Changed

Chapter Nine

Veda expected her captor to put her down once they had said they were going with them but the man simply slung her over his shoulder and started to run with the others. Veda grunted in pain as the air in her lungs was pushed out of her on impact.

Her ride atop the man's soldier didn't get much better as he broke out into a jog that had her bouncing atop his shoulder, pushing any air that she might have had left out of her system. Veda looked around for Raya to see her on the ground running alongside Jax.

"Are you going to put my friend down?" Veda could hear Raya ask that as she looked up at Jax. Jax's eyes met Veda's and he shot her a grin before shaking his head at Raya. "I'm afraid not sweetheart, we need a little insurance that both of you won't run off, plus, your friend doesn't look like much of a runner."

Veda would have at least tried to look offended but her head was promptly struck with a tree branch right after he spoke and she let out a squeak of pain. The man holding her stopped and everyone stopped around him and looked at him curiously.

"What is it Ryker?" The shortest man of the four asked as Ryker set Veda down. Veda craned her neck to look up at him but got dizzy as she reached up to touch her head where she got hit. Ryker caught her before she could fall and she let out a soft groan of pain.

"I hit her head man. I'm too tall to be carrying someone through the woods." His deep voice so close to Veda's head made her wince as she fought back tears that attempted to break loose.

Jax shook his head at Ryker before walking over and shooing Ryker away while he steadied Veda and pulled each of her eyes open to take a look at her pupils. Veda looked at him where he kneeled in front of her, his grin never leaving his face as he took a look at the bump that began to form on her head.

"It's not too bad, just a bump, but Ryker is definitely too tall to be carrying you around all these trees." Jax muttered as he brushed some of Veda's hair from her face causing Veda to back away nervously. He was making her uncomfortable and she looked to Raya for help who was quick to come and stand by her friend's side.

"Just let her run with me, we won't run and I'm sure if we tried you boys would be able to catch us anyhow." Raya offered as she wrapped her arm around me in what would have been a comforting gesture if Veda couldn't stand being touched all the time.

"I'm sorry but she'll slow us down with that bump and the fact she doesn't look like she runs a lot. I'll carry her; I'm a bit shorter than Ryker." He didn't give Veda a chance to protest when he flung her over his shoulder, the blow being softened by Veda's backpack he carried; at least he was a bit gentler than Ryker.

Raya cast a sympathetic look to Veda as she ran close behind them for what seemed like forever as Veda had to deal with a bruised ribcage and scratches all over that resulted from thorns and the constant jostling as they ran.

They didn't stop until they caught sight of a town. Jax sat Veda down and joined the others at the edge of the woods where they crouched and peered out. "What's the plan this time, Jax?" The shortest of the men whispered with his dark brown eyes lit up with nervous excitement.

Jax sat back on his heels for a few moments, staring at nothing before his eyes seemed to light up and he turned to face Raya and Veda. He stood back up and walked over to look at both of them closely. Veda withdrew from his scrutiny fearfully and Raya stepped up to put some distance between the two of them.

"Can you two act?" Jax asked suddenly and Raya stared at him in confusion while Veda was already shaking her head no. "I took a few classes." Raya offered slowly and Jax's grin widened as he turned back to motion for his shorter friend who was quick to come to Jax's side.

"You two are going to go into town and pretend to be on your honeymoon to get us a hotel. One of you will come back to give us directions and we'll sneak there tonight when most of the town is asleep. Then, in the morning one of us can go out to get supplies."  Jax's plan sounded good to Veda. A honeymoon was one of the very few reasons a person was allowed to travel between cities and towns, all of them going in together would definitely seem suspicious.

Raya didn't seem so sure as she her eyes narrowed at Jax suspiciously. "I'll do it if you make him go with me." Raya pointed to Jax's nervous friend from before who's eyes widened at the mention of him.

Jax stared at his friend for a moment, turning something over in his mind until he let out a sigh. "Fine, but Walter can't act at all so you'll have to do most of the talking and don't leave him alone too long, he gets nervous." Jax spoke of Walter like he was a puppy and Veda couldn't help but notice the other guys subtly roll their eyes.

"I can handle it, give us the backpacks so it seems like we're packed for this at least, plus I have some money in there for the hotel fee." Raya reached out for her bag which Jax handed her while Walter lifted Veda's back onto his back from where he had set it when they arrived.

"Y-You're leaving me with them?" Veda stuttered as she attempted to take a wobbly step in her friend's direction. Jax caught her before she could fall and set her down on a moldy stump nearby. "Sweetheart, you need to rest. I'll be right back and if they try to do anything I'll have soldiers here before they can run three feet." Jax raised his eyebrows at the fight but remained silent and Raya gave Veda a reassuring smile before turning to take Walter's arm and walk out into the town's streets.

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Love it! I don't know why but I dooooo! This is a fun story to write and easier than you might imagine since I've been working on the character summaries and outline for most of the summer.

Ugh, I wish I had started on this book earlier since school will be starting soon. This book is literally the sole purpose I'm not looking forward to all of the work my school brings..... well that and I'm lazy hahaha......

Well I hope y'all liked the chapter and if so please give me some feedback! I love to hear what y'all think so give it to me people!!! Let's hear what you've got!!