The Third War

Chapter Thirteen: Kristy

I felt someone poke me.

Then awkwardly poke me again, "Ummm..."

Phoebe sounded like she was poking a bear, "I feel bad waking her up though."

A lady sighed, "It's twelve Phoebe."

TWELVE!?

"Ok, um, kriiiiiiistyyyyy?" I felt another poke.

I put a hand over my face, "Is it really twelve?"

"Oh, you heard that."

"Yea."

"Well it is, I wasn't sure if I should wake you or let you sleep or what so...But you seemed tired."

"ZOE!" I scrambled up, "Where's Chip?"

"Probably doing something with Buffy, why?"

"IS ZOE ALIVE?"

"OH!"

She grabbed my wrist and we ran out passing Dustin who ran after us, "Why are you running??"

"TO SEE IF ZOE'S ALIVE!" I called over my shoulder as we ran into the big room.

"Come on, she might be eating," Phoebe ran down the hall with the lunch room and we saw Chip outside the door with Buffy.

"CHIIIIIIP!!"

She looked up slightly annoyed, "What?"

"ZOE!"

I ran up to her and Phoebe and Dustin followed behind and stood panting. Chip sighed, "She's alive."

"LET'S GO-"

"Wait, we have to go tonight."

"Why?" I demanded growing even more impatient.

"Because we can't raid them in broad daylight. The nurse promised to keep Zoe alive till tonight."

Phoebe stepped forward, "I'm coming to help."

"Me too!" Dustin declared.

Chip looked at him, "Dustin...I don't know if you should."

"Well I am even if I have to disobey orders. I'm helping get Zoe back."

She stood watching him and even I could tell she was struggling between letting him win or standing her ground, "Fine, but we can't have any mistakes."

"I know that," he protested.

Phoebe spoke up again, "So I'm guessing Buffy is coming and you're leading this raid."

"Obviously."

"So who else is coming?"

"No one, just us."

"What!?" Dustin and Phoebe both responded at the same time and Dustin added, "But if this is an important then we need more people right?"

Chip shook her head, "Less people for this one. Easier to get in and out without risks. I'm going to go over what to do with Buffy and I'll tell you the plan before we go. Meet here when the lights go off, I'll turn off the sensors."

Phoebe and Dustin nodded and she walked off with Buffy. Phoebe smiled, "I knew she'd be alright."

Alive, not necessarily alright.

My stomach twisted in a knot thinking of how much pain Zoe was possibly in. Dustin linked his arm through mine, "Let's eat and we'll get ready for tonight."

I nodded only really half listening, Please let her be okay, please.

~~~~~~~

I was barely able to keep myself from trembling.

All I wanted to do was run head first and rain fire down on that camp. Chip had us in the big room and everyone had guns and swords. I was given a sword and told to be careful, as if.

"Dustin and Phoebe you two are going to get their stuff back, I showed you which tent they're in. Buffy and I will help Kristy get Zoe and get out as soon as possible."

Everyone nodded and we headed toward one tunnel. Dustin was walking beside me and Phoebe moved to the other side, "There are a ton of different branches off, each one brings an instant death so you have to know exactly where to go."

"You have to memorize them eventually but you're still not allowed to go out alone. There has to be at least three people together." Phoebe nodded.

The walking dragged on seemingly for hours with my impatient prayers that Zoe was okay. After taking probably hundreds of twists and turns, we finally reached the end. There was a boulder that had to be moved and a small trickle of light from the moon spilled into the caves.

We emerged into the woods with stars above us shining bright since the abandoned city's lights were out. The only light besides the moon and stars were the campfires by the soldier tents. We crept toward and separate with Dustin and Phoebe going toward the left and us going toward the right.

I saw the tent with the cut in the side that Zoe had made when I escaped. I glanced at Chip and nodded toward the tent, that's where she is.

We crept out of the woods until we heard gunshots and yelling and we bolted toward the tent. I ripped the seams in the side and ran in. Before I could properly see Zoe I heard yelling right outside the tent and was shoved aside by Chip who shot Zoe's restraints off with a pistol and Buffy picked her up like she weighed as much as a rag doll.

A soldier ran in and Chip shot at him yelling at me to get out. Buffy and I ran back toward the woods and were met by Dustin and Phoebe carrying two bags of stuff, "Where's Chip!?"

We saw Chip run out of the tent still shooting but she bolted around the other side pursued by most of the regiment.

"She's getting them away from us, GO!" Dustin shoved me and Phoebe forward and Buffy had already started running back to the rocks.

We entered the tunnels and Buffy said his first words to me and I hated them, "She stopped breathing."

Phoebe screeched behind us, "WE HAVE TO GET HER TO HALEY, RUN!"

We all sprinted back through the tunnels me blindly following Buffy until Dustin grabbed my arm and basically dragged me along to make sure I didn't take a wrong turn. Phoebe ran ahead of Buffy in the darkness so she could warn Haley and when we arrived in the main cavern there was a bed ready.

Buffy set her down on the bed and Haley wheeled her quickly into one of the other tunnels Dustin had previously told me was the infirmary, hospital like room, and gym. Phoebe was panting, "Chip!"

Buffy spun around in alarm and sprinted back to the exit tunnels and Dustin started after him but Phoebe stopped him, "Wait."

I was about to run after Haley but Phoebe grabbed my arm, "You too, wait till morning."

I yanked my arm back, "No, I have to see Zoe!"

Dustin came back over to help Phoebe restrain me, "Kristy, Haley wouldn't even let you see her if we let you go."

"I DON'T CARE!"

Phoebe's tone was pleading and I saw she was tired and had a cut on her head, "You'll see her first thing in the morning I promise."

Dustin nodded, "Phoebe will take you to her as soon as you get up."

"S-she stopped breathing..." I said quietly.

Dustin and Phoebe exchanged a glance before Phoebe quietly said, "She stopped awhile before Buffy said anything."