Wanted

Chapter 4

Birds perched on the tops of the trees, laying sticks down for their nests. Rabbits and hares bounced around, sniffing wildly for food; foxes sneaking up on the oblivious prey. There was movement in the trees, just out of site. The fox leaped; the prey ran.

A red headed figure emerged out of the trees into a small clearing. Clutching her bag close to her chest, she hurried to a man sitting on the floor. Sweat covered his brow, plastering his dirty blond hair to his forehead. His eyes opened slightly, a smile forming.

"Took you long enough." The man's voice was faint, his life being slowly sapped out of him. The girl didn't reply, opening her bag. She pulled out some bandages and a bottle of water.

"How did this happen?" the red head demanded. She looked over the raw, broken skin of his leg. She mumbled something about not being qualified for that. With a sigh, she unscrewed the cap of the bottle and poured the water all over the burnt leg. The man hissed; the girl rolled her eyes. She brought out some cream from the bag, and lathered it over the burnt area. Lastly she bandaged up the leg.

"Thanks, sis."

The girl puffed out some air, a cloud forming. She helped up her brother, taking most of his weight, and they limped back through the forest.

"Do we have to-"

"I'd advise you to shut up!" she snapped. "If I don't get you back, then we'll have to get you to a real hospital." He was silent for the rest of the strained walk. They reached the car and got inside.

"Aren't you a bit young to be driving, Ruby?" Concern plastered his face. "I mean, if something happens, then I am a bit screwed, aren't I?"

Ruby glared at her brother, fire streaming out of her soul.

"My dearest brother, if you do not stop thinking about only yourself, I will deliberately crash, and then we will both be screwed." The blond man stayed silent, averting his eyes. Ruby started up the car, leaving the wildlife behind her. The scenery changed to a built up town. You could smell the pollution of this toxic town from a mile away, no plants in sight. There was a throng of people, crowing like a herd of sheep around what seemed to be an open market, pushing and shoving to get the last items. A few people were exiting the big block of shops, one child throwing a tantrum.

The sun grew low in the sky as they reached the outskirts of the town. Darkness tore through the air, possessing whatever objects it could find until morning. Ruby turned the headlights of the car on. A piercing, yellow light shot through the darkness, illuminating a tiny road, unnoticeable unless you knew it was there. The car turned down the narrow lane, twisting and turning like human intestines. At the end of the road, a mansion stood, looking down upon their car. Ruby parked the car between an untouched Lamborghini and a Mini with ribbons of paint flaking off.

Ruby turned the engine off, glued to her seat. She took deep breaths, her head in a cloud of worry. Nathan would already scold her for going out without telling anyone; for taking the car... and now for showing an opposing gang member into their house. The girl slowed down her breathing, trying to stop the monster taking huge bites out of her stomach.

"I suppose we should go in, then," Ruby's brother said, arousing the girl from her inner turmoil. Lightly shaking her head, she brought herself back to reality and stepped out of the car. Round the car she went, until she came to her brother's door. Opening it, she helped him out and took her bag, and they limped to the front door together.

She knocked... she knocked... no one answered. Relief flooded over her. If no one answers I'll be able to take him to a hospital, and I'll avoid all disappointment from Nathan and the others, Ruby thought, a plan forming in her head.