Stranded

Chapter 17 ~ Alice

I stare in shock at the gathering as they leave. Rachel has just sold us out.

I turn away and slide down the tree.

She didn't tell them much immediately, but she will be soon.

How long did she stay at the meeting?

Does she know what Cassie is planning?

This is bad.

I didn't know Rachel was so.... So....

I can't believe her.

I sit there for a few minutes trying to find logic in what Rachel did. I don't find any. I look back into the clearing at the sickening pig head covered in flies. Then I notice the boy collapsed in front of it. Simon.

"Hey, Alice!" I hear Allie call. Simon doesn't move.

"Over here! Something's wrong with one of the boys!" I yell before walking into the clearing. Simon has a bad nose bleed.

"You're joking...." she says catching up with me, Sophie on her heels. We are all in our paint.

"What's with the pig head?" Sophie says.

"Jack's boys," I say. "Rachel's joined them...."

"Should we help him?" Allie asks.

"Well...." I mutter, thinking. "We probably should wake him up at least, he doesn't half to know it's us.... Then we should call an emergency meeting."

"Agreed," Sophie says. "I'll get some water."

***

I dash into the trees and watch with Allie and Alice waiting for Simon to come to. He doesn't move. I walk back into the clearing.

"Do you think something's wrong with him?" I ask. Thunder suddenly sounds. I look up for the first time noticing all the clouds. It's going to rain again.

"I don't know...." Alice says.

"Well, we can't leave him," Allie says.

"Should we take him to the other boys?" I ask.

"No way," Alice says.

"Well, we can't just stay with him until he wakes up," Allie says. Then we hear the emergency meeting call.

"We need to get going," I say. "Maybe we can take him with us...."

"Are you crazy?" Allie asks.

"We need to go...." Alice says. "Uh, I can't believe I'm saying this, but we probably should bring him."