The Eden Projects (Book I)

Chapter 31. Those we Keep.

Zak's chest rose and fell in gentle waves as Fog pulled away.

"Show some restraint. Jesus." Ace put away his gun. "Is he alright?"

Fog kicked Zak's arm, it twitched and settled. "Out like a light."

Ace snickered. "Damn it Fog." He looked at Kasper. "Humans are fragile... Listen. There are people out there right now that are looking for you. The only thing standing between them finding you is me. They will do worse things than tell you the truth."

Kasper grimaced. "Why?" The aching in his chest subsiding. "Why did you do this-" He was growing used to it. Whatever pain the bullets were causing.

"Can't say." Ace shrugged. "But they aren't nearly as nice as me."

"This is nice?" He growled. There was something inexplicably familiar and irritating about Ace. It was a pecking familiarity, a nagging something that worsened with prolonged exposure.

"Of course. if not for this, you wouldn't know what a bullet from them would feel like. NOW you know. This is the weapon of the future. Made to hurt US. Not humans." Ace turned. "If not for me, your wellbeing would never have been a guarantee and your buddy there would have long been dead."

"He's not my buddy."

"But he IS and whether you like it or not, he's one of the only people left that care about you."

Kasper looked to Zak's limp self. Laid out in the mud in a pathetic heap. "Him." He was too exhausted to think.

"Trust him. He knows who you are. He knows what you are, and he's the only one crazy enough to give anything to save you." At this Ace opened the truck door. "There are two of my people at the camp. They have orders to shoot if you try anything or kill anyone else."

"You're just- gonna leave?!?"

Ace smiled. "I'll be back soon don't worry. There's so much I have to tell you... For now, be a good toy soldier and keep marching until the kid blows you up. Run... Hide... I'll find you again." He saluted and ducked into their car. In a whirl it spun out and back onto the road. Leaving them at its side.

Kasper sat silently, listening to the rain, watching the truck disappear down the road in a red blip. He grimaced letting his head roll back. Then he slumped forward clawing at the bullet hole in his chest. Digging his fingers in until they felt the edges of the metal fragment and found purchase. Grabbing hold he pulled and freed the bit from his flesh. "What the hell is going on..." His head hurt and for a fraction of a second, disappearing into the wood line seemed the best of plans. The final bullet was wedged so deep inside of him, there was little chance of freeing it himself. So he bit back against the pain and did his best to stand. His teeth felt like heavy stones grating against each other. When his feet were found he stepped over towards the trees, leaning against one of them. I'll find Ace and I'll kill him. Then Ark. "Ark... They're out there- where..." He whispered. "How..."

...go...

The voice garbled in.

He looked over his shoulder. "But..." His fingers worked at the bark of the tree. How cold and soggy it had become. A deep welling sorrow filled him.

...go...

Kasper shook his head and looked back into the woods when he heard the stirrings of Zak.

"-don't go." Zak's voice was small. "-you can't. You can't keep running away."

Kasper's heart raced at his voice. "I don't know what's happening-" He was confused. His mind rebelled against his hearts request to stay. "Ace..."