Cold

Chapter Thirteen

I kept walking. The stars were out, it was the middle of the night. I was tired, exhausted even. But I didn't care. I wanted to keep walking.

Summer.

I need this. Maybe Von's judgmentally disbelieving question was right. I am not the victim. Just a dog caught in a cat and mouse chase. Just an orange flower in a field of pink roses and purple violets. Alone, fighting to survive in a world I didn't even recognise once I knew everything it has to offer. I hadn't even realized where I was walking when I fell into a ditch. My leg hurt more then it ever did before. I tried to stand but I fell back down. My leg feels like it's broken.

"HELP" I shouted, not even expecting anyone to be there. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, it started raining.

"HELP!!! PLEASE!!!" I yelled. I was getting wetter and wetter by the second.

Summer please listen to me.

I started dosing off. I tried to keep my eyes open, but with hypothermia creeping up behind me and exhaustion breathing down my spine, I had no choice but to close my eyes for a few seconds.

***

I was running. Soldiers running behind me.

"CATCH HER"

"DON'T LET HER GET TO THE GORGE"

"SOMEONE STOP HER"

I ran until I got to a large opening in the earth. A huge crack with no light, no way out if you fell in. I turned around. I was trapped. It's either letting myself get captured or jumping. I turned back round and jumped into the darkness. I landed in my feet, breaking all my bones upon landing. My screams of pain echoing. They attracted a group of people who had torches. They were dressed in rags and towels. One picked me up. Her face looked familiar yet unrecognizable.

"It's ok. You're safe now" was all I heard before I passed out.

***

I was dreaming. I realized that as soon as I woke up in a bed. It was fairly comfy, but the pillow felt like a rock. I sat up and noticed my leg was wrapped in gauze, and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. They weren't my clothes. I tried standing, but my leg hurt too much. I led out a cry of pain and heard someone running up stairs. The door to the room flung open, and there was a man standing there. He was an African-American with long black locks and eyes so blue they looked like the ocean was trapped in them.

"You ok?" he asked. He had a bit of an accent.

"Yea. Um....who are you?" I asked.

"My name is West. I found you in a ditch so I brought you to my house and cleaned you up. I am into men so you don't have to worry about me doing anything, and I treated your wound for you. Does that answer all your questions?!?" he said.

"Yes, I guess so. But what about my friends? If they discover I'm gone -"

"Don't worry. I sent my friends to look for them. We know what they look like since you guys are on wanted posters everywhere. But I assure you, you are safe here" said West.

"Why are we on wanted posters?!?" I asked.

"The mountain has soldiers who think you are linked to the devil spawn herself, as you were found lying in grass atop the mountain" said West. "Now, enough of questions for one day. Perhaps you would like to meet my friends? They should be back by now with your friends." West walked over to me and helped me to stand. He helped me all the way down the stairs and out the front door.

"SUMMER!!!" Ariel and Justin ran up to me and practically jumped on me, knocking me to the ground. Von walked up to me and gave me a pat on the back.

"You've been gone for days. We thought you left us" he said. I saw Seth standing next to a tall guy. Seth looked all better but he kept his distance.

"Seth -" I started. He walked away before I could finish, and Ariel ran to follow him.

"I better go make sure they come back" said Von as he left. Justin helped me to my feet.

"Who's that guy?" he asked, pointing to West.

"That's West. West, this is Justin" I said. West and Justin waved at each other.

"I want you to meet my friends" said West. He walked over to a group of men. "This is Pablo. He's the smart one. He's also our hacker, and keeps our weapons safe." West pointed to a guy wearing glasses.

"This is Drey" said West, pointing to a guy with a pink mohawk. "He's a bit of a pervert, but he makes up for it with his excellent shooting and fighting skills."

West pointed to a guy with a pony tail and a goti. "This is my partner, Reed. He's second in command and also fantastic at spying on people, and sneaking into places."

West pointed to the last guy. He looked oddly familiar. "This is Bullet. We call him that because no one knows his name. He doesn't talk but he's fast as a bullet, hence the name."

West walked over to Justin and I. "What are your names again?" he asked.

"I'm Summer, and this is Justin" I answered. When I said that, Bullet walked up to me and touched my face. I flinched and moved back. He touched my face again.

"What -" I started but I was interrupted by the sound of an alarm.

"We have to go. Bullet, go find the three that walked off. Reed and Pablo, take these guys into the underground tunnels to our secret hide out. Drey, come with me" said West as him and Drey ran to a house a few feet from where we were. Pablo picked me up, and Reed grabbed Justin's hand. They brought us into the house I woke up in and into the basement. Pablo put me down and walked over to a bookcase and pushed it to the right. He picked me up again, and the four of us ran into a dark tunnel, escaping the gun shots and screaming men.

***

"How dare you lie to Summer. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves the truth and you know it. How could you?!?"

I did it to protect her. If she knew the truth about everything, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

"Exactly. Because I wouldn't need to yell at you for trying to hide -"

ENOUGH!!! I told you once before, and I'll tell you again. Summer is the key to everything. If we let this one go, we might never get another chance to destroy everything. This earth must go, and she can help. That is why we keep our true plans a secret. Do you understand?

"But the truth is just as important. She needs to know -"

I said do you understand, Seth?!?

"Fine. But don't expect my sister to agree"

She doesn't have to. All I need is you since you can get close to Summer without her being suspicious of our plans.

"About that..... I sort of told her that we have been working together this whole time"

That's ok. As long as she doesn't know the whole truth, we should be fine. Now, go find Summer, and do what you must to make her a suitable host for my spirit. I shall be waiting. If I find out you tried to keep her out of this again, I will find your sister and force her to kill you. Do I make myself clear?

"Crystal clear"

Good. Now let the plan begin.