Whumptober+ Short Stories - Volume 2

Prompt 17 - "Stay with me."

Running through the woods in the direction of the safehouse, the three Fables couldn't help but glance back over their shoulders every now and then. The knowledge that they were being hunted scared them, and that fear fed into their desperate energy, lending to their speed.

They had just reached the last hill when they heard a gunshot from somewhere in the distance behind them. A second later, it happened.

Shot in the leg, Lore went down almost instantly. His younger siblings turned at the sound of the harsh cry that escaped him, and both ran back to his side. "Lore!" Allira exclaimed as she knelt next to him. A quick glance revealed the source of his fall; the bullet had gone straight through his thigh. On the other side of him, the youngest Fable watched the color disappear from his brother's face as he went into shock. "What's wrong?" He asked, not really understanding what had just happened.

"Come on, Lore. We're almost there!" Allira begged, trying to haul her older brother to his feet. When that didn't work, she glanced over frantically at Asterisk, as if asking him what to do. The seven-year-old caught the fear in her eyes, and his own widened with realization a second later.

"Guys... just go..."

At the sound of Lore's weakened voice, both siblings looked back at him anxiously. The eldest Fable closed his eyes for a brief moment, took a deep breath, then looked back at them. "Keep going." He said. "The safehouse... you know where it is."

"But we're not leaving you behind!" Allira protested. Lore shook his head. "You know that doesn't work. I'm not going anywhere. You guys... just keep moving."

"But..."

"Go!" Lore insisted with a groan. "You can't stay with me. Then we'd all be dead." When his sister said nothing, he reached over and laid a hand on her arm. Allira looked back at him, tears filling her eyes as she shook her head. "I can't... we need you..."

"No you don't. You already know the way." He winced, then gripped her arm. "Take Asterisk home. Mom and Dad... they're waiting for you."

Allira shook her head. "They're waiting for all of us."

Lore opened his mouth to argue, then inhaled sharply at the sound of shouts from the other side of the hill. "Get out of here!" Lore growled. "I want you to leave! Now!"

"Lore..."

"GO!"

Tearfully Allira scrambled to her feet, grabbing Asterisk's hand and pulling him with her. As they turned and continued running, she glanced back one last time. "Goodbye..." She called, uncertain whether or not her voice would even reach him. Back on the hill, Lore watched his siblings disappear into the trees. The faint sound of his sister's voice sounded in the wind, and he sighed heavily.

"Goodbye. Tell Mom and Dad..."

"...that I'm sorry."