The Race Against Time

Chapter 43

Brooklyn

I woke up to the sun shining brightly in my face advising me that it was a new day. A smile made its way to my face just knowing that I was going to go home today. After everything we've been through I was finally going home, all the drama, hurt, and pain will all be gone and most of all I'll get to see my family again.

I peered over at Xander in a corner just sitting doing nothing, he didn't look as happy as I'd expect him to be so I walked towards him and sat by his side. He has done so much for me and saved me more times than I can't count so I guess I should be there for him also.

"Hey what's up, you don't look too good."

"You don't need to worry about me, I'm good."

"You don't look good." 

"Well, I am fine so leave me alone," he blurted out.

"I know you're not fine Xander, just tell me what's on your mind, you can trust me. You were there for me when I needed it the most so I just wanna be there for you now."

He took a deep breath and sighed. I knew there was something wrong, that sigh just verified it all. He seemed quite tuff on the outside but I'm sure on the inside he's soft, just like a turtle.

"A few years ago my entire family died in a fire, I have no one, so when we go back home I'm not really going back to anything, I'm just going to be by myself again."

I could hear the subtle cracks in his voice, I have never seen him this way, so vulnerable. It saddened me that he really was alone and had no one. His eyes shifted and became glazed with a glossy layer of a tear. As he blinked, they dripped from his eyelids and slid down his cheek. He bit his lip tightly in an attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from his mouth; my heart sank.

"I sat closer to him and wrapped my arms around him in comfort.

"It's okay, you've got us now, we've been through this together and we're going to leave together. Don't ever feel like no one cares about you, we all do."

It was disheartening to see him break, it was like all the walls he's held up to protect himself from all the pain just came crumbling down all at once.

I stayed with Xander a bit longer and then I went over to Xiomara and Yori.

"You know we never really talked about when you pushed me off the building, I don't know what brought me to an entirely different place, but if it didn't I'd be dead thanks to you," I said putting stress on you.

"She did what! O damm, you're bad." Yori laughed

"I was jealous that's all I didn't mean to push you. Envy at it's finest."

Xiomara admitting that she was jealous was the most shocking thing that I ever heard. I thought she would have said something like, you deserved it, or you had it coming but she didn't. I guess everyone can change at some point, even someone like Xiomara.

It was still morning and the helicopter that is supposed to rescue us is going to come today. Keith didn't say when so I, guess we were supposed to wait. But we also didn't know where it was going to land and that is the most important thing we needed to know. Staying in this cave will not do any good but there's also the risk of getting caught by the men in suits however what choice we have.

"Everyone, listen up" I yelled

They stopped whatever they were doing and paid their attention to me.

"We can't stay here."

"Why can't we, it's the only safe place?" Xiomara said.

"First of all, we have no idea where the helicopter is going to land or even if it is, secondly we should be closeby when it lands because if Esmerelda's men are out there trust me they'll act quickly and try to stop us from going into the helicopter.

"But isn't there a risk that they're nearby and will do anything to kill us," Tyler said.

"Well we will have to take that risk if we want to get out of here, don't you think?"

Tyler shrugged his shoulder, in doubt. I know everyone was scared but if we don't do this we might never go home.

"I agree with Brooklyn, the only way out of here is to take risks, we've been doing that quite a lot lately and we've always come through at the end. If we stay here we may never get home."

Everyone nodded making it known that they agreed on leaving this cave. A smile made it's way to my face thankful that they agreed. It's good that we are all on the same page now.

"We have to split up, traveling in groups will only get u caught easily, we'll spread out and keep on the lookout for the helicopter, if anyone spots it, whistle, that'll be the signal, however, if you're in trouble or one of the men in suits recognizes you whistle twice," Xander announced.

"One whistle for the helicopter, two for danger, copy that, "Yori answered.

As we set foot out of the cave everyone parted in all different directions. I kept my eyes open doing a full 180 with my eyes every time I walked because I can't have anyone seeking up on me, one cover to my mouth and that's the end, I can't whistle for anything.

I kept on going until I was a good distance away from the cave and none of the others were in sight. I sat down behind a tree observing every inch of my surroundings. It could be hours before any type of helicopter comes but I'm prepared to make that sacrifice, I'm not backing down anytime soon.

Beside me there was a large stick just laying there, somehow I thought of it as a gift from nature because if one of those men comes my way one of this to their head and I'm sure they'll be out cold. I seized the stick in my hand, it was a perfect size, it was thick enough that it wouldn't break and it was just the right weight, not to light but not too heavy making it easy to swing.

Just when I was about to look around once more I hear the most blood-curdling scream in history. Who on earth could scream that loud I thought to myself. I immediately held tight onto my stick and ran like the wind.