Marcid

Twenty-One - Kory

Kory was the slowest out of all of the six. He was never the athletic type of boy. The adults never really taught them to run.

His lungs felt tight, his muscles felt like they were on fire, but he kept running. He couldn't stop. "Zeke!" He yelled out, in hopes of grabbing the attention of the one he longed for.

Zeke's head turned quickly, worry furrowing his brows as he looked at Kory who had a pleading look on his face, begging for his help. Zeke's fast pace had slowed, the grip around Aaliyah's wrist loosening generously. 'Please don't leave me, Zeke, please!" Kory pleaded, as the military officers were gaining on them, nearly right behind Kory. Panic evidently rose in Zeke, as he ran towards Kory at his best speed. Kory's body felt like someone had plunged thousands of daggers into his skin, all around his body. He kept running towards Zeke.

Kory tripped over a rock the size of his foot, loosing his balance as he toppled over onto the ground, one of the military officer grabbing Kory by the back of his shirt, his gun out of its holster. But Zeke kept running, tears blurring his vision as he screamed, "No!"

"Zeke! Stop! Stay there!" Kory groaned out, his lungs tighter than before. "Don't come closer, I don't want you to get hurt. Please." He breathlessly yelled out. Zeke didn't listen, he kept running, and running until he was three feet away from Kory being held by the military officer.

"Stay back, freak or I'll shoot." The military officer coldly declared. "Stay back." The muzzle of his pistol pressed against the back of Kory's head.

"Zeke, please just—" Kory tried convincing Zeke to leave, but the military officer interrupted. "You shut up!" The officer dug the muzzle a little deeper into the back of Kory's head. "There's a reason you freaks stay inside those labs. You're a danger to the planet. Not even the labs wanted you, huh?" The military officer heartlessly said, looking back at the terrified boy three feet away. "You have a choice, kid. Make the right one."

He didn't know what to do, and it was obvious. He was shaking like a leaf, it looked like the poor boy was going to collapse.

Zeke ran towards the officer, attempting to catch him off guard and release Kory from his grip. The military officer's finger slipped, pulling the trigger as he saw Zeke run up to him, poorly tackling him to the ground.

The gunshot echoed throughout the entire forest, the blood pooling under Kory's head.