It has been exactly a year since I first posted this, and I'd just like to thank everyone who's stuck with me! Now here's a chapter that was honestly making me cry to write.
I still own nothing, and the warnings from last chapter still apply
Chapter 16
"The people haven't stirred" stated Randall, polishing his gun with the end of his jacket. He'd been expecting something to happen overnight, but the barricade was as empty as it had been before "We've been abandoned but the citizens and some of our own allies." He gave a subtle look over to the clock shop, which Henry had not yet left. Katia placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You can't be too brought down by this. The citizens are just scared; they appreciate this even if they aren't here. "
"Yes but… I don't want to waste lives." He rose his voice to the crowd "Anyone who wishes to leave, I'm not going to stop you." A few looked as if they wanted to go, but nobody moved.
As Amelia moved round collecting the leftover glasses, she spoke quietly.
"We trust you. If we don't take the risk, we have no chance." Aurora spoke up as well.
"If I am to die, I want it to be for a good cause. I will die here with my friends, for the future." Several of the others agreed. Though, the group could hardly sit down before there was a light thunder of footsteps in the distance, in time with each other, on every beat.
"That may be sooner than we'd have hoped. CROW, HOW IS IT?" He yelled to the top, Crow leaned over the edge to peer into the distance.
"TROOPS ADVANCING. NEARLY DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE LAST." He called back. Randall threw a gun up to him and cursed.
"I didn't think they'd be back till later. Hold yourselves in readiness; we may not be as lucky this time." He peered through the barricade once more, seeing that Crow was correct. They were still far away, but there were clearly line after line of men waiting there. It wasn't just Chelmey this time, but several other lead officers. He swore that he could see inspector Descole among them, but shook of the thought, it wasn't possible for him to be there. The front line set up their weapons, aiming them towards the barricade. Crow hastily ducked down.
"What do we do now then Randall?" He raised his gun.
"We fight, just as we always do." Crow nodded, moving into position. Randall aimed his gun and fired, warding them away. Several minutes passed, but the inspectors had not moved closer. It was then that Randall realised what their game was.
"How are holding up Janice?" he asked, reloading his gun.
"There's enough weaponry, but we're short on ammunition." Randall knew it. They'd been waiting so that they'd be defenseless, and the troops could move in easily. "If we keep it up, we'll run out in minutes." Clive's head raised at this mention, noticing an opening in the barricade. He tapped Randall on the back.
"I'm going over. There's bodies there, fully loaded guns just laying by their sides." Randall waved him away.
"I can't let you do that, you'll get killed. We'll hold out with what we've got, Arianna, check in the shop for more supplies." Clive stopped her.
"We already did, there's nothing there!" he turned to face Randall "I'm going out there." Hearing this, Hershel moved forwards.
"Why don't I go, if I'm hit then it isn't as much of a loss." Clive furrowed his eyebrows, persistent that he would go. While the three argued, nobody noticed the small boy who was already climbing up the side of the barricade. And still nobody noticed till he was at the top. Arianna was the first to see him.
"Oh my word, Luke get down from there! You're going to hurt yourself." Everyone else raised their heads to see him smiling from the top, and all began yelling for him to get back, Crow near enough trying to pull him down. Luke simply began climbing down the other side.
"You need someone small, and you need somebody fast. I'll be back in two minutes." Ignoring the cries of the students, he descended. Whistling as he jumped to the floor. The other side of the barricade was a strange place to be. He knew there were men there but he couldn't see any of them, they were too far away. Luke moved over to the soldier lying nearest the barricade, picking up the gun beside him.
"LUKE." There was a shout as a bullet flew past him, hitting the side. Luke stared at the hole before throwing the gun through one of the gaps. He yelled to the silhouettes in the distance.
"What are you trying to do? You think I can't put up a fight because I'm small? Never try and hit somebody from behind." He went to the next body. A bullet skidded across the ground in front of him, Luke jumped back in fright. "Stop being so cowardly, if you want to try and stop me then-" Luke cried out as the third hit him in the leg. He bit his lip, struggling to stand. He picked up the second gun, using it to prop himself up.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE" He moved slowly, trying to get back to the barricade, but knowing there was no way he'd be able to.
"I can't believe that you're so scared that- that you'd try and hit someone like me. If you're so scared of me now. Just you wait until… I grow up. Then you'll be-" A final shot hit, dead on its mark. Luke's eyes widened, trying to focus until they simply fixed themselves on staring straight ahead. As he tried to get a hand to his chest, he fell backwards, tripping against one of the soldiers. There was a great hush over the barricade, interrupted only by the dull thud of the boy against the stones.