PANIC

It Takes Two To Maintain One

"Hey! Stop!" Avalon screamed as she jumped over logs and climbed over rocks and jumped over ditches. "I said stop!" She repeated before catching up with the person and plummeting them and herself to the ground. They got up and brushed the dirt of themselves before making eye contact. "Kian?" Avalon sputtered. "I- everyone's looking for you!" She threw her hands in the air.
"Really? Wouldn't be the first now is it?" He rolled his eyes before picking up his backpack and flinging around his shoulders so it sat flat on his back. He began walking again without making eye contact with Avalon yet again.
"What are you doing?" She asked, following him deeper into the forest. But it was more like trying to catch up with him as he was such a fast walker.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I'm running away." Avalon replied.
"Cool." Although he didn't sound in the least bit interested.
"Now you tell me, why are you here? What are you doing?"
"Yeah, no. That's confidential."
"So it's a secret."
"To my knowledge, yes, that is what confidential means." He rolled his eyes but Avalon didn't know. She was behind him.
"Can you stop being sarcastic and mean for five seconds?" Avalon agued.
"Sure." He replied and then there was a slight moment of silence. "There."
"Ugh, you're a real pain, you know that?"
"Thanks."
"UGH." Avalon groaned. "No wonder everyone hates you."
"Checks out." Kian shrugged.
"Okay listen, I don't want to be here any more than you want me here."
"Then stop following me."
"But I think we should stick together. At least until we find a place with food and shelter. We can help each other, Kian. But once we do, we split. Deal?" Avalon asked for confirmation.
"Why would I need to make a deal with you, Avalon? I know where I'm going, do you?" Kian stopped and turned around as he clutched onto his backpack to face Avalon.
"Well, no." Kian rolled his eyes and continued walking through the dense forest causing Avalon to run after him just to stay at his speed. "But I bet you don't have water, do you, Kian?" He stopped. "Or a flashlight for when it gets dark at night. Tell me this, do you even have a pocket knife in case someone or something sneaks up on you?" Kian began walking again.
"You don't even know how to work a pocket knife." Kian rolled his eyes.
"Then teach me! We need each other. I have survival gear and you... you have at least an idea of where you're going so take me there. C'mon, Kian. You and I both know it, we're not getting out of here alive if we don't help each other."
"Fine! Fine. We'll work together, happy?"
"Very much so." Avalon smiled. She was happy and relieved. Happy she had got him to finally walk at her level and relieved he had agreed. It was risky but maybe it would all work out in the end.

"Hurry up, Ava. We won't get anywhere at the speed you're going."
"Only my friend call me Ava." Ava shot back.
"So your brother is your friend?"
"We don't need to know each other. We just need each other." Avalon rolled her eyes.
"Ok Ava. Whatever you say, Ava." Kian smirked even though Avalon couldn't see it anyways but he nonetheless knew that it enraged her when he did that.

"Why do you carry that bag around?" Avalon asked. She had always been curious because he never did the work so why bring it to class?
"I thought you said we weren't going to get to know each other."
"Fine. I'll ask you a question and then you can ask me a question."
"Anything?" Kian questioned.
"Anything."
Kian thought for a moment before speaking. "Fine, shoot."
"Okay, my question is why do you carry that bag around when you don't even do the work in class anyways?"
"How do you know I don't do the work, do you stalk me?" Kian smirked, having the upper hand.
"No, of course not. I just wanna know why you don't work in class and why you carry a bag around." Avalon gestured to the large bag he had been carrying.
"I don't do the work because one bad grade isn't going to change my future, okay?"
"Okay, jeez."
"Okay, my turn. What do you have that's useful in your bag?" Kian asked, glancing at her. She pulled her small bag off her shoulder and pulled it open, looking inside as she walked.
"I have a flashlight, hair clip, hat-"
"I said useful." Kian emphasized.
Avalon took a pause, glaring at him before turning back to her bag. "A pocketknife, pepper spray and money."
"Hmmm."
"So, where are you planning on taking us?" Avalon asked.
"You said question, not questions." Kian stated.
"Fine. Let's just ask each other questions then."
"Hmmm. No thanks." Kian shook his head.
"Ugh, of course." Avalon mumbled under breath before shrieking as her face met the dirt. Kian towered over her, blocking the sunlight.
"You good? C'mon, get back up on your feet. We should be there before dusk."
"Ugh." Avalon stretched an arm up and Kian went to take it before quickly bringing it up to his hair and brushing it back. "Wow." Avalon rolled her eyes. Kian kept walking and Avalon quickly got up on her feet, following after him yet again.

Another few hours and nothing had changed. They were still walking through a dense forest, not speaking a word to each other. Kian ignoring Avalon like the jerk he is and Avalon overthinking everything in her head such as where is he taking me? I wonder what my brother is thinking right now. What time is it? And more. Her pace also slowed as her hunger grew but she didn't dare tell Kian. He'd probably just make fun of her and be rude yet again, as always. Although, it wasn't long until Avalon heard something. No, not birds or animals running in and out of bushes but a train. But how?