The Hider

Chapter Nine

Everything I saw was different than from inside the City. Out here, if this was in the City, the Fragments would be considered rich compared to this. It was a wasteland. The name was perfect for this dump. The ground was so bumpy and misshapen, it was hard to find a flat place to stop. I finally decided to not care where it was put and stopped it. I got out and then got slammed against the door.

"You bastard!" Trech screamed at me. He put a knife to my throat. How did he get here? I kneed him in the groin and pushed him off of me. As he fell, I pulled the knife out of his hand. I fell on top of him and put the knife up to his throat. 

"What the hell? How did you get here?" He then shoved me to get off. I punched him in the jaw and then stood up, satisfied. Trech wiped his lip, which was bleeding. He then spat blood out of his mouth.

"We're never getting back in for your information," Trech then snarked. Apparently, during that short interaction, the other three got out of the truck.

"We know. That's the plan," Stepharie said to him. He then stood up and started to walk over to me. Before he was 2 yards away from me, Lizre stood between him and I.

"You aren't going to do anything. You're going to stay here and die," she told him. After that, she spit on his face. Gretchen then walked over to Lizre.

"We can actually use him," Gretchen told her. She then turned to look at her.

"Are you crazy?" Lizre asked. Gretchen then stiffened up.

"He knows the tactics of the Guard. He can tell us everything. All I know is that a Guard Ship is going to come out here to find us. I don't know how to not be seen by it, but I do know that  he does. So he's our only chance of surviving the Guard," Gretchen informed.

"But we still have to worry about the Wastelanders," Steph interrupted. Lizre looked at Trech, then Gretchen and finally me. She took in a deep breath.

"Fine," she told Gretchen as she turned towards Trechren. "But if you step even a millimeter out of line, I will put a bullet right here," she told him as she pointed her gun right between Trech's eyes. "You understand?" Trech nodded without any worry. With that we all headed back into the car with Trech in it as well. I started it up and continued going down the bumpy terrain.

"So, what is everything we need to know?" I asked him as I drove.

"Well, the Guard will soon be sending hovercrafts out here  to find us. They have orders that are shoot to kill, so anything moving will be blown into pieces, even Wastelanders," Trech told us. I nodded and then felt us start to slow down.

"What's going on?" Stepharie asked me. I looked and saw exactly what it was. We were out of gas. I slammed the wheel of the truck and the horn honked. I then jumped out of the car and everybody else shortly followed me. We had to go on by feet now. We all started to head north. At least I think it was north. It was just north of the City. Gretchen came up to me.

"I'm kind of scared," she whispered in my ear. I don't blame her. We're in an unknown place. We have no idea where we'll end up. I then put my arm around her shoulder. You know, to make her feel better.

It was dead silent. Except for the wind and our minimal murmurs, the place was dead. Soon, if we didn't find shelter, we would be as well. I led the group, with Gretchen on my shoulder. Then it was Lizre, Trech and then Stepharie bringing up the rear. We reached a sand dune when Trech tried to escape the first time.

"Trech!" I heard Steph shout. I turned around to see Trech running towards the City and Steph following him.

"Stay here," I told Gretchen. She nodded and then I ran off. I was still faster than Trech, because I soon tackled him. He then had my back on the ground and he was crushing my ribs. Lizre came up and pulled Trech off of me. I kicked him in his tailbone and he screeched.