trying to catch up to me. "Whooaaa-heeee! Kakaka!" The whoops and hollers from behind were getting louder. I didn't want to become one of the living dead.

Nico started to slow down, "I think we lost them back there."

"I think you're right." I said, with sort of too much sarcasm than I had intended.

I doubled over to compose myself. My vision had become a blur with exhaustion. The only noise around me was the now distant yells and chirping of birds- if there are any birds left! This part of the forest looked like a starry night sky, the forest floor was covered in sunlight dapples. It is very different compared to our previous sullen forest.

"Okay you guys," Tristan started, "So… according to my calculations we will be at the new forest in about two days.

I was confused, "What do you mean 'new forest', is there actually a fence saying 'new forest'."

Gabbi chipped in, "Actually there is supposed to be some type of fence," she paused. A look of terror spread across her face. "We have to go now. Then find a bush to hide under.

A knot spread in my stomach. The hollering group is coming closer! I slung my bag over my shoulder and started walking. Fast. Our little band of four walked silently through the dapple forest. Every time one of us stepped on a twig we all cringed.

"They. Are. Coming. Hide!" Nico whispered. He made sure to enunciate each syllable.

I got on my hands and knees- I knew the "duck and hide" drill, it's not the first time we have done it. I rolled onto my back and got under the thickest bush. Unfortunately it was prickly. The needles closed in around me, a protective cocoon. And it was sort of awkward because Nico chose the same bush and he was laying to close to me for my comfort.

"Tess…" he whispered.

"Ya."

"Give me a knife… please."

"Sure," I pulled out a hunter's knife, its blade still shone with metal that hadn't been dirtied with blood.

"Thanks."

"Now shut up!" I whispered angrily.

"Grrr-r-r-r-r-rrr. Did I sss-ssscare yooooouuuu ch-chillllldren-n-n-?" the sick man that was chasing us fell into an insane bout of laughter.

"They found us-" I slapped my hand over Nico's mouth before he could finish.

The sick man started again, "Di-did you r-r-r-eall-l-l-lllly think-k weeee-eeee would let y-yyou ge-t-t-t-t- away? My-eeee friendssss h-he-heard-d you! You! You! All of you!" More laughter, this time from more than one person. I held my breath. I looked up through the top of the bush. I could see Sick Man's knife glinting in the dapple sunlight. Crunching of leaves sounded behind our bush. Someone grabbed my ankles. I gasped, "Ahhh! Let go of me! Let go of me! You freak!" I felt a blade pushing into my leg, "Owww!"

"Let go of her, you idiot." Nico yelled.

He rolled out of the bush. And the pain from my leg escaped almost immediately. I jumped out… with my knife in hand. The second I got out a fighting frenzy broke out. "Ah" some one grabbed my arm, knocked me to the ground. Whoever did that sent two nasty kicks to my rib. The pain gave me adrenaline. I jumped up knife in my hand. The attacker- an older looking man- punched at me, I ducked just in time. Tristan ran over to me, his attacker was on the ground… dead.

"Need help?" Tristan asked. He grabbed the man and pinned him to the tree. The sickly looking man gave him a few good kicks in the groin. Tristan fell to the ground in a ball.

"Don't you dare hurt my twin brother!" I lunged at the man, he clearly wasn't expecting that. I stabbed the man in the gut, as hard as I could. I looked away. I had to kill him to survive! The man choked up blood and in the same second he grew silent.

"Tristan? Are you okay?" I asked. "Wait, are you crying?"

"Yes I am Tess, he kicked me in the pretty spot. Look out!"

I spun around just in time to duck out of the way of a crazy young girl. She had hunger in her eyes. She jumped on top of me without a second to spare. The air escaped from my lungs. She punched me five times in the face. Pain shot through me like lighting. I could taste the blood. It was my turn. I kicked as hard as I could! My attacker shrieked and flew off me. "I I I a mmmm hungry-h-h-h-hungry!" She started flailing and kicking at any part of me that she could, hit me twice. I looked down and slashed with my knife. All of a sudden she stopped fighting and ran away screaming into the forest.

"That was weird." I said to myself.

I scanned our mini war. Tristan was handling a little girl and two buff looking guys. Gabbi was having a fist fight with two girls about her age. While Nico was pinned to the ground by a fat guy. WE were never going to win. And Sick Man sat in a tree watching us.

Out of the blue, a noise I hadn't heard in years blasted near us. And Sick Man fell from his perch. Bleeding. Dying. Everyone seemed to freeze. Two more blasts rose. Nico's attacker crumbled on the ground next to him. One of the buff guys seemed to get the idea, "Run!" They all vanished into the woods.

"Who's there?" I called out. I had heard a sound on the other side.

A brunette stepped out of the woods. She was holding a gun! She blew across the tip of the barrel, as if bragging about her weapon. Then a pure white wolf- no a dog emerged from behind her.

"Please don't hurt us!" Tristan said pleadingly. He and Gabbi got on their knees as if begging. The brunette didn't look sick.

She then spoke, "The name's Eliza. You all can thank me later."