As I headed through the woods to keep out of the way until it got dark I heard voices – I knew it wouldn’t be the techno’s because they knew how to be stealthy but would people who have escaped not be more careful about how they are moving about and talking so openly.
I bit my lip thinking how pissed Debian would be if I went to them and started helping them, though I know I would be risking getting caught myself if I was found with them and the last thing I wanted was to end up dead or even worse back in that cage.
I debate with myself for a few moments, but in the end I just couldn’t let them get caught, why am I so bothered about people I don’t even know! Though I knew my mind was set, no matter what the consequences.
Brushing some hair out of my face I head towards where I heard the voices coming from as quietly as I could. As I moved along against the tree’s hiding myself from sight I hear Debian radioing the other techno’s. Maybe its not the escapee’s I need to go to.
I frown slightly how was I was going to get his attention from hiding here, it wasn’t like I could throw a rock or make a noise as it may get more than his attention to me, so I look around to make sure no one else is in eye sight before slowly sneaking over to him. “Debian” I whisper just loud enough for his attention hoping he wont react with his zapper.
The radio crackles quietly and I hope that means the others are en route to my destination. It would be good to work together to get them captured and get them back to the cages, we’d also have to review the security around the cages to make sure this didn’t happen again but that was a job for someone of a higher rank.
I watch the brow of the hill, wondering what the fugitives are doing and whether they’ve just stopped at the beach or if they’ve moved further away. That was a worry, if they’ve continued along the beach they might walk along the water line which would wash away any evidence of footprints covering their tracks.
A noise startles me and my hand moves to the stunner at my waist, my body turning as I pull it out of its holder and aim in the direction of the voice. Luckily I haven’t hit the button as I’m greeted by the face of Zandra. “The hell are you doing?” I hiss, looking over her shoulder to make sure the others aren’t going to turn up and spot her. “Have you got a death wish?” Part of me wanted to grab her and shake her, surely she realised the danger she was putting herself in by following me here.
“Zandra this isn’t safe.” My voice rises slightly but I manage to retain some form of composure, although my worry for her shows through in my reaction. “There are reinforcements on their way, Zandra please.“
I couldn’t abandon my post and drag her away, however tempting that thought was. “If you’re caught… why, why would you do this?”
“Because they don’t deserve to be locked up or killed or used as some kind of experiment” I tell him and shake my head lightly as I move closer to him “I know you don’t get it, I know you see them as virts who aren’t important to you’re overall plan, whatever the hell that is, but I am just a virt too” I say quietly to him.
“You’re tribe are what you depend on, I know that and I know you won’t leave them but don’t you kind of understand I can’t leave them, the virts as you call them, I am the same as them and even though I don’t know them they are the nearest thing I have to a tribe”
I know he is conscious that the rest of the techno’s will be arriving soon, I look at a largish twig on the ground not far from me, if I stood on it it would alert the escapees that there was someone close by and it may help them get away but Debian is closer to it then me and I would have to get round him if I was to do it.
Hearing her comment I shake my head slightly, “it’s not as simple as that, and how do you know what they deserve. Maybe these virts deserve exactly what they are getting?” I knew how Zandra viewed the situation here but the majority of the prisoners sent here had done something to deserve it, even Zandra herself had probably done something to deserve her place here but I chose not to ask her what it was.
“You aren’t the same as them Zandra, and you never could be.” I tell her before shaking my head, “I know you are trying to help, but you aren’t.” Her comparing herself to the fugitives made me uncomfortable and yet again reminded me of the decision I’d made to help her. That split second decision I was now beginning to question.
“If they get away Zandra, there will be nowhere you can be safe, not after what they’ve done.” I’d heard the emotion in the lieutenants voice when he’d radioed that the commander was down, there was no walking away for the fugitives after that, he’d make it his mission to find them if we didn’t succeed.
I let out a small laugh “Getting what they deserve? The majority of the people who you keep in those cages were snatched from their homes and families, the others most of them you’d consider thieves because they have stolen to survive but stealing to survive is different from stealing for greed… Though regardless what makes you guys the judge and jury? Why do you get to decide what happens to these virts when they do something you don’t like?” I shake my head again.
“How am I not the same as them? I was taken without choice? Locked in a cage for someone else purpose? Is it because I have a pretty face that I’m not like them?” I said taking a step back without realising it “You mean doing what they can to be free? Because if it was a choice between me and a techno I’d choose me” I tell him though he knows I am not a violent people “Come on Debian when am I ever going to be safe on this Island even if they get caught and even if you still help me it’s never going to a life is it? Hiding in the woods”
I notice that I had stepped back so I move closer again putting my hands on his chest though I know the risks of the other turning up in mere minutes is getting higher “I really like you Debian, you literally saved me and I said I won’t go to the cage so I won’t. But I can’t pretend I never heard them, I can’t walk away and not try to help them”
Hearing her comment I shake my head slightly, I knew she didn’t understand how the cages were sorted and who the people were or how they’d ended up here so it made sense that she thought the majority had just been snatched from the streets but that wasn’t always the case here. “I’m not having this conversation with you.” I tell her before shaking my head; I wasn’t getting in to the politics of it all when she had obviously already made her mind up.
I know she’s baiting me and it’s so tempting to argue with her but I also know there’s no point. She’s made her mind up and it’s beyond me to change the mind of a woman.
As she puts her hands on my chest I shake my head, “and you think this will help them? You think, what? They’ll just be able to keep surviving on this island? That another Techno won’t find them and punish them for what they’ve done? Surely you understand that by me finding them they’re more likely to make it back to the cage in one piece… If the Lieutenant or Commander found them right now it would be a different story.”
Turning I move away from her, and as I do I step on a twig, the crack loud enough to alert the fugitives to my location. I look back at Zandra for a moment before shaking my head again, “you know what Zandra, if the virts are so important to you go… go help them survive. Because I am done, I am done risking everything for you when you obviously don’t care enough to keep yourself safe.”
I stand listening to him, when he accidently steps on the twig I had been eyeing up I take a deep inhale “You keep justifying what you’re doing as if you’re saving them for something worse but what you’re doing is still wrong” I tell him and watch as he moves away from me.
“Fine” I say and shake my head “I’ll never be the selfish person who can only care about myself and I wont change who I am because its hard for you”
I feel the temptation just to stomp away but there isn’t a point so I move closer and lean up kissing his check lightly "Thank you for saving me, I know to you it doesn’t seem like it but I am grateful for everything you’ve done for me, I… " I stop what I was going to say “Be safe” I say before stepping away and turning to face the direction the escapees were, I didn’t even know if I wanted to be with other people just so I stood frozen on the spot.
“You think I’m selfish?” I’m sure the shock and anger comes through in my voice but instead of pressing the issue I just shake my head. There was no point attempting to argue this, she’d made her views clear and she would never understand what we were trying to do here, the hard work we’d put in and what we’d already achieved.
She turns away and I ball my hands in to fists at my side, resisting the urge to reach out for her. I won’t do it, I won’t let her know how much it hurts to see her turn from me. Holding back my response I just move past her, activating the radio as I do, “Fugitives have moved down the beach back towards the north.” I knew if I was caught out in my lie I’d be in trouble but right now I didn’t care. “Lieutenant, what are our orders?”
Having the opportunity to rest in this hole I fell into felt just perfect, but it just wasn’t meant to be. I question in my head; will I ever get to sleep and relax again? Or is my life doomed!
I knew I was now not alone … I heard a loud snap in the distance. It could just be KC … stay calm farm girl.
I have to take a look. Every part of me is aching and my ankles are throbbing. I just hope it is KC or a animal, I quite like my hole.
I struggle to pull myself up from laying into a crouched position up on my knees. I peer up just out of the hole.
There was no sign of KC. Now I was beginning to ache on the inside. Where is my friend? I can’t carry on like this.
I scan the area with my eyes, and thankfully I catch a glimpse of him. I think whatever that noise was not him as I notice his movement is now rather stealthy and he looks arched over liking he is hiding.
This must only mean one thing … the Techno’s have caught up with us, and this time I have a feeling they won’t be alone.
I take a deep breath and focus my stare on KC. Whoever or whatever is out there has caught his attention. He knew where I was, so now all I felt I could do was wait and stare.
Using my shirt as kind of bag to get as much cocnuts as possible. I stand up, watching arround, the area still seems to be quiet, but i decided to don’t tempt my fate. I turn arrund as i hear a noise, kind of broken wod. I stop and look behind me. No one in sight but i can feel it… someon is after us. Slowly i step backwards, after a few meters i turn arround and walk faster towards Alice. As i spot her i can see her worried face. " Something or someone is out there."
Taking the first steps towards the escapees wasn’t easy, as he walked past me I wanted to grab him and just get past this but I knew we were as stubborn as each other.
And know that I wouldn’t have his help anymore it would probably be better for me to join up with the escapees.
Taking another breath I continued with my steps towards the escapees who were really easy to spot “You guys make it too easy to find you. Need to move before we’re found” I said bluntly not even recognising KC.
I hear a vioce from behind, damn it, they did follow me and i brought them to Alice. I let all the nuts fall down, turn arround and grab the first i could get. An arm. I look at the stranger and i stop. Why does she looks so familar?
I am watching KC like a hawk. He is making his way back over to me. I speak out loud to myself, “Oh dear God, we are in trouble!”
My head is all over the place, I stay peering out of the hole watching KC as he approaches closer. Part of me had just frozen, I should really be getting to my feet and climbing out of the hole.
There was no way I was going to be graceful about it, and will probably look like a big floppy whale wiggling around.
KC now stands over me, and he says exactly what I was not wanting to hear.
I am not impressed that again we have to move. I respond to KC, “Oh wonderful! Right stand back, whale coming back up to the surface.”
What a sight I must look. KC was not able to help because he was to busy holding his nuts. And like I said I did look like a whale wiggling away.
If the enemy is coming for us at least I will give them a laugh.
All of a sudden I feel KC drop his nuts down next to me as I am just about to finally pull myself up to be standing next to him. Suddenly he jerks his whole body 180 degrees as a female voice speaks.
Standing just behind KC I can now see the female. I register the woman’s words “need to move before we are found,” and realise she is not wearing the Techno uniform.
This was not a time to be looking at someone in absolute awe, but I just couldn’t help myself, whoever this woman is; she is stunning.
My eyes shift to KC bringing his hand up and grabbing her arm. What is he doing?
I look at the two who still aren’t moving “Ok really, we need to get moving I have already risked more than I should have to come and help you both” I tell them as I think about Debian for a moment.
My eyes focus on KC as he grabs my arm and as I am about to knock him off me I frown “KC?” I say curiously before turning my head to look in the direction I knew Debian was in “We really need to move”
I swallow is she calls out my name. “Zandra…” is all i could get out. I let her arm go, wanted to ask why she is alive, why she is here, but then i realize what she is telling us. I follow her look in the direction we came before. " Ok, let’s go."
I turn arround again, looking at Alice " Trust me, go" i give her a warning look. I don’t really know why, maybe because Zandra isn’t wearing an uniform or maybe it’s the tone of her voice . It’s the first time she sounds normal and worried at me instead of mad or angry.
Normally I am a woman who acts quickly and always has a lot to say, however the exhaustion I have running through me is just taking it’s toll.
The mystery woman says KC’s name and then repeats that we have to get a move on. She was right, she seemed like she knew the enemy was near.
Instead of speaking, I give her the thumbs up. Before KC has a chance to reply I wonder how she knew KC. Must of been someone KC tricked back in the city, or she was as dodgy as he use to be?
And then KC says her name "Zandra?
There is no way this could be ‘the Zandra’, Lex’s 1st wife? They all believed she died up on Eagle Mountain?
I guess it isn’t her as if it was KC surely on this occasion he would be happy to hug. Maybe after all the hugs I had given him, he thought no hugging as it will just set Alice off. My mind really is beginning to unravel.
I was none the wiser if this was ‘Zandra’ as KC then looks at me and tells me to go! Surely if it was ‘Zandra’ they would of hugged, I want to bloody hug her!!! But I guess there logic could be a proper reunion can wait as our safety is the most important and we don’t want ‘Zandra’ to die all over again.
I finally open my trap, “Lead the way pretty woman.”
I stare at KC, I can tell he is surprised to see me alive and i cant blame him but now isnt the time “We need to move quickly and quietly” I say with emphasis on the quietly part “I vaguely know a place we can go but I can’t guarantee how long we can stay there”
I start walking in the direction I know the ship wreck to be, it’s the only place I can think of for all three of us “Keep close to the trees, watch out for things like large twigs because they are pretty loud if you accidently step on one. The Techno’s are on a full wide search, they are not happy you two escaped” I tell them quietly keeping the noise down as much as I could.
Even as I headed away I couldn’t help but look towards where Debian was, I really wanted to head over but there I knew that I couldn’t.
Alice give me a thump up and i walk beside her as she turn to Zandra and told her to lead the way.
Zandra strats to explain where she wants to lead us and how and i was almost tried to roll my eyes. I know she meant it in a good way, but if we really need to go, then there is no time for explantations.
" We will follow you, go on."
As I was told I stepped quickly and quietly behind ‘Zandra’. I listened carefully to her words. It was amazing to have someone on our side, and by the sounds of what she told us, I may finally have the chance to rest and build up my strength.
Don’t get your hopes up just yet Alice!
I noticed ‘Zandra’ glance back in the direction she had come from, she looked slightly uneasy. What if she is working with the enemy? What if we were being walked straight into a trap? Paranoia was starting to kick in.
As I continued to follow I couldn’t help myself I had to speak up, “Where are we going? Why should we trust you?”
As we walk I hear Alice “Up to you if you want to trust me, I have already put myself at risk by coming to help you. No one knows that I am still alive so if I get caught I don’t think they will just throw me back in a cage” I say bluntly.
“There is an old shipwreck, I haven’t actually been on it yet but it’s the safest place I can think of for three of us… Unless you two know somewhere else? I have basically just been in the woods but three of us is quite risky”
I probably sound a little short but after losing the one person I had cared about in a long time I was cranky.