The World is After Us

Chapter 1

Farrah

Those hours spent trying to pretend that I was dead were some of the most difficult. It is hard to believe that Ren and Halton's parents fell for our trap, but it worked. We are free now. 

Jexton helps me up off the ground, as I had fallen over due to the force of my gun. My heart pounds as I stare at the dead bodies of Jonah and Henley. It almost reminds me of the sight of my mother, and shivers run down my spine. Dead bodies shouldn't phase me anymore, but they do when they bring back irritable memories. 

"Come on," Jexton says quietly. "We should go." I nod at him and turn to Ren and Halton, who cannot help the tears streaming down their faces. They hold each other and sob, and Jexton and I try to ignore it. 

"We should leave them," I whisper. Jexton looks at me confusedly, furrowing is brows deeply. I breathe in and out heavily, staring into his eyes as if I had been seeing them for the first time. 

"We can't. . ." Jexton trails off. "They were on our side. We won't."

Suddenly, sirens begin to sound, causing everyone to freeze. Ren and Halton stand quickly and look around like Jexton and I. A deep voice yells over the intercom, but what the man said could not be comprehended due to the thickness of his accent. All of us stood there with our hearts pounding, trying to think of what to do, but there was nothing.

We had been caught.

"Come on!" Jexton yells as he takes off running. Ren, Halton, and I follow him quickly, and my legs begin to shake from nervousness. Helicopters can soon be heard, and I am on the verge of just breaking down and surrendering. 

We keep running until we dip into a deep forest, and even after that. It is cold, as it had been raining, but that does not stop us. 

"Keep going!" Jexton yells again, and we continue on after him. The sirens grow louder along with the helicopters, and they seem to be getting closer and closer to us. I can feel my legs begin to give out, but I cannot stop. My life in on the line. 

Soon, the four of us stumble into a small cabin-surrounded island, and decide to hide there until all of the noises fade; if we are lucky enough. "In here," Jexton orders softly. "C'mon."we pile into the back door of the nearest cabin, and head for the back as quickly as possible.

 Jexton and I shove ourselves into the furthest corner, while Ren and Halton do the same, but across the room from us. The two grab each others hands, and try to stay as silent as possible. 

Jexton and I look at each other simultaneously, and my shaky hand reaches for his out of sheer instinct. Having been through everything we had, I couldn't bear to see him leave again. At this point, I still didn't know if I could trust him, but he is all I have left. I don't have a choice. 

The Consilium soldiers' silhouettes are seen passing by the wide windows in the very room that us, the four refugees, are hiding in, and I can't hold back the nervous gasp that escapes my lips. I glance over at Ren, who holds her finger up to her lips. I nod at her, and place my free hand over my mouth. 

"All clear?" one of the soldiers asks. There is a moment of silence, then the sound of a gun being cocked echoes through the empty neighborhood. "All clear." the second soldier replies. The sound of their heavy boots are then heard trudging along to the next house, then the next and the next, until we can't hear their voices anymore. The four of us stay frozen, though, as we do not know yet if it is safe to move out. 

I hate being on the run, but I was put on a mission, and that mission I will succeed. Jexton by my side or not, I refuse to give up. I will not let my father down.