REACHING OUT FROM THE SHADOWS

Lena's POV The intensity of the moment sank down on me like a thick cloud. Now we were deep in the forest, negotiating the underbrush while faces and limbs were rubbing against our arms. Not only from anxiety but also from the reality of what was ahead, my heart raced. Could you keep up, Alex? Glancing back at him as we traveled further from the cabin, I questioned. "I'm fine," he said, although the tension in his voice suggested differently. "Just let me have a second." His shoulder bled across his shirt, a red spot like a black bloom growing across his shirt. Though I was terrified, I pushed myself to concentrate. "We need to stop somewhere safe. Jacob, what then do you suppose? "We will lose them if we continue," Jacob warned, his voice low and firm. "Just not far from here is a brook. Should we make it there, we can hide for a short period. I nodded, dragging down the swelling terror wave. "Okay, let's keep on moving then." Every stride made me remember how near we had come to be losing everything. My chest ached. This struggle evolved from survival to demonstrating to myself I could negotiate this new environment. We slung across the thick undergrowth, and I glanced at Alex. His face was pallid yet his jaw was set in will. At the Order for what they were doing to us, for pushing us into this position, I became enraged. Alex exclaimed, his voice shattering through my thoughts, "Lena." "I am able to keep on. Tell me where you want to go next. "Stay close to me," I said, a protective impulse awakening inside me. "I will not let anything happen to you." At the creek, the water softly flowed over the rocks. Jacob looked around fast then gestured for us to follow him to a clump of somewhat covered trees. Jacob remarked, stooping, "This should work." We will wait here till things cool off. We settled comfortably, and I gazed around looking for any indication of threat. The woodland was absolutely silent, save for our own heavy breathing and the soft stream flow. " How's the shoulder?" Alex was evaluating his cut, so I inquired. Though his eyes deceived him, "It's just a scratch," he said. Once we start to apply some pressure on it, I will be good. Finn stopped beside him, his face austere. "We have to tidy it." Lena, do you carry any supplies? I dug into my pack, the familiar weight of it offering some solace among the turmoil. "I have some antiseptic and band-ages." Finn took the things from me and started working right away. Alex objected weakly, saying, "I can do it myself." "Just let him help you," I said. You have to save your strength. Finn applied the antiseptic, quickly worked, and banded Alex's shoulder with the bandage. Though Alex clinched his teeth and remained mute, refusing to reveal weakness, the agony carved across his face tugged at my heart chords. "Thanks, Finn," Alex responded, attempting to project a casual but obviously suffering attitude. Finn said, "No problem, man," with a tone that lightens the situation. Just try to avoid getting shot next time. Alex turned to face Finn and a little grin emerged from his agony. I will try my best. That friendship was a little break from the approaching danger, and I couldn't help but have a flutter of optimism. Perhaps we might conquer this together. "Lena," Jacob replied abruptly, his voice grave. "Based on what our strategy is? We are not meant to live here permanently. I inhaled deeply and felt responsibility press down on my shoulders. "We have to reorganize with the others. We can develop a sensible strategy after we get to the safe house. "What if they show up already?" Concern flashing in his eyes, Jacob questioned. "What if they find them first?" Then we have to go quickly, I replied, trying to harden inside me. "Our behavior cannot be dictated by fear. We resist back-off. Alex straightened a little and appeared to get something from the will in my voice. You are right. We cannot sit here waiting to be discovered. Finn pointed. "We then have to choose our next action. We cannot afford to get cornered. I sensed the intensity changing as we planned. Every one of us was helping, our common objective bringing us nearer. This event was transforming us and building relationships far stronger than I had ever dreamed of. "Lena," Jacob remarked, cutting off my reflections. "What else is happening with you? You appear varied. I stopped, not knowing how to express the maelstrom of feelings whirling inside me. "I suppose simply The thought of losing anyone else makes me sick. Once I lost a family; I cannot allow it to happen once again. "I get that," Alex replied gently, his gaze fixed on mine. Every one of us has lost something. But right now we have one another. It is impossible to overlook. At his comments, my heart grew to expand and our bond became stronger. That instant realized that our hardships were molding us into a family rather than merely surviving. "Okay, let's move," I replied at last, getting up and commanding. "We will follow the stream; it ought to guide us in the correct path." I glanced back at Alex, who had a fresh will in his eyes, as we began to travel down the edge of the lake. Though in agony, he was standing higher, prepared to meet whatever lay ahead. "Stay close," I told him, a mix of tenderness and protection flooding over me. "I will," he said, a little smile tugging at the margins of his mouth. "I am nowhere without you." As we negotiated the dense underbrush, the warmth in my chest expanded. The noises of the woodland surrounded us, a symphony of life within the risk we were under. Every action we did was evidence of our resiliency and a reminder that we were battling for something worth living for. We heard voices ahead, subdued but agitated suddenly. My stomach fell and I felt a wave of terror. "Hide!," Hurrying, I murmured behind a big tree Alex. Hearts thumping, we bent down as the voices got near. My thoughts running, I tried to grasp the words. "They cannot be far," a soldier remarked. They have to have taken the stream. "Let's divide and look around," another voice said. They won't go far on this ground. I cast anxious looks at Finn and Jacob. We were cornered; if they discovered us, nowhere to flee. Tension permeated the planet around me, every heartbeat resounded in my ears. Alex said, "Lena," terror tumbling through his voice. "What are we supposed to do? I inhaled steadily, my brain whirling with choices. We watch to see whether they pass. Should they, we have to act quickly. The troops carried on their discussion without noticing us. The weight of our circumstances was descending more forcefully, and I could feel the worry developing. We needed something to divert us and give us time. Finn's eyes sparkled with an idea all of sudden. I'll cause a diversion. You guys can slide past if I can draw them away. "No!" I snipped and shook my head. "It's too risky!!" "I can do it," he said, resolve shining in his eyes. "I won't let them find you." "Finn, consider this!," Jacob protested, then Finn shook his head. "I'm doing this." Alex has to be taken out of here. He turned to me, his face austere. Lena, you are the leader today. You have to give the call. His words dropped on me like weight, pushing me to face our reality. I had to defend them all, so I had to be ready to take chances if it required so. "Fine," I said grudgingly. Still, you must keep safe. Just see to it you show up to the safe home. Finn said, "I will," a fire blazing in his eyes. "Just trust me". I experienced both pride and terror as he left our hiding place. He was ready to risk all for us, and I could not allow his sacrifice go in vain. Unaware of Finn's imminent scheme, the troops kept searching. Adrenaline shot through me as I saw him go into the underbrush. "Stay alert," I told Jacob and Alex, my voice firm despite the anxiety tightening my gut. "We walk as soon as Finn diverts their attention." We stood silently, every second dragging out until forever. As I sought to find any indication of what Finn was doing, my heart was in my chest. The soldiers' shouts got louder, clearly frustrated. "Let's review over there!," One of them yelled, his voice cutting. " They cannot be far now!" I steeled myself even though I started to feel afraid. We had come too far to have anxiety control our behavior. We would battle for one another without regard to cost. A strong crash sounded across the woods at just that, then yells followed. "Over here!" a soldier cried. "I think I spotted something!" My heart sped as I looked worriedly.