Death's Shadow

Chapter 6

Eight hours later they landed and Maxxy grabbed her duffel. She followed Commander Alder off the plane followed by General Brooks. They stepped down the stairs and Maxxy was hit by the bright light, they were in a long clearing surrounded by woods. The kids who had gotten off before them were standing around in groups looking bored. Jason yelled for attention and he got people all lined up, it turned out that they weren't at their camp but they had to take a five mile hike to get there. Maxxy stayed near General Brooks and by now the other kids had realized she wasn't going to mix and they started giving her dirty looks. Maxxy knew that if she wanted to survive they had to fear her so instead of ignoring the looks she glared right back. They headed out and she stayed quiet glaring at the kids giving her looks. When the general tried to start a conversation Maxxy only gave him an calm glare and after the third try he gave up. They hiked on a tiny path that was covered in tree roots and weaved around a lot, after about 15 minutes they broke through the trees to walk along the side of a cliff over a hundred feet below waves crashed against the rock. Once they had passed the cliff and were back in the woods Jason looked back to the group and yelled, "Let's Go!" 

He started running it was an easy run not a jog but not so hard Maxxy would have to really try to keep up. She heard grumbles behind and she saw Alex drop back to the end of the line to make sure everyone keep up. After about an hour Alex let out a yell and Jason halted the line. Turning Jason, General Brooks, and Maxxy all headed down the line to find out what was wrong.

About half way down the line a boy grabbed Maxxy by the collar and shoved her against a tree her back slammed into the wood with a dull thud. Maxxy didn't say a word, she leveled her eyes on him and let her mask wipe her face of any emotion. Out of the corner of her eye see saw General Brooks stop Jason from intervening.

The boy who slammed her into the tree pressed his forearm up against her throat pinning her to the tree, then he spoke, "You are a butt kisser aren't you? You're too weak to survive this so you're sticking close to them to try and escape your fate. We are going to tear you apart poodle."

He glared threateningly at her and Maxxy didn't even flinch her eyes stayed calm. Then all the sudden Maxxy gripped his forearm and twisted yanking him off her and sent him to his knees on the ground with one hand on his wrist she twisted so his arm was bend up behind him. Leaning down she gripped his hair and yanked his head back so she could she his face. He snarled at her and opened his mouth like he was about to speak. Maxxy twisted his arm farther and he shut his mouth but still snarled at her she continued twisting until his face contorted with pain, then she spoke, "You touch me I break you."

With a sharp twist she broke the arm that he had been placed against her throat. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared, with his mouth open in a silent scream Maxxy released his arm and he felt to the ground. Maxxy looked around to the kids who had gathered, "So don't touch me."

Turning she walked away from the boy and headed towards the general and Jason. They stared at her with their eyes wide. She walked right pasted them and they follow quickly behind. Maxxy keep her eyes calm and her face expressionless until they were out of the view of that group of kids. Then Maxxy reached up to grabbed the bullet hanging from her neck and kissed it softly.

"Was that mean?" The general asked.

Maxxy turned and looked him straight in the eyes, "No that was annoyance."

After another minute of walking the small group reached the end of the line. There they found a girl sitting on the ground clutching her ankle. General Brooks and Commander Alder went to talk to Alex about what happened. Maxxy headed for the girl, she was dark skinned, probably African-american, with her long black hair in dreads, she had a hard expression on her face but her eyes were full of pain. Maxxy knew from personal experience that the girl was going to deny any pain. So instead of asking what had happened or if she was okay, Maxxy knelt in front of the girl and pulled her hands away from her ankle. The girl glared at her but Maxxy shot a just as threatening glare right back. Maxxy unlaced the combat boot and pulled it off in a quick gesture. Maxxy placed her hands on the girls ankle and started testing it for swelling. She listened to the girls small gasp and her sharp intakes of breath.