Freedom Bound

Chapter 3

Nix didn't walk as fast so I was able to keep up with him. Now I finally had the chance to really look at him. His hair was light brown, almost blond. It was kept neat and short. His eyes were a mix of gray and blue. He was definitely older. He seemed very alert and seemed to be aware of everything going on around him.

He laughed a little, "Is there any particular reason you're staring at me?"

Awkwardly, I laughed "Oh, um, sorry."

He glanced down at me and smiled. "So," he glanced down at me again, "Tell me about yourself, Lusa."

"Well, what do you want to know?" I asked. He shrugged, "I don't know. Just average stuff. Like where youre from, how old you are, your favorite color, I don't know. just stuff like that."

I smiled "Well, I'm from Eagle Lake in Maine, I'm fifteen years old, and I'd have to say my favorite color is blue," I looked up at Nix. "What about you?"

Looking down at me, he said "Well I'm actually from Boston, I'm twenty years old, and my favorite color just so happens to be green."

The sound of a twig snapping startled both of us. Nix immediately stopped and started looking around. I started to ask "What was --"

He cut me off, "Shh. I'm trying to listen." His hand slowly moved and gripped his knife. He whispered "Patrols."

As if on cue, two men dressed in the standard patrol uniforms charged at us with gun in hand. My hand instinctively clenched around the hilt of my knife. Nix whispered "Follow my lead."

Keeping my hand gripped on my knife, I nodded. Nix raised his hands up as if in surrender. Even though I thought this would be suicide, I followed his lead.

The two patrols walked closer to us and ordered with heavy accents "On your knees. Both of you."

My knees sank into the snow. Coldness seeped into my pants and onto my knees. Nix did the same. The patrols stood in front of us and studied the both of us. I shot Nix a worried look. This was the last thing i wanted. To be captured by patrols, like my parents. His eyes met mine and he nodded briskly.

At the same time we both shot up, knives ready. They realized too late what we did. Nix slammed the hilt of his knife into one of their chests, making them fall backwards. His gun flew out of his hand and landed in the snow. The other came at me. I quickly jabbed my knife into his leg. He yelled in pain and dropped his gun. I immediately kicked it away.

He pulled a knife from his belt. He swung, but I rolled to the side and slammed the hilt of my knife forcefully against his thigh. I made sure it was in the same spot I had stabbed him. He stumbled a little and swung again. Dodging his knife, I slammed the hilt of my knife into his head. Blood started trickling from his nose, but he just got more angry.

Suddenly, I was put into a head lock. I flailed trying to get out of his grip but he only tightened it. The head lock made it hard to breath. I clawed frantically at their arm. The patrol whose nose was bleeding raised his knife. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the knife to hit me, but it didn't. Opening my eyes I saw that Nix had tackled him.

The patrol holding me in a head lock repositioned himself, getting ready to snap my neck. Nix punched the patrol he tackled, knocking him unconscious.

As soon as that man was unconscious, Nix faced us. I could feel the man straining my neck. I whimpered. All this patrol had to do was make one move and I was done.

My fingers clawed at his arms frantically. In a last resort I bit down hard on his arm. His grip loosened just enough for me to get free.

I desperately tried to reach for my knife but I had dropped it. Even though it was kind of a cheap shot, I kicked him in the balls.

As he doubled over in pain I brought my knee up and whacked him in the face. He fell to the ground. I quickly retrieved my knife and Nix kicked him in the head. He was laying facedown in the snow in pain.

Nix grabbed my arm, "Come on. We need to go. Now."

He took off into the woods and dragged me along with him.

What the hell just happened?