Orphan

Chapter 16 - Third Flag

Pain exploded across my face just as a cluster of arrows swept past. Whatever had hit me, had saved me. I turned to look and screamed.A boy with half his face missing, dozens of arrows sticking out of his body and clothes drenched in blood had saved me.I wanted to thank him, to save him, but there was nothing I could do. And smiling with her devilish smile was Zoe.She was staring at me. She was enjoying this. It was as if she had won the biggest award in her life."Not so easy now, is it?" she was taunting me. A fire ignited inside me. I turned and faced the other side, and using every muscle, I pulled at the grass, ripping it from the floor, and rolled forward. I was going to prove to her that I was going to make it to the other side.Pushing my hands against the floor, I stood up and ran just as another cluster of arrows blasted past me.Ow was I going to make it out of here? There was just no way I could do it, just as I passed another body, there was a twitch in a boy at the front, he had arrows sticking out of his arms, and he waved towards me.Taking a deep breath, I knew I shouldn't be doing this, but I used every ounce of courage I could muster and pushed against the floor step after step I moved towards the boys. I didn't know what had gotten into me, but if I could help anyone I had to do it.Skidding on the floor, dropping low, I turned to face the boy. "Are you okay?"The boy didn't reply. But I could tell that he was in pain, tears swept his eyes, as I grabbed onto his hand, his eyes winched as I wrapped his arms around my shoulders."We are going to be okay," I said, half believing it myself, I couldn't bear to tell him that it was going to be very hard to make it to the other end."What's your name?" Maria had always said to ask something that they could quickly reply to make them feel more relaxed."A...Adriel...""Adriel, can you still run? Can your feet still move?""I...I think so...""Good. Take a deep breath, I am going to lift you, and we are going to run as fast as we can to the bus."I couldn't believe what I was doing. I was scared, terrified, and didn't think there was any chance of us surviving, but for some reason, I felt that this was the right thing to do. Maria would do the same if she were in this situation. I knew I couldn't save them all, but if I could save even one, then it would great."Are you ready?""Y...Yes"Using all my strength, I pulled him up. The response was instant, two loud bangs erupted. Grabbing his hand, I pulled, and we bolted forward, I could feel the arrows cut my hair.We were going to survive. We were already halfway to the next flag.Arrows continued to dart from the river, snapping into the bodies of the children, but we were still managing to move.Focusing on the bus, we ran like mad, our breaths sharp and frantic, never enough. I could hear the loud thumps of footsteps, and ear-piercing screams of children before they dropped to the floor with a loud thud. I could even feel a bead of sweat roll down my forehead.Adriel dashed next to me, right on my heels, he hastened his steps, my hands holding onto his arm, and it jolted a memory, it was something Lisa had said to me, but I couldn't remember what it was.We passed the third flag.Adriel was moaning and slowing down."Adriel, just a bit more.""I...I can't....do it..."He was slowing down. His hands were pulling me down. I pulled against him trying to make him move.Schhwaff!"Duck" Adriel must have heard me because the arrows darted passed us.Schhwaff!It was not over yet. I turned to the right, but there was nothing there.Thud! Thud!Warmblood splashed onto my face, his body crashed into me, the weight propelling me sideways. I fell, slamming my arms against the floor. Adriel was dead.