The boy tumbled several times down the steep slope, probably buying him time, though he feared it may not be enough. The people were traveling on easy terrain, while the boy had to take care not to fall to his death by stepping on the wrong stone. After struggling to jump from the last rock onto the springy soil next to it, the boy hit the ground sprinting, knowing full well that if he didn't make it in time, it could be the end of the peaceful days of silence with his dad.
"Dad!" He called, running to the tent and expecting to find his father. Instead, he found nothing but the cots and blankets.
When he looked by the campfire, the same eerie silence greeted him. His stomach flipped, as he knew his father was setting traps somewhere in the woods. He felt the overwhelming helplessness he had pondered on the rocks earlier.
"...no, and— Wait I think I hear something." A woman's voice said.
Probably my heart beating, the boy thought, dashing silently to the tent in hopes to surprise them if necessary.
"It's someone, I think," said another voice, this one much lower, "See the fire?"
A figure walked closer to the tent, the shadowy outline making the boy feel more and more sick.
"Careful!" A low voice said suddenly, scaring the boy into moving his dad's cot. "What was that?"
I'm dead. The boy thought.
"There's someone here." The woman's voice replied. "Hello?"
The boy feared replying meant certain death.
"We won't hurt you." An even higher voice said.
Slowly, the boy reached for his pocket knife and flicked it open. "I'm armed." He said shakily. Then there was whispering.
"Don't shoot." The low voice said.
"I want you to leave now." The boy said more confidently.
"We just wanted to talk. There's no need for violence." The woman said.
The boy stepped carefully out of the tent, praying that this choice would be a good one.
In a moment, he found himself at a terrible disadvantage. Four people stood around him, all holding guns, and all pointed at him.
YOU ARE READING
World War IV
Science Fiction"I do not know with which weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -A. E.
