Extinction

Chapter five- The Scientist 

Raelyn snapped out of her thoughts as the van door slammed open. Her and the others jumped and scurried to the back of the van; shielding their eyes from the sudden blinding light and shaking with fear.

"Get out" The snatcher commanded. No one moved a mucsle. In frustration he roughly grabbed the girl's arm who was the closest to him and dragged her out. She whimpered as she hit the floor; only to be dragged back up again by the collar.

The snatcher – still holding the girls collar as she fumbled to maintain her balance – glared at the remaining teenagers and children in the van. They immediately started to scramble out; Raelyn with them. He instructed them to stand in a line in order of age. Of course, they had no idea of each others ages. So they scrambled around nervously trying to estimate who was youngest. Eventually they all stood in a line facing the Snatcher. Raelyn glanced down the line and realised that the little boy was standing next to a set of twins. The young boy and the twins looked very alike. Though the twins had ginger hair and the young boy had medium brown hair, there was an still stunning resemblance between the three. They were at the end of the line; the young boy first. The twins looked around the age of 14.

Then a boy – who looked the same age as the twins, if not slightly older – with short blonde hair. Another boy, who looked 16. He had light brown shaggy hair. Next a boy and girl who both looked around 17. The boy had a darker skin tone and a shaven head. He used his height and big build to an advantage as he seemed horrifying. Raelyn saw scars on his skull and other parts of skin that was visible, this only added to his character. The girl had dark ginger hair and pale skin. She kept an emotionless face; staring straight infront of her. Raelyn stood after pale girl. Next, a girl who looked 18. She had slightly darker skin and thick brown frizzy hair. Another girl with white short spikey hair. Her different haircut went well with her lanky body. Next in line was a boy with dark blonde short hair.

Then there was the boy who had to move the dead woman's body. He had golden brown hair and a well built body. Raelyn noticed the deep and jagged scar on his upper left arm. But immediately looked away as he moved his head towards her direction. Raelyn changed her direction of sight and tried to take in her surroundings; though there wasn't much. Infront of her stood a forest behind the field of grass which they were standing upon. Raelyn tried to see where the forest ended. But it looked like it had no ending; in any direction. Even upwards. The trees tried to touch the clouds; and it looked like they suceeded. Then that was it. A field and the forest was all that Raelyn could see.

She wondered why they were here? Which made Raelyn start to panic. Did he line them up just to shoot them? She thought quickly. Was this where her life would end? But, why would he take us on a week – or more – long journey just to shoot us in the head and leave us here to rot? She thought again, this time with more sense. The idea that he would shoot them after all of the effort he made to bring them here was unbelieveable. It would just be a waste of the Snatchers time. And Snatchers don't like their time being wasted, under no circumstances.

It was then that Raelyn noticed that there were 2 men and a woman approaching her and the others. She wondered where they came from as they didn't walk out of the forest. But she pushed her frightened thoughts out of her mind and straightened up; determined not to show any fear. The woman wore a long white lab coat. Raelyn immediately thought she must be a Scientist. She had never met one in person; only heard stories and rumors about them. So that gave her an idea of their apperance and she met the description.

They were close to the Snatcher now, – still walking towards them – close enough that Raelyn could see their cold and hard stares as if they were scrutinizing each and every one of them. Raelyn felt exposed by this and felt the need to cross her arms over her chest; to make her feel more secure. But she resisted as she knew that this would only dent her fearless facade that she had put on.

They noticed Raelyn and stopped in their tracks. Shock shown clear on their faces. They turned around, putting their backs to us and hurridly whispered to each other. What was happening? What are they saying? Raelyn worridly asked herself. The scientists nodded to eachother; showing agreement. Their whisperers stopped abruptly. They turned around to face them again. Looking straight towards the snatcher who seemed to be just as confused as Raelyn was. The other children and teenagers popped their heads out from the line; looking towards her in interest and worry. Raelyn wished they would stop. She felt so worried that she thought she was going to vomit.