Giving Up On Stars...

Chapter 8 - Finch

The picture above is Lake Annecy - this is what Finch's hideout looks like in my head - there will be more pictures to come but please have this in mind as Annecy was the origins on my book 💖💖 Edited the description at the front - please check it out 😊
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The journey to the centre of the continent is hellish. It seemed to go on for hours. But we're here. And before you get the impression that I like it, I don't. Doughall was droning on about his new girlfriend Marcy. Who evidentially asked to be his partner first. Well, we all know that's not true. When we stopped to rest our legs, I tried to find Emma, but she must've gone off somewhere.
If Doughall could see me with Emma he'd be so jealous...
We're finally at camp now, and I'm lighting my own fire.
I was going to be in a tent with Doughall but he's now with Marcy.
Luckily the wind is non-existent. I settle down in my sleeping bag and warm my hands on my mug of cocoa.
The night is cold and the wind is nipping at my skin, which is covered in goosebumps. I can see my breath swirl in the air and my toes don't even feel part of my body. I feel my eyes getting heavier and heavier...
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"Up, everyone up!"

My eyes struggle to open and I prop myself up on one elbow. The cocoa mug on it's side and a dry splatter of cocoa now remains.
While getting dressed in my gear I hear the first test bullets being fired. I stuff two pairs of socks on and slip my feet into my boots. The sun is just beginning to rise and my eyes still feel heavy. Every time I blink, the temptation to fall asleep dawns on me.
I head out and get in my line.
"Thomson comma Carl?"
"Yes Sir!"
"Greene comma Frip?"
"Yes Sir!"
"Whitestone comma Finch?"
"Yes Sir!" I shout practicing my salute
"Block now!"
We scramble into the block and I go as close to the centre of the block as possible.
We start advancing, my heart racing as we go along.
Bang. "Arghhh"
Was it Emma? Doughall? Marcy?
Even though I don't even know Marcy, I know she means a lot to Doughall.
The next one could be someone from an opposition team that I know. I boarder hop a lot because I live on the boarder of Enthropea and the countryside is quite boring. I get to know a lot of people from living there because some of the schools in Cathiopia are apparently crap, so they come to Enthropea Border High to treat the situation. Bang. Bang. Bang. I feel sick. Bang. Bang. The guy 3 rows infront of me drops to the floor. When I step over his dead body, his eyes are still open and blood it trickling down from his chest to the ground.
Bang. Bang. Bang. The bangs make me shudder each time, which is unfortunate when I hear machine guns. The guys in front of me pick the pace up to a run and the block starts to separate. I am revealed. I could get hit any minute.
I hear a whistle from behind and duck. Sure enough an arrow flies over my head, as if it was a bird. I turn. My pistol at the ready. A girl with long auburn hair dressed in a Cathiopian uniform is stood there arms folded.
"Whistle arrow. I knew you'd duck. You scared too?"
I stare blankly at her. Thinking of a comeback.
"Hey auburn, you could have killed me."
She rolls her eyes
"Hey brown curly, I didn't did I?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Rosaline. What about you?"
"Finch."
"Duck!" She screams
"Duck?" I repeat
I feel a piercing pain in my back. Rosaline grabs me under my armpits, and drags me under a rock ledge. I feel her dabbing the wound down. It stings like hell. I can't help wincing.
"Keep still."
"I'm trying" I manage huffing and puffing.
It feels like my back is on fire.
"An arrow. Not too deep. No organs hit.." She continues to assess the situation by stating what happened. "Deep wound. Should hurt. If not, you must be dead."
I can't help laughing at that one...