Chapter 7- A much darker place

I wasn't sure where Gretchen lived now- it had been too long and my mind wasn't functioning. when I classed my eyes All I could see was neatly dressed muscle men jumping out from that bloody van; I guess this was a minor way of freaking out...

'You ok?' TJ asked after we had been walking for about half an hour. I simply nodded before looking around, I didn't recognize a thing.

'Where are we?' I asked, I couldn't believe how down I sounded. It was as if I had seen a cat get ran over right in front of me. Surly this wasn't as tragic. I cleared my throat. 'Are you sure you know where she lives?' That sounded better.

'Yhea, she's always lived here.' he looked back at me. 'You're completely out of it.' he sniggered. I raised my brown at him.

'I beg your pardon?' He grinned turning forward again.

'I just like seeing the human side of you. Every time I think of you I always see a small monkey child.' yhea, the banana and everything.

'Laugh after we're side.' I hissed pushing him forward but he didn't have to show me anything. A door flew open and a girl stud in a lilac dressing gown before us.

'What are you playing at?' Gretchen Grundler strode forward in her pink slippers to grab my hand pulling me away from the boy. 'You stay away from her. She's not yours. You stick to blond bimbos and snaggle toothed low lives.' she growled holding me behind her.

'We, Gretch...we both.' I moved from behind her grabbing TJ's sleeve. 'Need your help.' she folded her arms tapping her foot before she started walking back into her house.

'Fine but take off your shoes.' she called. I grinned at TJ.

'I see you've kept good relations.' I snorted following Gretchen into her house.

Gretchen took us straight to her room after forcing me from my boots. TJ just kept silent as I explained what happened, the gun shot, the man in the van and more importantly the chasing by said men. She had a boiled the kettle and brought it up along with three mugs after I finished my little story. She really was taking her time thinking about the situation. TJ sat near the window looking out every five seconds. He looked like a twitchy hamster.

'What's up with you?' I hissed folded my legs sitting on Gretchen's bed.

'We're sitting normally in a house. We could have been followed, or chipped, or Gretchen might not be trust worthy.'

'What's not to trust?' Gretchen butted in. 'in any case I'm more trust worthy than you.' she handed a warm mug of coco to me. I grinned taking it off her.

'Thanks.' I sighed taking a giant swig before instantly regretting it. I swallowed fast feeling the top of my mouth burn. 'What the hell did you heat this stuff with? A flame thrower?'

'Yes, the oven isn't working since I tried...modifying it so that it could clean itself. Anyway, any chance to use a flame thrower is appreciated. They are useful things.' TJ and I exchanged glances. I could see him wanting to ask if she really was the right person to come to. To me it was more like "oh my fucking god! Can't you see how awesome she's grown to be?" I looked back to my old friend taking another long drink of hot chocolate.

'Cool.' I grinned.

'So...about your problem...what do you want from me? I don't know how to handle anything like this. I mean form what you described it's probably a government issue.' I threw out my hand gesturing it at her.

'See, that's why! I would have never have guessed that, but you don't even need to guess. You know.' I turned my head to TJ expecting him to join in but there was no such luck. 'Come on, please. You've got to help us out. You're the smartest person I know.' she took a drink from her own mug.

'That's nothing special. I'm smarter than most people.' she said coolly. 'Anyway, as long as it involve him.' she pointed over to TJ with a long finger. he snorted turning back to the window. 'I don't want anything to do with it.' I closed my eyes nodding. Good old TJ. I took a deep breath nodding.

'I see your point...but I do have to say it's such a pity.' I put down my mug reaching out my hand to her. 'This kind of thing doesn't happen every day, it's a good job but still, think of the opportunity.' she shuffled a little as I spoke. 'But if you must reject us it's fine. I see your point. If I saw that young man getting attacked my wolves' I placed my hand on TJ's leg squeezing it gently 'I'd probably want to kick him before walking off without a single look back.'

'hey.' he growled pushing my hand from him.

'I know. No need to thank me.' I patted his knee before turning back to Gretchen. 'But just put him aside and think for yourself. I mean didn't you say you were bored? I mean there can only be so many books in the world and here, right here you have a real adventure to dig into.' I caught her eyes. 'please.' she hummed looking away.

'I'm sorry, I can't. I'm not made for adventures. Look at me.' she pulled at her dressing gown. 'I'll break if I get in a fight. I'm not tough like you.'

'She has a point.' TJ butted in but I thumped his thigh still looking at Gretchen.

'You're better off without me.' she continued. 'I'll just weigh you down.'

'Then why would I come here?' I sighed moving away from TJ altogether. 'I need your help. If you won't do it for yourself could you please do it for me? I'm not good at smart stuff like you and I can't think straight now. And look at the only other person I have for help.' we both looked up at TJ drinking from Gretchen's little pink mug. He sniffed looking up at us. 'You can't leave me with that.' I muttered in her ear moving away again.

'I'm sorry.' she said again this time looking down at her hands. She actually looked sorry now. 'I can't. Why do you think I stay in the locker all the time? I'm not good outside. I've learnt that.' I nodded getting to my feet.

'It's ok. I understand.' I sighed looking at TJ. 'Come on, we better get moving then, before Gretch gets caught up in this.' he nodded heading out the door. Gretchen looked up before I followed him.

'I really am sorry.' she said again.

'It's ok.' I smiled. 'It's like you said. I'm tough. I'll see you in school.' I held up a hand jumping down the stairs and gathered my boots.

'Get them on fast.' TJ was already ready and standing at the door, it looked like he was prepared for war. The grim expression and stony look in his eyes made it all seem more serious. Maybe it was a bad idea to get everyone involved after all. I nodded getting to my feet opening the door.

'Ready.' I muttered wondering back out into the cold.

'wait.' a small voice called from the door. I looked back. Gretchen was dressed. Coat and everything which was buttoned up to her chin. She pulled on mittens following us. 'I'm just saying that you should have gone to Gus, I mean who else do you know with a strict military up bringing and extensive knowledge on weaponry and vehicles.' she smiled looking at both of us. 'I guess I change my mind then.' she grinned striding out onto the pavement.

'I guess you have.' I joined her looking back to TJ. He looked fed up.

'Fine, if you're in, you're in. you can't go backing out.' he said firmly. 'We're in enough shit already.' both Gretchen and I nodded. He sighed looking round. 'Well, off to Gus.'

Now that Gretchen was with me I felt much better. There were no awkward tense walking scenes with TJ, which was such a relief. Sure it wasn't a picnic but it wasn't the worst thing in the world anymore.

'So what made you change your mind?' I asked moving along next to Gretchen.

'Well...if I left you with him you'd die. No matter how tough you are. Sorry. If you were on your own I would have kicked you out but since you're stuck with him I'm afraid I might find you shot in the back of the head if I didn't help.' she said in one breath glaring at the back of TJ's head.

'I'm here you know.' he waved back to us. 'You could try to whisper.' I rolled my eyes catching up with him.

'Don't start. We're all helping each other.' I growled to him. 'You would have thought you'd be a little more relaxed now that we're not being chased.'

'They could be anywhere. We could be being watched right now.'

'He's a little paranoid.' Gretchen came to my other side. 'But essentially he's right. We need to stay inside as much as possible.' I nodded, it made sense. Even I knew commonsense, but what were we meant to do while travelling? We had no choice. It didn't help that it was still too early for most people. I looked back to TJ, why was he out so early in the first place?

We reached Gus's house no problem, and there was defiantly no mistaking that it was his house, an army jeep pulled up outside and a flag high up above the houses. We stud on the path staring at the house expecting alarms to go off any second.

'Ok.' I took a depth breath marching up to the house. My companions followed a little taken a back as I knocked briskly on the door. The door didn't open automatically as Gretchen's did. We stud outside for a while staring at the door. I knocked again.

'Maybe no one's home.' Gretchen said moving to one of the windows.

'Or sleeping. It's seven on a weekend.' TJ folded his arms. 'If he's not here we better get moving.' the door opened. Unlike Gretchen, when Gus answered the door he was fully dressed. He looked too casual for this house. Lose jeans and long sleeved top complete with gray beanie hat; it didn't exactly scream army brat.

'Hi, what are you all doing here?' he looked down at me. 'Feeling better?'

'Yeh, but exhorted. We've been running round all morning.' I rubbed the back of my head. Gretchen cleared her throat. 'I mean, no, we're not ok. We need your help.' he leant out the door peering round.

'Ok, you can come in.' he stepped back. 'Dad's working so we won't get interrupted.' I really didn't need telling twice. It the cold was making my face numb and I really didn't need to get ill again.

Gus's house wasn't like Gretchen or mine. It was very...neat, very clean and straight. But yhea...very neat. He led up to the couch where we sat.

'So, how can I help?' he asked after we were all seated opposite him in the sitting room. I was sitting between my two companions smiling sheepishly at Gus.

'Well...you're probably not going to believe this.' I gritted my teeth together before retelling the story again. After the second time saying it out loud even I wasn't ready to believe it. But Gus just sat there listening. He didn't even move at moments I wanted to reach over just to check if he was even breathing. But I carried on talking; I guess being called a "zombie" really was more than just some childish tease. When I was finished I just sat there still unsure of what to do. I looked over to Gretchen.

'Did I miss anything?' I asked turning my head to TJ, they kept quiet. 'Guess not.' Gus sat up from where he sat staring at us.

'Is this a joke?' he folded his arms firmly. 'It's not funny, jokes are meant to have some kind of punch line.'

'It's not a joke.' Gretchen groaned. 'You should know that, look at her. Plus I doubt she could make something like that up.' his eyes didn't move away from me.

'Even so it's fishy...I get why TJ is here, he was with her but you?'

'I'm always the smart one.' she smirked. 'I just said you'd be better because this seems to involve violence.' from his expression he really wasn't taking it what she said to heart.

'It'd be very much appreciated if you helped since we have no idea what we're doing.' TJ said stiffly. I glared at him, it sounded as if he was reading Q cards.

'sure.' he shrugged. I looked back as he got to his feet.

'Really?' I grinned almost jumping over to him.

'Yhea, I haven't got anything planned today. Why not?' I smiled throwing a hand out to pat him on the back.

'Great...what now?' he looked back at me pushing his glasses up on his face.

'well we put you into the shooting range.' my smile fell...what the hell did he mean by that?

sorry this chapter isn't very long but school took over, I had an exam and everything...the chapters will be getting longer hopefully in a few chapter times. please keep reading! XX