The Rising {#Wattys2015 #JustWriteIt #Horror}

---Chapter Six---

"We need to get out of here," Jax said quietly as the last growls of the monster died away. Jackie and I stayed frozen, our hearts aching. I felt Jax lay a hand on my shoulder and I flinched.

If he hadn't been so stupid...

I signed inwardly. Now was not the time to get angry at him, or to start turning on one another. We needed to stick together now more than ever.

Apparently, Jackie did not see this situation in the same light as I did. She turned on Jax furiously, her eyes burning. "You little...YOU KILLED MY DAMN FATHER!" She screamed at him, hopping to her feet and aiming her fist at him.

Jax backed away, his eyes slightly fearful. "Hey, hey, hey." He said nervously. "Calm down, Jackie. I-I er...I didn't mean it."

"Ohhh you little piece of crap." She growled, her voice dangerously quiet as she stalked toward him, like a cat preparing to strike. "You should have died, you should have died like my father!" She screamed, punching him in the gut. He bent over as the breath was knocked out of him. I grabbed Jackie's hand before she could break his jaw and pulled her away.

"Jackie, now is not the time!" I snapped, turning her toward me and slapping her face violently. (Great sister, aren't I?)

Jackie blinked at me three times, confused. I glared at her and then her eyes seemed to snap. It was like flames were reaching out and trying to kill me.

"Him over your own father?" She whispered, her voice deadly calm. I dropped her, surprised by this. "Jackie, how could you say that?" I asked, tears coming to my eyes. Jackie stared me down, her gaze harsh and hard as stone. "I only speak the truth." She said simply.

The tears then spilled over, making my face feel hot and sticky again. "I-No Jackie. This isn't right. You're not yourself. We have to stick together." I said, not allowing my voice to waver. Jackie glared at me. "Why would I stick with a murderer and a traitor?" She hissed.

The words stabbed at my heart, tearing it to pieces. I refused to let it show on my face. Instead, I just set my mouth in a straight line and glared right back at her.

Jackie and I had always been very close, especially after my mother died. I had assumed, the second I let go of my father, that we would be closer than we had ever been.

I suppose I was wrong.

Whatever the case, I had to somehow convince her that this shouldn't come between us. Dad would have wanted us to stick together, no matter what we thought of each other. That's how we were raised, anyway. Why Jackie should be changing that now-for a lie, might I add-was beyond my comprehension.

"Jackie...I...Dad isn't replaceable! It's just...we can't have you tearing Jax and I to shreds. We're all in the same boat!" I added when she didn't look convinced. "No, Kora, you and I are in the same boat. Jax has no part in this." She growled.

That statement made me laugh. "Jackie! All humans have a part in this! We're all in trouble! These monsters aren't like the others. They were built to kill, and they're doing it well. They aren't going to stop unless someone stops them."

I paused and looked at my cut up arms and hands, Jackie's band-aids, and the fresh claw marks in Jax. "And us three, my sister, are the only one's that can stop them."

---

I followed Jax and Kora down the street, my feet dragging. I was angry and cold, and hurting as well. I was still bleeding, though I didn't tell anyone.

I knew there was truth in what Kora said, but there was a relentless pounding in the back of my mind that said she didn't mean what she was saying, and I was starting to believe it.