Escape (Gone World series)

ESCAPE

BY A.ROSARIA

“Nick.”

His name rang in his pounding head. His head hurt where the stone had hit him, or was it shrapnel? No, not shrapnel. He didn't smell the blood that it would cause.

“Nick.”

A shove against his shoulder lulled his head sideways, igniting the pang to a new high. He squinted his closed eyes as if he could press out the pain.

“Get up. We need to move,” Tina said. It was indeed her, and somehow she had survived.

He opened his eyes to a bright light. Daylight already, he thought. As quickly the light blinded him it swept away, leaving him in darkness. Far away he heard the hum of an engine. They were searching for stragglers—him, Tina and whoever else had survived. Not that it mattered anymore.

“We need to move away from here fast,” Tina said.

“You think!” he said, coughing dust. It tasted bitter, dry, and surely not edible. Give it a few more weeks and it might. He spat the last bit out, leaving his throat dry and wanting water that he didn't have. If they didn't catch and kill him, the dust would; he had gotten enough in him to guarantee him cancer in a decade or two. He smiled. Although, the lack of water might get me first.

“Stop acting like a fool,” Tina said. “We have to leave now.”

He winked the darkness out of his eyes and saw her haggard, brown face swim into his vision with her big eyes too innocent looking to belong to her.

“Where are your buddy Arnoldo and that crazy, Ron?”

Her look soured. “He’s not my buddy, and dead, both of them. We really can't stay.”

Tina's eyes darted around, while sweat mixed with blood ran down her face. It wasn’t her blood. She had no scratches or other visible injuries. She had lucked out again; her luck had no end.

“Why run? Eventually they'll get us.”

Frantically she shook her head, her filthy hair slugging along with the motion, spattering blood in his face.

“Just leave me be. Really, what do you care if I live or die?”

Tina sighed, stood up, and kicked his side. “Fine,” she said with her teeth clenched. “Die then, asshole.”

That was the most emotion he had ever seen from her. However, she still was a bitch to kick him. It hurt like hell. The damn woman could kick with the best of them. She still stood there, not leaving. The hum of the engine drew closer. She had better move soon before the light comes sweeping in.

“What are you waiting for? Go. Don’t wait around to die with me.”

She didn't answer. Instead, she stayed frozen, watching whatever she saw through the big hole in the wall.

“Tina.” Nick stood up. “Let’s go, then.”

“Asshole,” she hissed between her teeth. She ducked away, grabbing his hand and pulling him down with her. His knees banged on the rubble floor; it was a good thing he had on knee pads, or else he would be hurting now.

“What the—”

She punched him before he could finish and raised her index finger to her puckered lips. A beam of light passed over their heads. The vehicle stopped near their hiding place: three walls left standing, filled with bullet holes, covered by a sagging, charred roof. It had once been home to a family now long dead.