Stranded

Chapter 10 ~ Cassie

The girls are in an uproar arguing and screaming at each other. We have been in this stifling hut for so long.... I have given up bringing order. There are many suggestions of marching on the boys and showing them who's boss. Most are with Hannah's approach, especially against the hunters. Surprisingly, Rachel is my greatest ally, she was the only one who didn't start fighting at the boys' meeting. She is also the only girl here that makes her negative opinion of me publicly known.

"WE ARE NOT MARCHING ON THE BOYS!!!!" I scream as load as I can.

No one hears me.

It's going to be a long night.

                                                               ***

"Your turn Sophie," Allie says shaking me awake. I node and get up. Claire is being woken up by Jenna and both the boys that are supposed to be watching are asleep. I don't think they even know we are here. Are they in for a surprise when they wake up, if it weren't for us, the fire may be out. Again. Boys are useless.

Claire and I many just watch the fire, but we talk a little, mainly about the stupidity of the boys.

"Cassie has to do something about them soon," Claire says.

"Yeah, especially Jack, Ralph can be reasoned with after a bit. I heard he was livid after what happened," I say.

"Not livid enough, the fire would be out because of the twins."

"Yeah, honestly," I glance at where the two boys are sleeping. They are identical twins and are the ones that were supposed to be watching the fire when it went out the first time.

We go on and off of talk as we continue to watch the fire when suddenly there seems to be a flash of light from the sky. Startled both of us look up. There are small unconstant lights up above us, and possible black masses.

"Do you see that?" I ask.

"If you do...." she replies. Without a second thought we both wake Allie and Jenna trying to keep track of the masses.

"What is it?" Jenna mumbles sleepily.

"Look!" I say pointing. She looks to the sky.

"I don't see.... What is that?"

We all stare at the masses as they slowly disappear.

"What could have been?" Claire asks.

"Ships maybe...." Jenna says thinking. Her dad flies airplanes and went off to the war. "My dad said it happens all the time. An airship battle from the war...."

"Maybe.... Wouldn't we hear the guns though?" Allie asks.

"Not if they were too far up...."

"Do you think they saw the fire?" I ask.

"Doubtful, they'd probably be more interested in staying alive if it was a fight," Claire replies.

We settle down back around the fire talking about it. A little later, Allie and Jenna go back to sleep and we're left watching the fire, the wind blowing.

Eventually, the first stages of twilight begins and there is movement from the two boys. I wonder for a moment if we should jump scare them, but decide not to.

The two get up and see us.

"What are—" one says.

"—you doing—" the other says.

"—here?" the first finishes. That will get annoying quickly. Before either of us can respond, the freeze looking at us, no, past us, terrified. They suddenly start hugging each other. Claire and I look behind us. There is a noise as something rises up behind us between two rocks.

"Run!" the two boys yell before fleeing down the mountain. Claire and I stare petrified at the thing as it slowly goes back down as the two other girls wake up from the yell.

"What's going on?" Allie asks.

"There is something behind the rock," I mutter, my voice small as my mind suddenly has all the stories the younger boys have come up with come to the forefront of my thoughts. The Beast.

"Stay there," Jenna breaths.

"What did you think we were going to do?" Claire mutters.

I hear the other two slowly moving for the weapons we hide up here as a precaution before they slowly come to where we are, weapons raised. As a group, we move to the other side of the fire before we run down the mountain as one.