Journey in the Aftermath

Chapter 6: Falling into Adventure

This chapter is told by the POV of Antonio

We haven't really had problems with our new friends. Overall they have been pretty helpful, Levi and Milton get along great, both of them having the same lower level of humor that honestly I really enjoy watching, like when Levi absorbed a piece of firewood then Milton lit his crotch on fire then they both ran around screaming "great balls of fire" over and over until Madeline froze the fire and some of Levi's pants with it, which was retaliated by Milton making a joke about Levi being stiff like ice and we all busted out laughing.

Bailey and Madeline are always together talking about the old days when they had make up and clean clothes and all that. Forest just kind of keeps to himself like I do, but still takes charge of his people when need be

We are sitting around the fire cooking our last little bit of meat. I look over at Kelly who is for once not sitting by me during eating, she is over with Madeline and Bailey talking about fashion in the apocalypse. I am glad to see her happy and smiling again since Beth's death

"What are you staring at?" she says noticing me looking at her

"Nothing, I wasn't staring" I say smiling

"Awww Antonio is blushing" Milton says laughing at me

"Such a lover boy" Levi chimes in

"Shut up asshole" both me and Forest say at the same time. Both of the morons shut their mouths and me and Forest look at eachother and bust out laughing. You know, maybe he isn't so bad after all

After we finish eating we all go to sleep with Oliver as first guard. I lay down with Kelly and she passes right out. I get to thinking about Devin and Steven and what happened to the two of them. Is there a chance Devin survived the explosion at the lab? If he did he has got to be out there somewhere since the gas wouldn't have killed him. Steven though, not having powers, would only have a chance if he is still in a lockdown facility by the SWAT team. But I don't hold high hopes for him.

"Hey, lay down. You need your sleep" Kelly says next to me half asleep

"I will, I have to pee first. I'll be right back" I say and get up. I walk off nodding to Oliver on my way out of the campsite. I told Kelly I need to pee but I think I am just going to take a quick walk. I walk around for a bit then hear rustling in a nearby tree. I walk under it knowing that anything in the tree can easily be taken care of with a flick of the wrist. Looking up I see a boy sitting in it. I raise my hand up and a limb reaches down and wraps around my arm then lifts me up and sets me onto the same branch

"Hey" Forest says to me as I get set down

"Hey man, whatcha doing up here?" I ask sort of nervously. He looks over at me and flashes a smile then points up. I look up and see the prettiest display of stars I have ever seen. I turn back to him and see a pure smile on his face as he looks up at the stars

"Hey, so I'm indestructible, so if I fall I will be fine, but how are you not scared being up this high?" he asks me

"I'll show you" I say grinning. I lean back and fall out of the tree. All of the branches move out of my way as I fall and the dirt below turns to sand and jets up to catch me and slowly lower me to the ground safely

"Dude that's awesome!" Forest yells down to me "But this is how I get down" he says and stretches out his arms straight out to his sides then falls back and falls all the way to the ground. He hits the ground hard and sinks into it slightly then just stands up and wipes dirt off of himself

"You're power is amazing" I say baffled by the zero reaction of slamming into the ground at 50 up miles per hour. A loud boom sound rings through the air and me and Forest both turn to see the lightning at the same time

"Looks like its going to storm" he says heading back to camp

"Wait a second" I say focusing on where the lightning stuck. It strikes a few more times in the next few minutes and then Forest sees it too. It's hitting in the exact same location each time

"You want to go check it out?" he says excited for an adventure. I have to agree that I really want to go but we can't just leave the two of us in the middle of the night

"We need to get my girl Madeline to come with us, I trust her and she can probably help us out quite a bit if we need it. You can bring Bailey if you want" I say knowing that he would be more comfortable also bringing one of his people along

"I want Levi. His powers are more developed then Bailey's and he can help us light the way for the most part. Plus if the lightning doesn't stop, we can send him in there if he absorbs a piece of rubber" Forest explains his choice. We go back to the group and wake Madeline up and tell her about the quick trip to investigate. She seems to know what I'm thinking it is and quickly gets ready. Levi is already up and talking to Milton still. Milton whines about not being able to go but after explaining that he is in charge and has to protect the others he eagerly waits behind on this one. We head out into the dark towards the still occurring lighting with nothing but a small rubber earbud piece from Bailey's earbuds, and three strike anywhere matches. I lead the way with Forest shortly behind me

"I'm on my way Devin" I say softly to myself