Trouble Makers

Chapter 7: Cat Fight

Aaron

I lift my gun and so does West. I'm afraid right now. This is going to be awful. I'm sure we are all doomed. I hold out my hand to West and she grips it. Too hard. She's scared too.

I hold her hand with my left hand and my gun with my right. I hear a crack and a hand smashes through the wall. So much for indestructible steel. I shoot at it and it jerks back with a scream. It sounded like a human scream.

I shake West from my hand and rush to the source. I peek through the hole. I see the horizon line before I see an eye look back at me. I scream and fall back. I scoot away on my butt. I hear banging.

"HELP ME! PLEASE!" The voice screeches. The thing bangs more. Harder. Louder. I put my hands over my ears. It is familiar.

"DON'T LET IT IN AARON!" West screams. I curl on the floor on my side, covering my ears from the screeches. West runs over and stabs the thing in the eye. It makes a crackle of electricity and it falls.

We all pant. I listen to everyone's breathing. In. Out. In. Out. I concentrate on my breathing. I think of who the voice belongs to. I think and think. I go through the voices I know. I think a lot. Then I come to a conclusion. The voice belongs to Nat.

West

Aaron collapses. I rush over to him and drop my gun.

"Aaron!" I yell. I shake his shoulders. He still breathes but he's just passed out. I listen to his breathing. It's too slow.

Ian looks guilty. I glare and ask, "Whatcha hiding?" He shakes his head. He looks more guilty. He opens his mouth to speak.

"I made the robot." He confesses.

"You what?" I ask.

"I made a robot of Nat so I could keep her. She wasn't the same. I left her in the lab because of the invasion. Then I guess she wandered out. They have the... SORT OF.... Same thoughts."

"Oh. Who's Nat?"

"A friend of theirs. She died."

"Well that's sad."

Ian nods. He seemed like he missed her for a reason. He gasps in realization. I tilt my head. He starts to sob, and I rub his back.

"What?" I ask, with sympathy.

"My child." He sniffs and gets up.

"You have a kid?" I ask. He nods and walks out.

"HEY! Get back here! You'll kill yourself." I lunge for him and tackle him. I pin up his arms with my knees. "Calm down!"

He thrashes, tears streaming down his face. His brow creases and he screams to release him. I keep my grip.

"I feel left out." Hunter whines.

"Go help Aaron!" I yell. Ian shoves me off and bursts through the door. "IAN!" I rush after him.

Hunter

I poke Aaron's head. This is awkward. West went to chase Ian. Now I'm here trying to take care of someone that is blacked out. I poke him again and smile. He looks so relaxed. I slap him and he sputters.

He rubs his cheek and looks at me. He looks around and asks with alarm, "Where's West.."

I look at the door, wide open. I shut it and respond.

"She went after Ian. He went to go look for his kid or whatever." I walk back to him.

"What." His eyes narrow at me. "Why didn't you try to stop her?"

I shrug. I didn't really feel like it. Plus, I guess if she wanted to, that was her choice. Aaron reaches for his gun and struggles to get up.

"Hey, HEY! Sit down! You'll pass out again because of you standing!" I explain. "You're too weak, rest!"

He shakes his head and tries to open the door. It's too strong. He gives up and collapses. I comfort him.

"She's going to be okay, man. " I assure. "She's tough."

"Not as tough as Nat.." He glances to the side. "And Nat died from a knife."

"How do you know?" I raise one eyebrow.

"I saw.." He says. Then there is silence. We stay like this for a while. We hear a pound on the door. I look through the peep hole. It's West. She's cut up. She looks crazed. Mad.

I open it and she collapses. Aaron scoots to her in alarm. I shut the door.

"Are you alright?" He asks her in alarm. She shakes her head and lets out a sob.

"He's dead." She wipes her eyes and makes small, quick, breaths.

"Who?" He grips her shoulders. It looks like it hurts. She winces and he loosens.

She sobs again and whispers, "Ian."