A Field Of Flowers

Gracie

Sometimes I wish I was born human but sometimes I'm glad I'm not. Grass isn't greener on the other side.

I felt myself smile against Abie's chest, watching the clouds that looked painted on above our heads float by. We had been lying in the fields for at least an hour now and I never wanted to get up. How could I? I look to my left and I can't help but feel complete in one way of another. My friends are quietly talking amongst themselves but also gazing in childlike interest at the clouds above moving so leisurely.

Nothing could ruin this, I decided. Nothing at all.

Alice was curled up under a tree, reading. Next to her was Skylar who appeared to be half asleep. I smiled at the blonde haired girl who giggled, a reddish tint dusting her cheeks.

She was nothing short of beautiful yet I loved Abie and nothing was going to change that. Near Grace and I, Zak and Sophie along with Jesse, Kayla and Libby were playing a card game, most likely 'Go Fish' since that's pretty much the only thing we ever played.

"Where are Tyler and Oliver," Abie questioned softly, bright coffee eyes looking up as she waited for someone to answer.

"They went to the swing at the opposite end of the field," Abie nodded.

"And Riley," I smiled, sitting up to look around the field.

"He went with them," I told her, pecking her on the cheek before standing up. I didn't see Carson or Megan anywhere.

"Carson and Megan are picking cherries with Trinity near the swing," Alice piped up, noticing the searching look on my face. "I'll go get them, it's time to eat anyways." She set her book down and walked away to get the others.

Skylar woke up, head lolling back on the tree before stretching.
"Good nap Sky?" He rolled his eyes, a smile on his face.
"Yeah, yeah shut up Ace." Abie pouted up at him, fluffy wolf ears flattening against her head.
"Don't call me Ace!" Skylar chuckled at the wolf , ignoring her.

"What the hell, how did Kayla win again," Zak scowled, annoyed by the outcome. He threw his cards down on the ground, glaring at Kayla who grinned, showing no remorse for the other.
"It's only skill," she teased, tail swishing forward back and forth happily.

"Help, guys help!" Riley ran over to us, a look on his face and in his eyes that could be described as terrified.

"Riley, what happened," Skylar asked, eyes creasing with worry.

"Oliver and Tyler were taken, Trinity too!" And at those words, a hushed silence fell over the rest of us. I saw Riley stumble, nearly falling forward until Jesse reached out to steady him.

"Wait, your kidding right," Abie asked, softly. Her eyes filled with a slight anxiousness and that's when we saw that the once blue sky was turning back.

Libby whimpered, rubbing over to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. Sophie took Zak's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"No! They were taken!" Riley repeated, face contorting as he swayed, then dropped. Jesse jumped up, catching Riley before he could fall to the ground completely and there was a chorus of gasps. Riley was out cold.

"Riley?! Riley?!" Jesse yelled, attempting to shake him awake, the others head bobbing back almost as if he were dead. Sophie jumped up, Zak following suit.

"Let's go get th-" Sophie's eyes widened, turning still, and then collapsed to the ground in a heap.

"Sophie!" I screamed, shaking in fear. Zak bent down to see what had happened, freezing on the spot.

"Zak help her!" Kayla exclaimed when Zak didn't move.

"She's been tranquilized," Libby started to cry, tears streaming down her face.

"Run, we have to run!" Skylar yelled, running in the direction of the entrance of the field. Jesse adjusted Riley in his arms, holding him bridal style as he ran. Zak picked up Sophie and did the same with her, following Skylar and Jesse. I didn't even realize I was running until I stopped, watching my little sister fall to the ground, a dart in her side. I began sobbing and unable to move, I stood in place.

Abie yelled at me to keep going but I just couldn't. I wiped my eyes, trying to see through my tears.  I have to get to her and escape; we're in danger! When I could finally see, I wished I couldn't.

Abie was sprawled out on her back, a dart in the back of her thigh. She was unmoving, frozen like stone. I wanted to puke. I wanted to scream.

I forgot how to operate. How do I move my feet?

Farther away, Jesse and Zak were out. Like burnt out lamps. Skylar and Kayla kept running, yet slowly losing speed. Maybe getting tired. "Go, run!" I called to them. "Get help!"

Kayla was jerked back from the entrance, tumbling to the ground. She got up again, trying to leave but something hit her and she fell face first into the soft Earth. When I looked up at the entrance again, I saw Skylar running with all he could but before I could yell out to him, my vision began to swim.

A pain erupted in the side of my neck oh no.. I thought, feeling myself falling. It was as if someone had pressed the slow mo feature on a camera as I fell.

I had been hit by a tranquilizer dart.

My body was too heavy to yearn upward, so alas I slipped into the darkness behind my eyelids.
"Please.. no."

Maybe grass is greener on the other side.