THEM: ARMAGEDDON (Book Three)

Chapter Five

     Rick moved quickly over the diverse terrain. He had made the trip so far from the bunker and learned the dangers that existed on the way. It was a bit of a dilemma whether it was better to face the danger you knew or go up against the danger you were not aware of.

     The terrain seemed to change by the day and it was getting increasingly more dangerous for humans to venture out. It was easy for him to sit back and watch the world burn and think of survival. He remembered the time when he was first truly alone. He would scavenge, hide, sleep during the day and move at night. The aliens were always around but he got very good at circumventing them.

     At first, Rick could think of nothing other than the moment. Survival and challenges came up and he faced them one by one. If he was hungry he searched for food, if he was thirsty he would find potable water. Someone came after him he ran and if he had to move, he would move. It was very east to focus on nothing more than these things. However, as he went and got better at it all it got easier to think of other things. He was surrounded by suffering and though he could probably help it was dangerous.

     As Rick got close to the bunker, he came across a gruesome sight. Even with all the chaos and damage the area had sustained, there was nothing more unmistakable than human blood. It was a splotch or two at first but as he went on, they got bigger and bigger. Whoever had been hurt was not able to stem it while he moved, and his blood betrayed him more and more by every step. 

     At first Rick's instinct was to ignore it and move to the bunker. However, he had done so much for the good of himself lately that he could allow for a bit of risk in the name of compassion. He kept his eyes and ears open as he moved, going along to find the source of the misplaced blood.

     Before long, Rick arrived at the mouth of a small cave. It looked like it once held a bear or something but all it had now were four survivors, one badly wounded.

"Thank goodness you have found us," a man, a civilian looked up. "We need your help."

"What happened?" Rick said as he crouched next to the wounded man.

"We were scouting out by the hillside," one of the people explained. "Some sort of alien hunter drone caught wind of us. It shot at us, but we managed to get under tree cover."

"Do you know if it is still in the area?" Rick asked.

"We have not seen it since yesterday," the survivor responded. "But Kyle here, he wont last long. We have done whatever we could to stop the bleeding, but we could only slow it down."

"Yeah," Rick agreed. "You get him back to the bunker within a couple hours they could be able to save him. Any longer, not so much."

"Will you help us take him?" the survivor asked. "He was the guide and we do not know the way. We can carry him if you lead us."

"A group of people carrying what is essentially a dead body?" Rick stated. "We would be sitting ducks if that drone was still out there."

"What is it you are suggesting?" the survivor asked. "That we just leave Kyle?"

"Well he's out already," Rick replied. "We could make him comfortable and make a break for it. He likely will not wake back up if not helped so he will die in peace. We will be able to move fast, and our chances are good."

"You would be okay with that?" the survivor scoffed, the others, seeming to share the sentiment. "Just leave Kyle to die while we save our skins. Is it not worth the risk for all of us to make it?"

     Rick sighed. He had made so many tough decisions lately, on one hand he had the message for the survivors that needed to be delivered. However, there were so many behind him that have had to be sacrificed. To risk now risked everyone. But when were too many sacrifices?

"All right we will take him," Rick said with a sigh. "I am sick of playing the law of averages game. However, you do what I say. We will put our lives on the line for him and get him as close as we can. However, if it gets to a point where we gotta save the group over him we will have to do that."

"That is fair," the survivor replied.

     The group got ready to go and Rick took them out of the cave. He knew the alien drone could be on them in a moment and was ready to do what had to be done. Though he had weapons and was experienced using them it would be hard while protecting the others. As much as he talked a big game it was a everyone or no one situation. If the group was so much as spotted even ditching Kyle might not save them. Rick lead them through the quickest and most efficient route back to the bunker, their only hope was to move as fast as they could and hope for some luck.

     Rick felt fear for one of the first times in awhile, he was used to detaching himself and not worrying but this time there were more stakes. Not jut the message for the other survivors but the lives that hung in the balance. As much as many people found fear as a nuisance, he was glad to feel it. It meant that he still had a soul, was not so detached that nothing mattered to him anymore. 

     When Rick got to the bunker and Kyle was put on a makeshift stretcher made of a drywall palette, he felt a feel of relief wash over him. The risk and the fear were the price and the relief that one more life had been saved was the reward. He had already made a lot of hard choices and there wore doubtless more to be made. But at least for now he could rest and feel good about this one.