Manifestation

4: Ambushed

We darted through the sand with our heads down, bullets smacking the sand next to us.

We jumped behind a large dune to shield the bullets from hitting us.

Why were they shooting at us?! Was Jim or Kiera in that helicopter? Or were the people just insane?

I heard the shooting stop and went to peek my head over the dune but Ryan put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know enough about the army to know they are waiting for you to do that."

"What should we do?" Jane asked nervously. A tear dripped down her cheek.

He pointed his index finger towards the sky.

"You can still hear the helicopter. It is in the same spot as it was. You hear it come any closer or change it's position, run for cover. Keep your head low and go fast. The best we can do right now is wait for them to run out of ammo."

"What if more helicopters come in?" Jack asked.

"Pray your God."

I took in a shaky breath. I was breathing rapidly. My chest felt heavy and I started shaking uncontrollably. I was having a panic attack. I couldn't handle this stress that I could die and not do anything about it.

I felt like I couldn't breath. Ryan put a hand on my back.

"Slow your breathing, you're ok." He said softly as he massaged my shoulders. "Don't think. Let your mind relax, just relax."

I slowed down my breathing and my heart stopped pounding. My chest felt lighter and I was less tense. I shrugged Ryan's arms off of me.

"I'm fine." I said shakily.

I heard the chopping come closer to my right.

"We are going to run to the other side of this dune." Ryan commanded. "On three, one, two, three."

We all darted to the other side. I could feel myself get exposed but they didn't shoot at us.

Ryan peeked his forehead over the dune. "They closed the doors."

"Are they done?" I asked.

I saw him bring his gun up over the dune.

"What are you doing?!"

"Trust me."

I saw him aim for what I assumed was the propellor. He was trying to take the helicopter down. But if he took it down, it would fall on top of us.

He took the safety off of his shiny pistol. This was suicide. I lunged at him, knocking the gun out of his hand.

"What was that?!" He yelled.

"It's not safe! It would've come down on us!"

"Don't get in the way. I know what I'm doing." I frowned. He took his gun and propped himself up over the dune again.

I heard a gunshot and saw Ryan's shoulder jerk back. He stumbled back, dropping the gun, clutching his shoulder.

"Ryan!" Jane cried.

He got back up. "I'm fine."

I pulled his hand off of his shoulder and saw scarlet blood seep through his shirt.

He looked me in the eye. "I said I'm fine."

I can't believe it. He was acting like this again.

"No, Ryan, you're not fine! You just got friggin shot!"

"That's not our problem right now!" He gestured to the helicopter.

I peeked my head over the dune, my gun poised in my hand to finish what Ryan started.