STATIC → newt , tmr [EDITING ; VERY SLOW UPDATES]

chapter iii

"We're not trying to cause any trouble, okay? We just―We gotta get outta here," Thomas said frantically, trying to save his and his friends' lives.

"Is that so?" Barkley sneered. He raised a walkie-talkie to his mouth, but Tiago spoke up before he could say anything.

"Talk and I'll let it go," he warned. It seemed nobody had any idea he was even in the room; the teens all jumped slightly at his voice behind them. Barkley narrowed his eyes at the boy, slowly lowering the talkie.

"That's a lot of talk, coming from the kid everyone calls Freeze."

Tiago froze momentarily, but he didn't lower his bow. His gaze hardened as Barkley raised the talkie again, his eyes on Tiago the entire time with a smug smirk on his face. Tiago could feel the teenagers' eyes on him. He didn't particularly like shooting people from the compound. He could feel his elbow locking up, his knuckles no longer cooperating. Damn it.

"Janson, I got 'em for ya. I'm bringing 'em down. Don't shoot us." He lowered the talkie again. "Come on. let's go," he ordered. Nobody moved. "I said, let's go."

There was a split second, and then Tiago heard a gunshot. He ducked instinctively. When he stood back up, he saw that Thomas had a grip on Barkley's gun. He raised his bow again, aiming it at Barkley's head. They struggled for a few moments, before Thomas managed to shove Barkley onto the floor. The man had more experience, however, as he cocked his gun. The teenagers immediately moved backwards again. Tiago stepped around them, standing slightly off to the side.

"Barkley―"

"You little bastard," Barkley snarled, aiming straight at Thomas.

Tiago let his arrow fire, eyes clenched shut, as a shot resounded through the room. He counted to three before opening his eyes. Barkley's face drained of color, and he collapsed to the floor. Tiago's arrow was embedded in his chest. When Tiago looked back up, Brenda was there.

"You took my shot," he said incredulously, not knowing any other way except humor to ease the tension. He could feel eyes on him, and looked to his right at the blond standing there. He glanced at the kid's shoulder.

"You froze," Brenda said mockingly in return. "Okay, come on." Nobody moved again. "Come on, let's go!" She turned and took off out the door. Thomas finally moved, prompting the rest of them to follow. Tiago grabbed the blond kid's arm before he could take off after her.

"Shoulder all right?" he asked quietly. The blond glanced at Tiago's hand on his arm. He nodded once, yanking his arm out of Tiago's grip and then following Brenda and his friends out the door.

"Barkley, what's your location?" Tiago glanced at his feet where Barkley's body was and saw the talkie. "Barkley, are you there?" He looked back up, at the girl who was still in the room. He narrowed his eyes; she was watching the talkie as well.

"Whatever you're thinking, it's not a good idea," he warned. The girl snapped her head up to meet his gaze. Tiago raised his eyebrows, tilting his head in gesture for her to follow her friends. She searched his eyes for a moment before stepping around Barkley's body and following her friends out the door.

Tiago took one last glance at Barkley's lifeless body before following as well.

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