It's a Big World After All

Chapter Two

Ravyn purposefully turned her attention back to the window again. She was aware of the girls nearby watching her with curiosity and confusion, and now a bit of surprise.

Stay calm, dammit. You'll only make it worse if you panic. You don't even know if they're here for you, really... They've got no reason to come now, of all times. Oh, what the hell. Just chill, just chill... Ravyn ranted in her head as she watched the black specks growing larger and larger in the sky.

"Um..." Lia and Alice exchanged a look. "Is everything cool here? 'Cause, I'm confused." Lia added with a half-hearted laugh.

Ravyn didn't answer. She was watching the three black objects in the sky; objects which were now close enough for Ravyn to make out exactly what they were.

"Scouters..." She breathed.

"Huh? What was that?" Alice leaned over to look out Ravyn's window, curious as to what it was that had caught the girl's attention. "Oh hey, look. Fighter planes."

Ravyn blinked once then turned to face the blonde girl, who was smiling as she gazed at the sky. "Fighter planes? Alice, have you seen a fighter plane before?"

Alice laughed, "Um yeah, like in the movies-"

"Does that," Ravyn jerked her head towards the window, "really look like a fighter plane to you?" She asked incredulously.

Alice tilted her head to the side a little. "Oh, well, now that they're closer," she added with a laugh, "They kinda look more like those Star Wars things that fly - you know, the triangles ones?"

Ravyn let out a breath. Well, I guess that's somewhat closer than 'fighter planes.'

The aircraft approaching them were known as scouters, and they resembled something of the paper planes one would make in primary school; the shorter kind with the wide, flat wings. They were triangular in shape, and shorter in length than a fighter plane - indeed, probably closer to the length of a starfighter off of Star Wars. However, their wings spread out further and wider, giving them much more surface area than the wings of either a fighter plane or Star Wars starfighter.

These scouters were completely black in colour, with a distinct orange stripe spanning along each aircraft's left wing. For a moment, Ravyn wondered why they weren't cloaked. Then realised, with a chill, that obviously they intended on being seen.

As the scouters drew near, they suddenly broke formation and began systematically circling the area around the bus. They reminded Ravyn of vultures, waiting to swoop down on their prey.

Ravyn turned her head to look up and down the highway on which they drove. There was next to no traffic, with only the occasional car having passed by at times. The surrounding land was relatively open.

Most of the students on the bus had now noticed the strange aircraft flying around overhead. Heads were turned to the windows, and lively, curious talk spread throughout the small bus.

There were thirteen people in total - not including Ravyn - on the bus. Thirteen people. Three Atrox scouters. Ravyn glanced down at the school bag sitting at her feet. And only one pistol, one knife.

Ravyn noticed the card still gripped in her hand. She wanted to call Chase. She needed to call someone. But she couldn't. Not now. The scouters above were clearly watching them, and they were close enough to pick up her signal if she tried to call out. They would know she's calling for backup. It would push them to take action.

Better to sit quiet and wait. The others may already be on their way. After all, this was Earth - three scouters wouldn't so easily get by the radar unnoticed.