Meeting Her
It was morning. And as we awakened the sun began to rise. I barely slept. How could I? All I could think about was those things coming back.
I sat up in my bed staring at the wall in front of me.
Max was tossing and turning all night. Poor boy, he was probably having nightmares. Which is part of the reason I knew I couldn't sleep.
I had been thinking all night. Something didn't add up. I was in this hospital for two months right? I couldn't move or eat, which meant someone had to help me right? But who? Who would risk there lives just to save mine? I was an easy target.
As everyone began to wake up we started to prepare ourselves for the journey ahead. We rechecked our bags making sure we had everything we needed. When it was time to go Dinah turned around to us.
"Listen if something happens to me, I want you to run. Don't look back and don't wait on me. Run as fast as you can and stay together ok?"
Dinah placed her hands on the younger two shoulders to make sure they understood.
"That goes for you to Chancho." Dinah said turning towards me.
My leg had gotten better since yesterday but Dinah knew that I was someone she had to protect.
We slowly made our way through the hospital. It's was quiet.. Too quiet. The lights were flickering on and off and there was a dark reddish substance splattered on the walls. It was blood, human blood.
We made it to the staircase which led to the outside. Good thing we were only on the third floor. Dinah led us down the stair case and we arrived in front of the door. She held a long stick with a needle attached to the end of it. It was a weapon she had made herself.
Cierra and Max stood between us with their eyes wide open ready for any sign of dwellers.
"Remember what I said. No matter what happens.. You run! Don't look back." Dinah repeated.
We all nodded as Dinah opened the doors.
I hadn't seen the sun for while which caused me to wince covering my face.
I looked around adjusting my eyes. I thought it would be like I remembered it.. But it wasn't.
There was filth everywhere. Cars were turned over and trash cans were on fire. The grass had grown almost as tall as me. Glass was shattered on the ground and the dark reddish was once again splattered on everything. The beautiful world I once knew was gone.
"That's the bridge we came on to get here.. And that's our way out." Dinah whispered pointing to the bridge that was only a couple of yards away.
We looked around for any sign of dwellers and headed towards the bridge. It was quiet.. Too quiet.
The trees rustle making a whistling noise in the air. I looked to my left and right as I held my weapon of choice closely by my side. We tiptoed through the grass that had grown in between the cracks of the street.
A hissing noise came from behind and we all spun around towards that direction. Two dwellers stood facing us tilting their heads at the site of our fresh bodies. More hissing noise came from behind us and we were soon surrounded by dwellers.
"Dinah?" Cierra whined as the dwellers inched there way closer and closer to us.
Dinah stood there distraught. About seven dwellers surrounded us and there was no way we could run like Dinah had told us too. We stood there watching every side of us. Dinah stood in front of us as best as she could blocking us from the danger.
"We're going to die!" Max whined. His hand tightly held onto mine. He was afraid. We were all afraid even though I know Dinah would never admit it.
This was it I thought. We had only made it ten feet out the door and we were surrounded. How were we expected to survive this entire trip?
Dweller arms stretched out and grabbed Max's backpack pulling him towards them. I held on as tight as I could but my hands were slipping.
"No please! Don't let go!!" Max yelled
From behind another Dweller grabbed Cierra's leg and pulled her to the ground dragging her closer. Dinah reached out and held on to Cierras hand.
They were too strong. I couldn't hold on much longer.
Big loud tribal calls came from the trees. I recognize that sound.. That sound had saved us the night before. Shots came from the trees and the dwellers fell to the ground one by one. Some of them even tried to run away but it was no use. They dropped like flies until they were all were dead. We looked around trying to find where the gun shots came from.
A girl around my height jump down from the trees and walked towards us.
We backed away not knowing whether we could trust her or not. She was dressed in a leather jacket and had scars around her neck and arms. Her eyes were green. But not just any green.
It was the kind of green that seeped through the snow to let you know spring was coming. The kind of green that brings you hope and life no matter what. And looking into those eyes I could see it. And she knew that I could.
Dinah continued holding us back with her weapon now pointed at the strange girl. The girl walked closer and Dinah raised her weapon up as a warning.
She raised her hands as a sign of surrendering.
"There's no need to be afraid. They're all dead."
the girl said as we looked around. The dwellers were dead and this green eyed girl had killed them. She slowly placed her weapon down on the ground.
"Was that you who saved us last night from the dwellers?" I asked.
She nodded confirming my suspicion. Dinah slowly lowered her weapon and allowed the girl to come closer to her.
"I'm Lauren." she said. We all look at each other and then back at the girl.
"Thanks for your help." Dinah said
"Your welcome." Lauren said staring at me.
Dinah, Cierra and Max all looked my way. They notice that the green eyed girl hadn't taken her eyes off me.
"We're going to Havens Peek. It's the only chance we have left for survival. You should come with us? You'd actually would be doing us a favor." Cierra protest.
She paused for a moment to think.
"I don't know."
" oh come on please! You saved our lives.. You deserve to be free." Max uttered
I could see that she was pondering her answer. But I didn't see the big deal behind it. Going to Havens peak meant more freedom right? Then why was she so hesitant?
"Fine. I'll go" The green eyed girl said, her eyes never leaving the place they came from. She still stared at me intently.
She walked back to the bush where she had jumped down from and picked up a bag that was filled with weapons. Max and Cierra ran over to help her. They looked like little kids on Christmas morning when they saw what she was carrying.
"We don't even know who she is." I whispered turning Dinah around.
"It doesn't matter. She has guns... Guns that we could use. She's our only chance of survival."
I looked back at the girl who was now entertaining Max and Cierra on how to use the guns. Dinah was right: if we wanted to survive we would have to stick with her. Maybe with her we might actually have a chance at survival.
