The Zodiac Story

Friendly Fire

Leo's Pov/////////////////////////

    As the timer sounds, ringing and resounding in the ears of all who hear it, not a person was left with nothing to do, nor still feet; I myself took off with no care to the other's whereabouts or actions. However, even with no desire to take care of my fellow team-mates, I could tell without a doubt that everybody had the same idea: don't stay in one place. I feel the tall plants smack my thighs and the shadows cast by the trees gives the forest an even more ominous atmosphere even though it was clearly daylight. I try to be as quiet as I can but my only objective at the moment was to get away as fast as possible and then think about the game. Reason being, the dozen pair of feet circling around me isn't a very good motivator to be quiet even though most, if not all are my own allies.

    I ran in a wild frenzy for at least ten minutes in real time, although to me it felt like hours. I find my eyes flick from side to side in a desperate attempt to get some sort of grasp on my next objective, my feet aiding in the search as they move my body. Nothing. No one. Not even a shallow breath was heard other than my own. It was more than eerie and not at all comforting even though 9 out of 10 times no enemies is a good thing. But my own better judgement is getting the better of me. My heart beats slower and my breaths become more regulated as I begin to calm down. One half of me was comforting: Calm down! Leo, you're not going to get anything done if you're acting like this! But the other part of me was screaming: no, nO, NO! RUN MAN! NO MERCY! NO WEAKNESS! CAN'T LOSE WON'T LOSE GET YO HEAD IN THE GAME YA DUMB BLONDE!

    My body naturally submitted to the later.

     I come to a small group of unblocked trees, the sun shining through ugh them like a knife through butter. My eyes flick left to right and find no immediate threat. I place my hands on the trunk of a tree, about to climb up its base when the screeching sound of a Snapping branch rings out from behind me. I instantly grab my gun and place my finger on... what I think makes it shoot, I'm honestly not too sure. I hate guns, they're way too loud. I slow my breathing as I wait intently for the opposer to show itself. I see a leg, and a torso, and then a face. I place a finger to my lips as I identify the person before me.

     "Shhhhh...", I whisper to the boy only 4 inches taller than me with the same ears, tail and stance.

     Elliott's eyes search around him, careful to inspect the area for any minor threat. I roll my eyes up above me and motion with my hand to the tip of the tree. His blue eyes follow my finger to the tree top and back to met my eyes with a confirming nod. Our eyes lock for a moment, searching the other for some sort of lack for understanding; there was none.

    In no time at all we were both up the tree and sitting at the ready, waiting for an attack. Still nothing. It was almost frightening at how calm the forest was right now. Silent. My nose scrunches up at this as I look around. So quiet. Honestly feel like the forest is judging me. I droop. The excitement was over and gone within a matter of minutes. The silence weighs on me like a ton of weights on my back. Seeing Elliot reminds me of my previous life, which is a very dangerous topic that i hate reflecting on; and yet, my will isn't strong enough to keep my mind from wandering to that topic in his presence. Before I know it I'm already waltzing right into the place I had forbid my mind to go. He just really made me realize how much I missed home and I hated it. I didn't want to miss it. I didn't want to miss my house, how I was treated, my clothes, my ex, my.... my parents. My eyes squeeze shut as I try to resist the aching feeling that was pulsing through my body like a bad sickness. I didn't want to miss how people looked down on me just because it was normal. I didn't want to miss my clothes just because they were familiar. I didn't want to miss the familiar grip and grooves in my government issued sword. I didn't want to miss the ugly stares, or the empty sound of my house when I got home from work. I didn't want to remember.