Our story pt2

Chapter 8: Optimisim is the enemy of truth

Mark sat with his head in his hands as GreyStoke waited for him to give him information on the apes whereabouts "I don't know where they are" he insisted for maybe the nineteenth time that afternoon "well think how are they finding food where are they sleeping are they building fires are they freezing have the different groups stayed together" GreyStoke pressed Mark shook his head and sighed clasping his hands behind his head as he leaned back in the chair "for the last time I don't know I haven't spoken to Caesar since I took Trish to the hospital I don't know where they are I hope they're finding food but like you say there's different species so who knows" Mark surmised GreyStoke nodded thoughtfully and walked out of the tent for a moment

Mark remained in his seat not bothering to see what he was up to after a few minutes GreyStoke came back with a radio and a body camera "garrison load a truck with non lethals and bring it to the city side of base" he said into the radio before turning to Mark who stared at him waiting for another dumb order "I'm sending you back to the city I want you to go to downtown to the Asian markets and your going to buy all the fruit they're selling your going to bring it back here and we're going to set them up" GreyStoke said Mark chuckled and sat forward but chose to keep his snide comments and thoughts to himself as he clapped his hands together and smiled at the man before him "alright your wish is my command as they say" he said before flouncing out and making a pit stop in his tent where Erica was waiting for him

"What did GreyStoke want" she asked him Mark shook his head and placed a finger to his lips "go to the clearing you followed me to the other day when Caesar comes tell him who you are and then mention My wife's necklace it's got a charm of the Statue of Liberty on it tell him I'm being monitored and have gone back to the city let him know that GreyStoke is stocking up on fruit he intends to use it to set them up so be careful of anything they find lying around make sure your not followed and if you can steal a radio and set it to channel six" Mark whispered quickly Erica took a moment to absorb what he asked of her before nodding a sense of unease fell between them as a horn sounded calling Mark outside "Good luck" she whispered as he turned and left her

Late afternoon

Adrenaline ran marathons through Caesar and Cornelia's veins as they along with Rocket Koba and Maurice stopped at the bridge the city before them was alive with lights and cars Rocket and Koba looked far from happy about returning to the place they had fled so soon "are you sure about this isn't there a food store along the coast" Maurice signed also having doubts if they were caught they would most certainly be killed "the city is a better bet" Cornelia signed firmly Caesar nodded in agreement and held out an open palm to his confidants "either we take this risk or we starve the city has more fruit if your not prepared to take the risk you can return to the others there is no shame" Caesar signed firmly no one moved after a moment Rocket beat his chest and gestured to the bridge "what are we waiting for let's go get some food" The chimp signed

Caesar grinned and the five of them Climbed under the bridge and started swinging toward the city there movement unnoticed by the humans back at home Trish Beth and Becky were causing a scene in the street after yet another statement from gensys Trish had opened the door to find CPS and a police unit on their doorstep with a falsified court order ordering the removal of her child with Mark missing and Jordon and Franklyn out trying to organise for them to be moved into police protection it was down to the three women to keep Sofia safe and so far they had been unable to prevent them from leaving the house Trish was determined to stop them driving away however and had resorted to puncturing their car tires with a pistol that Mark kept hidden in a cupboard under the stairs

"Mam lower the weapon you are in violation of a court order by preventing us from leaving you are a danger to this child and we have a duty of care" a police officer shouted as neighbours began to flood the street "give me my child or this next bullets going straight through your head" Trish bellowed emotion cracking her voice as she was taunted by the sound of her child's cry's "mam this is your final chance lower the weapon and go back in your house" Trish lost her patience the memories of having a metaphorical gun pointed at her head came back to her and she fired a round at the mans feet before marching closer and pressing the barrel to his head "give me my child" she wept desperation mixed with fear in her broken voice as Jordon's car rammed into the side of the police car that was shielding the CPS officials and two other officers