notion • john murphy

31 - CAPTURE

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"Pike's detail is still at it." Sayah heard Octavia mutter into the earpiece as she watched Hannah and two other men stand with her at the river. "Collecting soil and water samples."

"Any idea what they're up to?" Kane's voice crackled in return.

"No, but considering how heavily they're armed, I don't think they want anyone to find out." Sayah whispered into her own earpiece. As she looked up, she spotted a figure walking through the water.

"Oh no."

"Crap." Octavia said at the same time.

"What is it?" Kane whispered.

"There's a Grounder kid. Hang on." Octavia replied. Sayah swallowing the lump forming in her throat.

They watched as Hannah and the two other men noticed the boy. Hannah then called out to him. "Hello there." The boy stopped.

"Don't be scared." Hannah told him. Sayah scoffed quietly at her words.

"We can't let him go." One of Pike's men, Shawn, said. "He'll tell his people he saw us."

"Octavia, Sayah, please respond." Kane's voice whispered.

"Hannah." Shawn warned. After a moment, it was silent. Then Sayah watched as Hannah turned to the men and nodded. They lifted their guns as the boy sprinted away.

"Fan out. With me." Hannah ordered as they began to chase the boy.

"Let's move." Sayah got up and jumped over the log they were hiding behind, ignoring Kane's questioning in their ear.

"They're going after the kid. We're trying to cut them off." Octavia explained as she and Sayah sprinted.

Suddenly, as they hid, they heard footsteps approach them. It was the boy. Both girls grabbed him and pulled him down towards them. Octavia covered his mouth with one hand. The boy struggled as the trio hid behind a tree trunk. Sayah brought a finger to her lips as she met eyes with the boy. The boy went silent.

They heard panting and footsteps pass them and Sayah held her breath.

"We lost him." One voice said.

"Double back towards the river." Sayah heard Hannah order. "He can't have gotten far." Sayah sighed in relief as she heard them disperse. But Hannah was still near.

Why wasn't she leaving?

Sayah watched as a toxic drop of tree sap fell onto Octavia's forehead. Octavia hissed loudly and Sayah flinched. Just before another drop fell, Sayah reached out her hand and caught it. She ignored the intense burning, closing her eyes with a wince.

Hannah was closer down.

Another drop, another catch, another wince.

Then finally, what felt like years, Hannah ran the other way. Sayah let out a sigh as the boy rushed out of Octavia's arms. Both girls called out to him but he was gone.