Stitched Up Hearts (HIATUS/POSSIBLY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 12-Brick By Brick

(( Hello guys! I missed you-just wanted to tell you that ^.^))

North America, Area 1, 9:23 am October 14

The last thing I ever thought I'd be doing in life is crashing through a forest on a recon mission with half my band, another band member and a fan-newly-turned-girlfriend. Something bit me and I slapped at it-a mosquito, I realized, and a big one at that.

"Are you sure they'll be okay back there," Jen inquired anxiously.

"Yeah, positively sure. They are in good hands I'm sure," I assured her, keeping my gaze straight ahead.

"Yeah I wouldn't worry. John may be a fluffy marshmallow on the inside, but when he's protecting someone-especially Korey and the kids-you better run," Seth chimed in.

The sound of footsteps filled the following silence. In the distance, the sounds of a ruined city came through the shrubbery. Crowds speaking, walking-I even heard a few babies cry. In spite of the beautiful strong forest scents comprised of pine and mist, a sharp metallic smell and taste also resided in the air.

Almost there.

"We are getting close," I announced as I moved a thorn branch away for everyone to pass, "Just another few minutes.

Jen swatted the air around her as she mumbled, "Just closer to our deaths, I'm sure."

"No. Not if we do this right."

"Really? His guards are trained, what match are we against them," she questioned, pulling her blanket tighter around her.

"We overpowered them last night didn't we," I responded, stopping to turn and face her.

"Well, yes," she muttered, "But should we really be doing this the day after?"

"Sooner the better. Who knows how many others he's gotten."

With that, I resumed leading our little group through the woods.

Eventually the trees became farther apart, the fence surrounding the city coming into plain view. A few charred cars leaned against it, still somewhat smoking. Farther in, everything was just like them-burned, bloody; you name it, it was damaged.

People walked on foot now, against this dismal backdrop-even the sun hid behind the thick clouds.

Many donned their sneakers, even those in professional attire. Chatter filled the air as theories, gossip and grave news rippled through the crowds like a choppy river.

We continued on, slipping through the fence quietly the same way we got out the night before. Blending with the crowd easily, there'd be no problem with being spotted.

This was no longer the place full of anticipation and a buzz for life.

Now there was just fragile strands of hope as people rushed by, desperate to just rebuild.

"This is seriously depressing," Jen mumbled quietly, her eyes trained on a mother trying to calm her frantic infant.

"C'mon," CC said, his anger evident, "We need to take this guy down and right now!"

He plunged through the crowd, Jake, Jinxx, Seth, Jen and I on his heels.

"CC wait," Jen called, "Wait! We need a plan!"

He didn't respond. He kept on, blindly pushing through people, forcing us to follow.

"How easy does he find it to hurt people," Jen asked breathlessly, dodging a stroller, "Like on a scale of one to ten, what are his psychopathic tendencies."