Alyn smiled at Ronnie again. I could feel my face turn red with anger. She needs to get over herself.

Ronnie shuffled slowly to me, taking tiny steps. The look on his face clearly said," Could you please get the heck away from me," to Alyn. He grabbed my hand quickly and squeezed it.

"Ouch," I muttered so no one could hear me. He had a strong grip.

I sped away with the two of them following behind. My sister looked awe-struck we would walk away from her like that. Ha, Good.

We all walked to the forest. Cheryl broke the silence.

"Emilyn-" I cut Cheryl off.

"Please, call me Em," I smiled. She gave a fake smile back.

"Em," Cheryl continued. "Where are we going in the woods?" I looked at her and laughed. I pointed to the wire fence. It always looked electric, but if you listened closely, there is no hum. Sometimes it the electric shocks alive, and boom, you're dead. You always have to listen for that faind buzz, or "hum" that signified if the electric was turned on.

We climbed over the fence without a scratch. I tucked my knife in my boot. You have no idea how easily something could come through this tall grass and grab my knife right out of my hand.

Cheryl felt the grass next to me. In my opinion she "liked" it here.

The birds chirped never-ending patterns, creating a soft chorus of lullabies.

I want to try and climb up a tree. I never got to before." Ronnie said as he put his hand on a branch of a stern maple tree. He put his first foot down on the bark. I chuckled silently. He was going to fail horribly.

"Go Ronnie!" Alyn cheered lovingly. I thought we left her behind, but sadly, she had managed to follow us. I knew Ronnie would never love that dumb-blonde. Total offense directed to her. Ronnie turned around and smiled at me. My sister looked like I had just frazzled her brain, if she had one. I looked up to see Ronnie almost half-way up the tree.

"Ronnie! Come down!" Cheryl screamed. And that's what he just did. Ronnie grabbed ahold of a branch and it snapped in half. He came tumbling clumsily down the mighty oak, breaking and bumping branches.

"Ron Ron! You ok! I'll go get your some Band-Aids." Alyn squealed as she disappeared into the shadows of the evergreens.

The atmosphere around us turned tense in silence.

"So. . ." I said breaking the silence. "How'd you like my sister?"

They looked ridiculously at me. I remembered my brother always saying, 'The Ditz' otherwise known as my sister, was a horrible person.

"I guess she wasn't your type. She isn't the nicest person. . . Wait. What am I saying? Her brain has been burned to a stub." I chuckled and used Kitty-Hawk to clean the gunk from under my nails.

"I have a question. Why do you keep a weapon?" Cheryl asked curiously.

"The same reason you keep your brother. To protect."

Ronnie merely smiled crookedly while Cheryl crossed her arms.

"My brother doesn't protect me. I protect myself."

"Ok, say what you want, and do what you must; but you know I'm right." I smirked. Cheryl's face turned red.

She opened her mouth to retort, but withdrew the thought. Red and blue flashed around the forest and the sound of a helicopter was strong above us.

"Watch out!" I shouted, but it was already too late. A paralyzing dart hit Ronnie in the back.

"Hide!" I screamed over the strong sound of the helicopter.

"But Ronnie-"

"Go!" I screamed as I grabbed her and dove into the nearest protected spot just as a dart landed where we were standing. I looked back slowly; in hope Ronnie didn't get taken.

Please be there, I thought.

I heard Cheryl's cry of anguish and snapped my head towards where Ronnie was. All that was left of Ronnie was the slight shadow of his body-print engraved into the moist soil.