READY, AIM, FIRE [B.BLAKE]

CHAPTER SEVEN

Bellamy, Atom, Charlotte, and Hazel had been walking around the woods for about half an hour, looking for an animal that they could hunt for the camp. To pass time, Hazel pointed out different plants and flowers to Charlotte, who seemed genuinely interested in the topic.

       She picked a few to keep for Jasper.

       "Do the plants help him?" Charlotte asked.

       "They ease his pain, so yes," Hazel answered. "It's not like it's proper medicine, but it's the best we can do until the Ark comes down with our doctors."

       Bellamy, who was walking a couple paces ahead of the girls, stiffened.

       "Is he dying?" Charlotte asked next.

       "Yes," Hazel sighed, and Charlotte looked up at her in surprise. "But there's still hope for him. We won't stop trying."

All of a sudden, a loud horn bellowed into the air. The group halted, and Atom, who was walking ahead with Bellamy, frowned at the sky, "What was that? Grounders?"

No one answered. Their eyes were focused on the thick yellow fog seeping its way towards them at a rapid rate. Bellamy was the first to collect his wits and shouted, "run! Come on, there are caves this way!"

The horn continued to sound in the distance, and Hazel's heartbeat quickened as she ran through the trees, following after Bellamy's figure. Charlotte tripped on a stone, and Hazel turned around, pulling her up. The fog nipped at her hands and Hazel let out a wail, "its acid!"

"Hazel!" Atom yelled, and Hazel turned to see Atom being engulfed by the fog, screaming as he fell to his knees. Charlotte continued to run to the caves, leaving Hazel.

She was about to run for Atom when a rough hand gripped her arm and Bellamy pulled her back. Hazel struggled against his strength, "no, Bellamy! Atom's—"

"There's nothing we can do!"

Hazel ripped her arm from Bellamy's grasp and ran towards Atom, but the fog was quicker than she was and wrapped itself around Hazel. The brunette screamed and squeezed her eyes shut as the fog burned her skin—she was on fire.