Chapter Two

I sat against a tree, cuffed at both my hands and feet. I didn't say anything, and simply looked at my dirty, worn-out tennis shoes. I have to get new ones, I thought. Then pondered on where I would get them.

"I am tired of asking the same question," Sharp-eyes growled, "and I don't plan to take it easy on you after all that bull you pulled. Who are you?!"

I kept my mouth shut and played with the dirt by my feet.

"Sir?" I heard someone walk closer, I looked up and saw the man offering the gun to Sharp-eyes.

Sharp-eyes turned to look at me then at the gun. He stood there observing the gun before shaking his head, it was then when sweat began to drip down my neck. He made his way towards me, his eyes stationed on my hood and baseball hat. My heart stopped, I began to lean backwards.

He reached for my hood and I wriggled away from his touch. He tried once more but stumbled due to my feet that were wrapped around his.

He narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something aren't you?"

He continued to stare at me, his eyes observing me closely. I couldn't help but ignore the growing uneasiness in my stomach. He opened his lips to respond but was interrupted by a chilling voice.

"Vans." With a grave voice, a man parted the crowd. A chill went down my spine and my heartbeat palpitated abnormally as the usual rowdy crowd grew dead silent. He, in a painfully slow manner made his way towards me, his eyes emotionless and cold. "Is this who we've been looking for?"

Unaffected by the menacing aura of this man, Sharp-eyes was able to speak clearly. "She has given every reason to be it, but has not said a word."

The man was simply staring at me but I felt as if he were staring at my soul. I watched, paralyzed, as he leaned closer to my face, every one detail of his fiery-colored eyes became visible. "Are you the person we've been hunting down?"

Hunting. I couldn't utter a word.

"Well?" He pressed gravely.

I shook my head by fractions and whispered, "N-no."

He examined me closely for a few more seconds before leaning back and placing his hands on his hips. "Okay!"

I stared at him, confused. Any frightening and paralyzing aura was gone, it felt as if I could breathe again. Who the hell is he?

"Vans untie her!" The man glanced at Sharp-eyes then back at me. "Hurry up!"

"Yes Sir." Sharp-eyes said hesitantly and rigidly made his way towards me. I was still in a daze until I realized he was reaching for my arms that were tied behind my back. Back in full alert of my surroundings, I shuffled away from him and extended one of my arms to keep him at a distance. He did what he did best, he narrowed his eyes at my free hands.

I scanned him thoroughly and after making sure he had no intention to attack, I moved on to my legs to work my magic. A small clink was heard, and the cuffs fell to the ground. In a flash, my back was against the tree to keep it safe, and my hands curled beside my thighs in case something were to aspire.

The frightening man seemed to be in awe, his dull red eyes wide with astonishment. "How did you do that?"

I eyed him wearily and didn't say anything, my hands tightening.

He glanced at my sleeves and his lips curled. "I see. You're carrying a bobby pin!"

I quickly moved my wrist behind my back and said nothing.

"I should probably introduce myself, my name is Michael Small, I'm in charge here." He said chuckling. "Anyway, I was hearing over the radio about how easily you were able to avoid everyone. Why'd you run?"

I bit my lips, unsure if I should answer.

"It's okay, I understand that you shouldn't trust anyone, especially when traveling alone." He said with a soft smile. One second he's terrifying, and the next he's charming, I shivered. "Is that the reason why?" He asked once more.

"It was like that as first..." I bit my lip, stopping me from speaking any further.

"At first?" He questioned with a hypnotic stare.

It was quiet for a moment, as everyone's eyes were on me and their leader. His gaze seemed to never waver.

"I don't want to join your group." I said carefully.

He nodded slowly. "May I ask why not?"

I kept my mouth shut and thought for a second. He's dangerous. I just might blurt out everything if I'm not careful.

I shrugged nonchalantly but my heart was uneasy, "All you do is fight to die."

A murmur went around the crowd but the man in front of me didn't budge. My stomach turned at the sight of his eyes, which burned brighter. "None of the rebels have won, that much is true, but we're different."

They're all the same. I looked at the ground And muttered, "Useless."

The leaves crunches as he took a step closer, and my head snapped back up. "You know what I find useless?" He asked, his voice low. "People like you, who run around to hide, only to get caught and die. What kind of a life is that? That's not living. We at least have hope, we have a reason to live. If we die, we die protecting that hope you call false."

Saliva passed my throat, and my feet shifted uncomfortably.

"Tell me," he paused, "are you really living or just surviving?"

Am I- I blinked and a question popped up in my head. "Aren't they the same?" I murmured.

"No. They're not." He shook his head and gave me a hopeful smile, it was contagious. "Do you want to start living?"

Do I want to start living? The question swirled around my head and the answer was simple enough. Yes. I was tired of running away. Tired of living in fear, tired of only eating when I found food, I was tired of- No. I can't. I swore to myself that I would never again commit the same mistake.

I clenched my fists and looked up. "Surviving is enough."

His shoulders slouched. "You're a tough one aren't you? You know the last time I meet someone as resilient as you was Vans." He glanced at Sharp-eyes with a smile.

"Let me go." I requested once more.

He lips parted but instead of his own voice it was the small walkie that several people carried. "This is Barret." It was low, hushed whisper. "There are soldiers east of Park, I repeat, there are soldiers east of Park. Over."

In a flash, the man had his fingers wrapped around the walkie and pressed against his mouth. He whispered, "Do not engage in combat, I repeat, do not engage in combat. Return to base ghost mode, return to base ghost mode. Over and out."

There was an uneasy feeling that went through the crowd.

It's time to go.

"Let me go." I said urgently now, knowing that every moment grew even more perilous.

He shook his head. "I can't, not now that they're around."

We need to leave now!

"Let me go." I said urgently.

He turned to the crowd. "Everyone go now, I'll catch up. Be careful and be alert." He nodded at Sharp-eyes who returned the gesture and left to herd the crowd away. The man looked at me, "I have seen how capable you are of taking care of yourself but I wouldn't be able to leave comfortably if you don't come with me now."

He extended a hand.

"At least until I know it's safe, please." He pleaded.

I stared at his hand. Why is he so bent on keeping me safe? It was a thought that wouldn't wrap around my head until I looked up at his eyes.

My father used to say that a man's eyes were the gate to their hearts, that though they could deceive, if one looked hard enough they can see it's true intentions.

I trusted every word my father had spoken to me, and his beliefs were skills that had helped me survive, and this one in particular was telling me that this man's desire to help me was genuine. He really just wanted to help me.

I glanced back at his extended hand, my feelings clashing in my head. It's just until he declares it safe.

Ignoring his hand I walked over to my backpack and picked it up, slinging it over my shoulders. His hand slowly fell along as he stared at my back.

I motioned towards the path the others had taken.

A sly grin slowly came over his expression as he nodded. "Let's go."

Once assuring that I was at his side, he began to tread down the path. Both of us jogged carefully, our eyes glanced in every direction and our senses on high alert. Despite the tension, the guy decided to start a conversation.

"What's your name kid?" He asked evenly.

I didn't bother responding.

"Kid?"

"Talking less means more running time." I grumbled.

My words seemed to go through his head seeing that he finally kept quiet. After a few minutes of silent running, the leaves crunching beneath us, he suddenly stopped and I glanced at him.

"We're here." He looked at the space in front of us that was covered by a patch of leaves. Just as he crouched down to pick something up from the ground, the both of us froze.

There was someone here, their presence could be felt and the both of us slowly prepared for a sudden attack.

There was a crunching of leaves then a voice. "It's me."

I recognized the voice and placed it to Sharp-eyes, who appeared from behind a thick oak tree. The grip on my knife loosened and my hand relaxed in my pocket..

"I was just ensuring that you would return safety." He looked over to me with judging eyes.

Michael nodded. "I understand, is the area clear?"

"For now."

Another nod. "Alright then, let's go." Michael then proceeded to grab the bunch of leaves and pull it upward, revealing a deep black hole.

Sharp-eyes nodded at Michael and gave me a glare before crawling down the metal ladder. I glanced down, keeping my hands clenched.

"Don't worry," Michael patted my shoulder, "I'll be right here."

I stared at him, and my uneasiness wavered. His eyes were calm and reassuring, they reminded me of someone. Finally, without uttering a word I nodded, and made my way down the hole.

Each step down caused my breathing to become more haggard. Breathe. I just have to breathe. The small tunnel seemed to shrink even more with every second, and the crumbling walls began to close in on me.

"Are you okay down there?" Michael's voice echoed in the narrow tunnel.

"I am sir." Sharp-eyes responded firmly below me.

I am not. I am not. I am- happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Cherry flavored granola bar... with almonds.

A voice echoed my brain loudly, telling me to calm down and that the tunnel would not close around me. That I was almost there. It was logical sure, but the dizziness and my blurry vision impeded logic. My hands grew fuzzy then clear, fuzzy then clear. What if I won't be able to leave? What if I get stuck here? No one would know who I was. My vision grew black, and my hands tightened on the rusty railing on the ladder.

"Hey kid! Listen to me!" Michael's voice echoed hazily into my ears. "Breathe in! Breathe out!"

My lungs expanded and shrunk rapidly, refusing to follow his slow breathing. "Small-" I gasped "Too- small!"

"No no," he said reassuringly, soft and soothingly, "look you're in a large room." He lifted my head to see the space we see in, which slowly shaped into into a large echoey room.

I felt his large hands rub circles in my back, the consistent movement brought ease inside me. My lungs began to work properly and I was able to breathe once more.

Blinking my eyesight returned to normal, the place we were in was clearly big enough to fit more than ten people. I glanced over at Michael who had a look of worry. I was seated on the floor, hunched over and breathing unevenly as he was crouched next to me.

"Are you okay? Not hurt anywhere?"

On instinct, my body stood up, causing him to stumble backwards and fall on his behind due to the suddenness of my actions.

I didn't even get to process the situation as the front of my sweater was being pulled upwards and my body jerked forward to be faced with Sharp-eyes's burning eyes.

"What is your problem?!" He growled as he balled up my sweater in his fists. "He just saved your life!"

"Let go!" I spat angrily. "I didn't mean to push him!"

"Vans calm down!" Michael put his hand over Sharp-eyes' shoulder and forcibly tore his hand away from my sweater. "It was clearly an accident!"

Sharp-eyes huffed, his eyes clearly hostile towards me. I gave him an equally heated look but let out a breath of air to calm myself. Cautiously glancing at Michael, I made sure he wasn't injured after falling and thought it better to ask how I found myself off the metal ladder.

I straightened my sweater slowly. "Thank you- for helping me out."

Michael smiled, and gratefully didn't ask anymore questions concerning the previous incident on the stares. "It's no problem kid."

"Sir." Sharp-eyes serious voice pulled us back to reality.

"Yeah, you're right. Let us continue." Michael walked up to a small pad that sat on a brick wall next to two steel metal doors. He entered a few numbers and as he stepped back the doors slowly and loudly opened. "Our base is just past this long hallway."

I blinked at the sight before me. That hallway was a large tunnel that seemed to expand to a dark eternity and I suppressed a large sigh. It was going to be a very long walk.