Chapter 3

Making my way to the patch of trees, I leaned against an oak tree and closed my eyes, the smell of nature calming me. I felt conflicted emotions inside of me. Mainly the need to not get caught but with Kathleen around, I needed to take a few steps back. She was just a regular human who will slow me down, but she had too much on me.

She could expose me for her own gain. The wind shifted a breeze in my direction, bringing along with it an emotion of dread. Where's Kathleen anyway? She can't even keep up on a simple run, how do you expect to not get caught? Run while she's still gone.

A scream tore through the night causing goosebumps to rise on my arms. Kathleen. I hesitated. Should I go or should I leave? Should I be a human or a weapon? No sense of logic appeared in my mind as I ran for the second time that night. How can she allow this to happen to her? How oblivious is she?

She's just a human. A human that will slow you down and get you caught. Do you really want to risk what we've worked hard for just a mere human? The guilt. The pain. The fear. The hatred. My fire. I had to help. The wind along with my tears ran wild in the night as I ran north where Kathleen's scream came from. A feeling I thought I would never feel, for someone other than myself came.

I haven't felt this feeling for someone in months. So why? Why did I feel fear at Kathleen being hurt? I was supposed to be heartless, not weak. In this world, the weak died and the strong survived. It wasn't long until I found Kathleen. Staying alert I looked around the field.

It was an old abandoned field which once grew corn. Voices were coming from an upturned wagon. I frowned confused. Why is she talking with the people I assumed to be hurting her?

″I missed you so much, Bob. You don't understand how much I missed you.″ Kathleen sobbed hugging a tall lanky figure with ginger-colored hair. There was 1 other figure standing there. I interrupted their moment getting tired of just standing there.

″Kathleen we have to keep moving.″ Several heads snapped at me while I crossed my arms across my chest. The figure who was standing around moments later turned out to be a female with blue hair and hazel eyes. Adding that with Kathleen's hair color it seemed like the three of them were the color squad or something.

″Elle, these are my friends Bob and Katina. Guys this is the one who we've been looking for.″

One you've been looking for? Am I an object or child that's been lost? Last time I checked I was a human being, not something that can be found. You're not human. At least not fully. You don't act like those weak creatures, so don't compare yourself to them. Tiring of arguing with my subconscious, I focused on the three people in front of me. Since I was more familiar with Kathleen, I decided to get my answers from her.

″Explain.″ I wanted answers and would do anything to get them. Becoming annoyed that she wasn't explaining what was happening, I turned around about to leave. I was grabbed by my arm.

″Wait! Don't leave we'll explain everything. Let's go to another place.″ Kathleen was right this wasn't the right place to talk. She must have seen my silence as a yes because she started walking towards the barn. I followed her, the two other figures bringing up the rear. The walk was filled with quiet, only the occasional sounds of night owls and crickets were heard.

As we neared the barn, tension started to build. The feeling of dread came back from earlier stronger than ever. There were rocks scattered all over the trail, to the barn on the hill. Pretending to trip, I fell on my hands and knees scraping them. Rough hands gripped my forearms pulling me up from the ground not too gently.

″Watch where you're going.″ A male voice whispered in my ear. The smell of onions flooded into my nose almost making me gag. Can't this guy use a breath mint? He obviously needs it and how can Kathleen hug him? Is she nose blind or something? A push brought me out of my train of thought.

″Hurry, you idiots.″ The pink haired female, Katina was the one to push me and was walking behind Kathleen now. I straightened and followed her but not before pushing a knife into the sleeve of my shirt. The barn started to become more and more noticeable the nearer we got to it. It was a red barn with white on the door and windows.

It was in better shape than the city and looked new. Another reason to be suspicious. Up ahead Kathleen was opening the doors into the barn while Katina was saying something to her. I jogged the rest of the way to them.

''Hey, what's up?'' my tone was easy and casual as if I had no care in the world. Kathleen gave me a puzzled look which I brushed off.

''Not much. Are you okay?'' I laughed.

''Why wouldn't I be okay? I feel great.'' I could tell she didn't believe me but let it slide. By this time Bob had joined us.

''Kathleen why don't you go first then your friend? Katina and I will go after you guys.'' This guy has some tricks up his sleeve but so do I. So do I buddy.

''That sounds like a great idea.'' Kathleen, you're so gullible.

''I think that you guys should go first. I mean you guys were here first after all.'' And you should die first. Kathleen looked between the two of us confused.

''Okay fine I'll go first,'' Katina exclaimed annoyance clear in her tone. This should be good.