The Outsiders

And Everything Falls Apart

Screams rang out and time froze as the green scaled bastards that have recked our world invaded the hall. The sound of bullets being fired deafened me and left me reeling. As soon as I was back to my senses, I reached back and grabbed the hilts of my trusty samurai swords, whipping them out into the fighting stance my teachers had engraved into my brain since I could walk alone. I made for the edge of the stage in the direction I last saw the only family I had ever known. My blades sliced through every enemy that dared step into their path, practically smoking with the blood they bathed in.

As I got closer I spotted my friends fighting for their lives, Chloe was firing off arrows embedding them deep into the flesh of their victims, Ellie was fighting back to back with Ivy moving flawlessly as one, fatally wounding all those who risked their wrath and Ethan was twirling his staff, smashing all those around him with such force they were left unrecognisable. It was then I noticed Jemma, my loyal fighting parter, slowly getting surrounded. My protective nature kicked in and I raced to her side in order to assist my best friend. As our backs touched, our instincts kicked in and our movements became synchronised as we took out the closest enemies one by one. From the corner of my eye I spotted Jemma glancing over her shoulder at me.

'Don't think this makes you my hero Lauren!' I laughed before replying

'If that's another way of thanking me for saving your life then you're welcome! I'd be lost without my Jemma!'

'Just like I'd be lost without my magpie!' We shared one last smile before returning to the fight at hand. Once I got a second to breath I glanced around myself to see, to my horror, the people I once knew as my peers and superiors were slowly being cut down staring blankly at the world they were no longer part of. It was then I realised our only chance at survival was to reach an exit. I scan all the exits I had identified earlier and saw that the fire exit was the best option.

'Guys! Head towards the fire exit!' I didn't give them time to question, already on the move in that direction. I sensed my family moving around me until we were forming an unbreakable ring of strength. As we drew closer to the door I noticed Callum and Kayleigh cowering under a nearby table. Despite their horrid, bullying ways I couldn't just leave them to die, as the old saying goes 'treat others how you wish to be treated yourself'.

'COME ON OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A DEAD PUPPET!' I yelled, this seemed to snap them out of whatever trance they had been part of. However my decision wasn't  greeted with great reactions.

'What the HELL are you thinking Lauren!'

'I can't just leave them to die!' However as these words left the confines of my lips, an agonised scream ripped through the air.

'NO CALLUM!' I turned to see his veins turn green as he fell, almost in slow motion, with his face frozen in pure fear. Kayleigh made to run towards him but I grabbed her before she could. She screamed and kicked but my hold was too strong.

'Kayleigh! He's gone, it's too late! If you go to him you'll die! He wouldn't want that!'

'He doesn't want anything! He's DEAD!' As she said this my grip weakened and she broke free running forwards, but once she reached him a long, forked tongue struck her shoulder leading her to the same fate as Callum.

I felt Ivy and Ellie nudging me forward, with Ivy speaking words of comfort in my ears.

'It wasn't your fault, there was nothing you could do' I finally pulled myself together and started moving once again until a familiar voice rang out.

'IVY!' Her head whipped round at such speed I'm surprised it didn't break her neck.

'LEWIS!' He ran towards us gun blazing obliterating all in its way. He reached her side and checked her over before addressing the rest of us.

'We need to get out of here before they start heading back to the exits with their new puppets' We all shared a look, none of us knowing what we were about to face but we would face it together no matter what. I then noticed that Lewis (not Ivy's obviously) was nowhere to be seen and my heart dropped but I knew I had soldier on (pardon the pun). I took a deep breath before saying.

'Well, let's go then' And so we did.