The Hunters

Chapter 8

          “What are you going to do?” I asked

          “We could send a search group in, who wants to go?” asked Noah

          “Well someone’s has to stay with Maddie,” I said

          “I’ll stay.” Said Kate

          “You sure?” asked Jessie

          “Yah, I mean how would I help? Grow a plant in the middle of the hallway?” she said

          “Actually … yes.” Said Drew

          We headed into the school and followed Drew’s plan gathering all teens in one area. We split up into pairs and Troy and I took a path around the main hallways.

          “Ireland.” Said Troy

          “Yah.”

          “Was your dream about dogs,” he paused “Like in the forest?” I looked at him.

          “How’d you know?” I asked   

          “Cause I had the same dream.”

          “That’s w,” I was cut off by that laugh that sends shivers up my back coming from behind us. We turned around and saw a couple of teens.

          “Run and make a lot of noise.” I said as we started to run toward the meeting point. We kept running, gathering more and more teens as we went. Once all of us got back to the intersection of hallways Kate was waiting there as she started to make plants and trees at the end of the hallways locking us in with them and then going to find the others. If they still had humanity I’m pretty sure not much of it is left. 

          “Who are you?” Jessie asked what looked like the leader.

          “I am … uh well let’s just say I’m your worst nightmare.” The leader said with a low voice.

          “Don’t scare them,” Said a girl as she pushed her way through the crowd. Her eyes glowing red instead of green.  “Most of us can’t remember our names.”

          “What happened here?” I asked

          Red eyes gave the leader a look and he nodded. “We don’t remember much but it all started I think two weeks ago. It was late at night and everyone was woke up by bombs being dropped from planes.” She paused. “There were letters on the plane but no one could make out what they were. Anyway At first we all thought it was an air raid like something that would’ve happened WWII but over the past two weeks we are starting to look and act differently.”

          “Act differently?” asked Drew

          “Well we all think it’s because of those darn bombs. Being radioactive and all.” It was the guy talking now. “Some of us are worse than others. So far we found that the longer you’re like this the longer you live. So I guess we are stuck like this forever, just getting sicker and crazier every day.”

          Everyone was quiet for a minuet still trying to take all of that in.

          “So there’s no cure?” asked Troy

          “Scientists are trying to find one but none yet.” Said the leader. Jessie and I walked back to the group and we huddled.

          “What should we do?” asked Jessie

          “We should make a deal,” said Drew. “If they get us to those labs I bet we could help create a cure with those weird chemicals that I found in my bag.”

          “Wait weird chemicals?” I said

          “Yah I found chemicals in my bag … thought they might be important.” Said Drew

          “Well the more people we have the easier it will be to fight off whatever we find out there.” Said Troy

          “Okay.” Said Jessie as he walked over to the leader. “We will make a deal,”

          “Shoot.” Said the leader as he folded his arms.

          “If you get us safely to the lab … all of you will be the first to be cured.” Said Jessie. The leader though for a moment and then turned around to the group.

          “Okay, raise your hand if, in exchange for a cure, you would like to help these guys get to the labs?” He paused as hands rose from the crowd. “Good, All of you with your hands up follow us … if not you can stay here.” I looked back and Kate was back with Emily and Brandon but not Santana.  

          “Good, so we have a deal?” asked Jessie. The leader held out his hand.

          “Deal.” They shook hands. “Now will you let us out of the darn cage?” asked red eyes.

          “Sure.” Said Troy. He went over and burned an opening into the wall of vegetation. A couple gasps came from behind us. Oops I guess we all forgot that that wasn’t a normal thing.

          “Sorry, we should’ve told you. We have super powers … I’m just going to be quiet so that can settle in.” I said

           “So what should we call you?” I asked the leader.

          “You can call me Isaac.” He said still kind of in shock.

          We walked out of the school and found Noah and Maddie. Troy explained the whole thing to them and we all started our long journey to the labs.