The Hunted

The Facility

Hugh's P.O.V

Shit! They're coming. They're going to start firing now! We've got to get out of here! I turn to the Clark house and run. I stumble but scramble back to my feet ignoring the searing pain shooting up my leg and yell with a surge of panic rushing through me "They're coming now! It's happening now! The shooting is happening now!". I run into the kitchen and pull Chris up off of his feet "Get the hell up man! They're coming for us! We've got to move now!" with that I push him out of the way and move into the next room. Ms C and Travis are scrambling around dropping pills and cans of food. "Get the hell down and move it guys!". I trip over the stick supporting my weight, Ms C stops what she's doing to help me back up but I wave her off and push myself back to my feet and rush into Alicia's room. She runs up to me, with a look of panic and fear. We don't say anything but just by looking at her I feel the fear radiating off of her. I wrap my arm behind her waist and push her in front of me towards the living room where everyone else is. Mr Salazar whispers hoarsely "You are sure they are coming young man?!?". "You think I would joke about this old man?!? Less talking we leave now!"

I motion for everyone to duck down and follow my lead. I turn to face Alicia and whisper "Cars?" and she looks over to the back door. I make my way to the door struggling to keep my balance. I slowly open up the door trying to make the least amount of noise as possible. I motion my hands for them to move and get into the cars. One by one they rush out the door and hop into one of the three cars parked in the driveway. Mr Salazar passes me dragging the soldier and struggling to keep him from making noise. I use my staff to whack it over the soldiers head and it renders him unconscious. Travis eyes me as he passes me then goes over to Mr Salazar and hops into the same car as the soldier. Mr Salazar jumps into the car in front hugging Ofelia tightly. When Chris, Alicia and Ms C all get into the cars I make a break for the front car. The sounds of shots have started. I almost fell over as I jumped back at the sound. I opened the door to the front car and whispered with a lot of panic "Move back I'm driving.". Ms C looked up at me quizzically and hadn't moved. Alicia, siting in the passenger seat rubbed Ms C's arm I guess to tell her it was ok. Ms C hopped in the back and I quickly slid in shutting the door loudly behind me. I scolded at myself. What an idiot! The shots were getting louder and louder. I turned the keys into ignition and the engine started loudly. Well this is going to be loud. We're not going to leave unnoticed. I speed out of the driveway yelling "Duck!" and bent my head below the steering wheel only peering up to check where I was going. I floored it and drove straight through the fence. I could feel the impacts of the bullets on the car. The screaming from Alicia and Ms C but I ignored all of it and kept driving straight. The bullets kept coming. My foot was still. I kept it glued to the floor.

The bullets stopped. Everyone still kept their heads down. I moved my head slowly and turned my head to face the behind us. We were in the clear. Mr Salazar's car and Travis were following closely behind us and they seemed unharmed. I turned to the backseat of the car and saw Ms C unscathed and Chris in complete and utter shock. I reached an arm over and punched his knee lightly saying "It's alright Chris...we're going to be fine now. Let's go get your mom." He brought his legs up to his chest and buried his head in between them. I turned to my right to check on Alicia. She was fine. Just shivering from fear. No injuries. A rush of relief flooded through me. I took off my backpack and reached in to grab my jacket. I handed it to Alicia who nodded in thanks. I moved my hand back to the steering wheel but Alicia grabbed it and held it tightly. She didn't let go but that was fine. I kept my eyes on the road never daring to look over just in case she let go. I never wanted her to let go.

We drove in silence. Nobody moving. Ms C broke the silence and tapped my shoulder. "Do you even know where we're going?" she asked. I turned to her and sighed and said "No I don't" then pulled over in front of a slightly beaten up house. Travis and Mr Salazar pulled over and got out of their cars and walked over to us. "Where are we heading?" I asked Mr Salazar. He looked over to the unconscious soldier in Travis' car and said "We wait until he wakes up and he will lead us to the facility.". Travis walked up to Ms C and squeezed her hand and whispered "I'm glad you're ok" then looked over to Alicia who had fallen asleep with her hand still holding mine then cleared his voice "We might as well get some rest while we wait.". I nodded over to him and said "I'll stay up to check for anymore of those infected. If I see one I'll yell and we drive the hell out of here.". Ms C pipes up and says "We can't let you do that Hugh...you're just a kid and", Travis interrupts her and says "It's alright Maddie I'll stay up with him.". She squeezes his hands, relaxes a little and lets her head roll back. Travis and Mr Salazar walk back to their cars and Ms C moves closer to Chris to calm him down. Eventually they all get to sleep. I sit back and stare out to the road checking for any signs of life. I look over at Alicia. She's sleeping so soundly. She's so calm, so relaxed now. But so vulnerable. I won't let her get hurt. She needs to stay protected. Not because she needs it. She's a badass pulling out bullets and sewing me back up, but because she's the one keeping me from going insane.

*2 hours later*

I hear Mr Salazar get out of his car and then a scream from the soldier. Next thing I know I get directions to the facility. I start up the car but before we leave Ofelia opens the door and hops into this car saying "Papa's getting our distraction.". Ms C nods and I start up the car and drive. Alicia wakes up and jumps back in panic. I circle my thumb on her hand to calm her down. She keeps her hand there and stares straight out.

We drive like this for awhile until we lay our eyes upon a large, futuristic type building crowded with trucks, helicopters and soldiers. I slow the car and turn back to Travis' car. He drives around the building and we follow. He stops by a fence and two soldiers come out to check for identification. I park behind him and duck out of the car. The soldiers begin to question Travis. I duck behind them and whack the back of their necks rendering them unconscious. Travis looks up at me but before he can say anything I shut him up saying " Just drive through.". I walk up to the fence and force it open, pushing it wide enough for us to get in. I walk back to the car and drive on through. Travis and I both park our cars and we all get out.

It's time to bust some people out of here.