Surviving the S.T.R.I.P. (ON HOLD)

Chapter Thirteen

Micah

Something prodded my side without stopping. I moaned. Then I heard a voice.

“See, I told you he’s not dead, he’s just asleep.” No. I didn’t want to get up. I was tired and hungry and I didn’t want to get up. Still, the prodding continued.

“Stop!” I yelled, though it wasn’t very loud considering my face was buried in a pillow. Thankfully, the prodding stopped.

“Good,” I heard Gwen say above me. “You’re awake. Now get up and let’s go.” I sighed and rolled over up to my feet. My side hurt, and when I felt it, I noticed it had been wrapped up. Huh. Don’t remember that happening.

I made my way over to the others, who stood at the mouth of the cave. That younger boy from the group of three that joined us, Daniel I think they called him, stood with them. I shot him a glare of warning and nodded to the rest of my friends. They nodded once back and we left the cave, taking with us anything we found of use.

The air was cool and crisp, a nice change from the beating hot sun. We made our way back to the tree house silently. No one felt like talking. The Daniel kid and Brynn seemed to be friends. I secretly hoped he wouldn’t stay around for too long. I didn’t like him.

We made it back to the tree house soon enough and it seemed like Daniel was staying with us after all. We were all starving, so Brynn started cooking. Gwen and Drew decided to get water, since we forgot to get it an hour ago when we passed the creek on the way back here. I sat on the edge of Gwen’s bed and cleaned my sword with a wadded up t-shirt we’d pulled off someone. It didn’t do much good without water, and it’d be another hour and a half before Gwen and Drew came back.

It really is annoying that the closest water source is an hour away by foot. But I guess that’s why they call it survival.

Frustrated, I threw my sword down, causing it to clatter loudly. Brynn and Daniel, who had been chatting, fell silent. Her eyes met mine for a moment, but I broke the contact and grabbed my sword back from the floor. Sliding it into my sheath, I headed for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Brynn suddenly said. I paused.

“Out,” I growled. She laughed.

“Yeah, no you’re not. Go lay down.” With that, she smiled and returned to her work. I bit my tongue, but I wasn’t going to let her tell me what I can and can’t do.

“What?” I asked dryly. She stopped again and turned back to face me.

“I said you’re not going anywhere,” she replied with an equally demanding tone. What has gotten into her? Who does she think she is? I walked up closer to her and I saw fear flash in her eyes, though only for a second. She glared at me, and I glared back.

“Listen up, kid,” I said smoothly. “I do what I want. You don’t tell me what to do. Try it again. I dare you.” She glared back at me. I turned on my heel and walked over to the door. My hand bent down the handle and I pulled the door open when Brynn shouted behind me.

“Walk out of this room and I’ll kill you.” I almost laughed. Her voice was cold and dark. She seemed unafraid of me. That was when I lost it.

I slammed the door shut and pulled my sword out of the sheath. She grabbed a frying pan she hadn’t used yet and held it in front of herself for protection. I easily ripped it from her hand and tossed it aside.

Daniel shouted out, almost catching me by surprise. I forgot he was still here.

“Leave her alone!”