FREAK

Amber

     I made my way back to the lab sprinting.
     "Papa says that they know about you. They'll take you like they took your lover. There's nothing that you can do about it."
     The child that I had been sent to recover's words rang through my head over and over. Her father had worked for the government facility that was in charge of altercation.
     "Amber, what's wrong?" Jade said frightfully.
     "We need to get into the government building now!"
     "What? Why?" Jade looked confused.
     "They know about the safe haven. We need to stop them as soon as possible before they eradicate us off the map!" I began panicking.
     Noah looked up at me in horror, "Miss Amber?" He asked, "are you ok?"
     "Of course, bud," I forced a smile to keep him from panicking, "why wouldn't I be?"
     He seemed to not buy it. Jade was still refusing to believe my statement. Noah just looked up at her with bright blue eyes and said, "does she look like she's joking? If she can keep calm in facing my father than this is serious."
     I stared at him. There's no way that shy little Noah just stood up to someone older than him. Jade couldn't believe it either. Her face screwed into one of concern. She turned to her counter and started pouring the 'almost antidote' into a large container. She sealed it and handed me two capped syringes. "If I know anyone here," she looked down, "you're the only one of us who's seen enough to even dare to go in there."
     "How does this help? It doesn't do anything," I said.
     "When we were testing it, we found out that even being near it irritates them. Maybe it could save you from getting killed once or twice," she looked up and smiled while fighting back tears.
     "Could you take the kid while I'm gone. He's kind of a weight to carry when on the battlefield."
     Noah looked up at me with a glare but said nothing. Creepy.
     Jade nodded with a giggle, "maybe the little trooper wants to go."
     I smiled and ran out for weapons and food. I came back with a pistol, a ton of ammo, a combat knife, bread, and water in a backpack. As well as the container of almost antidote and the sealed syringes in a separated pocket.
     Noah just sat and stared at me, "so am I staying with Jade then?"
     "Of coarse not, you'll be in Amber's room until she gets back. I've already got a little one to watch," Jade answered.
     I took Noah's hand, "she'll just check up on ya and get you started on work around here. Now, we should probably get back."
     He nodded and we started out of the building. Jade stopped us, "Amber?"
     "Hm?" I turned to face her.
     "Don't die," she said holding back tears.
     I smiled knowing damn well that was most likely what was going to happen to me. "I won't," I said.
     I might as well have been crossing my fingers behind my back.