Another Time

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Reluctant Save

 "Let's cover some distance today, guys." Everyone hunched their backs and bent their knees, waiting for the mark. I awkwardly did the same. What's going on? I wondered. "To the trees!" The group went full-on sprint towards the tree line. Nott almost ran me over when I didn't move, but I was forced to go forward, pumping my legs fast than Sebastian had ever taught me to.

 The whole group seemed to keep at the same pace, making me look like a sack of potatoes. Breathing hard and already starting to sweat, I focused my gaze on the trees. I can't make it. My arms began to cramp from jerking them in synchronization with my legs. Pain stung through the bandage wrapped around my ankle, making me remember about the vine.

 "Come on...kid." Nott ran beside me, whispering in my ear. "Stop and see what happens." She gasped. I narrowed my eyes and continued looking towards the forest. It was approaching soon, but my legs were already beginning to feel numb from running on the uneven ground. I'm not going to let Nott beat me down, I pushed myself to go faster, but my body wouldn't comply. No, no, no! I tried to slow my breathing, embarrassed that I was already huffing and puffing. The others still had their mouths clamped shut, silently running alongside each other.

 Kilo's words bounced around in my head. 'We won't be stopping for anyone,' I shuddered, remembering the sharpness of his voice. He knew that we wouldn't dare fall behind if he spoke to us like that. It's just that I wasn't like everyone else.

 Gizmo's white hair began to glimmer with sweat, making his goggles slide up and down on his forehead. Apparently his eyes could withstand the dawn's faint light. When the sun came up, though, I knew that he'd have to put them on.

 It made me wonder about his encounters with Kaos. Did it hurt? Was Gizmo sedated during the procedure?What was Kaos trying to do? Everyone had been operated on; Gizmo with his eyes, Rex with his voice, and—Nott and Kilo. What happened to them? I tried to find something about Nott, but she looked completely normal except for the muscles on her arms and her shaved head. Maybe Kaos screwed with her brain and made her angry all the time. I smiled to myself.

 Still thinking about their defects, I studied Kilo. There didn't seem to be anything about him, either! He looked like a normal...gorgeous man. Hey, stop that! I told myself, focusing on my breathing.

 We broke through the tree line, much to my happiness. The ground beneath us went from hilly and wet, to hilly and covered in pine needles. After a few yards, I already had a few rocks and needles in my shoes. Gah! I didn't dare stop to take them out, though. They would just have to bounce around and stab at my heel until we stopped. I just have to make it until we get out of the forest. The trees began to split us apart, causing one person to go around to the left, and another to go right. Our group began to dissolve in the forest like water through a strainer.

 "Stay together!" Kilo shouted. Gizmo and Rex emerged from the right, breaking through a wall of thicket and brush. Nott had trailed behind me the entire time, watching to see if I'd keep up. Kilo still hadn't joined back with us. Where is he?

 Despite my worry, everyone kept running without a sign of the leader. Ear-piercing screeches erupted from the group's right, drawing my attention. Everyone still kept running. What's wrong with you guys? He's in trouble! I turned diagonal, heading for the screeches. The group kept running without me.

 The sound of metal against bone sent chills down my spine as I came closer and closer. The screeches were still moving, though. He's still trying to run, I realized, jumping over a mountain of bushes.

 Ahead of me lay Kilo, sprinting against two Screechers on either side. I immediately grabbed a knife from my belt, trying to aim while running. He swung a long machete at the Screecher to his left, but only damaged its shoulder. "Get back to the group, now!" He gasped. I kept running, ignoring his commands.