The first time he tried sitting up, a wave of excruciating pain sent him right back down, face first into the dirt. The busses were still alight, large black clouds lingering in the air. Miles's eyelids felt heavy, though slowly opening them, revealing before him a scene of still chaos. Bodies covered the dusty road, more than half their squad dead. He rolled over onto his side, slowly bringing himself to his feet. Every muscle ached. His eyes searched for survivors, any sign of movement or life. Either he was the first to wake, or everyone else was dead. His gaze fell upon Charlie, who, hopefully, lay unconscious in a ditch. Her fair hair was dyed a shade of red, cuts and bruises tattooed on her flesh. Holding her wrist between his fingers, he felt a pulse.
"Charlie!" he called, tapping her face. "Charlie!" Her fingers began to twitch, followed by her eyes opening a sliver.
"My while body's on fire." she groaned in a raspy tone. He couldn't help but feel some relief as she uttered those words.
"Be grateful it's not literally," spoke Miles. He offered her a hand, helping her get up.
"Give me a minute Miles. I don't think I can stand right now," she poke, closing her eyes once more. Her brow was furrowed as she bit the inside of her cheek, distracting herself from other pain.
"You won't be able to stand any better in a minute than you will now. Just get it over with," Miles advised, his arm always extended. Reluctantly, she took a hold of his hand, pulling herself to her feet. Her knees felt as if they may collapse as her head spun in circles. Her hand gently made way to the back of her head, where blood trickled from a gash.
"Miles!" a voice called from further down the road. Miles eyes widened at the sound of his name, directing his head to the noise. His pace picked up until he reached the man belonging to the voice.
"Dom!" exclaimed Miles, crouching beside his friend. His leg had been severed, a crimson pool flooding around his knee.
"Miles, I-" His speech was cut off through grunts of pain and agony. "I need you to go back to the dome. There ain't no point in the both of us dying." Miles frowned at this, distressed.
"None of us are going to die. We'll get you a cloth to clog the blood and-" Dom's eyes were shutting, the muscles in his face relaxing.
"Dom! Open your fucking eyes Dom! You're going to come back with me! Dom!" Miles rarely got truly angry. Though now, as tears welled his eyes and his friend faded in his arms, all he wanted was someone to blame. A single tear dripped from his cheek, quickly stained red, as it fell onto Dom's forehead. A hand was gently place on his shoulder.
"There are more awake." This time Charlie helped him up, taking one last glance upon his friend. The numbers sent a chill through his spine. Twenty four were sent out and Eight stood, gathered together. Two thirds had died.
"We are all as good as dead. The busses are up in flames and there's no making it to the domes before nightfall." one man spoke. Charlie, now the only remaining girl, stood with the group though appeared to be elsewhere. Miles couldn't help but pity her. At sixteen, he attended school and pulled dumb pranks with his friends. At sixteen, she fought with a mercenary squad, protecting the human race.
"Listen up guys," spoke another man.
"We should search around for anything that remains around the wreckage. Guns, food, medical supplies. Then we can make our way back to the domes. Maybe we won't make it tonight but we'll make it eventually." Everyone nodded, some in agreement some simply as they didn't know what else to say. Even Miles himself nodded, comforted by a set out plan. But it was to everyone's surprise that one disagreed, Charlie opening her mouth in protest. "That's a terrible idea." She stiffened as everyone's gaze fell upon her. The closest anyone came to her age now was Miles himself, at twenty three. The rest went from twenty five all the way to forty. He couldn't imagine a girl who wouldn't be nervous at this point.
"Our busses just blew up because of land mines. We have no idea if there are more, wouldn't it make more sense to distance ourselves from this area?" The men considered this, though the one who's suggestion Charlie had contradicted did not hold back in bashing her plan. "And how do you suggest we travel through these wastelands without weapons? What will we do about food?"
"Some of us still have our glock 17s with ten rounds. If we don't stop we could make it back to the domes in two nights. It's a risky plan but at this point what isn't," spoke Miles, defending Charlie's case. The man considered this, finally letting out a loud sigh.
"We ain't gonna be stopping for rest until we arrive. Don't be bitching about thirst or hunger 'cause there ain't nothing I can do about that. If you have your pistol, you're walking in the front," he stated.
Miles watched as Charlie along with one other man joined him in the front, their pistols in their holsters.
"Hell no it ain't gonna be you with the gun!" exclaimed the man, marching over to Charlie.
"I know how to shoot and it's my gun!" protested Charlie.
"Like hell you do! Hand it over!" he order, reaching for her pistol.
"Get away, this is my gun!" Charlie pulled herself away from his rasp, putting distance between the two. The man kicked her in the leg, sending her to the ground.
"Like hell you know how to shoot!" he exclaimed kicking her frail body.
"Gus just let it go man," someone called. Though Gus did not respond to this, still kicking Charlie.
"Think you can lie to me? Think you're smarter than me?" he yelled.
"Gus!" a man exclaimed. Charlie cried out in pain, trying to crawl away. She finally reached for her pistol, aiming it at Gus who immediately froze.
"Tell me I can't shoot one more time and i'll prove to you that I can. I passed initiation just like the rest of you and can handle a gun just like the rest of you. This gun is mine and I will be the one in charge of it," she barked. Gus stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Though moments later, he lunged towards Charlie, aggressively growling. There was a bang followed by an eerie silence. Gus's body lay beside Charlie, who's eyes welled with tears. She blinked them back, refusing to show these men fear, and pushed herself to her feet. "We've got twenty nine shots total, we'd best use them wisely," she spoke before retaking her place beside Miles, and waiting for them to start walking.
