Hope

Chapter 7

The initial shock was shattered by Bex's voice.

"Who's there?!"

She galloped closer to the doorway, for the silhouette to briefly vanish. She stomped her foot.

"If you think you're so tough, get back here and fight!"

That's when I saw it.

It was Noah- in the moments before, I hadn't realised how worried I'd been about him. Thoughtlessly, I ran towards him, wanting to embrace him with all my might, but when I took his hand...

There was a sharp pain in mine.

I jumped, seeing a glisten of silver.

It was a knife.

A warning cry started to leave my lips, but it was too late; before I could comprehend what was happening, Noah lunged towards me at rapid speed. He pinned me to the floor.. I wished that I could see Liz one last time, to apologise, until I found myself screaming.

"Noah! Get it together!"

He appeared to be in shock. He dropped the knife and leapt straight off of me, before blinking again, his pupils dilating, but Bex, oh dear god, bless her, grabbed the knife and pointed it in his direction. Or.. whoever was in his mind's direction.

There wasn't any other exit to the barn. For a brief moment, a very brief moment, I accepted the fact the only way I could see my family again, or the only way for any of the group to see their families again was killing Noah. I shook my head in shock. I wasn't one to cry- but, I felt like I was about to.

Rose leapt forward, a plastic tube- I don't know, she was too fast for me to tell- in her hand, "Noah" had one moment to wail in anger before collapsing to the ground.

I had just been attacked.

Somehow I still found myself rushing to his side, checking his pulse, then breathing a sigh of relief.

He was huffing and puffing, despite being on the verge of losing consciousness.

"What was that?" I asked Rose glancing up at her.

"Anaesthetic."

We all gave her a pointed look and shrugged saying,

"What, I always keep some on me, just in case."

"Well what do we do with him now," Mace asked looking pointedly at Noah.

"I mean we can't just leave him on the ground because he might wake up and lash out again."

"Then what do you suggest we do." I asked her.

"Well I have some rope in my bag, we could tie him up to one of the poles?" Mace suggested. I looked at the others who were just looking at me. Waiting for me to grant permission. So I turned back to Mace and nodded my consent

Ten minutes past but they stretched out like hours. As I sat idly and watched Mace and Bex tie "Noah" to a pole in the middle of the barn.

How long will it be until he wakes up? Will he remember what he did? Will he still be dangerous? Can we run away with him if he's attacking us? What if Rose could develop a serum of some sort to use on Noah when he goes into his "state"?

"Willow." Rose's voice cut through the fog of "what if's" running through my mind. But nothing could really prepare me for her next sentence.

"Noah's awake."