G.U.A.R.D. Book #1: Clandestine

-18-

    Pain hit my head like a train wreck. Black danced before my eyes, as if I was half conscious.

"Rookie," Knife's voice cut through my dreams like, well, a knife. Let's say dagger. Then I don't feel like I'm making fun of her.

Something touched my shoulder, and I jumped in surprise, opening my eyes. Light seeped through the trees of the forest, the branches blocking a lot of it, but I could clearly see the sun in the sky. The memories of the previous night filled my mind, and I felt fear strike my heart.

Knife crouched over me, her eyes planted on the overhang. Jay had his gun out, but leaned against the overhang. A bandage wrapped around the leg he injured the night before.

"Are they gone?" I whispered. My throat was dry, and I felt thirsty.

Knife put a finger to her lips. "They've stopped searching. We're going to try to sneak out. Keep quiet and do everything I say."

She stood with a hunched back, offering her arm. Moving my stiff legs and arms, I took it, and she helped me up. I felt sore and crusty from the mud covering my skin. Jay and Knife were coated in the stuff, too.

Knife motioned for me to stay where I was, then expertly ran up the side of the overhang, found a foothold, and peered over. She nodded, motioning for us to follow her. Jay got to his feet, and the two of us trailed Knife. She moved with speed and agility, always scouting ahead, then signing for us to follow. At one point, the woman suddenly gripped my arm and smashed me against a tree. It took a huge amount of self-control to stop myself from crying out in pain. My eyes smarted.

Once the League agent passed, we continued.

We did the same thing over and over: go a few paces, hide, wait for Knife to signal the all-clear, then repeat. It was an exhausting process, and the heat and mosquitoes were relentless. My throat was parched; my stomach grumbled. All I wanted was to lay down in a soft bed after a long, long bath and homemade dinner.

But fear kept me going.

The three of us hid behind some vegetation near an hour later, looking at a group of four League agents, three men, one woman. They chatted idly, looking around the forest for any signs of us. Knife motioned to Jay, then signed something I couldn't understand. Behind his tree, he nodded.

"Stay here," Knife whispered in my ear. "Get down and don't do anything."

I mutely nodded, trying to huddle as close to the ground as I could. The bush in front of me hid my figure from view, but I could see through the holes. Knife got out her dart gun, looked inside, then raised two fingers at Jay. He answered with one. They had a conversation with their hands, then jumped into action.

Knife aimed first, then shot her gun at one of the men. He fell, a dart sticking from his neck. Jay did the same for another agent as Knife surged forward. Her gun was back in place. Before either League agent could cry out an alarm, she skidded in the ground, which was still slick from the rain. The G.U.A.R.D. agent nailed the man in his legs, and he tumbled down, eyes wide in surprise. Jay ran to the battle. The woman saw him and quickly aimed her rifle. Knife, though, snaked her arm up, pulling at the woman's trigger hand. Taking the opportunity, Jay slung back his arm and punched the woman across the jaw. She reeled back. Knife took her rifle from her hands, directing the barrel at the League agents.

"Make a noise, I fire," she threatened.

The man, who had just been getting back up, leaned back and held up his hands. The woman slowly did the same. Knife nodded at Jay. He grabbed his gun, ramming it across the woman's face. She fell to the ground, unconscious. I involuntarily flinched. Jay did the same to the man, and Knife motioned for me to join them. I quickly did and realized we could see the edge of the forest from here.