Savanna

Chapter 10

Luckily I didn't see Jake there again after Nicole and Rudy had saved me. The fireworks and band were awesome, and I had a good time.

Though Rudy showed up, he couldn't stay for long. Even the band hadn't stopped yet, but Rudy said we were lucky enough to even see him there. But there was still one thing I was a bit frightened by. Mum had left before us, because she didn't want to stay here till late night. And Nicole was picked up by car, which meant only one thing: I had to go alone. Immediately when I reached the dark empty streets, I felt vulnerable. I almost knew that any moment now something was going to happen. Either Jake turns up or...

"Wait a moment... Hey!" someone called from behind me, like this someone weren't sure if they knew me. That was not at all a good timing when I had thoughts like that. I was able to stifle the scream, but they startled me enough to make me jump.

I didn't recognize the voice, but I was still on alert. Trying not to show it out, I turned around to face the one who had called me.

At first it was hard for me to see him in the dim light of the street lantern. It was a guy, maybe a year or few older than me. He had short blond hair and he was wearing only black, if I saw correctly. But then I noticed there were six more boys standing behind him, all in about the same age.

I had no idea who they were, and slowly I felt the fear grow inside me. The guy smiled, his eyes running over me, from head to foot. Why me again, I thought. After learning about the savannians, I suddenly started getting into dangerous situations. And I was already almost certain that those guys here are savannians, too. His smile made me think so. Though, anyone would probably feel insecure when they'd meet a gang like this on an empty street at night. They stepped closer. All of their eyes were on me.

"You're the one who went into that school house, right? The one who Jake couldn't handle with?" he asked, still coming closer, the same smile growing on his face.

My heart skipped a beat. I now recognized them. Jake's friends. I took many steps backwards, while they only came closer.

"Stay away!" I at least tried to sound warningly. But my fear muffled even the slightest brave note in my voice.

"Please, don't run away now," he said, amused. "I assume Jake has had a word with you after it happened?"

"I won't tell anyone," I replied hastily.

My words didn't hold him back. There was a dangerous spark in his eyes, that made me want to cower. It was already too late when I noticed that his friends had walked past me, cutting off my way to escape. I stopped, looking at the boys standing around me in a circle. I swallowed, doing my best not to show out the fear, though I don't think it was working.

"How the hell did you escape from him anyway?" one of them asked.

"Maybe Jake's getting old?" someone laughed.

"You haven't seen Jake lately, have you?" the one who talked to me before, asked. I didn't know what to say to them, really. So I just glared at them.

"Not too chatty, are we," somene's playful voice said from behind me.

"C'mon girl. Talk with us." One of them suddenly put his arm around my waist. I squealed and jumped away, while they were laughing. But I bumped into another one, who caught me in his arms.

"Well, well," he said, looking down at me with an amused smile.

I pushed myself away from him as fast as I could, and I was back in the middle of the circle. I looked at them all, trying to remember any self-defence measures. Though it's hard to believe anything I could do would work on them. But I would still fight back, no matter how useless it is. I didn't want to become their prey.