Just Your Average 14 Year Old - Book 4 - New Battles

Chapter 2: The Run

Nolen, Skyler, Ryan and I all walked through the woods, ten or so minutes out from the cabins. After hearing something out farther in the woods we all have our hands on the handles of our knives, sword, gun and whatever. I walked with my hand on my sword, I walked with Ryan slightly ahead and Skyler a bit ahead to my left. Nolen walked next to me on my right in silence until he spoke.

"It's weird, huh?" He said softly as we walked.

"What is?" I asked turning to look at him.

"That we have so many people lately..." He continued "I mean, what eight people now?..." He asked.

"Um... Yeah I think so" I smiled slightly, they were hard to keep track of.

"It's just more then we've ever had... It's good and bad" He sighed.

"How so?" I asked.

"Well, Good in that we can go on a run and leave people behind and still have a good amount of people in each group to get the job done" He shrugged.

"True, and the bad?" I asked curiously.

"Harder to hide I guess... Louder... Stuff like that" He explained.

"I gotcha'" I smiled a bit as we continued on.

Suddenly a moaner came limping out from the depths of the woods, moaning and growling raspy sounds. It walked towards us, reaching with a limp arm.

Nolen took his already loaded crossbow and shot it in the head. The moaner dropped and Nolen took the arrow out. He wiped it off and then reloaded the crossbow with the same arrow.

But then more moaners came, three or four more, limping out of the woods.

"Great" I mumble as I take my sword out quickly. Ryan takes his knife out and so does Skyler. I swing my sword, taking a moaners head clear off. Nolen shoots one, Ryan gets one and Skyler takes one out too.

By the time we were clear we all breathed a bit hard. I shook the blood from my sword and look to the others.

"We okay?" I asked. 

"Yeah" Nolen replied "Uh huh" Skyler replied on top of Nolen's words, "Fine" Ryan responded one their words.

"You?" Ryan asked.

"Peachy" I smirked and Ryan smiled widely as we continued on our way.

After a short while we submerged from the woods onto the road. We walked towards a town a few miles away. It would be a long walk and we know we might end up not coming back until tomorrow if it gets too late. As we continue down the long road I see it... The most painful event of my life... It's too soon... Yes I know James didn't end up dying but... Its still too soon.

As I saw the blown up building that had scorched fire marks all over it my breath hitched. My eyes widened as I saw the building. I stopped dead in my tracks staring at the deathtrap of a building. When my breath finally did  come back after a moment it quickened.

Nolen, who was had still been walking next to me noticed I had stopped "Alex?" He asked "You okay?" He asked a bit worried.

"Alex?" Ryan asked walking up to me.

I nodded, swallowing down the pain I remember, not being able to take my eyes away from that horrid place.

"Alex? Hey, look at me" Skyler instructed, her tone calming. "Alex don't look at it... Just keep moving okay" She said with the same soothing tone.

I finally prided my eyes off of the building and to Skyler who was telling me to come.

"Comon' just shake it off" She continued "It's okay, James is okay, Your okay... Let's go" She said gesturing with her hand to come.