Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter 28

Chapter TWENTY-EIGHT

Kyle

"I mean, are you sure this is going to work, Kyle?" Annoyed at his continuing questions, (but, really, his doubt in me) I look over and force myself to reassure him for -- I don't know -- like the 20th time, "Uhhh....yes....Jace. Would you just trust me, man, and do exactly what I say?"

I repeat to him, "And remember, do not say a word when we're in front of them; just look friggin' crazy, all right? Your accent will give you away in a second, and they'll remember you from the other day." This is only, oh i'd say, the fourth or fifth time I've had to remind him of this part of the plan. Jace looks a little nervous -- but shakes his head in the affirmative.

'Okay.....Here We Go!!'

The kids -- Leyla, Jack, Ryker, Heath and Hannah -- are all in place. Joshua is standing guard with Autumn at the edge of our camp (just in case), since the rest of our group are all still out scavenging and hunting.

I go through the final prank details one more time in my head, and I can't think of anything else I might have overlooked. I send a final, silent prayer to the trickster Loki from Norse mythology (who I dedicate each of my pranks to) 'Let us be cunning, swift and mischievous like you,' because it's game time!!

Jace and I sneakily begin our trek back to the stream, making sure to be as quiet as possible until we reach the group of intruders. Fortunately, they haven't moved very far from where we first heard them earlier this morning. They must have decided to a take break by the stream. (Lucky for us!)

I snake through the bushes and trees to get as close to them as I can without being noticed; Jace isn't far behind me. I pause and take a second to catch my breath. My palms are kind of sweaty and I've got that nervous, butterfly feeling in my stomach like when you're about to stand up and give a speech in front of a whole bunch of people, but you're winging it because you've stayed up the whole night before playing video games or something (or...maybe that's just me!) But, just as fast, an all-knowing calmness overtakes me.......ahhhh, the sweet anxiety of another prank in action, people!!

I look over at Jace and give him the signal. He nods back at me, and we both stand up simultaneously and very carefully slip our packs on. I take one last deep breath......SHOWTIME!!!!!

I change my expression into one of fear and we begin walking straight towards the group. They notice us within seconds, and one of them calls out, "Hey, there! What do we got here??? A couple of lost stragglers, eh?" Another voice -- this time from a girl -- "Looks like a pair of dirty, stray dogs, if you ask me. Where's the rest of your family, you mutts?" A few of them laugh out loud, while one of them makes barking noises.

I see Jace gritting his jaw in an effort to keep silent and I promptly jump in before he can break character, "Uhhh, hey.....hello,....you know, would you mind please letting us just pass through?" I feign a scared look as if something might pop out at any moment, and I continue, shakily, "We don't want any trouble; we're just trying to get as far away from here as possible." Jace follows my lead and looks around nervously and then puts his head down defeatedly, (a detail we worked out earlier for the effect and so that they don't get too close of a look at his face.)

I can tell they are surprised by our responses and are instantly wondering what we could be more afraid of than them. A tall, lanky guy with dreaded hair steps forward directly in front of me and Jace. I guess this must be the leader of this rowdy pack. He takes his time while he looks us up and down....slowly, carefully. His lip raises in disgust as he questions me, "What are you talking about, mongrel? And what in the hell is all over you guys?"