Hollow Veins

Chapter Fourty Three; Max

Prince haulted and pushed Ari behind him. His quick inhale and sudden stop made the others stop too. Was it an Infected? "Prince what-" "Don't move," A new voice, sharp but a little fearful. A light flashed on, blinding him. He blinked and raised his hands. He made out the silhouette of a girl. She pointed the flashlight directly in his face. Prince could tell she had a knife in the other hand. Just a knife. "Don't move." "We're not going to hurt yo-" Aaron slammed into her. The flashlight clattered to the floor. Prince sighed, "Well we weren't. Aaron get off." Prince pulled him off. The girl crouched on the ground, pointing the knife towards them. Aaron cursed and glared at Prince. Prince, in turn, muttered in his ear, "All she has is a knife. We don't have to fight." Jasper stepped forward. "Everyone calm down." He knelt in front of her. "Who are you? Ehat do you want?" The dropped flashlight cast shadows up her face. She looked him up and down. Jasper looked back at the others then again at the girl. "Are you ok?" Her eyes were a deep brown and full of anger. "I'll kill you." She said it in a matter of fact tone. Like she had just announced the time or something. "Go away." Jasper looked a little surprised. "We're not gonna hurt you." The girl snorted. "Sure." Jasper inhaled. "How old are you?" She narrowed her eyes. "Why does it matter." Alice spoke this time. "Because we're not going to leave a kid all alone down here. You could get killed." The girl looked over at her and her expression softened slightly. Alice stepped up beside Jasper. The girl flinched. Alice and Jasper shared a look. The Jasper glanced again at the others. "We can help."

Max narrowed her eyes. She didn't trust this kid. "I don't need it. And why should I trust you?" "You're alone, underground and your best weapon is a knife. I don't think you have very many options. " She studied him for a long second. "How exactly are you supposed to help?" He looked around at the others, questioningly. They nodded. There's a place we can go. A-" "New Haven?" "You know it?" She nodded. "I helped a kid get there. He had some code and he said I could get in too. Well guess where I am now? So what makes you different?" She clenched her fists. The kid looked at Max incredulously. "Again, do you have a better option?" She glanced around. "No..." "If you don't want to, you can go. Run off, we won't stop you." She stood and looked behind her. If she got a head start. He tentatively stepped forward. "What's your name?" She looked back at him. "Max." "I'm Jasper." Max looked back again. If she ran while he was still talking. "Max, I have a gun, right here. If I wanted to shoot you, wouldn't I have pulled it already." She looked at the gun in his belt. If it was a trick, what would he gain from it? Max inhaled. Everyone always had their own motives. She glanced at the tunnel she'd come from. Her duffle was still there. Jasper saw where she was looking. "Do you need to go that way?" Max didn't answer. Max gave him a hard look. She wasn't ready to trust this guy. But if he could help her... What did she have to lose? She stared from face to face. A pitying look from the girl next to Jasper. A suspicious look from the blonde guy that had knocked her down. A smile from the guy who'd spoke to her originally. Nothing menacing. "Ok," She said slowly. She bent down to grab her flashlight, not taking her eyes off Jasper. He picked it up before she could and held it out to her. She stared at the flashlight for a second then took it. Max looked back at the blonde guy. "Uh, can you stop?" He blinked, "Excuse me?" "Looking. At. Me... Please." He rolled his eyes and walked off. The curly haired guy laughed. "Banished," He sing songed. There was a grumble about a creek. Jasper recaught her attention, "Are you thirsty? We don't have any food I'm afraid but we have water." Max considered for a second. "How long have you been out." "Since yesterday." She hesitated then looked over at where her bag was. Carefully, keeping her eyes on them, she stepped towards the side tunnel. They didn't try to stop her. She heard a slight sigh and the group started off. Jasper was still watching her. She looked away and found her bag. Max glanced back, shining her light around the corner. Cursing herself, she hoisted the duffle bag over her should and ran after them. "Wait!" The group stopped. She counted seven of them. She had enough. Besides, her bag was getting heavy. Max didn't really know these people but. She studied their faces. Sighing at her own stupidity, she unzipped the bag.