Whatever It Takes: Mutations

Chapter Twenty-Five

WARNING: MORE INTENSE LANGUAGE!

Stand Your Ground

October 4th, 6:27 pm

Current Location: Bartlett, TN
------------------------------------
After running over countless Gouls and Regulars, we made it to the camp with exactly three minutes to spare. It was getting darker by the minute, and my heart wouldn't slow down.

I ran up to the security guard station, but strangely nobody was even in there. Nevertheless, we went on ahead.

"Bryan!" I called out. Nearby the main office area, a crowd was gathering, but I couldn't make out what it was about. Pushing through it, I saw three teenagers standing in the middle of all of it. One looked vaguely familiar.

"Listen to me!" the boy said. "The camp is going to be attacked soon! If we don't do anything about it, we'll lose the only place where we feel safe!"

The crowd showed unease, but one man that looked in his forties argued back. "You're bluffing! How do you know about this?!"

The boy hesitated, and it hit me then. It was Bryan. Then, a girl with long blond hair, who I assumed was Amelia, spoke up. "He's not bluffing! If you really care about this place, then you'd fight back!"

The gathered crowd showed more disagreement. That's when I stepped in, more for his sake. "Guys! My name is Jeremy Mills, and people have told me that-"

Navarez's radio went off loudly, and I knew then that it was too late. Six-thirty had come too soon.

He stepped up into where I was standing and pulled out a badge that showed his Air Force authority. People gasped in surprise. "I am General Jordan Navarez of the United States Air Force, and I order each of you to listen to them. I know for a fact that this camp is going to be attacked in a span of pure minutes. Raiders will invade this camp, and you have two options."

He looked at me, then I looked at Bryan who gave me a kind and appreciative smile. I cleared my throat. "You either cower for your life..."

"Or fight for the place that saved your life!" Bryan exclaimed, throwing his fist into the air.

The crowd was silent for a few seconds, then the man that argued against Bryan cleared his voice. "He's right! We need to fight back to save this camp! Who's with us?!"

They suddenly roared with cheer, and that was when we began to assemble the resistance.

--------------------------

"Hey, Jeremy," someone said as I was walking towards the office.

Bryan stopped in front of me and took a deep breath. "Thanks for coming, man. How did you hear about the attack?"

I gently grabbed my chest. "You don't wanna know. It's a very long story, but I'm glad you're safe. When this is over, we've got a lot to catch up on, y'know."

Of course, as we were shaking hands, the alarm sounded, and soldiers began loading up their guns.

Bryan turned to me once again. "Ready to do this?"

I smiled, trying to hide my nervousness. "More ready than I'll ever be. Let's go."

We met up with Dad and Navarez, who were gathering the kids in a safe place. I asked Dad, "Do you want me to stay with the kids?"

"No, some of the residents here are watching over them," he answered. "Stay with us, alright?"

I nodded and stood beside Bryan and Dad, waiting for something to happen. I felt my knife in my pocket, and I pulled it out to open.