99 Hidden Dangers

Thane reaches out and says "You're bleeding." I look back to him and nod my head as I say "It's not bad. She didn't want to kill me... she was holding back. The shot went straight through and it didn't hit anything vital."

I quickly glance around us before looking back up to him and saying "Something else is happening here, Thane. I feel like something's not right. At first, I thought they were with Kalen but that woman suddenly appeared. She said something about getting a kill order to kill us both."

I frown as I try to connect the dots "She was given orders to kill us but didn't seem to know anything about the group of people we helped get to the Oasis. She then said something didn't seem right and called someone."

I glance up to his blue eyes as I say "The man on the other end of the comlink knew me. I thought that maybe your father sent these people but it just doesn't fit. He knew what eye color I had and didn't want to kill me but didn't hesitate to order your death. Something else is happening and we're somehow in the middle of it."

Thane's eyes had steadily grown darker as I tell him my thoughts. He glances around us with a clenched jaw before growling out "It seems like we've been placed in a chess game we know nothing about. We need to leave before that woman comes back. I feel like she's more dangerous than we originally thought. She moves entirely too fast and seems to see us when she shouldn't."

I nod my head in agreement as I think back to when she first turned to look at us. It was just a theory in my head but the way she was able to zero in on us was... abnormal. Thinking back to the rain and sheer height we were at... she would have to have amazing eyesight.

But how did she know we were there? It wasn't like she was looking around and then saw us, she looked straight at us. It was almost as if... I blink in surprise when I think about it but the more I think about it, the more possible it becomes.

I look up to Thane and say "I think she has heat signature vision. Think about all the rain, the way she was able to zero in on us but when I was fighting with someone in the trees, the man was shot. We were tangled up before I fell down and then he was shot. That woman's aim is entirely too good to miss but if she was using heat signatures to find us, it would be hard to tell who was who in that situation."

Thane grits his teeth and says "Great... I feel like this is just the beginning out here. Back in the City, we only had to worry about certain things but out here... anything seems possible." I nod in agreement and start heading back to the Oasis.

As we walk, I use my power to heal my shoulder until nothing's left. I roll my shoulder and keep walking as Thane continues to look around. I suddenly come to a stop. Thane stops next to me, looking around with dark eyes as I say "We can't go back."

Thane glances to me with a frown before looking around us again and asking "Are you afraid we're being followed?" I nod my head and clench my teeth as I say "We may not be able to see her but she can see us. If we go back, we'll be leading her straight to the others."

Thane remains silent before saying "Let's head back to the base with Titus and the others. They'd be able to help or at least be able to protect themselves better than the others in the Oasis. I also need to know why those portals are in all the bases."

I nod my head in agreement as I turn and start walking in the other direction. "I want to know as well. I feel like this all may be connected. If we can find out who's behind the portals, we can find out who's really pulling the strings. I also want to know why the Ghouls don't go near the City."

As we reach one of the Ragers vehicles, I open the door. Thane climbs into the driver's seat with a frown and asks "What do you mean?" I sit down in the passenger seat as I shut the door and say "Technically... Ghouls are untouchable and unstoppable so why aren't they slipping into the City? They aren't even around the City. It's only after you get past a certain point do you start running into them. Don't you think that's odd?"

Thane sits completely still as he thinks about what I just said. After a few silent moments, he grits his teeth and says "Why has no one noticed this? No one's even questioned it... except you. It wasn't until you said something that I noticed how odd it actually is."

He turns to look at me before saying "I feel like the more we dig into this... the worse it's going to get. Are you sure about this?" I bite my lip as I look into his eyes and say "No, not at all. If I'm being completely honest... I just want to remain in the Oasis with you, my family, and friends but the ones behind all this aren't letting us. They'll keep coming and we don't even know why. I need answers. I need to put a stop to it."

Thane gives me a slight grin before nodding his head and saying "Then that's what we'll do. We'll bring down the whole City if we need to." I slowly return his grin as something lands on the hood of the car. We both turn to find a very wet and mad CheeChee.

He turns around and plants his butt against the windshield in an obvious display of his anger and displeasure about us not returning to the Oasis. I strain to not laugh but when Thane silently turns on the windshield whippers, I burst out in laughter.

CheeChee jumps like he was shocked before turning around and ripping the windshield whippers clean off in a fit of rage. I roll in laughter as Thane smirks at CheeChee. I struggle to open my door but once I do, CheeChee jumps in and lands on my lap.

He doesn't say anything or move. He just silently glares at Thane while dripping wet. I continue to chuckle as Thane sends blue electricity into the vehicle to start it. Once the vehicle starts, CheeChee turns and leans against me.

He places his head against my chest and shivers. I wrap my arms around him and send out a little heat to warm him up as we head back to the base with Titus and the others. When Thane glances back over, he does a double-take.

CheeChee bares his sharp teeth at him in a winning grin as he snuggles up against me. I keep my eyes on the road but when I notice Thane's anger, I turn to give him a questioning look. Only, he wasn't looking at me, he was glaring at CheeChee.