Trouble

Titus was over the moon about the journal but it was short-lived when we couldn't find anything else like it. While the rest of us slept, Titus stayed up reading the journal over and over like it had some kind of secret message in it.

As we all walk out to the truck for the next day, I can't help but shake my head when I see Titus still trying to find something else in the journal but I don't have it in my heart to tell him to give it up. Who knows, the old man may find something... maybe.

When we all load up and take off, I can't help but look up at the sky. It's cloudy... it rained last night just like Thane said it would but it looks like more rain is coming. Part of me is happy with the relief from the sun but the other part of me is worried. This truck runs off solar power. Yes, it has batteries that store energy up to a certain point but... it still nerve-racking.

Thirty minutes into the drive, the rain finally starts. There's no way for us to stop or we risk running into more trouble so all I can do is bunker down and hold on but the rain was starting to come down even harder!

When I feel the truck slowing down, I can tell that even Cruz was having a hard time seeing in the heavy rainfall. The trees around us were starting to thin out the further we go but when I hear "Look out!" The truck is suddenly hit from the side!

I'm nearly knocked out of my seat as Thane's boot slams down next to me, putting his crotch right in my face! When I look up, I see him pull up his gun and start shooting! Shit shit shit! I quickly turn around to see what he's shooting at but when I see a rough-looking vehicle with several men in it, I feel my heart skip a beat.

I squint against the rain and try to get a better look but when I see the driver's face covered in green scales, I feel my hand tighten on my own gun. Ragers! One of the Ragers howls like a wolf or something as Thane hits one of them.

Something catches my eye and when I do a double-take and I look up, I see a guy flying straight at us! They can fly?!! Without really thinking, I lift my hand up, right between Thane's thighs and send out a powerful gust of wind.

Thane doesn't stop shooting as the guy flying above us struggles to keep flying. I'm torn, if Thane wasn't keeping me pinned in this spot, I could get up and help more! Suddenly, it hits me. Is he doing this so that I can't!?

I go limp and slip down out of my seat and out from between Thane's long legs. He tries to grab me as he says "Don't be stupid, Valen! Stay down!" A few shots ping around us, making both of us jump as Conner and Troy try shooting at something from the other side of the truck.

I have a feeling we're surrounded... When I see the flying guy diving towards us, I lift a hand and turn the rain around us into ice. I quickly flip the ice and send it flying straight at the bird guy. When I see a few feathers fly, I know I hit him.

His flying becomes uneasy before he quickly disappears but suddenly our truck takes a sharp turn! We all go flying to one corner and end up in a pile before the truck straightens out again. Conner curses as he struggles to stand up with Troy on top of him as I struggle to get off Thane.

I landed right on top of him but he doesn't seem fazed. I struggle to stand as the truck continues to pick up speed but we're no longer on the cleared road so the whole truck is bouncing around on the uneven road! When I finally manage to stand up with Thane's help, he suddenly grabs my vest and pulls me right back down as something goes flying past my head!

When something metal and heavy pierces the metal bed of the truck, my eyes go wide. Thane curses and flips us so that I was now on the floor with rain falling into my face. Thane yells out "Conner! I'll cover you, rip it out!" as he kneels and starts shooting at the vehicle behind us.

I have no idea what this thing is or what they plan to do with it but I can tell it's nothing good! Conner struggles to rip the thing out but I can hear and feel the metal bed under me groaning from his strength!

He curses and says "Titanium! I can't rip it out without taking the whole truck bed with it!" This time Thane curses as he says "Try and break the chain!" It's only now that I realize Thane is straddling me! He's got me pinned again! Does he really think I'm this useless!?

Because he's straddling me over my waist, I can't sit up or squeeze out. I hit his thighs and yell "Dammit Thane! Let me help or we're all gonna die!" He unloads another clip into the vehicle behind us and goes to reload but he's out.

He looks down at me and rips a clip off me before reloading and saying "Keep your head down!" I struggle to see in the rain but I nod my head and pat his thighs again as he starts shooting. He lifts his left leg and allows me to roll out from under him, only to see Conner struggling to break the chains on the harpoon spearhead that was currently stuck into us.

I wobble over but when the truck hits something on the road, we all fly up a solid two feet before landing hard again. Shit! I busted my lip! I grit my teeth and quickly crawl over to the chain and yell "Watch out!"

I grab the chain and use my power to bend the metal until it snaps and goes flying! It hits the back of the truck before whipping out like an angry metal snake. Conner yells out in triumph and slaps the hood of the truck. The truck suddenly picks up speed and it takes everything in me to hold on.

I suddenly know how popcorn feels...