To Save or Kill Them

Chapter 3: Survival

Nathan stared at the massive gap. Could he really make the jump? Granted he had to fall a level giving him a greater advantage, but he couldn’t even jump to reach the ledge.

            Alex saw the deep thought in his eyes. “You can do this, Nathan.”

            Nathan nodded slightly and paced back from the wall. Their duel was about to begin. Taking in a slow steady breath, he darted across the gravel. He kept his pace quick and even, he couldn’t afford to slip. He pushed with all his force on the outer stones of the wall and leapt over the gap.

            Nathan came down hard on his feet, causing him to collapse to his knees. He had made it; for once he had done something right.

            Alex knew it was her turn, but she wished there had been a third person to their party. She didn’t want to take the risky jump. Another thing she feared was that she and Nathan could get separated again. She shook the thought from her head and stepped away from the wall. Giving herself all the distance she could afford, she charged at the wall. She pushed off of it just as Nathan had done before her.

Ten Months Earlier.

Alex’s eyes shot open as she stared at the sky, her head and neck ached from being thrown down. The large boy loomed over her grinning as the Officer in charge stood off to the side with amusement written on his face. What had happened? Alex racked her brain, trying to remember the course of events that had led to their previous battle. Then it struck her.

The boy above her was Carl Jackson, everyone called him CJ for short, but at this point nicknames didn’t matter. This was a brawl, something Carl’s attitude had been leading up to since they had started this training six months ago. He was cocky and someone had to set him in place. All the other trainees feared him and the officers enjoyed the show. If someone was going to show him where he stood, only Alex was left, and today things went too far.

Alex looked over to see the scrawny boy standing amongst the crowd. His red hair was matted to his head from sweat. Bruises covered his body, all from Carl. Today Alex witnessed one of the attacks led by Carl Jackson and had enough. She had spent her whole life facing an abusive father and when things don’t get handled the right way, she liked to take matters into her own hands.

His boot met Alex’s ribs, bringing her back into focus. She leapt up off the dirt, her eyes wild like an animal. Carl staggered back, startled by her determination. He didn’t understand the pain people faced when he did the things he did. Alex planned on changing that, she wanted to make things even. It was all she really knew how to do.

The Present.

She landed hard on her shoulder at the landing, making her roll. She laid there for just a moment until she felt it. Warm cool blood trickled down her arm and intense pain filled her left side. The arrow she had placed at ready in the quiver of her bow had lodged itself into her shoulder during the impact of the roll. She staggered dizzily to her feet and bit back her pain. It took all she could to stay calm as Nathan approached her.

            Ever so carefully Nathan removed the arrow. They were out of bandages, but leaving the arrow in her shoulder gave her a greater chance of infection. The dead had not only the virus that causes them to still walk but they had parasites of many other illnesses just beneath their skin, who knows how many of the undead that arrow had pierced.

            Alex winced at the pain in her arm, but she knew that she could show no pain. Admitting into it was a sign of weakness and that was not something they could afford at this point in time. She took a few deep breaths and regained her composer.