Survival Mode

Chapter Sixteen (Part One)

Six Years Ago

Kate ran as fast as her legs could carry her out of the abusive foster home. Damien the owner, stood in the doorway angrily. "Kate Young, you get back here immediately or so help me I will summon the police!"

She turned to looked behind her and chuckled heartily. There was no way Kate would return - whether Damien threatened her or not. She looked ahead to see Kwazii, her twin brother, was already a little ways ahead. Kate turned herhead around again to see if Damien was chasing after her. He wasn't. Thankfully. But as Kate turned again she crashed to the ground and cried out as soon as she heard a loud pop.

Kate sat up crying out with agony. She held her shoulder which was paining her. Tears began to slide down her cheeks. She looked ahead to see her brother slowly disappearing from sight. "Kwazii!", she cried out to him. He did not respond. "Kwazii! Stop! Come back! I'm injured!" However he could not hear her. Kate cried out once again, "KWAZII!"

He was too far away to hear her now. Kate began to sob quietly and let out a sigh. Suddenly someone touched her shoulder and she shrieked, thinking it was Damien. Kate flailed her good arm trying to shove the person away from her who was now bending down in front of her. "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"No stop!" A soothing Hispanic or Mexican voice - she could not decipher which - said to her. "You will only make the pain worse. I'm not here to hurt you. Let me examine your shoulder...please..."

Kate opened her eyes and stared in to the brown ones belonging to the teenager bent down in front of her. He didn't appear much older than her. Kate nodded her head to the boy and he began to examine her injured shoulder. Moments later he let out a sigh and nodded his head. "You dislocated your shoulder when you fell."

"What do you suppose we do about it?", Kate asked the teenage boy as he suddenly grabbed hold of her arm tightly and appeared to be preparing himself for something. Kate looked at him - frightened - and spoke slowly, "What are you doing?"

The young boy looked at her sympathetically. "I apologize. This is going to hurt." He suddenly pulled her arm as hard as he could and she screamed in agony as there was a loud pop. The teenage boy let out a sigh and began to rub her back. "Hey...hey...it's okay. It's over now. Don't try to react to the pain...it only makes it worse... Stay calm and it will slowly soothe... What's your name? Mine is Peso."

Kate looked at the boy with tears streaming down her cheeks. She sniffed and wiped at her tears. "Kate," she replied quietly to the teenage boy, "my name is Kate Young."

Peso smiled at her and stood up from his spot on the ground. He extended his hand out to her and she took hold of it willingly. Peso then pulled her up gingerly. Kate began to flex her shoulder carefully. "So...", Peso began, "why are you out here in the middle of no where?"

"That is a terrific question that I don't have an answer to," Kate responded quickly with a smile. Peso looked at her - confused - but then smiled and chuckled along with her. "What about you? Why are you out here?", Kate questioned him.

The laughing immediately stopped. Peso let out a sigh and lowered his head. "I uh - I'm on the run to Crystal Lake. People have invaded my village and are taking my people as slaves... The children in my village refer to them as 'the Locos'. My mother told me to run and meet her in a week at Crystal Lake..."

Kate looked at Peso sadly. "Oh...I am terribly sorry to hear your people are being taken and sold as slaves... That's inhuman you know. Sick, actually... Anyways... Would you say Crystal Lake is some what safe haven?"

A smirk appeared upon Peso's face and he chuckled ever so slightly. "Let me guess. You are on the the run as well aren't you? You are more than welcome to join me on my journey there Kate."

"Thank you...for everything you have done," Kate replied to him with a smile. "Before I tag along with you on your journey to Crystal Lake...my twin brother is a little ways ahead of us. Do you think he would want to come with us?"

"I don't see why not. Let's go." Peso and Kate took off running in the direction of Kwazii. Soon enough Kate recognized the tall figure with auburn / orange hair a little ways ahead of them.

"That's him. That's Kwazii - my twin brother," Kate noted to Peso. "Kwazii!", she began to call out to him. "Kwazii!"

Kwazii stopped running in his tracks. He turned around and immediately noticed Kate. He smiled at her and ran up to her. He enveloped her in a hug and laughed quietly. "I was so frightened when I didn't see you behind me... I thought Damien got to you!"

Kate shook her head with a smile. "No... I fell down while running and Peso here found me. Apparently I dislocated my shoulder and he fixed it Kwazii! He actually fixed my shoulder!"

Peso blushed slightly. "It really isn't that big of a deal... I have always been interested in the medical field so I have been learning and educating myself slowly with each passing day."

A smile came to Kwazii's lips and he held out his hand for Peso to shake. "But still, I thank you for helping my sister. My name is Kwazii - but she most likely already told you that." Peso nodded his head. Kwazii then turned to Kate with a worried glance. "Does your shoulder hurt?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Only a little. It is of course sore - it will be for the next couple days - but I am okay now." Kwazii nodded his head. A smile appeared upon Kate's face and she motioned to Peso. "Peso is on his way to Crystal Lake and I asked if we could come with him. He said yes...if you happen to agree."

Kwazii was hesitant for a few brief moments. Peso held his breath awaiting his response. Kate seemed to be anxiously waiting as well. Then a smile appeared on his face and he nodded slowly. "Alright...I suppose we could tag along."

Peso smiled at the two twins. "The trip will last three days. Every so often we will take breaks and stop some where safe when it comes to sleeping. When we arrive at Crystal Lake we will set up camp - I have brought a few supplies already. Are you two ready to go?"

They nodded their heads. Now the three set out in the direction of Crystal Lake. As they journeyed through the lonesome miles of empty field - they conversed amongst each other and learned more about themselves. Soon enough the small group of three were becoming the best of friends.

Night spread across the sky and stars slowly began to appear as the moon rose high in to the sky. Peso stopped Kate and Kwazii and turned to them. "We will make camp here for the night. Kwazii, do you think you could assist me in setting up sleeping bags?"

Kate gave Peso a curious look and chuckled slightly. "How does it so happen you brought along three sleeping bags when you figured while packing for your journey you would be traveling alone?"

Peso shrugged his shoulders and gave a smile to Kate. "Maybe it so happens I can predict the future..." The two laughed along together and Kwazii began to tense up. Of course he trusted his twin sister - but to see her growing closer with a boy she had only met...now that was disturbing.

He decided to quickly speak up before it was too late. Kwazii cleared his throat and the two looked to him. "Uhm... Peso, was it? I could actually use some help with this firewood over here..."

A smile came upon Peso's countenance and he nodded. "Of course. Coming." He looked to Kate and smiled at her. "I will return shortly. I promise." With that being said Peso followed Kwazii away to gather fire wood. As soon as they were out of ear shot from Kate - Kwazii glared at Peso angrily. Peso stuttered. "S...something wrong?"

Kwazii nodded his head at him angrily. "I see the way you look at my sister - and it disgusts me. You only met her hours before. I am simply asking you to leave her alone and stop flirting with her...because it does disgust me. Now will you help me with this firewood?"

Author's Note: A look back in to the past! We are finally going to see why Peso and Kate feel so conflicted... I do apologize for having them against each other. While I was planning this story out I was going to create a new OC and have her and Peso have a falling out - then I thought Kate may be a better person for the position and I still wanted to have my idea follow through. So I apologize for that. Anyway - part two I will get started on and hopefully have done by tomorrow to post. XD