Survival

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Terra Hawkins P.O.V.

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"Mommy!" A young girls voice rings in my head.

"Mommy!" She screams. The tears cradling her body.

Who is this young girl? Where is she? Why does she sound familiar?

"Terra!" A mans deep voice echoes over the cries and screams of people.

The memories come flooding back. Crashing into my body like a brick wall.

Terra, I think.

The young girl is me. The man yelling my name is my father. And my mother...she, shes...being taken away.

"Mommy!" She cries again, running after the guards who took her mother. Stumbling her way through the crowd of people. Slipping on the moist mud she grabs one if the guards legs, pulling him to the dirty ground with her. His once snow white outfit was now smothered in wet mud.

"Terra!" Her father cries, as he closes the distance between them, only to be held back by two more white suited guards.

"Terra!" The angelic voice of her mother sends streams of hot tears rolling down her pink cheeks. "I love you!" Her mother shouts. "I will always love you!" Her voice cracking and becoming weaker, as the guard holding her back starts to pull her closer and closer to the gates.

The mud covered guard rises from the ground, where he had fallen. Revealing an icy glare, he shifts his feet as he clutches his steel baton.

Hastily her body moves on its own. Slowly crawling backwards, to escape his reach.

Slyly moving in her direction, he heightens his baton over his head. Tears streaming down her face, she lets out a blood curdling scream.

Panic taking over her body, she's now shaking, trembling with fear.

His getting closer, she thinks. I'm going to die. What do I do? I can't move. I'm afraid. I'm to afraid. Help.....

Towering over her was the mud covered guard, baton in hand. Her eyes snapping shut and body tensing up-

Jerking awake, I fling myself forward, eyes open. Heavy breathing and cold sweats expose my body. "It was just a dream." I state, while wiping the sweat, that's trickling down my forehead, with the back of my hand.

Pulling my thin blanket off me, I swing my legs over the wooden bed.

Closing my eyes, I inhale the thick cold air, letting my body calm down. When my breathing becomes stable, I re-open my eyes letting them take in my surrounding.

The single, broken window illuminating the small room with the glow of the moon. The door across the room, rusting. The beige coloured walls, peeling off. An individual night stand, placed beside the old, single bed. On the other side is a rustic looking chair.

The light from the hallway flickers on, as it creeps in through the cracks and holes of the door. A shadow blocking the light quietly knocks on my door. Slowly opening it his silhouette becomes clear to me.

July.

"Can I come in?" His voice a whisper. "Or should I wait out in the hallway?" He asks hesitantly, as his gorgeous blue-grey eyes gaze over my body. Following his stare to my thin white tank-top, I let out a chuckle.

Leaning forward I grab the folded clothes sitting on the chair, then grab my worn-out combat boots from underneath the bed.

Fitting my oversized, navy blue hoodie over my thin, white tank-top, I pull on my washed-out blue jeans. Slipping into my combat boots, I say to him, "That's not necessary."

Walking past him and into the hectic hallway, July quickly follows after me. Saying 'hi' to all the children running past, one in particular grabs a hold of my left leg.

Looking down I find Sage, with his head nuzzled into my leg. Bending down I lift him up from under his armpits. Letting out a squeal he grabs my shoulders tight. His golden blond hair tickling my nose.

Shifting feet to keep balance I walk down the stairs, July and Sage laughing the whole way.

Reaching the bottom step Sage grips me tighter. "Hey, I gotta put you down now. I have important work to do." I tell him while pushing hair behind his ear. His beautiful blue-grey eyes matching his brothers.

He releases me and I place him on the ground. The sad look on his little face makes my heart ache. Squatting down beside him, I ruffle up his hair. "We can hang out later, okay?" I say with a sincere smile. His face lights up with happiness. Nodding his head he cries excitedly, "You can read to me!"

Laughing, I pat him one last time on the head before going into the Meeting room, July following closely behind.

*************

The immense room, silent. Eyes wide and mouths a gap. Everyone in shock. Sitting at the end of the long, rectangular table is the one person who is calm and quiet. Oz Hawkins.

My father.

Squeezing the bridge of his nose, his eyes press shut. Letting out a relaxing breath, his gaze snaps to me. "Terra," the strength in his voice makes me tremble. "I have told you before, we can't endanger our men's lives on a plan that's a total gamble for survival." The patience's in his tone is running out.

Parting my lips to speak, I'm stopped by a hand placing itself on my shoulder.

July.

Shaking his head slightly he brings his hand back to his side. The look in his eyes tell me 'to stop'. I nod, comprehending what he's saying.

Looking back at my father, I make complete eye contacted. Unwilling to break my gaze. Planting my feet firm on the floor, I straighten my back.

"I understand."

Nodding his head he dismisses me with a wave of his hand. Bringing my hand up to my forehead, I salute.

July, holding the thick dark wooden door open for me, salutes as soon as I'm in the hall.

Slowly and quietly closing the door behind him, he gives me a stern look. "What the hell, Terra?" He says in a whisper. "You know he disapproves of your crazy plan, so why do you keep asking him?" His eyes burning in to mine.

Crossing my arms over my chest in a childish way, I stomp my right foot. "It's not crazy, it's a good plan!" I pout. Chuckling to himself, he slings his arm around my shoulder.

"I'm sure it's an amazing plan," He says enthusiastically, "but your father's just looking at it logically." He says, trying to reassure me.

It's not helping.