The hours following Weaver's departure had been filled with an anxious silence, felt by everyone remaining in the school. There was also the familiar sense of vulnerability, now with over half the fighters gone with the Captain. But no one had time to say anything. There was far too much work to be done. Any fighter not on post-and that wasn't many-were helping he civilians pack away everything for the inevitable relocation. Those that weren't packing were stationed at every point in the school, roof, yard, doors, anywhere.
Jaden was positioned on her favorite spot on the roof. She was on the canopy, just over the front entrance. It may dip lower than the roof itself, but Jaden enjoyed it. She could see further, since there were almost no trees blocking her incredible immediate vision. Normally she would sit up there for hours, keeping herself occupied with her thoughts, but also keeping watch. Today though, there were far too many thoughts. The thoughts ranging in danger listed in the order of; 1. Weaver's team heading into Boston. 2. The continuing noise in her brain from the radio. 3. Bugging out. 4. Ben. The actual order of the items in her mind: 1. the continuing noise in her brain. 2. Ben. 3. Weaver. 4. Bug out.
Ever since the first initial stumbling of the frequency, the sound had yet to leave Jaden's mind. She found the sound dramatically decreased than before, but the constant sound was driving her nuts. But then, had it always been there and she'd just never noticed it before. What disturbed her more was that she could still hear the skitters miles away from them. They were faint, but still there. She wanted them out. Out of her head, out of her sight, out. She had managed for months to ignore that sound in her head, now she couldn't stop it anymore. What had changed that disabled her to do so?
Jaden, Rick's running for the skitters!
Jaden snapped to attention. "Ben?"
"He's gonna to warn the skitters! Stop him!"
She turned and watched Rick emerge from around the corner, Ben ran after him. Rick leapt across two crates, narrowly avoiding Tom, and over the barricade. Jaden took up her scope and watched him take off down the street. Ben ran after him around the barricade. Jaden barely had time to notice one of the parents following Ben with a shot gun. He took aim as Ben ran, only to have Maggie intervene at the last second. The sound went off like a cannon. Jaden turned to see Ben stopped in the street with his hands in the air. She jumped off the overhang and onto part of the barricade, still keeping Rick in her sight.
"Don't shoot!" Ben called.
Tom ran over to the man. "Don't you ever raise a gun to my son!" he pulled the gun from the man's grasp and jogged out to Ben.
"The aliens figure out we're here, we're dead!" he said.
"Why don't you save your ammo for them and not these kids!" Maggie snapped.
"I was just trying to-"
"I know. I know. These people, they're just scared. I want you to go back in there and find Doctor Glass and stay with her okay?" Tom said.
Ben nodded and started to walk toward the school.
"You goin' after Rick?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah, I'll try and bring him back." He said, holding up the gun. "You got this?"
Maggie smirked and took the gun. "Just make sure you come back."
"Jaden, you got Rick?" tom called.
"He's moving southeast, toward the thicket!" Jaden called.
Tom started jogging toward the thicket after Rick. Jaden jumped off the barricade and landed beside Ben. She walked with him inside, watching out for the other people.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I should've listened to you. I should've told my dad when you told me to." He said.
"You wanted to help him." She replied. "You at least gave him a chance; I would've sold him out first sign of trouble."
They walked into the infirmary. Uncle Scott was still sitting on the table. Anne looked over to the door as they entered. She walked around the table and met up with them. "What happened we heard shots?"
Jaden sighed. "Trigger happy soldier tried to shoot Ben when Rick ran."
Anne turned to Ben. "You alright?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, Maggie messed up his shot."
"Where's Tom?"
"Looking for Rick."
"Can he do that?" Scott asked.
"He's got Rick's direction. All he has to do is follow Rick's trail." Jaden explained.
"You should get back there and watch for them." Ben said.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, you'd know before anyone else." Ben explained.
Jaden nodded. "Okay. See ya round then."
"Thanks JJ." Ben said.
Jaden gave a small smile and kissed his cheek. She left the room quickly, ignoring her conflicting butterflies and self-reprimands. She limped back out to her post and climbed up to the overhang. She felt the eyes of the fighters on her, but she didn't care anymore. This was her now; they had to deal with it. To emphasize her point she dropped to her knees and set up her scope. She watched the area where she'd last seen Rick.
"Any sign?" Maggie called.
Jaden shook her head. "Not yet. Rick had a good lead on him so it'll take Tom some-" she stopped midsentence.
"JJ?"
Jaden increased her scope. She spotted movement behind trees and bushed. A few seconds later Tom came into her sight with Rick right beside him. Tom looked very concerned as they ran back toward them. "I see 'em. Both of them."
"Jaden! Get post leaders in Weaver's office now!" Tom called.
"What'd he say?" Maggie asked.
"Gave me a job. Post leaders to Weaver's office, five minutes!" Jaden called. She slung up her rifle and slid down the post onto the ground. She limped back inside the school, telling everyone about the meeting. Maggie followed her to Weaver's office.
"Why call a meeting now?" Maggie asked.
Jaden sat down on one of the desk and shook her head. "I don't know. But it probably isn't good."
Anne entered the room with Tom right behind her. "Come on in! Okay we don't have a lot of time, so I'm just gonna lay it out." Tom walked to the front of the class. "The skitters know where we are and there's a good chance they're gonna attack. We all hoped we could hang on until the strike team made it back, that's too risky now. So I've decided to evacuate the civilians, we're gonna walk 'em out through the tunnel behind the auditorium. Once through they'll move west out of the city."
"If the skitters have the scent they'll be crawling all over this area." Maggie said. "It's not gonna be easy getting around them."
"That's why I'm gonna stay behind. With a small group of volunteers." Tom explained. "If the aliens attack we'll draw their fire, keep the focus on us, open up a window for the civilians to escape."
"But how're we gonna hold off the skitters and mechs? Our best soldiers are with Weaver." Jimmy said.
Tom nodded. "I know how it sounds, but I want you to think about where we are. Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought not too far from here. Small force of colonists against the might of the British Empire, nobody gave them much of a chance either. Patrick Henry called it, 'The battle is not to the strong alone, it is to the vigilant, the active , and the brave.' A small disciplined militia can not only hold out against a larger force, but drive it back. Because they are fighting for what rightfully belongs to them. This is our home, our world. So remember that if they come. So let's go do this."
Everyone more than agreed with Tom. They filed out of the room with newfound determination to keep their home. Maggie and Jaden walked out together and headed back to the barricade.
"I heard Tom had a way with motivation." Maggie said.
Jaden snorted. "You should've heard him in his lectures. He practically reenacts the entire Revolution." Jaden said.
Maggie raised her brows. "You took his class?"
"Yeah, I had a nurse set up a laptop and I watched through video. When you can't get out of bed, there's not much else to do but school." Jaden explained.
"Does Tom know?" Maggie asked.
"Not a chance." She laughed.
"I'm surprised Rick held onto it. It would've just as easy to smash it." Scott said. He placed the missing transponder into the radio.
"Maybe he's not as far gone as we thought?" Tom suggested.
"Now we just gotta make it work. During battle, no pressure." He said, looking up at Ben. "You ready to give it a shot?"
Ben nodded.
"You got eight minutes, then he goes into the tunnel." Tom said.
"Tom!"
"What?"
"Ben is keyed into the communications grid." Scott said.
"I know. So find the frequency and start jamming."
"But they keep changing the frequency."
"I said he could stay to find the frequency and that's it. Now you've got seven minutes." Tom explained. He turned to leave.
Scott threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "Okay, good."
"No, no, not good." Ben said. "I can do this. Dad-"
"I know you can. But if the skitter attack comes, I don't want you here." Tom explained.
"What if they change the frequency? Scott will never find it."
"I'm sorry, Tom, but he's right."
"Then we call Jaden. We know she's tuned it too." Tom said.
"No, you need Jaden on sniper. She's the best shot you've got out there and you know it. Bringing her in is only gonna hurt you out there." Ben explained.
"This could be our one shot and if it doesn't work it doesn't matter where any of us go, or who finds the frequency." Scott explained.
Tom debated his thoughts. He didn't want Ben to stay. He'd just gotten him back from the skitters, he wasn't about to let him stay when there's an attack on the way. But they were right. Jaden was needed on the roof; he couldn't afford to have her down with Scoot where she's only good for the frequency.
"Dad, I know what they're saying about me and Rick, and Jaden. That we're infected by these harnesses, but I can use what the skitters did to me to get back at them." Ben explained. "It's just like running. You just have to let me."
Maggie burst into the door. "Hey, J's scouted mechs inside a mile."
"If I say run, you run." Tom ordered. "Find it!"
Ben turned back to Scott.
"Okay, you ready?" Scott asked.
Ben shook his head. "Whenever you are."
Every volunteer had been pulled out to the front of the school. Everyone was preparing for the incoming mechs. People took up positions around the barricade. Jaden had set up a barricade up on the overhang to protect herself from mech fire. She set up her rifle onto the barricade and watched the line for the mechs. She could hear them, coming closer. Down below, she spotted Maggie tying up her coat.
"Hey kid. Kid!" she called.
Jimmy turned.
"Why don't you come stand over here with me?" she offered.
Jimmy slowly walked over to Maggie. "Th-the name's Jimmy. Not 'kid'."
"Alright then Jimmy. This oughta be a cake walk after taking on a skitter." She said.
"Yeah well, if it wasn't for Captain Weaver, I wouldn't be here right now." Jimmy explained." I really miss him."
Maggie nodded. "Alright, how about you and me make a pact? You watch my back, and I watch yours. Deal?"
"Deal." Jimmy said.
Maggie patted Jimmy's shoulder and crouched down. "Besides, I don't think your big sis is gonna let anything happen to you."
Jimmy turned to Maggie and frowned. Maggie motioned up to the overhang where Jaden was perched. Jaden waved down to Jimmy, making him smile. "You're right."
"Alright, when they come, nobody shoot until I give the order!" Tom called out. "We got thirty rounds of mech ammunition each. Let's make every shot count. Jaden!"
"Sir?"
"I want you to hold your fire until the last minute. Head shots only!" he ordered.
"Yes sir!"
"Hopefully our families have made it through the tunnel by now." Tom said.
"Scouts coming up the street!" Jaden called.
"MECH! IT'S COMING!" the scout screamed, running to the barricade.
"Alright, everybody down!" tom ordered.
The lone mech stepped out into the open from the side street. Its mechanical body creaked smoothly with every step. The steps thundered in the silent air toward the school. Jaden got the mechs head in her scope. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She glanced down to the room where Scott and Ben were.
Come on Ben. She thought.
"Easy! Wait till it gets closer!" Tom called.
The mech crossed the front lawn of the school.
"OPEN FIRE!" Tom ordered.
Everyone emerged from their place and opened fire. Mech ammo burst from the automatic rifles, filling the air with the sound of war. The mech jerked back from the fire and retaliated with its blaster. Everyone ducked for cover. The mech launched a mini rocket at the schools sign, sending the two men posted flying back from the explosions force. Everyone opened fire again, penetrating the mechs armor. The mech jerked around, trying to regain ground in the firefight, but there were no breaks in the wave of bullets. No chance for it to retaliate. It staggered to the ground before going offline. Everyone cheered from their positions. But it was short lived when the razor wire bounced.
Tom looked up to Jaden, who had stood up. "Jaden, what's the count?"
Jaden looked down at Tom and shook her head.
"Everybody get down! Get down!" Tom ordered. "Call out your ammo!"
"I got two!"
"Three shots left!"
"Four. How many more we got?" Dai asked.
"Too many." Tom answered. He slammed his mag back into his rifle. He looked back up to the overhang. "Jaden, your show now until Scott and Ben get that frequency! These mechs will draw our fire till we're out of ammo!"
Jaden nodded and rose onto her barricade. "Got it!" She steadied her rifle in her arms and watched the mechs come. A nagging pain shot through her head but it quickly vanished. The signal. They were working on the signal. She watched the mechs move toward them. She held her finger to the trigger and waited for a clear shot. Another shot of pain burst through her skull, but it ended quickly as the first.
"Come on Ben." She whispered.
Suddenly the pain shot through her head like a migraine. She winced for a moment and reassessed her targets. The mechs were still coming toward them. But they had found the signal, why aren't they stopping. Jaden took a deep breath and steadied her rifle. The mechs stopped in front of the school and spread out in a line. Jaden aimed for the furthest one. She figured only two shots, maybe three before the mechs targeted her. Maybe it would be enough time for the signal to affect them? The mechs readied their weapons at the barricade. This was it.
"Ben what are you doing? Get back!" Tom yelled.
Jaden took the split second to look over toward the window.
Ben was struggling to move from the school. "Dad we have a signal, we just have to make it stronger."
The mechs marched toward the school. Tom and Ben were out in the open. They needed cover fire. Jaden took the first shot, blasting a single hole through the far mechs helmet. The mech collapsed in a twitching fit onto the ground. Maggie rose from behind the barricade and opened fire. Dai and the other fighters joined her. Jaden took the next mech into her sight. Suddenly the migraine irrupted full scale in her brain. The pain was so intense it blurred her vision. She dropped to her knees, clutching her brain, and leaving her rifle unattended. She could hear the continual gun fire around her. She noticed it began to cease.
"The mechs! They're running away from us!" Jimmy yelled.
Jaden opened her eyes. She watched the blurry metal machines walk from the school. She sighed heavily.
"That's right! And this is just the start! We beat 'em once, we can beat 'em again!" Tom called.
The field burst with cheers. Jaden smiled where she sat and set the safety on her rifle. She leaned against the barricade and closed her eyes. They beat them! They actually beat them. She placed a hand on her burning skull.
"Come on JJ. Let's get you one the ground before you fall." Maggie said, appearing in front of Jaden.
Jaden smirked painfully. "Might be worth it."
Maggie chuckled and grabbed Jaden's hand. She pulled up her friend and wrapped her arm around Jaden's shoulder. "Somehow I don't doubt it."
With the mechs retreat, the remaining fighters of the 2nd Mass took the moment to enjoy in their small victory against them. But they were quick to remember their limited ammunition that helped them in the fight. They waited for the return of the mechs, but by nightfall there hadn't been a sign of their return. It started to look like the signal and ammunition had done the trick to turn the tides in the war.
In the infirmary, Ben and Jaden sat on the remaining medical beds while Anne examined them. Jaden sat at the end of the bed, beside Ben, with her face buried in her hands. They were in visible discomfort. Ben was trying not to show, but it was visible on his face. Jaden was simply in too much pain to try and hide it. For Anne, it was harder than most things she's seen since the war began.
Anne lowered her ocular light from Ben's eyes. "No pupil dilation. How would you two describe the pain?"
"Probably the worst migraine in history." Ben answered.
"Jaden?"
"Mech fire didn't hurt this bad." She mumbled.
Anne sighed. "I wish I could do something for the pain guys, but I don't think any of the meds would help."
Jaden shrugged and lifted her head. "At least we're not the only ones hurting."
"Well, you two are free to go. All I can say is take it easy." Anne said.
Jaden shouldered her rifle. "Thanks Anne."
Ben hopped off the bed and followed Jaden out of the infirmary. He sighed heavily. "This really sucks."
Jaden smirked. "Not my first word choice, but I completely agree. At least we got the skitters and mechs as messed up as us."
Ben nodded his head. "Almost makes this worth the pain."
"Ben!" Jaden and Ben turned. Tom was following behind them. How had neither of them known he was behind them?
"Dad?" Ben asked.
"Listen I don't have a lot of time to explain this, but I'm heading into Boston in a few minutes. I want you to stick with Hal and Matt until I get back." Tom explained.
"What? Why?"
"Weaver's still in Boston. And I can't leave him there." Tom explained. They walked out to the front of the school. Scott and Hal were working on the radio and genny. Ben kept walking out, but Jaden pulled Tom aside.
"Who's your back up?" Jaden asked.
"No one. I'm goin' in alone." Tom explained.
"Sir, I know I'm only a fighter, but that is a really bad idea." She replied.
Tom nodded. "Yes it is, but I'm not going to risk any more lives trying to bring back some more."
"What if they change the frequency while you're out there?"
"JJ, I appreciate your offer. I really do, but the 2nd Mass needs a sniper while they move. And everyone knows you're the best we've got." Tom leaned closer. "Besides, you're one of two people I trust watching after my boys."
Jaden snorted. "Glorified babysitter with a rifle."
Tom smiled. "The best kind."
"Oh this must be really messing with their heads. The frequency's still locked." Ben groaned.
"How're you feeling?" Tom asked.
"I just hope they're feeling as crappy as I am." Ben answered.
"Okay, so I hooked up the antenna leads up to the chasse, which means that this car is one big antenna. Keep the generator full of gas and uh… you're good to go." Scott explained.
"Might be enough to keep 'em off me until I get to the city?" Tom asked.
"What if they changed the frequency again?"
"Let's hope that they don't." Tom answered.
"Dad I can do this I can-"
Jaden stepped up behind him. "Ben, I already tried."
"You already did. Both of you." Tom said.
Hal walked up to them. "So, drew the route that we took. Wish you'd reconsider bringing me with you."
"No. I need to know that you're safe. That you're looking out for your brothers." Tom explained.
Hal and Ben both looked away from their dad. The tension and fear between the three of them was evident. Jaden took the opportunity to remove herself from the area. Tom looked down at the ground for a moment. He stepped toward his sons and wrapped them both in a hug.
"I love you." He said. He released his sons and climbed into the car. The engine roared to life and sped off toward Boston. Hal and Ben stood out front, watching the car until the taillights disappeared in the darkness.
Jaden sat on the overhang of the school. Her gun was set beside her, ready in case an attack came. She looked out toward Boston, watching for signs of Tom and Weaver. She'd taken her post after Tom had left for Boston, nearly two hours ago. So far, Pope had returned with the car Tom had taken, with a severely injured Anthony. Both had been taken to Anne. But there was no other sign of anything. Most of the fighters had cleared out with Anne, to regroup with the rest of the 2nd Mass. Only a handful had remained to wait for Tom and Weaver's return. Instead, she watched the ships return to the structure in Boston. They had all flooded back to base when Jaden had taken her post and were still returning. Judging by the amount of ships and the pain still throbbing in her skull, the frequency hadn't changed and was doing damage to their minds as well. A small victory.
"Any sign?" Hal asked.
She shook her head. "No, nothing. But it's a nice light show of those aliens hauling ass back to base."
"Signal must still be locked." Ben said, joining them on the roof.
Suddenly one of the ships exploded in midair. It crashed into the west wing of the structure, causing a domino effect of destruction. The wing of the structure exploded in fire.
"Whoa!" Jaden called, rising from the overhang.
"What the hell was that?" Hal asked.
"That ship exploded in the air, what hit it?" Ben asked.
Hal sighed. "Pope's RPG. Mech shell."
Jaden smiled and started laughing. "Someone it hit."
"Dad hit it." Ben chuckled.
Jaden pushed her hair back, still laughing. "Damn that's good shot!"
"I think they got our message." Hal said.
Ben picked up Jaden and spun her around for s second, laughing. He quickly set her down and looked out at the structure. "About time we hit 'em back."
"I figure another hour for them to get back." Jaden said.
Hal nodded. "I agree. I'm gonna go tell Anne. Be sure you two are ready when they get back." He turned to head back down the stairwell.
Ben and Jaden stood on the overhang, watching the structure burn. This was what they had been waiting for since the invasion. An edge over them. Something to tell the aliens this was not their planet. It felt good to watch the structure burn. Too good, in fact. Ben frowned. He felt different. Completely fine. The frequency!
He spun around quickly. "HAL!"
Hal spun around quickly, raising his gun.
"The frequency's changed!" Ben yelled.
Hal's eyes grew wide. "What?"
"It must've changed after the ship crashed." Ben explained.
"Oh god, I can feel them. They're coming this way." Jaden replied.
"How many?"
"Too many. We have to clear out now!" Jaden said. She slung her strap and jumped off the edge of the overhang. Ben jumped off after her, landing just a few feet away. Hal took a more cautious approach. He lowered himself using the overhang before dropping. Maggie was standing beneath the overhang by the door, hearing everything. She had already gathered up her weapons and was ready to move.
"How far can we get before those mechs are on us?" Maggie asked.
"Depends on how fast we haul ass." Jaden answered.
The four fighters sprinted through the school. They ran through the emptied school, their shoes making the only noise. They ran to the back and down the stairs past the auditorium. Jaden took point and leapt down the stairs to the bottom floor first. She kept watch while Hal, Ben, and Maggie ran down after her. They sprinted from the tunnel and made their way through the ruble of the back of the school. They weaved through the fallen buildings, keeping to the shadows, out of sight. The remains of the city slowly dwindled away to forest and trees. In an hour the team made their way out of the city toward the rendezvous point, but they were still a good number of hours behind the rest of the 2nd Mass. And the skitters and mechs were still trailing too closely behind them. Jaden had taken rear guard while Ben took point. If anything, both felt more prepared in their positions. The team moved as fast as they could through the forest.
Ben stopped suddenly. "Hey wait. I hear something."
"What?"
Ben turned toward the houses, away from the school. He walked out several feet. "It's a car. Heading this way."
Headlights cut through the nights. The sound of the engine roared loudly. The truck came into sight and pulled up in front of the school. The driver's door opened and Captain Weaver climbed out of the truck. "We got mechs on our asses, everybody in the truck now!"
"Where's our dad?" Hal asked.
"I'll tell you later, we gotta move." Weaver said.
Everyone piled into the truck. Maggie climbed in front while Ben, Hal, and Jaden took the back. Weaver gunned the engine and sped the truck through the forest. Jaden propped herself against the tail end of the truck and pulled her rifle from her shoulder. She quickly held it against her body and removed her scope from her rifle. With the truck bouncing as it was, the scope would be useless, she could manage better without it. Hal checked his mag and slammed it back into his gun. He slid open the back window to the cab. Maggie passed up Weavers rifle to Ben. He took the gun and checked the mag level, only to drop it. The mag skid across the bed of the truck toward the tailgate. Jaden snatched it up quickly and passed it back to Ben. Ben barely glanced toward her as he slammed the mag back into his gun.
Suddenly the bright mech light illuminated on them. Ben, Jaden, and Hal all looked up at the bright light. Jaden snapped to attention. In a split second she got her aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through the brainpan of the mech. It collapsed to the ground, its light altering focus toward the sky. Jaden ejected the empty cartridge, allowing the hollow metal to clatter onto the bed beside her, and reloaded.
"What the hell was that?" Weaver demanded.
"Company!"
"How many mech bullets you got Jaj?" Maggie called.
"Six in the mag and two on me." She answered.
Lights burst through the darkness around them. Jaden snapped her rifle in the direction of the lights. She fired off at the mech lights, taking them down one by one. Her cartridges clattered onto the bed of the truck. Ben and Hal opened fire of the mechs not in Jaden's line of fire. Their bullets hit the mechs, but did next to no damage. Their targeting lasers zeroed in on the trucks movement.
"Move!" Ben yelled.
Weaver jerked the wheel of the car, steering them from the laser guide just before the mech fired at them. Ben, Hal, and Jaden braced themselves inside the bed of the truck. The ground behind them exploded in fire and rain of dirt. The mechs opened fire on the truck. Weaver steered the truck from the blasts to the best of his ability, but the rough motions never gave Hal, Ben, and Jaden a chance to fire again.
A blast hit near the back of the truck. The explosion launched Ben and Jaden from the back. The truck kept going through the forest, leaving them behind. Jaden hit on her back and rolled onto her knees, bringing up her rifle. She took out the final mech, using up the last of her ammo. She jogged over to Ben, who was already on his feet. Skitters swarmed toward them, crawling over the bodies of the fallen mechs.
Jaden slung up her rifle and reached for her pistols. "I'm out of mech bullets."
"I've got half a clip." Ben answered. He turned on the skitters and opened fire. "How many backups you got?"
"Pistols or rifle?"
"Both?"
Jaden took out two skitters. "One pistol mag each. I'm out of rifle."
"We're not gonna last long here. I say we retreat and try to catch up with Weaver." Ben said.
A skitter shot near Jaden's head. She ducked the shot, crouching above the ground. "Agreed. Move!"
They broke into a run, fleeing the incoming skitters in the forest. Jaden pulled her third backup pistol and tossed it to Ben. They weaved around trees, trying to lose the skitters. Ben ked the way with Jaden bringing up the rear due to her leg. They slipped through the thickening forest, losing the skitters in the hustle. They could hear the trucks engine through the fight, they were catching up.
Suddenly a skitter leapt from one of the trees and landed on top of Ben, pinning him to the ground. The impact launched the gun from his hands. Jaden immediately raised her guns, only to have the skitter swat them from her grasp. Ben took the opportunity to pull the knife from his pocket. He snapped it open and stabbed the closest leg. Jaden threw herself onto the skitters back. The pain and sudden weight of Jaden forced the skitter off of Ben. The skitter reached behind its head and grabbed into Jaden's braids. It pulled her head back just enough to grab her throat. It pulled Jaden from its back and threw her to the ground. Ben hurled the knife into the skitters face, driving it into its right eyes. The skitter shrieked in pain and pulled the knife out. Ben dove for the closest pistol and aimed at the skitter. Suddenly Weaver's truck came bounding over a small hill and slammed into the skitter. Maggie and Hal leapt from the truck. Ben grabbed the knife and slipped it back into his pocket.
Hal grabbed Ben's collar and pulled him toward the truck. "Move your ass!"
"Hal! I need help!" Maggie called.
Ben and Hal ran to Maggie. She was kneeling beside Jaden's body. The skitters claws and ripped open Jaden's throat. Blood spilled from her throat and filled her mouth. The more terrifying part was that Jaden was still alive and very conscious. Ben quickly ripped off Jaden's other sleeve and tied it around her neck.
"I'll carry her." Hal said.
"No I got her, go!" Ben replied. He quickly lifted Jaden into his arms, unaffected by her lack of weight. They ran to the truck, where Weaver was ready for them. Ben and Hal carefully laid Jaden into the bed of the truck. Ben jump in and slammed his fist on the side. Weaver stepped on the gas and sped off. The sleeve around Jaden's neck had already soaked through with blood and was now rolling down her chest and truck bed. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to stay conscious.
Ben grabbed her hand. "Jaden, stay with me. Stay awake."
Jaden opened her mouth, but all she could do was choke on her blood. Several droplets rolled down her cheeks.
"She's choking on her own blood." Hal said.
Ben quickly turned her head toward him. The blood began to empty from her mouth onto the bed of her truck, but Jaden was still choking. Ben grabbed her hand. She was growing cold, shaking in his hand. He could hear her heartbeat slowing down. Her eyes continued to flutter as she fought in front of him. Ben tightened his grip on her hand. "Jaden!"
Ben's cry barely registered to her. She was cold, growing colder. She could barely feel her trembling hand in Ben's. The limited scene around her was growing darker. Her lungs burned for oxygen. Since the invasion began, Jaden thought her only fear was dying enslaved to the aliens. It was always possible to die even after she was freed. Mech bullets, skitter patrols, even other humans could've easily killed her. But this was hers. To die in the back of the truck, choking on her own blood. For the first time…she was afraid to die…
end of season 1. okay who saw the finale for season 2?! AMAZING! anyways...look for the sequal that will take time to write. RETURN/REVENGE. btw that kinda seems like the theme for the 2nd mass. think about it. season 1 was retreat. season 2 was regroup. 3 and 4 could be return, revenge. anyone else think so? anyways...reviews please!