Tale of the Prophet Bearer: The Dark Queen's Reign

Chapter 6: New Club Member

^ Tucker-ish ^

(A/N)

I am back with another chapter. I am also really glad some peeps are actually reading this! :3 You make my day!

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I open my eyes to bright flashing lights and sit up. I move slow, the world shifting under my feet unsteadily. Shrill sirens and the ringing of my ears was the only thing I could hear. I blink slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the lights of the police cars congregated in front of the gas station. Seated in the middle of the cars was an ambulance and I look up just in time to see the paramedics load a stretcher inside the white vehicles.

I take a slow breath, my eyes widening. What if that's Cody? I turn and stumble away, hurrying as fast as the spinning world would let me in hopes that the police wouldn't spot me. I'm much farther from the gas station than I was that... thing exploded. I duck behind the trees and peek out, watching as the ambulance sped away.

There goes my chances of seeing who it was. I rub my forehead, soreness pinching my skin. I withdraw my hand to find blood on my fingertips. I wince and wipe my hands against my jeans. Great. I must have hit my head when I fell.

I peer back around, watching the policemen as some wandered in the gas station and other went to talk to a few of the teens I had seen smoking. The front of the building was collapsed in on itself, bricks and rubble piled up in chaotic heaps. I search the group of teens, hoping to find Cody, but he wasn't with them.

If he's conscious and awake, he'll probably be invisible. If he's unconscious, either the police haven't found him or he was the person in the ambulance. I swallow hard. I should have told him to run sooner. Whatever happened to him, or wherever he is, I should have told him sooner. I was the furthest away from the explosion, I think, and I feel like I got run over by a truck.

I take a slow breath and dart around the edge of the woods, making sure to stay out of view from the police. "Cody." I whisper occasionally, hoping he would answer me. But I might as well be calling to a brick wall to come. He's nowhere I can see him and nowhere close for him to hear me.

Dread starts settling in my stomach. What if he really is the one in the ambulance? It could be my fault I hurt him. I rub my stomach, feeling sick from both falling and the thought. There's not much way of telling now, other than figuring out where the ambulance went. But I feel like I need to hang around here a while longer.

I continue treading around the edge of the woods, moving as silently as I can in the leaves and twigs. A voice shouted from a distance, loud enough for me to hear, "Hey, there' somebody else here!"

My gaze snaps up and I start towards the sound of the voice. Somebody else? Could it be Cody? The thought made my heart pound and I press forward with a quicker pace. I swat a tree branch from my face and soak in the scene before me.

A few policemen were rushing towards a bush. I spotted Cody laying under the branches and let out a breath of relief. His eyes were shut and lips parted, but he looked alive. He had a nasty scuff mark spreading up his arm and leg.

I bite my tongue to keep from shouting out to him. Don't let to police know where you're at. We can't get arrested today. Or tomorrow. Or ever would be preferable. I continue along the edge of the trees, approaching closer to him. One police officer stayed kneeling by Cody's side while the other went to get a first aid.

I pause, just a few feet from them. What should I do? Do I need to knock the officer upside the head, or just go, wake up Cody, and run? But I don't know how long it will take for him to wake up. I hold my breath, watching for a moment as my options bounced in my head.