The Race Against Time

Chapter 22

Brooklyn

Even though my lungs burned when I ran, I didn't stop. Until my watch beeped.

I look down at my watch and saw an arrow showing me what direction I should go. Why now, I was lost hours ago and where does this lead me to. Am I really going to trust this watch?

I heard a sound right in the back of me and that was my motivation. The arrow pointed out what direction I should go and I followed it. I may not know where this watch was leading me too but it was guiding me to something or somewhere so I should follow it.

I took many lefts and rights and I felt like I was going in circles but I continued to follow the arrow anyway. It was as if I was walking for forever and not even getting any closer to whatever destination I were to reach. Although it felt like I was walking for ages I didn't let that lower my determination.

I couldn't stop now because that freak could be anywhere. A little kick to the posterior won't do much harm, to be honest. I have no idea why I didn't shoot him, that would have been the smarter and more logical thing to do but I had no common sense. Even my mother would say that to me all the time.

I was still very confused by how we got here. Not in this virtual reality but in the forest. What the woman told me didn't quite make any sense. She didn't even know who we were yet we were meant to be here. That didn't sit well in my mind.

She sounded like the definition of a villain and her name Esmeralda screams evil in all different ways.

As I kept on moving, I finally began to recognize my surroundings. It finally came to me, this watch wasn't leading me any and anywhere, it was leading me to my home base where Tyler, Lucas, and Xiomara were.

I continued to follow it with more anticipation than ever thrilled to meet them. After a few minutes, I saw them from afar however Xiomara wasn't with them.

What did she do now? I just had a bad feeling that things didn't go in a straight line since we were gone. And I am pretty sure Xiomara was the cause of that, no doubt about it.

When I got closer to them, they snapped their necks in my direction.

"It's me, Brooklyn, don't shoot."

When I got closer to them, I realized Xiomara was indeed not with them.

'Where's Xiomara, wasn't she with you all"

They watched each other and sighed.

"She got shot, she wouldn't listen and she tried to be all brave and one of the red team members shot her, we told her to stop but she just so stubborn " Lucas answered.

How did I know something like this would happen, I should have simply taken her with us, now look what happened.

"Anyway, what are you doing here aren't you supposed to be with Xander and Yori trying to get the flag," Tyler asked.

"Yori and I had to distract two of the red team members and Xander pursued the flag, he needed to get past one person. That way it would be easier to get the flag instead of it being us having to fight for it."

"So, did you shoot the boy who you had to distract?" Lucas asked.

My usual swagger fled faster than a gambler from a bookie. I swallowed. "Well, there were some technical difficulties hence I didn't get to shoot him and I lost him."

"Do you even know if he followed you here because I'm sure you are so absent-minded that you didn't even check!" Tyler said indignantly.

My face fell faster than a corpse in cement boots. In that instant, my mouth hung with my lips slightly parted and my eyes were as wide as they could stretch. My brain stutters for a moment and every part of me goes on pause while my thoughts catch up.

Words left me. I stared into Tyler's eyes burning with anger, and my heart fell silent.

"Answer me!" he bellowed.

But I couldn't will my lips to move. As if stuck underwater, everything was slowed and warbled as he pointed a shaky finger in my face.

"Do you have nothing to say, answer my question, Brooklyn," he demanded.

My mind was blank and my eyes wide as I stared at him in the horror of the mistake I made. His eyes desperately searched mine... waiting. I had to say something! I searched my mind for something reasonable to say.

'Ummm, I didn't look back so how would I know, I don't have eyes behind my head now do I?" I said.

" O my goodness Brooklyn he could be here right now!" Tyler exclaimed letting his arms go loose at the side of him in defeat.

"Don't be so harsh on her Tyler it was a mistake and this is just some stupid game," Lucas said to Tyler.

I was dumbfounded, my brain formulated no thoughts other than to register that I was shocked. Why would Tyler Shout at me like that? I have never seen him like this before. I didn't think that the boy would follow me the entire way here. I could have shot him, no, I should have shot him.

Our senses were now heightened as we surveyed our surroundings over and over again to see if the boy followed me.

However, he was nowhere to be seen. I began to feel slightly better knowing that we couldn't find but then the worst thing that could ever happen occurred. The boy indeed did follow me and he was right behind us holding our flag in his hand. We didn't hesitate one bit, we quickly went after him.

He was fast, that one thing I could say. By the time we began to chase after him, he was far in through trees trying to lose us but we weren't ready to give up just yet because if he brought our flag to the area, we were all first at its game over no turning back.

I really hoped that Xander captured the red flag because pretty soon at this rate the boy was going, he would reach his destination in no time. If Xander was caught and we don't succeed in catching him it would be all my fault.

I lead the boy to our home base because of my negligence, I caused all of this. I'm their group leader and I was supposed to lead this group to triumph but I didn't do the only job I had.