Enemies At First

Darkness

"Ashley! Are you ready?" The voice was that of a women's. Older but still smooth. "Coming mommy!" She said before jumping off her bunk bed and ran out of her room. Not paying attention, the little girl ran into a mans leg. She hugged the leg and looked up. A smile spread across her face before speaking. "Sorry daddy!" The man laughed and patted her head. He then crouched down so he was the same height as her. "Are ready to go visit your aunt? She made you and James a big birthday cake." She smiled and hopped around. "Yay!!! Let's go!" She shouted. "Alright, your brothers already in the car, why don't you go join him?" He said before standing up. She ran outside, and saw the car parked. She struggled to get in but managed. "Auntie made us cake!" She shouted at her brother. "Why do you like cake so much?" He asked, looking at her. "Cause it's yummy, duh." She said while buckling on her seatbelt. He just laughed and pulled out a book. The little girl was excited and couldn't sit still. Finally her parents came out to the car and they were off.

The little woke up. The smell of gasoline filled up her nostrils. Weakly, she looked to her side. The young boys face was facing her, blood running out of his nose. "J-James..." She whimpered. He was knocked out. She looked over at the drivers seat and saw her mother. Her body was leaned on the steering wheel with her face pointed the other way. "Mommy? Daddy?" She cried. She was alone and scared. Not knowing what was happening she unbuckled her seatbelt. Suddenly, she heard sirens approaching. She opened the car door with a shove and fell out. She laid there just looking up at the sky. It was snowing and everything went silent for a moment. Then a police officer checked her and then picked her up. As she was in the officers arms, she looked back at the car. It was smashed into a large tree, which now laid across the road. The front end was split in two.

The girl sat in the back of a police car with a blanket wrapped around her. She was given a drink and was told to stay here. She sat there, watching everyone run around in panic. Her brother was sitting on a gurney, still asleep. A little ways to the right of him was a black bag. Something was inside it. More like someone. A paramedic running with a device in his hand drew her attention. He sat down next to a women. Her mother. He charged up the device and put it on her chest, making the boding jolt. Nothing happened. He tried a second time, turning the voltage up. Nothing. He proceeded one more time. Nothing. He stopped and put two fingers to the women's neck. He sighed and looked down, shaking his head. People then started to put her body into a black bag, just like the one she saw before. She dropped her drink and ran out of the car. "Mommy!! No!" She cried running towards the dead body. A women grabbed her and held her, not letting her escape. The girl kept crying and struggling. She just wanted her parents. She wanted them back. But that would be the last time she ever saw them.

Ashley woke up, shaking and crying. She looked around to find Sam, who was holding her. "Ashley! Calm down, its just me." He said while holding her tighter. Memories of her dreamed flashed through head. She started to shake even more, remembering her mothers lifeless body. She hugged Sam as hard as she could and cried into his chest. He just sat there, stroking her head. She was wrapped up in a blanket and laid on the floor. She cried for at least 5 minutes before she calmed down. "Your shirt now has snot all over it." She said with a chuckle and looked up at him. He wiped her tears from her eyes before talking. "It'll was out." He said. He leaned down kissed her. Ashley was surprised at first but then happily kissed back. She pulled away, needing to breath. She smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "Get a room you two." James snorted. Ashley just smiled, nestling back into Sam's chest." You scared me back there. I thought you had drowned." Samuel said. "I'm sorry." Is all she could say before she drifted back into her slumber.

They had made it to Madagascar when Ash finally woke up. Nathan called his wife, Elena and sully was out talking to a dealer. James taking pictures of the wildlife. Ashley took this moment to tell Sam her reasoning of almost drowning.
"I can't swim." She blurted, just trying to get to the point. "What?" He said, not hearing her words. She sighed and walked over to him. "I didn't follow you into the water because I don't know how to swim." She said while taking the shirt from his hand and walked back over to her own bag. "You should've told me that earlier, it would've been helpful." He said walking back to her. "It didn't come up and I didn't think we'd have to be swimming away while being shot at." She sighed and stopped packing. He was right, She could've died. Samuel wrapped his strong arms around her waist and kissed her head. "It's alright. The important thing is, is that your alive." He the kissed her neck and Ash giggled. "Didn't know you cared so much about me." She said turning around to face the tall man. "I have from the moment I laid eyes on you." She blushed and kissed him. It was long and passionate. Both of their tongues fought for dominance, Sam's being the one who won. They broke apart, gasping for breath. "Does this mean we're together now?" He said with a raised eyebrow. "Me and you? The thought makes me sick." She teased. "That's not what your body thinks." He said pointing out that her body was closely pressed to him. She laughed. "Yes." She answered before kissing him once more. "Oh, gross!" Nathan shouted as he walked into the plane. "Save it for later you two, we need to get moving." Sullivan said as he grabbed his bag. "Ready for our next adventure?" Sam asked. "Hell yes."

They finally made their way to an opened field. The volcano wasn't to far away, but Ashley knew this was going to be a long ride. They drove up to a tower and noticed some men. "Great, we have company." Said a frustrated Ash. She was so sick of having to deal with these men. She hated killing them but it's their own damn fault! They just wouldn't give up! Nathan pulled the jeep up to some tall grass. "Let's try to take these guys out quietly." Victor whispered, he then jumped into the cover of the grass. Their weren't that many men so they got the job done quickly and quietly. James had stayed at a hotel. He was sick and helpless. He felt like shit and because of that was disappointed because he do anything. Ashley reassured him by saying that he was a great medic and could help us if one of us got hurt. He agreed after awhile, still feeling guilty but not arguing with his sister.

(x) Time skip (x)

"That should do it." Nathan said while settling back into the drivers seat. He had just wrapped the winch around a tree, so now they could go up the slippery slope. As the winch reeled the jeep up, a boulder that rested on the slope came loose knocked the jeep off of the cliff. They now hung, the only thing holding them was the winch and the tree it hugged. Nathan hit the gas, trying to pull the jeep back onto solid ground. Just inches before they could reach the edge, more rocks fell. That resulted in Nathan getting knocked out of his seat. Ashley quickly grabbed his hand before he could fall to his death. "Hold on!" She yelled while using all her strength to pull the man up. He grabbed the side and climbed back into his seat. "Get us out of here, kid." Sullivan yelled. Once again, Nathan stomped on the gas pedal. Next to her, Sam started to pray. They made it to the top and everyone sighed. She relaxed and sunk into her seat. "Thanks." Nathan said towards Ash. "You saved my life."
"You would've done the same, I hope." She replied. "Definitely." And they started back on there journey.

Hello there!! I just wanted to say thank you for reading my story and I hope you enjoy reading it! I know I enjoy writing it. The next chapter will be skipped to where the boys split up and search the different towers. Hope you enjoy it!