"Taking the long way is safer but too long and taking the short way is too dangerous but short." Lauren added
We all nodded in agreement.
"Ok fine. I choose...."
-----------------
Lake of Muerte
"I choose..." Lauren paused looking at us in our eyes one by one then stoping on mine.
She stared for a while before her eyes widened completely. Her breath started too quicken and I couldn't understand her reasoning behind it.
"Lauren?" I said trying to snap her out of her gaze but she quickly shushed me.
Then I'd realize she wasn't staring directly at me. She was staring behind me.
About eight Dwellers were headed our way and not the human looking ones either. I'm talking about the big pale long armed creatures we'd seen in the hospital. They looked more viscous than the ones who had taken human form.
We all turned around and Lauren quickly flagged us down causing us to sink into the grass that was as high as our knees. We hid as best as we could but the Dwellers were getting closer and we couldn't remain in the same spot for long.
"What the hell are we going to do?" Cierra asked.
Our adrenaline was high and we couldn't hide our fear.
Lauren knew for a fact we couldn't hide for long. We only had one choice. We have to take the short way. The open road was the only way out since the Dwellers were blocking the other direction.
"There coming this way!" Max whispered loudly.
Lauren stared at us and smiled. She slowly crawled over to me and gave me a small kiss on the mouth. I was confused. This wasn't the time to kiss, it was the time to run.
"I'll find my way back to you." She said pulling away from my lips. And without any warning she stood up and ran as fast as she could away from us yelling and screaming her tribal calls.
My eyes widened when I realized what she was doing. She was trying to lead them away from us. But why the hell would she do that! We could have made this work, somehow we could have figured out what we should have done together.
I tried to get up and run after her but Dinah knew my thoughts before I could even process them and grabbed me before I could move.
We sat there for a while. None of us saying anything. We could here Lauren get farther and farther away and soon we only heard an echo. That's when we made our move.
"COME ON LETS GO!!" Dinah yelled. We all stood up and started running on the open road towards the mountains.
We were running for almost 20 minutes straight and I felt like I was about to collapse. Soon we were lead to a small lake that separated us from the mountains.
"We have to cross it. My mom told me that once we got close only the Lake of Muerte will separate us from the haven." Cierra said breathlessly.
"Lake of Muerte? Wait.. But Muerte means death.." I said. She nodded and we all looked towards the lake.
The lake was so beautiful. The sun shined making the water glisten and looking into the water you could see the beautiful trees on the other side reflecting into the water.
How could this lake be deadly?
"Did your mom say anything else about the lake?" Max asked.
"No. She just said that we would have to be extra careful when we crossed it. But she never got the chance to tell me why."
We looked around for a second. Everything about this lake seemed safe. The real question was how are we going to cross it? I'm guessing on foot.
The first person to step foot in the lake was Dinah.
"Hey .. The water feels great guys!" She yelled out to us.
Max followed behind. Cierra and I watched as the too bathed in the Lakes marvelous looking water.
"It does feel great! Come on in. I thought you weren't afraid of nothin.... Miss Thang!" Max said tauntingly towards Cierra.
Cierra smirked and ran into the water. I was still a little hesitant.
"Come on Mila! It feels great in here." Dinah yelled.
"... What about Lauren. How is she going to know which way we went?" I asked.
They all looked at me and then back down. I knew Lauren would come back. She's a warrior and a fighter. She was coming back to me. I'm sure of it.
"Mila... I don't think Lauren is.."
Max screamed. Why was Max screaming? We all turned our heads to where the small boy had been swimming.
He was exploded into the air! A large, pale, long legged creature erupted from the water with Max in its hands. The creature was a bigger, scarier version of a dweller.
"MAX!!!" We all yelled
Max was pulled down as the creature was sinking back down into the lake. Dinah and Cierra had swam over to where the creature held Max.
I ran finding myself neck deep in the water swimming towards them as fast as I could.
"Where is he!!!??"
"Do you see him?!"
"Max!!"
We all yelled and searched for him but the creature seemed to be at the bottom of the lake.
"I'm going down there. Get to the shore." And without warning Dinah dived down into the lake.
Cierra and I waited for a second listening to the sound of the water moving.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
The trees were rustling and everything was moving in slow motion.
Cierra started to breath heavy and move around in a panic.
"Where are they?! Are they dead?!" She cried out
"Calm down.. It will be okay. We have to get to the other side like Dinah said."
We swam as fast as we could finally reaching the other side. I stood watching the pristine water glimmer in the sun. Where the hell are they? They couldn't hold their breaths for that long.. Could they?
A figured appeared across from the lake where we had been. It jumped into the water and quickly disappeared. My heart was beating at full speed.
Suddenly Max and Dinah floated out on top of the water. Max looked unconscious and Dinah tried her best carrying him towards us. Cierra ran out to them trying to help. I tried my best to stop her but it was too late. She was already shoulder deep in the water.
I tried running after her. I tried to swim faster and faster. But the creature had gotten to her before I did, and this time it didn't hesitate to wrap it's giant claws through her petit body. She gasped for air and I screamed. I kept screaming!! Dinah swam faster with Max on her back.
I suddenly couldn't breath. I felt myself sinking under the water. I didn't see the creature grab me, because my eyes were shut. My heart was beating so fast that I had passed out in the water. I was for sure a goner now. After that creature was finish with Cierra he was going to head towards me next.
And I deserved it. I was suppose to be watching Cierra and I had let her go. And now she's dead. It's all my fault.
I opened my eyes and I could see the creature heading toward me. My heart was slowing down and I knew this would be the last thing I'd see.
But then a face appeared in the water. Lauren's face.. It was beautiful and untouched. The way I always imagined it..
When you die they say your life flashes before your eyes. Lauren was my life. And I know what you're thinking. How could someone fall in love in a couple of days, but... I couldn't help they way I felt. Her charming smile and perfect green eyes, and I was glad that she'd be the last thing I saw even if she wasn't really there
She is my safe place. She's my Haven.
