"You need to run and keep running! Go"!
The Militia had found them as Miles knew they would. Philadelphia was a stronghold for Monroe and getting there unnoticed would have been a miracle but he had hoped they would have gotten closer. But of course they were discovered.
Bullets flew past his head as he ran through the trees next to Charlie and Aaron. Nora and Alex ran just behind, Alex managing to get a couple of good shots off with her bow. Despite her effort, it wasn't really helping. The Militia team outnumbered them two to one and Miles felt for sure someone would have reported the sighting. There was only one option.
"We have to split up", he yelled to Nora who nodded quickly in agreement. They had already discussed how they would handle things should they need to separate.
"Alex. Go! Charlie, Aaron, split up. Now"!
Everyone nodded and avoiding the flying bullets disappeared into the trees.
Charlie hid behind a huge shrub, trying to catch her breath as quietly as she could. She felt like she had been running alone for hours and she hadn't seen or heard anything from the Militia. Maybe they had given up. She shook her head, trying to focus. The other possibilities were not ones she wanted to consider. There didn't seem to be anymore guns going off as she waited over an hour before continuing to make her way along a barely noticeable path. It would be two days before she would meet up with the others if they haven't been caught and two more days away from rescuing Danny. She managed to occupy herself so completely with worry that she didn't notice the figures following her. Just when she thought she was free and clear, three men grabbed her and her gear, disarming her instantly.
Miles heard Charlie's scream echo through the trees and his heart went cold. Of course they would catch up to her. She had no experience with avoiding the Militia, no matter how much he had tried to teach her. He should have stayed with her. Charlie screamed again, along with a man's yell. Damn it! The nerd had to get caught as well. Perfect, just perfect! Miles found himself considering just leaving and disappearing like he did before. That would be much easier than the option he knew he was going to take. He sighed as he turned around and ran through the trees, hoping he wouldn't be too late.
It was easy for Alex to avoid the Militia. They were very much school smart but this group had little to no experience in the real world with real people. Two very young men came through the trees and she subdued them without trouble. It was then that she heard the scream that was not too far from her. The sound pierced the air, sending a shiver down her spine. Without a second thought, she turned and raced the short distance back to the sound, leaving the bodies behind.
As she got closer, she could hear Charlie and Aaron yelling with half a dozen men yelling to each other so she slowed as she crept towards them. She peeked through the trees and saw the Militia gripping at Charlie and Aaron's arms, pulling at their belongings. Their fear was all over their faces as they struggled against the harsh grips that held them. One of the men, who was clearly the one in charge smiled at Charlie.
"Fight all you want. It won't help. You will only make things worse". He turned to one of his men. "Get back to town and alert the General that we have two infiltrators, possibly the ones he is looking for. We will bring them straight to the city. Go"!
Alex couldn't let that messenger get to the city. She closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths, aiming her bow and firing, following the arrow as she launched herself into the clearing.
Miles found the group of Militia quickly, without any trouble. He made sure to keep himself hidden from the men.
"I thought you said to split up and keep running. You should really start paying attention to what you tell everyone else"!
Miles nearly jumped out of his skin as he spun around to find Nora, stern faced with weapons at the ready. He sighed, turning back to the group. There was no piint in arguing. Nora crouched beside him.
"What's your plan"?
"Well, we can't let them get taken to the city. We'd lose them for good".
Miles hoped she would catch on to his plan, despite the fact that it was insane.
"Alright then", she said, very matter of factly. Miles pulled his weapons.
"Get ready Nora".
They watched as a man got ordered to get a message to Monroe. Just as they were about to run out, the messenger fell silently to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his chest. A figure flew out of the trees, knocking guns and men to the ground. Miles jumped out of his hiding place and into the fray, slicing down Militia as he went. Several gunshots went of as he finally got to Charlie and he watched as Alex cut down the last soldier and he sighed with relief,
"Charlie, are you ok"?
She nodded and she turned to Aaron and hugged him. "Are you ok"? He nodded. "Hey you guys thanks", he gasped but Miles didn't let him continue.
"You didn't split up, did you? You were supposed to split up and run, not take a leisurely stroll through the….".
"Miles just stop, ok"!
Charlie's voice broke his rant. He stopped and waited for the explanation. It never came. Charlie's attention was down the road. "Charlie, I'm talk….". Finally he realised what she was staring at.
Alex stared down at the body of the man she had just cut down. He was middle aged with a scar down his face. She found herself simply staring at him. Usually after fights like this she felt strong; almost exhilarated but this time she could feel the energy and adrenaline draining from her body as she stood there. Her vision began to haze as she felt her swords slip from her hands. She didn't even have the strength to pick them up. Time felt like it was going in slow motion as she looked towards the others in an attempt to talk to them but even the very small gesture of turning seemed to sap at her strength. Her vision blurred further as she looked down, Charlie's voice managing to penetrate the haze.
"Alex"?
In an instant, her body screamed in pain as she dropped to her knees, the voices of her companions barely registering through the agony, blood pooling on the ground beside her.