The Chosen Ones: Book 3: The War

17

"Shannon." Jenna pleaded, as she tried to catch up to her.
"Don't!" Shannon replied. She caught herself and lowered her voice, realizing she was too harsh. "Just don't. Not right now."

Matt pulled Jenna aside. "Give her time. But I hope you're paying attention. Your dad keeps digging himself a bigger hole."
It wasn't everyday your father puts a hit out on your friend's family.

Tyler ran over and hugged his dad. Casey told the others to gather any weapons from Jenna's now totaled Ford Bronco and the dead guards and load them into the bed of Matt's truck.
Sam suddenly hugged Casey. She was feeling so many different emotions after her first real fight.

"Hey, are you okay?" Casey asked.
Sam nodded. "I just never killed anyone before." She said.
"You did good. You did what you had to do. You heard what they were sent to do. Now you'll be ready when we get there. It's only going to get harder."

They were all packed up. They hovered around the truck, contemplating their next move.
"You think the cops will show up?" Shaun asked.
Matt looked up and down the road. Not a car in sight. The wind picked up as night started to fall.

"These roads aren't patrolled." Jenna told them. "It's possible someone from the diner might have called but I don't know. I've been in there. Those people like to be left alone."

"Diner in the middle of nowhere." Phil said. "I bet the burgers are probably awesome."
"Let's go find out" Casey said with a smile.
"I'm actually starving." Matt said.

Before they piled in the truck Shannon grabbed Jenna's arm. She just stared at her and gave her a slight nod. She didn't say anything. Either did Jenna. They both understood. Shannon was letting Jenna know they were okay even though she was still upset. She didn't blame her for her father's actions. If they were going to win this war they had to stick together. They needed each other.

Tyler was up front with Matt and Casey. Sam, Shannon and Jenna were in back and Phil and Shaun sat in the bed of the truck. Thank god one of their vehicles survived. They drove the short mile to the diner. Night had fallen now. The full moon looked big and bright as they pulled into the dirt parking lot.

They scanned each other over as they prepared to walk in. They were covered in sweat, dirt and blood. They all had extra clothes but didn't want to change until they hit the woods line and prepared to fight.

Matt walked through the door first with the others in tow. The diner was half full. People were chatting but all stopped and stared as Matt and the others walked in. Shannon led the way as they all quickly walked towards two side by side booths. The patrons eventually started talking amongst themselves again.

A middle aged woman in a blue fifties style waitress outfit approached their tables.
"You come from down the road there?" She asked, with a southern accent. "Where all that commotion was?"

"No." Shannon lied, eying her menu.
The pretty waitress gave her a look that said she didn't believe her. Still, she didn't press them for information.

"People round here, especially the ones that come into this diner, they just want to be left alone. So whatever happened, as long as you don't bring trouble in here, they don't much care." She explained. "So what'll ya have?"

"If there WAS any trouble coming from down the road, I can assure you it won't be coming here." Matt said. So.......how are the burgers?"
"The best." The waitress replied.
"I knew it." Phil whispered.
"We'll take eight of those." Matt ordered.