Surviving

Chapter 19

We had been walking for about fifteen minutes. I looked around, and it seemed as if nobody was expecting anyone to try anything. This was the time to put my plan into action.

"'Scuse me?" I said to one of the armed men. "I need to go to the bathroom. Like, right now."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"I need to go too, if you don't mind," Ingrid interjected. I turned to look at her.

"Does anybody else want to join the bathroom train?" the guy called out, exasperated.

"I do," Hayden piped up, and she fought her way to us.

"Fine." The guy spoke to his friends and got everybody to stop within a few minutes.

"You three have ten minutes to do what you need to do and get back here. If you aren't back by then we'll come find you," another guy directed us.

We got far enough into the woods that we could no longer see nor hear anyone and stopped.

"We're y'all able to hide the weapons?" I asked.

"Yes, and I know exactly where they are." Ingrid smiled.

"Let's go." I took off running, and the followed.

It took about five minutes to reach our abandoned village. Ingrid took the lead, taking us to a small hut that had been used for storing dead animals, and reeked of it, too. After a great deal of digging, Ingrid pulled out three handguns, handing Hayden and I each one and keeping the final for herself.

"You sure they'll work?" I dusted my gun off.

"Oh, no, she just gave you a fully loaded fake gun." Hayden rolled her eyes. "Let's get going. Show these people what a rebellion looks like!"

We took off again, and were soon behind the group. I looked at Hayden and Ingrid as we drew our weapons, raising them at the armed men. It seemed as if instantaneously they had theirs pointed at us.

"Put your guns down!" one of the men yelled.

"Make us!" I returned. "I didn't get a day earlier, so I'm gonna have my day now! And we're not gonna give into you that easily!"

"Put your guns down or else we'll shoot!" People we're starting to watch now, intrigued by our little rebellion.

"And we'll just return the fire!" Out of the corner of my eye I saw Hayden shift uncomfortably. My own pulse was racing. Surprisingly, good-girl Ingrid appeared to be tough as nails.

The small crowd began to shift, and Travis began to emerge.

"You're gonna drop your weapons!" He pushed himself through the crowd, dragging someone with him. A little girl. He pulled the girl in front of him and pulled out his own gun. "You're gonna drop your guns or I'll shoot the girl!"

I looked at him, but his face was emotionless besides a glint of insanity in his eyes. The face of a killer. He wasn't joking.

"You're a monster! There's no way you'd shoot a child!" Hayden yelled.

"Oh yes, I would. Now drop the guns or else I'll shoot her in the leg. Then it's the head." He smiled with malice. The little girl started to whimper and was quickly shushed. But, her panic stricken face and trembling body tore at my insides.

I threw my gun down and looked at the others who, after giving me a questioning look, threw theirs down as well.

"Kick then towards us."

We did as Travis said, kicking the guns towards the men. They quickly grabbed them and put them away. We were beckoned back into the group and, before long, moving again. But, this time one thing was different: a gun was constantly trained at the three of us.