Evolution

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I watched the ax sink deep into the branch. Its sharp blade buried itself deep into the wood with ease. Over and over she swung, chopping wildly. I could hear the creatures coming closer and see the panic swell In Boomers eyes. I heard a snap and watched the mousey teen drag the long thick branch over to her brother.

“Help me get him up I need to measure. Hurry!”

Her voice was trembling and her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she spoke. I could barely see the outline of large green tails slithering in the distance. Podradiles! My gaze locked on the creatures in horror, The image of my mother came flooding back to me like a torrential downpour of terror. Alex shook me hard  and I felt my body jar. She screamed, her fear and anxiety seemed to reach out and slap my skin.

“Trevor help me!”

Snapping back to reality, I grabbed the mans large arms and helped lift him. Boomer stood against the tree and winced in pain as his sister measured the large branch against him. We slowly lowered Boomer  to the ground, letting his back rest against the huge tree. Alex started to split the wood, making sure It was aligned with her measurements perfectly. Still confused, I stood nervously waiting for orders.

“I need the duct tape from my backpack.”

The sound registered but I hesitated. Some leader I turned out to be. Alex chopped and split the wood, lining it up with the remaining branch, she marked her second crutch.

“TREVOR THE DUCT TAPE! I NEED THE DUCT TAPE!.”

I blinked twice, only now aware of my own hesitation. I ran to the side of the tree and unzipped the bag. I felt my hand bump several items as I visualized them in my mind, eliminating the possibilities. After what felt like an eternity, I finally felt the rough circular cardboard of the tape.

Tossing it to her, I watched her wrap the top of the branch over and over again. Testing it, she sank her teeth into the tape and ripped it from the roll. She repeated the process with the second branch and stood, walking over to the large tree.

“Come on buddy it’s time to go”

I could hear the love in her words and feel the emotion seep through the darkness of our dire situation. In an instance, I understood what separated the human race from the foul creatures that aim to take our place.

We lifted Boomer and handed him the make-shift crutches, waiting, hoping against all odds that something was in our favor. He attempted a few steps and pushed down on the branches. Her idea took life.

I grabbed my bag and lifted my golf club. Alex tried to do the same but was struggling to accommodate both her brothers items and her own. Throwing Boomers bag over  my free shoulder I handed her the ax.

“Everything is okay. We will be okay.” I smiled as I spoke, trying to convince myself of these words as much as I was the two.

We marched slowly into the daylight, nervously listening to the sounds of our enemies fill the air as they came ever closer. We knew at the pace we were going, it was only a matter of time...We knew they would catch us.

We lasted almost an hour before Boomer started to wear out, his body slumping against the branches as he walked, his leg oozing blood and his back aching, he finally just stopped and stared at us, silently pleading for a break. I helped Alex lower the man to the ground. Squatting  next to her nervously, I whispered into her ear.

“They are right behind us, what are we going to do?”

She didn’t reply, she just sat there looking at Boomer with concern. His armpits were beat red from the pressure of the branches. Tiny scratches littered his skin and drips of blood still ran down his leg. She changed the soaked cloth, tying a new one on his thigh, pulling tightly as she knotted it, she spoke.

“It’s up to me and you Trevor. They will catch us and we will have to fight them eventually”

I felt fear swell up inside me. I knew she was right. A long pause that stretched from one horrific moment to another keep me on edge. Thoughts swirled inside my brain, thoughts of death and thoughts of life. I tried to concentrate on the task at hand. I played out several scenarios in my mind, letting each one of them come boiling over into a vivid end for our trio. I was sunk.

I looked into her eyes, allowing myself to see her for the brave caring soul she really was. I knew what had to happen, and yet I couldn’t  find the words. Saying goodbye, the act of forcing the words out of your lips and letting the other person hear them was harder than simply vanishing like a fog over a riverbank.

Instead, I simply gripped my weapon and stood, brushing the dirt off of my clothes. laying Boomers bag on the ground next to her I smiled.

“Walk at night and hide in the daylight.”