A Time To Rise

Chapter 11

The shoe whizzes through the air and splinters the bark enough for the wire to slide out. All at once, the admiral screams fire, Zane dives away from the log as it gets riddled with bullets. We race over to our weapons and scoop them up. I slide my knife into my back pocket and get my water bottle. The soldiers are in absolute turmoil. Catherine slits the wire around Zane's wrists and we go, into the heart of the forest as dawn breaks. I can still hear the admiral trying to maintain order.

The sun beams down on us through the canopy of leaves. We left the heart of the forest a few hours ago and we are now on the other side of the forest. My stomach lets loose a long, strangled growl notifying me that it's lunchtime.

"Can we eat yet?" I ask no-one in particular. Zane nods his head and slows his stride down. I glance around for a tree to climb, to check the perimeter. I spot one and walk up to it, scanning the tree for branches to climb on. I take a few steps back and sprint towards the tree, I place my foot onto the tree and push off, grabbing the branch above my head. I feel the muscles in my arms and shoulders flex as I heave my weight onto the tree branch, wincing as the branch creaks beneath my weight. I continue up the tree, climbing up the branches to reach a suitable height. My head pokes out from the last leaves of the tree and I twist around to scan the perimeter for soldiers. Nothing. I climb back down the tree and stand next to Zane.

"So, what are we going to eat?"

"See that fruit at the top of the tree over there," Zane says as he points to the tree a few steps away from us. "Go climb it and grab as much food as you can."

I walk over to the tree and climb to the top. My muscles are still tense from this morning and the water in my water bottle is running out. The fruit slightly squishes in my hand as I pluck it from the branch. This is strange fruit. I pluck another few pieces of fruit from the tree. Ahh, now how do I get down from here? I look at the branch that stretches out below me. It looks straight enough, if I jump at certain angle I can land on the branch......nope that won't work. I pile the fruit onto my right hand and push it against my stomach so the fruit won't fall out. I squat on the branch and with one hand on it and then I jump off it. The wind hits my face as stand on another branch with the fruit pressed against my body, observing the rest of the tree. It looks climbable with one arm. I start to climb down the tree.

"How many did you get?"

"Enough for lunch and possibly dinner?" I have no idea.

"Catherine is up the tree getting more so we should have enough to avoid starvation for a while."

"Ok. We should probably find some water."

"Agreed."

I feel the cold, dense fingers of night press against the skin on the back of my neck as I sit next to a small fire. After a long debate, we decided to risk it and light a fire.

"So.....where are we going?" Zane asks.

"We are going to......." Catherine starts too say until I kick her.

"Catherine, can I speak to you for a moment. In private?" I stand up and walk away from the fire. When I am sure we are out of Zane's hearing range, I turn to Catherine, who followed.

"What do you think you are doing! We haven't even known this guy for a day and you are willing to trust him with our lives and the lives of everyone in the resistance! What has gotten into you!"

"Just because I am more trusting than you doesn't mean I am wrong! Zane saved our lives and he also didn't betray us at any given point in time. You should have a little faith."

And with that Catherine turns and storms back to the campsight. Perfect. I head back to the campsite myself. Maybe I will take a leap of faith and trust Zane.

I feel myself go airborn, flying across the road at a tremendous speed. I get ready for impact as I see the next house approaching. The wind whistles in my ears and I start to panic. The wall gets nearer, and nearer and nearer.....I sit up as fast as a bullet, breathing heavily. I don't know what I'm more shaken up about. The fact that the dream was intense or the fact that the dream changed. I see Zane sitting next to the campfire, sharpening a stick with his knife. I lie back down and stare at the dark leaves. I can't see the sky through the masses of leaves so we must be somewhere in the middle of the forest. My eyes start to droop and I feel myself drifting back to sleep as a dark shape passes over me. A minute later another dark shape passes over me. I slide my hand into my back pocket slowly bring out my knife. The hilt feels cold and deadly in my hand. I roll onto my side and hide the knife hoping those shadows aren't what I think they are. I hear a light thud on the dirt behind my and I shut my eyes and pretend to sleep. The footsteps come closer.