Project Genesis

Chapter 17

Survivors have scars.
Victims have graves.

†††††

Aiden and the others were panting as they stood in the middle of the forest trying to catch their breaths.

Aiden was walking towards a tree to lean against it and support his body a little when he was suddenly tackled to the ground.

It was so sudden that it took him a few moments to realise what had happened and he saw Althea sitting on him. Her face, contorted in a deep scowl.

"Don't move everyone." She ordered in a serious, authoritative voice, "Do you wanna die?" She growled at him.

"I am pretty sure the answer to that is a big, fat NO. Now get off of me!" He exclaimed.

She climbed off of him and he raised a hand towards her, thinking she would help him get up but she turned around and scanned their surroundings with calculative eyes.

He got up and brushed himself off before turning to face her, "What the fuck was that? Have you finally lost your mind?"

"I wanna ask the same thing. Why are you all out here alone? Where is your trainer?" She asked back, the scowl permanent on her face.

"She is standing in front of me and she had been gone till now."

"I mean...where is Ezra." She trailed in between deep breaths.

They all just stared up ahead, and at each other but didn't meet her eyes.

"There's a possibility, she doesn't know we are out here." Aiden mumbled but her ears caught it.

"You have got to be shitting me." She let out a harsh breath, "Does Issac know?" She looked around and realised he was the only one missing.

"There's a possibility, he doesn't know either." He made an innocent face and smiled weakly at her. But her face wasn't changing expressions from the deep scowl she had.

Kate tried to take a few steps toward her but she stopped her, "I said... don't fucking move."

"Why?" Kate asked. Her tone sharp and edgy.

"Because there are trip wires, mines and traps all over this place. Go ahead, move. I say dance around here and you would be lucky if we can even find you pieces." Kate's expressions changed to shocked from annoyed.

"Follow me. And don't ever fucking come out here without one of us. There's a god damn reason why we don't let you come out on your own. But then since when do you care what we do and why!" She bit out.

"Why the fuck did you come out on your own anyways?" She asked as she casually made her way through all the trip wires, mines and traps, like it wasn't her who had disclosed that information a few moments ago.

"Ezra was so busy. She has been for a while now. We thought this is the least we can do." Amara replied in a low voice.

They walked in silence for a few seconds. The silence wasn't heavy or dark this time. It was peaceful and calm. But their peace was soon disrupted as a couple of shots rang through the air.

"TAKE COVER EVERYONE." Althea's voice echoed through the woods, piercing even the sound of the shots.

They all took refuge behind the trees, away from the eyes of their assailants.

"Don't try to get out there and shoot them. Just stay covered, no matter what." She said making sure only they heard her and then she sprinted to the opposite side at the speed of an animal.