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Chapter 15

Francisco stumbled against a tree, blood dripping down his right arm. A bullet had hit him in the shoulder and pain stabbed at him everytime he took a breath. The smoke around him didn't help his breathing either. Tears ran down his face and he had to squint to see a little way ahead of him. Somewhere close by he knew that the shroud lay burning; flames consuming the craft were lighting up the sky.

The man blinked, trying to focus. Someone was shooting but he didn't know who. No it was more than one person. They didn't seem far off either.

With some difficulty, Francisco pushed himself from the tree and staggered forward through the smoke. He gripped at his shoulder as he walked, holding a gun out in front of him. Strange sounds floated upon the air. Footsteps running over hard - packed soil. Voices screaming. Voices whispering.

Falling to his knees, the man bent over and threw up onto the ground. He was a military man and yet here, in a war zone, he was struggling to even keep moving. Maybe he was getting too old for this.

Francisco staggered to his feet, rubbing at his eyes to clear away dirt and grit. It only made things worse. He could barely see now, the trees, motionless shadows. Pain stabbed up his arm and he moaned.

Leaning against an oak, he stopped to take a breather. The man slid down the trunk until he was sat on the ground, his legs flat against the soil.

Suddenly he started, his gun aiming into the forest around him. Footsteps were running his way. Several pairs of them. They drummed upon the earth like rain, increasing in tempo.

Francisco struggled to his feet and peered through the smoke and the branches, breathing heavily. A shadow flitted behind one of the trees and he swung his arm around.

The man pulled the trigger.

The gun bucked in his hand, smoke rising from it's barrel.

The bullet flew through the air, faster than thought, faster than sound.

A crack pierced the air. It was swiftly followed by a high - pitched scream, the sound resonating through the air.

The bullet had found it's mark.

Francisco began his slow forward shuffle towards his victim.

Rick and the girls had managed to find the hatch that led up to the forest floor. It hadn't been easy. Several men had chased them down the corridors and they'd had to shake them off first. Then, tired and struggling to breathe because of the smoke wafting through the passageways, they'd painstakingly searched for the way out and tried to avoid the guards.

Now as he helped to pull the others out, he glanced around him. They were in a forest, mist swirling between the boughs. Gunfire sounded in the distance as did men's shouts and screams. This was the first time Rick had been outside in about a week. He breathed deeply as a breeze came past and smiled despite the cold. Then he looked up. He'd have liked to see the stars but to his dismay clouds hid them from view.

Alianna beside him was breathing heavily, panicking.

"What's wrong?" He asked, frowning.

"Nothing..." She whispered, gazing about her in awe. That's when the boy realised that this was the first time she'd ever been on the surface. If her story was to be believed.

"Come on! We have to get back to the shroud!" Shelby said, pulling him up. He stumbled to his feet and ran after her as they plunged into the trees.

Almost immediately, Rick tripped and went sprawling. He cried out and the others stopped for him, glancing around nervously.

"What's wrong?" Laura asked, walking back cautiously.

"I think I've sprained my ankle." He muttered, staggering to his feet. The boy gingerly tried to stand on his foot but it sent a stab of pain shooting up his leg.

"Why do you have to be so clumsy?" Shelby asked in frustration. Alianna beside her, suddenly spun around, the hairs prickling along her arms.

"Someone's here..." She whispered. They all strained to hear anything but there was nothing but the gunfire and shouts further away.

"It was probably just an animal. Let's go. Rick do you need help?" Laura asked, concerned.

"Nah! I'll be fine. Hopefully. You guys go on ahead. I'm sure you don't need me to protect you..." He said with a smile. Shelby rolled her eyes and set off running, Alianna behind her. Laura frowned and then followed. When she heard the boy's laboured breathing and his hobbling run behind them, she began to relax.

Rick, limped along, struggling to keep up. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow flicker.

"Hey guys..." He began, slowing down. Suddenly there was a crack like thunder that resonated through the air. He flinched, instinctively ducking down.

A scream followed, stopping his heart in it's tracks. With mounting dread he lifted his head and glanced up.

At first everything seemed fine. The others had stopped where they were, frozen still. Shelby was looking backwards at Alianna and her friend, looking to see who'd screamed.

Rick, slowly stood up. Maybe it had been a reflex scream. Maybe no - one had been hit.

But then almost like a slow - motion movie, Laura dropped to her knees, blood bubbling up through her lips and painting them red. Her eyes were wide and her skin pale. Without a sound the girl fell onto her side.

Francisco started as there was another scream. He lifted the gun in his hand up and aimed, ready to open fire.

Just ahead of him was a clearing from which the sound had emanated. With a soft tread he entered the little enclosure and quickly assessed the situation.

Rick was kneeling on the ground, Laura in his arms. He had tears running down his face and was whispering soothing words to the girl, who was barely breathing and only just had her eyes open. Shelby knelt beside them, openly crying, her eyes red. She sobbed great heaving breaths and held onto her friend's hand. Alianna stood over them, mumbling to herself. She was the first to notice Francisco watching them. And the gun in his hand.

"He shot her!" She shouted. The two teenagers head's snapped up.

Two sets of jaws dropped in horror.

One gun fell to the ground.

And a girl took her last breath.

"It feels weird but good to remember." Otto said, walking alongside his teacher and friend. They were slowly making their way back to the hatch so that they could meet up with the rest of their team.

"Will we never hear the end of it...?" Nero said, sarcastically.

"Maybe. When I forget which isn't likely." The boy replied with a grin. Suddenly he stopped as if he'd hit a brick wall. "Laura kissed Rick... then she slapped him..."

"Then she kissed you." Wing finished. He rolled his eyes and smiled as his friend went red.. "Your relationship has officially begun... Wait, what's wrong?"

"Nothing..." The boy replied.

"No, there's something wrong. You're crying." Nero continued, frowning.

Otto quickly brushed his fingers against his cheek. It was indeed wet.

"I don't know..." He whispered.

"Maybe it's Rick. You are brothers after all..." The man continued.

"Then why would he be crying?" Otto nearly shouted.

Nero and Wing glanced at each other. Then unexpectedly, Raven began moaning. The man gently put her on her feet, as she opened her eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded, leaning heavily against him.

"I'm going." Otto said, pushing past them.

"What? Where?" Nero asked.

"To Rick and the rest of them. To find out why I was crying. Raven will only slow us down and something may have happened."

The man nodded. "Okay, we'll meet up with you as soon as we can. Take Wing!" He shouted after Otto as he ran around the corner.