Pulse and Perish || Luke Brooks.

Chapter 35

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Day 1.

Breath fogged the early new aged Winter morning as the group of men dressed in tan pants and jacket bound against their bodies with belts supplying an easy reach of weapons and personal needs such as water and flash lights. The boys head 400km via horse that day, the forest was thick with fog and not a single sign of wildlife. An indication they were being watched.
"Should we stop Brooks? By the looks of it, there's nothing that's going to attack any time soon" the ash blonde man behind Luke spoke.
"No, every minute we waist means your only increasing your chance for something to happen" Luke replies. The ash blonde nods and doesn't say a word as he knows not to make excuses towards Luke. Luke is a completely different person when It comes to work, he's strictly business and never shows a sign of emotion.
"Stop" Luke orders and pulls the reins on his horse to a halt. Luke jumps of the horse and inches towards a blanket of trees and moss where the wind faintly rustled at the branches in front of him.
"What is it?" A handsome blonde man asked barely audible afraid to arisen a temper from Luke. Luke ignores the mans curiosity and focuses on his own, drawing his blade like old times and parting the branches partly. The men stretch their necks trying to get a better view of what Luke is up to. Luke grunts deeply and injects his blade into a creature, blood spurting onto Luke's fresh clothes only for a second.
"Breakfast" Luke smirks and lifts a hare by its hein legs. "It'd go well in a broth, that's for sure" Luke says.
"Don't even get us started on food" the closest man chuckles and shakes his head.

After a high protein breakfast Luke makes sure to burry any remaining meat to insure and lurking Thorner doesn't pick up the smell and come looking for more when It finds just scraps.
"I've missed the outdoors" Luke smiles to himself and pats the dirt with his shoe. "I should take Alisha on a camping trip one day".
"She'd like that Brooks" the handsome blonde says. Luke looks at the man.
"Yeah. She would" Luke nods and jumps back on his horse quickly brushing off the short talk. Mind still on Alisha and what she would be doing right now, how they haven't been apart, not even once for 9 months.

The horses carry the group until dawn with minimum breaks in time to feed the horses or stock up on water. If anyone was hungry during the day they would snack on a granola bar while they ride. Luke remained in lead of the small group and cautiously looking around him mentally scanning each noise that sneaks its way into his mind. Luke's horse suddenly comes to a halt refusing to take another step. Luke gives the horse a nudge with his feet and the horse stands its ground.
"Move you bloody lazy fuck" Luke snaps and kicks the horse a little harder. The horse begins to walk backwards spooking the horses behind out, the men quick to scramble off the horse to save themselves from being thrown off.
"What the fuck!?" Luke yells as the horses sprint off the way they came.
"Great" the men groan and swear as well.
A loud crunch echoes to the side of the men, instincts cause them to draw their weapons ready to use in a split second, just like Luke had taught them.
"Do you think it's a rabbit this time Brooks?" The blonde man asks. The familiar loud rumble shudders their bodies.
"That'd have to be one big ass bunny Thomas" Luke raises a eyebrow and steps closer gripping his weapon a little harder than he already was.
A hush gust of wind howls upon the standing men almost knocking them all off balance. Luke shields his eyes from the painful sand smashing against his skin.
As the wind comes to a stop within a snap of the fingers the familiar deep growl rumbles through the peaks of the branches again, the piercing eyes glow just enough to see the creature as It takes its first steps towards the men preparing for battle.
"Should be right boys" Luke nods over his shoulder. Just as expected, the Thorner pounces towards the men exposing its sharpened teeth and aiming for the throat. Luke drains his emotions and injects his sword into the Thorner's chest and then dragging it across its throat like bread and butter. The Thorner drops to the ground, curling and weeping like an injured puppy.
"I still got it" Luke chuckles.
"Indeed you do" a voice side of the group speaks. Luke burrows his brows and bites harder on his tongue. "It's been a long time brother, I've missed you. Have you missed me?" Jai smirks with his marble eyes.
"You're sick" Luke spits.
"Now I'm no doctor but-" Jai checks his pulse on his wrist and neck. "Nope, not sick" he cheekily remarks. Luke says nothing but hardens his stare. Jai stretches his neck as he looks through the crowd of armed men. "No Alicia? You left, her all alone?"
"Leave her out of this" Luke growls and jumps forward towards Jai but coming in contact with a strong arm before he could. Thomas.
"She's made you soft" Jai smiles. "Well I've grown stronger" Jai hushes. A moment of silence lingers through the atmosphere giving Luke time to think what his next move will be. "So tell me. Luke" Jai speaks finally. "Why are you out here?"
"It's nothing to your concern" Luke cuts him off.
"If you're out for your weak excuse for a battle team" Jai sighs. "I killed them. All. They did beg and scream like little girls, but I thought I'd save my dearest brother all the trouble of wasting cheques on a useless team"
"You're lying, I know you too well to know when you're lying or telling the truth" Luke laughs.
"Does, this" Jai raises a pin and chucks it toward Luke, he catches it with his palms. "Remind you of someone?" Luke looks down to the pin. The pin he gives to all his soldiers.
"What did you do to them?" Luke asks but not wanting an answer.
"I burnt them" Jai smirks.
"See this sword?" Luke raises his blade. "I'm going to put it through your eye, and out the back of your skull" Luke gestures towards his eye.
"Charming. Well, I've come to tell you to prepare for battle. My team and I will be killing you all very shortly, don't hide. Because we will find you. And if you run, we will pluck your girl right from you and keep her as a sex slave" Jai nods as if it meant nothing.
"You have no team" Luke shakes his head.
"If that's what you believe" Jai nods and takes steps back towards the thick trees.

"I hate that guy" Thomas laughs. Luke looks at Thomas then draws his blade back in his belt, turning his back towards the man and walking in the direction Jai left.
"Woah pal where are you going?" Thomas asks.
"Horses. You heard my brother, they're all dead" Luke snaps.
"Well, how do you know that?" Thomas asks.
"I only give this to my soldiers" Luke shakes his head and hands Thomas the burnt pin. Thomas try's to lighten the situation with no hope of it working.
"Maybe, one of them dropped it on the hike or something"
"It's burnt. I don't think so. Get on the horse before I kill you" Luke snaps and jumps on his horse. Thomas sighs and nods this head towards the horses next to him, mentally telling the remaining men to do the same or they'll probably lose their lives.

Jai makes it back to his camp.
"Done? Already?" Beau raises his eyebrows in surprise.
"Done, he's on his way back. He won't even see it coming" Jai laughs and throws an apple into the air and catching it again before taking a large bite out of the fruit.
"He'll, he'll kill you" a raspy weak voice speaks from the dirt.
"What did you say soldier?" Jai speaks and kneels down to the tied up man.
"You're all going to die, Luke will kill you"
"Is that right? Well, I don't think he will when I have his little girlfriend and he wants to keep her alive" Jai winks.
"Go to hell" the man spits. Jai tightens his jaw and launches his fist into the mans face causing him to throw his neck back and cry out loud. "I already am in hell. Welcome to hell, Hood" Jai chuckles at the weeping man on the ground and walks away towards his mother cooking supper for the team.