The Sickness

Kate Angell|Zaria:

I watched Sam start to walk away and turned back to guy who was just talking.

"I'll stay," I said and held out my hand. "You know my name, but I don't know yours."

"Dougie," he said, grinning.

I smiled back and turned to see Sam still standing there. He shook his head but made no move to leave.

"What? I'd prefer this tribe than any other." I put my hands on my hips and scowled at him. But he stayed where he was. I sighed and shook my head, turning back to Dougie.

SAMUEL

I couldn't believe I was going to let her go. Funny how whenever I started getting along with somebody, they totally disapeared. I frowned and crossed my arms, watching her talking to that guy-Dougie was his name like she had known him since they were in diapers.

I shifted uneasily, fighting off the urge to follow. I couldn't follow them. No way was I going to live in a tribe. I sighed and grabbed my sleeping bag of treasures, slinging it across my shoulder.

I grinned to myself. I would follow, without them knowing. I wouldn't join their tribe, but why not keep an eye on Zaria? I turned on my heal and walked away for a ways before turning around again, a safe distance away.

I was finally getting along with somebody; or at least I assumed I was. No way was I letting her go off on her own that easily. Especially with another guy.

Greer Tolsen - GT

Greer shook her head in silence and glanced to Ari, who gave her a similar look. They were both thinking the same thing: this isn't a freaking kindergarten class. Why didn't they all just sit in a circle and play duck duck goose?

This was real life for them now--tribes, rebels, guns, knives, living and dying. That was it. It's not the cushiony life they grew up with. That's gone now. Anymore, Greer and Ari seemed to be the only ones who understood that.

Greer sighed, "They'll be back."

The new kids looked at her with confusion, "Who?"

"The people you just pranked. They'll figure out you lied and they'll be back. Soon. Personally, I don't plan on being here when they do." Greer wasn't afraid to fight, but she also wasn't stupid. There were more of them and they had guns. If a fight wasn't necessary, she'd avoid it.

She turned around and headed back towards the abandoned building they were all in at one point.

Ari

What in the world is this mess. Why don't we make a cake and throw a tea party while we're at it? I threw a cold glare in the direction of the new comers and Aerrow and followed GT back into the building.

"This is ridiculous." I muttered to myself, pulling on a clean shirt and throwing all my stuff back into my backpack.

"Tell me about it." she sighed, tying her shoes.

Aerrow walked into the building looking quite glum.

"Listen Ari, It's not a probl--"

"Yes it is Aerrow. We're in enough trouble as it is! Now we're being hunted for a reason still unknown to me? And now we're going to have to play babysitter, and count heads every single block make sure no one got shot." I spat out bitterly.

"We're stronger then that Ari. Don't be like that." he winced.

"We're dead Aerrow, how are we supposed to do this? Why are we even hunted huh? Why didn't you tell me?" I rushed out, feeling more hurt and upset then I had in a long time.

I sat down feeling defeated, sticking my shotgun in the clips on the side of the pack. Aerrow sat down, unsure whether to say something or not.

Dougie strolled in, obviously very pleased with himself. I pulled my shot gun out and stormed over to him.

"Whoa babe, put that thing down!" he shouted, swerving away before I grabbed his collar.

"If you make one false move. Just one, I'll be the first to put a bullet through your head." I hissed at him through gritted teeth jamming the barrel of the gun against his neck.

His face was drained, when I let go and went back to my pack. Aerrow looked at me, with wide eyes, and still hesitating to say something.

SAMUEL

I stopped dead. I had gotten a little too close to the rest of the group. One of the girls was holding a gun to the guy's neck. What was his name? Doug or something. Zaria looked frightened.

I hesitated, trying to figure out what to do. If even one of them turned, they'd end up seeing me. I didn't move, afraid of alerting one of them. Zaria turned her head and saw me, but didn't say anything. Thank God. She looked panicked.

What to do? What to do? I bit my lip and tried to focus.

Dougie

That chick had problems. Chuckling to myself, I sat down. Maybe I had made the wrong decision? I knew that staying with these guys would only end up getting them killed. I wrecked everything, after all; I was a failure.

As I sat down, I noticed that the newcomer looked terrified. I grinned as I turned to her. She looked at me, her face pale. Ari had obviously freaked her out. Smiling, I signalled for Zaria to come and sit next to me. She did so, although she still looked terrified.

"Don't worry," I said to her. "I piss people off easily. Don't tell the others that I said this, but I'm a prick."

Zaria giggled, colour returning to her face. At least she was feeling better. I could be a half decent guy sometimes. As Zaria became more comfortable, I became the opposite. My mind couldn't help but wonder to my brother. I hated the way I'd let him go, the way I'd just let him run away. Charlie was alone, scared and I knew it. I hated it. I hated myself. I didn't deserve to be here right now.

"You don't seem that bad," Zaria suddenly spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

"Trust me," I was surprised by the seriousness in my own voice. "You don't want to get close to me."

That wasn't a lie.

Kammie


I watched from the background, being the quiet girl I was. Or at least I became. I wasn't always so quiet, so hostile, so untrusting, but in this world...well, you have to be.

"Mikayla, do you like these people?"

Mikayla turned her head away from Dougie, who she had been swooning at for the past hour. She wasn't as young as I remembered, she was growing up and was already liking boys and learning about new things.

"Yeah. I mean, it's more exciting than sitting in our tent all day," she answered. Well, in some ways, she was still a child.

"Okay, but if anyone does anything to you...just...just tell me, all right?" I responded. She blushed and quicked shifted away from Dougie, embarassed I had caught her staring. She went to talk to Jojo.

I looked away from Mikayla and turned to Aerrow. Even though I had basically become a mother at 16 and was kind of depressed, I still was a girl and was kind of lonely. I went into the store type place we were in and walked over to the girls.

"So, what are you guys doing?"

SAMUEL

I couldn't believe nobody had noticed me yet. I glared at Dougie. He was way too close to Zaria... Why do you care so much? I asked myself. Rhetorical question. I knew why I cared so much...

I sighed, not caring if anybody heard me now and sat down. Nobody lurched their head in my direction. I rummaged around in my sleeping-bag turned luggage bag for my pen and paper. I clicked the top of the pen and began to describe Zaria. She was one of the people I wanted to remember.

I grinned to myself, wondering how long it would take the others to notice they had a stalker. With any luck they might kill me or take me hostage.

I felt my cheeks drain of colour as I watched Ari point the barrel of her shot gun at Dougie. Why didn’t she like others being in our group? She had made that pretty clear, Aerrow. I told myself stepping back into the marine shop.

Making my way towards my bag, I could hear some whimpering coming from outside the window. Never in my life had I thought I would end up doing this, travelling around the streets of an unknown street…It just didn’t seem real anymore.

Grabbing at my bag I walked out, GT meeting me at the door. “Are we leaving?” She asked. I nodded simultaneously. “Ari doesn’t want to stay.” I whistled out for Kammie who was sitting in the cool water with her sister. They both jumped to their feet and jogged towards us.

“Where are you going?” Kammie asked. I grinned; “We’re on the road again.” Kammie’s shoulders dropped, “But we were just on the road.” GT’s posture straightened, “Like it or loathe it, we’re always travelling around.” I looked in the corner of my eye to see her face was a wall of seriousness.

“Cranky much,” Kammie mumbled under her breath. I stifled a smile, “Shall we move on?” I asked. I looked down to see the new people; Samuel and Zaria sitting anxiously next to Dougie. Well, Zaria was. Samuel was standing well away from the two staring at Dougie with a glimmer of hate in his eyes.

“We should leave them before they notice,” GT said quickly tugging at the straps of my bag. I looked up at her, “We can’t do that.” She shook her head, “And why ever not!” I began to walk making my voice loud enough for the others to notice. “Cause!”

GT cursed my name instantly as she saw the others turn to see us. I could tell Zaria didn’t like any of us that much, especially when we were treating them like outcasts. “I guess we’re going.” Dougie said coolly, sauntering towards us. Samuel and Zaria slunk back, though they still followed us muttering to themselves.

I waved them over, both of their mouths forming an ‘O’. Dougie caught up; placing his hand around GT’s neck I watched her move instantly. I laughed, I didn’t mind these guys after all, and we did need all the help we can get.

Ari was well ahead of now shifting her bag impatiently across her shoulders. I tried not to laugh at her attempt to calm herself. “I’m gonna get Ari.” I called over my shoulder sprinting towards the girl in front of me. Ari sure could walk fast.

SAMUEL

"Decided to come crawling back did you?" Zaria asked, nudging me in the ribs with her elbow.

I snickered. "I never left."

"You what?!" She sounded mad. I didn't blame her. I had given up waiting for somebody to notice me and simply walked back to the group and greeted them. Heh, that G.T. chick hadn't looked extremely thrilled, but oh well. She'd live.

"I sorta of followed you guys around for a while. Douggie was creeping me out." I smirked, flinging my sleeping bag back over my shoulder.

"Douggie really isn't that bad. He never did anything to you," she grumbled.

I snickered again, earning me a glare. "Look, Zar. Mind if I call you that?" Rhetorical question. I'd call her that weather she liked it or not. I didn't wait for an answer. "I'm sorry I left, it's just that I'm so much better off on my own."

She rolled her eyes at me, annoyed. I would tell her the truth, that I was jealous; but I could never do that. Nope, I'd spill it out into one of my notebooks later, but I wasn't about to speak it.

Ari

"Come on Ari, wait up!" Aerrow called out. I blew a strand of hair out of my face and kept walking.

When he finally caught up, I looked at him blankly. "So, you found a three-legged cat that you want to keep?"

"Aw, come on Ari. What's the harm of having more people?" he said softly.

"Let's see. Drawing attention to ourselves, being mistaken as a tribe, what if one of these guys has a plan to kill us all in our sleep?" I listed. "'Cause you know, I haven't slept in 2 days now, I'm sure I can stay up a third."

"Look, maybe they aren't here to kill us, maybe we might stand a chance if we do run into a tribe." He said placing a hand on my shoulder.

I bit my bottom lip, readjusting my pack. "Fine." I sighed, slowing my pace. "But I'll be keeping my promise to this "Dougie" character."

"You'll love me eventually babe!" he shouted.

"Don't make me pull out my gun again boy." I called back.

"We'll be fine. I promise." Aerrow smiled.

"Yea, yea. Sure we will."

Caleb Reynolds: Aerrow

I winked at Ari, "You're not going to regret it!" She laughed kicking a lump of sand in my direction. I jumped back the small grains whipping across my legs. I let out a groan as sand caught in my eyes. Wiping at them with the back of my hands, I looked up. “Your eyes are all red!” Ari shouted, holding at her sides as her giggles began to grow in to a wild hysteria.

“Thanks!” I said sarcastically, wiping my fingers on the bottom of my shirt. “So if I was dying, in the middle of the street, I bet a million dollars you’d be giggling.” I smirked at her. She placed a hand to her heart dramatically, “Never Aerrow.” I looked at her, “Really?” Ari nodded instantly, “Why I’d cackling myself silly!”

"Um, guys!" GT called out towards us, her voice shaking nervously. "You really should come see this, like, now!" I turned simultaneously to see the small group I had managed to muster crowding around something.

"I think I'm gonna be sick!" I heard Kammie mumble over her hand, which clamped her mouth. "What is it?" Ari asked stumbling towards them. I followed mechanically my mouth forming an ‘O’.

"What are you guys on about?" I sighed as my walk began to slow. I heard Ari gasp instantly as she pushed past the group. I frowned. "If this is some sort of a tri-" Going on to the tips of my toes, I poked my head over their shoulders to see a mangled body twisted and distorted on the sand.

The blood seemed to have been drained from a wound in the chest. I gagged instantly, the smell over powering my senses. "We’ve gotta get out of here!" Samuel said loudly. Dougie turned his head instantly, Zaria following in tune.

"This looks rather recent," Kammie took a quick look at it before chucking up what ever she had in her stomach. Mikayla began to wail, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Let's get out of here!" I instructed moving as quickly as I could from the carnage. I could feel alien eyes drilling into my back. We were being watched. Again.

Dougie

Okay, now that was horrible. Seeing a kid like... like that actually made me feel physically sick. What if Charlie was... No, I wasn't going to think about it. Turning away from the boy, I shook the disturbing thought out of my head. I forced a smile and turned to Ari.

"So babes, do you have anything to drink?" I asked. "I'm thirsty."

Ari didn't answer, she simply growled at me like some kind of wild animal. All I had to do was look at that chick and I'd offend her. I'll take that as a no... I thought, shaking my head.

As we moved away from the boy on the floor, I couldn't help but notice that Mikayla was crying. I felt really bad for her. What can I say? I had a soft spot for kids. Still smiling, I walked over to her. The second Kammie saw me heading towards them, she glared at me. What had I done to her? I knew I was a jerk and everything, but I hadn't done anything to Kammie.

"Hey Mikayla, do you want something to eat?" I asked, delving my hands into my bag. It took me a while, but I managed to find a packet of crisps. It wasn't much, but at least it was something.

I handed the packet to her, but she simply looked at me. Kammie's eyes were narrowed, observing me carefully. What did she think I was going to do? Paranoid...

"Uh... don't you want them?" Mikayla finally spoke.

"Nah, I'm not hungry." I lied.

She muttered a 'thanks' under her breath as she took the packet from my hands. Kammie was still staring at me offensively.

SAMUEL

It took every ounce of self-control I had in me not to vomit all over. That was the most sickening thing I had ever seen in my whole life.

I sighed and wrapped an arm around Zaria's shoulder. Her whole body tensed up, but at least she didn't shove me away. I glanced at Dougie to check if he had seen or not. He was too busy talking to one of the younger girls to notice.

"And this is why I'm a loner," I muttered.

Zaria turned her head to raise a skeptic eyebrow at me. "You joined this group pretty quickly."

Point taken. I smirked and chuckled to myself. "Look, I have my reasons for doing this." I leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I don't plan on staying though."

She rolled her eyes. "Reasons like...?"

I pursed my lips. She was asking too many questions. Then again, I had sort of led her into confusion. She had a right to be curious. "Just reasons. Reasons I don't care to share."

She stared at me for a moment, probably trying to read me. I wouldn't let her do that. I grinned at her and winked. She didn't look all that impressed to me.

Kate Angell|Zaria:

What the hell was Sam on about? I frowned at him, still uncomfortable with his arm around my shoulder. Not like I could stop him. And reasons? Meh, he could keep them.

I looked away and found Dougie watching us. He didn't look too happy. I smiled at him and stepped away from Sam. That sort of solved that problem, I guess. I could care less for the boy's stupid power games.

"So," I asked the group. "Now what?" I turned my attention back to the mangled body in the sand. "Um, I think we should get moving, don't you?" I'd only just managed to hold my food in.