Flying Paradox (On Hold)

3. Eevee

They scatter in faster than I can count to 1. Weapons in hand, ready to be used. Officials! My mind roars. Their dark sunglasses cover their grim expressions but not their intentions. 

Someone pulls me grabbing my hand guiding me towards the emergency exit. As we all run my lungs begin to burn from the exertion. My vision feels blurry and my breathing is forced. Out of the corner of my eye I see Tristan twist his ankle on the gravel. He let's out a cry of pain. Hearth pulls him into a dark alleyway. I can tell we're nearing the farms where the poor live. I can feel it in my lungs. The dust that never goes away.

We all follow Hearth where he has put Tristan on the floor. He is crying without making a sound. I have just began to catch my breath when I look down and realize that the person is still holding my hand. Looking back up I see a pair of honey colored eyed with the slightest hints of green in them. It's him.

He immediately let's go of my hand and turns to look in the other direction. I feel hurt once again by  this stranger but I ignore my stupid feelings and walk over to where the others are.

"JJ you have to carry him." says Hearth calmly. 

"Why me?" JJ argues like the two year old he is.

Zayn sighs "Because you're the one with the strongest build."

JJ looks ignorantly at Hearth "What is that supposed to mean? Could you please explain it in my language?"

"It means your the strongest one. The one with the biggest muscles." Hearth tells him in a simplified language. JJ language. Hearth is red and is starting to loose his patience.

JJ flexes his arms "My mama always fed me well." he kisses his biceps. "I guess all of those wheaties finally paid off."

Hearth slaps his palm on his forehead. "Can you carry him JJ. Yes or No."

JJ grins "Sure I've always wanted to be a boy scout."

Somewhere Tristan whimpers "Please no! Not JJ!"

Eris asks hurriedly "What does this have to do with being a boy scouts?"

"You know how you get a badge or a cookie or whatever for helping the old lady cross the street. Well... Tristan is the old lady and well my price is...Alice." JJ says almost sweetly.

"In your dreams." Alice mutters roughly.

JJ sighs leaving a smirk painted on his face. "Then I will dream forever until they become true."

Alice snorts "You sound like a 5 year old delusional girl who thinks she is a princess from Disney and goes kissing random frogs thinking they'll turn into prince charming."

"Are you talking from personal experience hun?" JJ says smugly.

"Just hurry up already they are going to find us!" Hearth explodes. JJ picks up Tristan and swings him onto his shoulder as if he were a rag doll.

Tristan whimpers "Please..." he drags on, "Someone save me..." He still holds on tightly to his backpack.

"No need to worry Tris your hero is here." JJ says and like always he says something stupid. "Super Muscles JJ! It will be one big mac from McDonalds that you owe me."

With that we start running again. The janitor guy is now leading us and avoiding me completely. What did I do wrong?

The dust starts to choke me up it seems to slow us down. Janitor guy is the only one that seems perfectly fine and I realize I don't even know his name.

We arrive at the fence. The border. There are no Officials protecting this edge. Janitor guy is about to start climbing the fence but stops and curses. I realize a second later the fence is electrified.

"Don't you worry my people." Alice grins as she approaches the screen. Zayn holds her back unsure. She could totally screw us up. Alice brushes him off "I'm a pro at hacking things so let me." She begins typing what looks like gibberish to me while she mumbles nonsense out loud. After a few minutes she directs her word to us "Listen as soon as the current goes off start climbing. The electricity will reactivate after thirty seconds. If you don't make it you will be as good as fried fish."

The current goes off and we all sprint off and start climbing. Alice scurries, climbing faster than everyone else. She reaches the top and jumps 15ft down, I shut my eyes. But I realize that for Alice it is nothing because she lands on her feet flawlessly.

Everyone has made it to the other side except me and JJ who climbs with Tristan on his back, it clearly slows him down.

I'm on the other side of the fence climbing down. I'm too scared to jump.

"Jump. Eevee jump!" Eris tells me. I'm still a good 8 feet off the ground. I nod slightly and close my eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. I loosen my grip on the fence and let go. I am airborne for a second or two before my feet hit the hard earth packed floor. The wind is blown out of me I feel my knees buckle. I don't give in. I can't show any weakness. My right side throbs. My ribs ake every time I take a breath.

"Five seconds JJ hurry." Alice screams JJ has barely made it to the top and he can't jump, not with Tristan on his shoulders.

"Were doomed!" Tristan hollers.

JJ mutters as he moves downwards. "Now you also owe me two value meals in large sizes and don't forget about that happy meal." he then throws Tristan to the floor. Tristan claws at the air frantically we move to catch him. JJ jumps leaving the fence just as it sizzles back with energy.

We continue running only now I'm more towards the back because my ribs are bothering me.  JJ carries Tristan who is definitely not being an easy passenger. The janitor guy is taking us who knows where as we all blindly follow. Coughing every now and then the dust burns my lungs and my ribs. 

We all avoid houses and people roaming the streets. We start going into an area where the trees are denser. 

For some random reason a blue and fiery orange blur crosses my mind. A bird. A barn swallow. How easy it would fit in flying from tree to tree.I shake my head clearing my thoughts I need to concentrate.

Concentrating is impossible. I am panting like a dog and am covered in sheets of sweat. I am quite certain I look like a hot ugly looking mess.

Finally Janitor guy stops us at a pile of boulders. He points at a gap. Finally realizing what it is. I allow myself to sigh in relief. It's a cave were safe.

My lungs are burning from the dirt in the air. I cough up some dust and the sudden heave of my lungs makes my ribs hurt. They feel like they're on fire burning up my lungs along the way. He adjusts the gap making it possible for us to slip in. The perfect hideout indeed. Not visible from the outside but very spacious in the inside.