“Over there!” a guard shouted.
I quickly glanced behind me and saw guards running towards us.
“Run!” Brian shouted at me, letting go of my hand.
I shook my head.
“Run Cat! GO!”
I stood still.
“I said go! We’ll handle it, just got find the others!”
He cupped my face and kissed my lips.
“Go, we’ll be fine. Please just go! Now!”
I nodded and turned, running as fast as my legs would take me to the woods. After what seemed like forever, I made it to the woods. My heart was pounding in my ear, and my breathing was ragged. Hearing the snap of a twig behind me, I quickly turned. A guard had found me. He started to lunge at me, but a tall blur flew in front of me, grabbing the guards and snapping off his head. The blur slowed, revealing Matt.
“Come on!” he exclaimed, holding out his hand for me to take it.
I looked back for Brian who was still fighting off the other guards, along with Mikey, who was moving faster than my eyes could keep up.
Why hadn’t I noticed that about him before? I thought.
I always knew there was something strange about him but I could never put my finger on it.
“He’ll be fine. We need to go!”
I took Matt’s hand and he threw me on his back and ran. The forest blurred around us and he ran deeper into the trees and the wind rushed around me, throwing my hair in my face, blocking most of my vision. We made it to a small clearing and he sat me down on my feet. I stumbled a little, slightly dizzy now that I was still.
“Cat! Ohmygod!” Sam mumered, coming up to me and hugging me tightly.
“Sam! Thank God you’re ok! I was so worried about you!”
“I’m fine. What the hell happened in there?” she asked, holding my hands.
Haunting images flooded back into my head. I just looked down and shook my head. She hugged me again, telling me she was sorry.
“Matt, what are we gonna do?” Zack questioned.
Sam and I found a large rock and we sat down.
“We need to wait for Brian and Mike, and then we can decide on a course of action.” He answered.
“I say we go in there guns blazing and burn these fuckers down.” Jimmy proclaimed, jumping up and down like he was ready to fight.
Matt shook his head.
“They’ll be expecting that. We need something a little more…quiet.”
“Sneak back in through the north and south tunnels and ambush them.” A voice said from behind the tree line.
Sam and I almost jumped out of our skin until we realized who it was. Brian and Mikey had made it.
Jumping off the rock, I ran to Brian, tightly wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Are you ok?” I asked in his ear.
“Yes, I’m fine. Are you?”
He pulled away from the embrace to look me over. I nodded.
“I’m just happy you’re ok.”
My arms were around him again, and his around me, holding me snuggly to his body.
“Well whatever course we take, we need to figure it out now.” Johnny interjected.
“We split up and take a tunnel on each side and simply take them out one by one. I can tell you ever nook and cranny of this place and I guarantee you can get past them.” Brian explained.
“Where are Jesse and Mark?”
“They should be around here somewhere” Matt said.
“Well they need to hear this too. Somebody please find them.”
“Don’t get your panties in a wad little brother, we’re here. Just taking guard.” One said walking up.
“I don’t think you’ve introduced us.” The other smiled at me.
“Give a rest Jess, not the time or the place.” Brian insisted.
“This is Jesse, and this is Mark.”
“Hi.” I smiled shyly.
“So Bri, what’s the plan?” Mark asked.
“Weren’t you listening? You split up and each take one tunnel and come at them from the underneath. I need you two to help lead everyone through. We know this place better than anyone.”
“Sounds good to me.” Jesse smirked.
“Yup, I’m game.” Mark nodded.
“Someone’s gotta stay behind and watch the girls.” Matt suggested.
“True, what about Johnny?” Matt smirked.
“Why do I always get picked and forced to do things?” Johnny whined.
“Because we love to torture you, you know this.” Zack laughed.
“Fine.” Johnny grumbled.
They had split up into two groups and were discussing their plans for attack while Sam and I held down the rock again.
“I’m ready to go home already.” Sam whined.
“Me too.” I nodded.
“So, what’s going on with you and diner guy?” she smiled. Motioning toward Brian.
“His name’s Brian and I don’t know.” I blushed.
“What’s been going on with you and Mikey and why didn’t you tell me they were all friends?”
“Hey, I didn’t know until like two weeks ago what they were. I knew he and Matt were friends but I didn’t know the rest knew each other.”
I shook my head, smiling. She leaned in a little closer to me.
“So, have you…ya know?” she whispered.
“Cat! Not now!” I hissed, half laughing.
Brian broke away from the group and came over to me kneeling down in front of me.
“We’re heading back there now. I’ll see you in a bit.” He said.
I nodded, trying to smile. He leaned up and kissed my cheek.
“I’ll be back.” He smiled.
And they were gone in a blur.