An instinct to survive

Chapter Four

The searing heat cast from the sun and the lack of water was taking it's toll, my mouth was dry and rough as sandpaper.

We had been walking for hours or was it minutes? I can't tell anymore.

We were surrounded by dry dirt and few houses.

One pine forest was a few hundred metres away but was going in the opposite direction we were going.

I stumbled to catch up with the men as that marched across the plains like it was a literal stroll through the park.

"Luke! We need to take a brake!" Nick ordered seeing as I was struggling.

"We take a brake when I say so! Keep marching!"

"Stubborn prick." Nick mumbled under his breath

I was to exhausted to laugh though I found it funny.

Nick called out at him again but the constant throbbing in my skull forbade me to listen.

My breath was short and sharp and I treasured every breath like it was my last.

My whole body ached and throbed with every move.

My legs became weak as I staggered along the invisible path.

"Nick..." I whisper.

"Yeah?" his eyes met with mine. A flash of worry sliped across them.

"Where are we going?" I pushed for the words to come out.

"Sorry Love, but I can't tell you that."

Then the most embarrassing thing happened.

I snatched a quick breath and as I did my legs gave up.

I fell to the ground letting it consume me.

"LUKE!!!" Nick cried.

My eyes closed and the dirt became my pillow.

**********

I felt a cool sensation cascade down onto my face making me stir in my slumber.

"ARA!!" Nick's voice shot through my body like an electrical current waking me up instantly.

My eyes shot open to be met with a familiar pair of green ones.

He smiled down at me "Ara, eh?" He whispers, followed by a wink.

"Shes alright, just a bit of dehydration." his voice informative without a hint of relief unlike Nick and Ben who's heart rate was probably in the thousands.

Nick playfully shoved Luke out of the way to help me up.

"What do you need!? Water, food, hugs!!" He cried and buzzed around so fast you would of thought he was Sonic the hedgehog.

"I'm fine just need to catch my breath." I weakly whisper.

Nick smiled softly handed me a drink bottle and turned towards Lucas.

"This wouldn't of happened if you just let her have a quick brake when I asked first!" He wailed pointing his fingure angrily.

"Nick calm down I'm fine now-" I calmly protested before Luke cut me off.

"Shut up Nick! She's our prisoner remember! Our world doesn't revolve around her, besides she just said she was fine!" Lucas spat back at him.

"GUYS!!!" Ben shouted causing the convosation to hit a speed bump and everyone's heads to snap in that's direction "They're close." he whispers in a deadly serious tone.