Inquisition: Outbreak

Chapter 2: Firehawk

Charles was the first one to make it to shore, followed by Shaun. Charles was sitting on the ground, breathing heavily as he looked up to the sky and at the ridge. Shaun took his shirt off and wrung it out.

"Where's everyone else?" Shaun asked, also breathing heavily.

"Maybe further downshore, maybe the bottom of the river." Charles said between breaths.

"You getting too old for this?" Shaun asked, offering to help him up.

Charles smiled and nodded, grabbing Shaun's wrist and pulling himself up.

Down the river, Mason emerged from the rapids breathing heavily. He grabbed someone by the shirt, dragging them behind him. It was Austin, who was shivering from the cold water.

"You good, man?" Mason asked, coughing between words.

"I hate the cold." Austin shivered. He crossed his arms and then smiled as an idea popped into his head. He grabbed his flamethrower, which is surprisingly resistant to water, and switched it on. He very lightly squeezed the trigger, and rested his other hand over the flame. He let out a sigh, and turned it off after a few minutes. Mason was halfway up a tree, scouting the area. He dropped down next to Austin and began to talk, but stopped after he heard a noise. He grabbed his hatchets and slowly approached a tree. He heard a leaf crunch just around the tree, and lunged from behind cover and press the blade against the throat oh Shane Davies. Shane put his hands in the air and Mason sighed as he put his hatchets back down.

"Dammit, Shane. I taught you how to walk a little quieter didn't I?" Mason exclaimed.

Shane put his arms down. "At least you took my advice to wait a second before you cut someone's throat."

"Do you know where anyone else is?" Austin asked.

"No. But I have a few guesses."

"Do tell, checkers."

Shane sighed, and leaned against the tree. "Cyrus was wearing his suit. He probably sank to the bottom and got out a lot closer to the waterfall. Hopefully, if he's smart enough to wait for the team to find him."

"Well, half the team kind of hates him. Our half, specifically." Austin interrupted.

Shane disregarded his comment and kept talking. "Mark fell first, meaning he probably got caught in the rapids like us, and is further down the river. If there's another waterfall though..."

"He's dead."

"More than likely." Shane got off the tree, and checked his pistol. Loaded, and ready to fire. He, Austin, and Mason continued down the river bank towards the waterfall in hopes of finding Cyrus.

On the other side of the river, Jack pulled Alice out of the water and watched as Joshua pulled himself to the bank. They were all coughing and trying to catch their breath, shaking off the pain they sustained going through the rapids.

"This is somehow your fault" Jack said pointing at Joshua. Joshua sighed and didn't say anything back.

"Leave him alone Jack, he's been through enough." Alice said gently, laying back against a tree.

"Haven't we all?" Jack replied sternly. Nobody said anything else for a good minute while everyone caught their breath.

"What do you think happened to the others?" Joshua spoke up from the other end of the tree.

"They're all stubborn bastards, they just got out at different points. I'm sure we'll find them." Jack replied assuringly. He let out a sigh and slowly stood up, groaning. He reached down and placed a hand on his side, and felt the warmth of his blood cover his hand.