Dream Come True

16

XANDER sighed.
"We'll just have to figure that out when we come to it. Come on. We need to find somewhere to spend the night." We all nodded and glumly shuffled our feet, forcing them to walk forward.

"I have an underground bunker in the bush outside of town. About 45 kilometers east. There's two army jeeps about 5 kilometers that way that can get us there." Peter said pointing into the distance. I looked at Xander as he reluctantly nodded and followed Peter through the thick trees. The thin, brittle twigs poked of the branches and combed through my hair, skimming over my cold cheeks. I clutched Xander's fingers. Snaps of sticks and crumpling of autumn leaves filled my ears, small whispers of the wind echoing through my brain. Black shadows creeping silently caught my eye as Xander and Peter continued forward, dragging me along.

We trudged along carefully. Stars winked down at us as I struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
"We're almost there. The jeeps are behind that thicket over there." We continued walking in silence, tension and apprehension taunt in the air. I heard a tiny snap of a twig and a small curse behind me.
"Xander... There's someone out there." I whispered. Xander gripped my hand tighter and his broad shoulders tensed, as my words reached his ears. Peter nodded at Xander, seeming to understand and walked faster changing his direction slightly.
"We have to lead them off..." Peter said, his lips scarcely moving. Xander quickened his pace and pulled me in front of him.

I stumbled over tree roots and uneven earth as I focused on listening to each sound in the darkness. Figures in the night moved faster, sneaking toward us in the blackness.
"They've realized we know they're there. They're coming faster!" I hissed through my teeth. Xander and Peter looked around.
"Let's go, Thia. Hurry."

My legs moved as I sped beside Peter and Xander. Murmuring broke the silence as the military men came together.
"They're moving. Aim to fire." Rough voices cut through the darkness with deadly words as I heard the clicking of guns being loaded.
"Quickly! Get behind me!" Peter's outburst sliced through the night like a knife. With no hesitation I launched into the leaves, skidding behind Peter, Xander along with me.
"Wait, what about you?" I yelled. Peter looked down at me with determination and I watched as Peter's hands vibrate, the air around us sparking and waving like heat above a road.
"Don't just stand there! Fire!" My eyes widened as the army groups set up to shoot and I yelled out Peter's name. Bullets exploded from the metal weapons and sliced through the quiet of the night as they sped towards us. A faint purple sphere surrounded us, a force field protecting us from the raging bullets.
"Get up. Move. Get in the jeep and drive until you see a triangular shaped rock. Keys are under the visor. Go!" Peter ground out, his teeth grating together in effort.

We took off towards the thicket. Xander yanked open the jeep door and I clambered in, the engine spluttering and then roaring to life. Peter jumped into the other car and we sped off into the night, the jeeps parting ways under the stars.

* * *

We floundered in the darkness to find an opening to the bunker, the darkness consuming the land. Finally, a relieving rattle alerted us we had found it and we lowered ourselves down into a dank, old metal room. We stood there, unsure or where we were, if it was safe. Time passed anxiously until Peter eventually scrambled down the bunker ladder.
Xande watched him with distrustful eyes.
"Cool trick you did back there. You didn't think to do that when we were about to be blown up at the house?" Peter looked up to meet Xander's stare.
"We made it out of there without me having to. It weakens me. If I did it back there you would have had to carry me. Or leave me and have no where to go." He said, eyes narrowing ever so slightly with a silent challenge. Xander's jaw clenched, and he looked away.
"Anyway, I lead them off, leaving false tracks to head them west." Peter stated, exhaustion filling his voice and colouring under his under his eyes purple.

I looked around the shelter to avoid the confrontation and saw shelves lining the walls, filled to the brim with sleeping bags, food and water, torches, camo outfits, guns, matches, ropes, tarps, backpacks and a first aid kit.

Peter stood at a solid cupboard and began to unload the items, handing them to us and suggesting we set up for the night. Once we were settled, Peter lingered at the back of the room while Xander and I sat on sleeping bags, eating something that tasted like 50 year old bird food from metallic packets and trying not to think too much. Eventually, it became impossible to keep our eyes open and we fell asleep, unsure of what the next day would bring.