The Race Against Time

Chapter 38

Brooklyn

The process was the most painful  I have ever felt, even the bullet couldn't compare with the amount of pain I was in. Xander, Lucas, Tyler, and Yori held all my limbs down so I wouldn't move. Let's just say someone got hurt, end of the story.

Keith told me that I had to go easy on myself from now because the stitches could rip and open back the wound and I'd start bleeding out again. He said that I was lucky that the bullet didn't hit the spine because it could have caused vertebrate fractures or spinal cord damage which would have followed to advanced trauma life support.

"Why can't you call someone to get us out of here."

"I have already told you that my cellphone is down and we are obviously in the middle of nowhere so I can't contact them."

"Well we are leaving whether or not you come with us we are not going to be risking our lives for you, Esmerelda will hunt us down until she has us killed and I am not here for it."

I honestly agreed with Xander staying here with this man would be like committing suicide. Esmerelda is going to send people to kill us and I am pretty sure there's going to be twice the amount of people we have and on top of that, we no fighting skills whatsoever.

"The only reason I came here was to find out what this organization is about, I've got sufficient information I need  no need to jump to conclusions however what you all need to know is there is a helicopter coming in the next 2 days."

"That's quite a long time though, Esmerelda's men are probably already on their way here to kill us," I stated.

"No need to worry, there is an underground hideout that I discovered while I was here, it's apparently one of the organization's hideout since I saw their initials on it, we can lie low there for the next two days. I'm sure there is enough food for all of us."

"Food is my number one priority so lead the way." 

Yori is such a joker even in the worst circumstances.

We continued to walk, following Keith's lead. The pain in my back and stomach decreased by a lot, nonetheless, it was still there, however, I was able to walk more freely of course with the help of Xander.

For a minute I  zoned out, it was like I was blocking out everyone around me. The forest hums with life all around. The sun breaks through the cracks, lighting up the dirt path ahead of me, decorated with outgrown roots, wildflower, and fallen leaves that crunch beneath my bare feet.

I tried to forget everything that has happened in the past few days and find comfort and peace in the dense forest that surrounds me. The forest is the orchestra of my mind, playing one enchanting symphony after another. Her levels dance to an unheard beat, whispering their songs to the wind. In here sheltered by the mighty trees, is every kind of life, from the humble beetle to the enchanting birds of every color.

I was momentarily pulled out of my daydream by Keith shouting that we were halfway to the bunker. What a relief that was to hear, my feet are killing me. All of a sudden the smell of smoke filled my nostrils.

"Does anyone of you smell that, or am I smelling things." 

"No, I smell it too," Xander answered

The air smells and tastes like bonfire and the only reason that would happen is if there was a.

"Fire!"

My chain of thoughts was cut off by Lucas's scream. Esmerelda really does want od dead even if she has to burn up an entire piece of forest to do so.

"We need to run to the bunker now or we won't make it!" Keith yelled.

Soon the air will be too smoky to breathe and hot enough to scorch the skin so I had to try my best and run even if the stitches in my back and stomach rip, my life depended on it.

"Just hold on to me, okay."

I wrapped my arms around Xander's shoulder and he wrapped his arms around mines. We all ran as fast as we can attempting to escape the fire prospering rapidly behind us. Branches and trees fell all around us. I ran as hard as I can even though I could feel the stitches ripping with every moment and turn we made.

The beautiful green forest was just collapsing and burning into flames before my eyes. A ghastly orange grin, tearing through the verdant woodland. Unfettered flames, devouring hungrily, licking and lapping at the coppice, twisting and swaying in a dance without rhythm. Fire tainted the earth with gray, stripping the trees of the virescent beauty, leaving their gaunt, skeletal remains rooted in the barren soil. They seemed to reach out to the sky like pallid, gnarled hands, as if desperate to latch on to the realm, whole again

 Esmerelda really doesn't care about anything but herself, once we get out of here I would enjoy seeing Esmeralda in jail once and for all. 

From a distance, I could see the bunker that Keith was talking about. All I could make out from here was that it was metal grey and small. 

Beads of sweat ran down my face and invaded my eyes. The air was getting really humid and it was beginning to get very hard to breathe. I stopped for a second to catch my breath.

"Come on Brooklyn we can't stop now the fire will burn us alive." Xander tugged on my arms motioning me to start back running. 

All around us was fire and as I could see there was only one opening for us to go threw to get to the bunker. We all ran even harder and faster to ensure that we passed through that opening. After getting through we came face to face with the bunker.

"Hurry up and open it, Keith," I shouted

He tried twisting the wheel to open the door but it looked like the wheel was stuck because Keith was struggling to twist it. Xander, Lucas, and Tyler hurriedly went up to the wheel and helped Keith to turn it around. With their help, it was working however the fire was getting nearer and nearer every second they took.

"Hurry the fire is getting nearer we don't have much time left," Yori announced.

With all their strength they turned the wheel and the door opened. We all went in one by one and in the nick of time we closed the door right before the fire could consume us.