UNDERLYING SURFACE

Lena's POV In sharp contrast to the tumult outside, the cave was chilly and wet. I could hear my pulse resonating in my ears as we gathered close, mixing with the sound of water seeping down the stalactites above. Though the fear ate at me, it seemed like a refuge. Still out there stalking us like prey were the troops. I said, "We need to find a way to fight back," looking at Alex and Finn, whose features bore resolve and terror. "What would you advise?" Finn wrinkled his brow and questioned. "We have an advantage; we cannot just charge at them." I inhaled deeply, attempting to quiet the tempest inside my head. "We have to make use of the surroundings. This cave might be our trap as well as a hide-away for us. Should we be able to entice them here... "Right," Alex said, his eyes flickering with ideas. "We can designate an outer detour. We can ambush them while they are diverted. The ideas set my heart racing. The thought of flipping the script on our assailants set out a flickering of optimism inside of me. 'Exactly! One end of the cave allows us to produce noise to attract them in. Then, when least expected of them... Finn said, "We hit them from behind," a smile emerging from behind his previous stress. Feeling more sure now, "Let's do it," I said. "We'll make use of anything we come upon. I saw a purpose returning as we started to assemble pebbles, sticks, whatever we could toss. Having been fleeing for so long, we felt as though our situation defined us as victims. But just now we were in charge. "Do you suppose Jacob is okay?" Alex questioned abruptly, his voice somewhat worried. I stopped, the weight of his inquiry squarely on me. "I dream so. He is robust and he will not desert us. But right now we should be especially focused on ourselves. After finishing our get-ready, we descended into the cave farther. Soldiers' distant yells could be heard, their sounds broken by branches under their feet. We have to hurry, I said, looking back at my buddies. "They are nearing each other." I noticed a little alcove leading off a short path when we arrived at the far end of the cave. Here! Whispering, I indicated for them to follow. We crowded into the nook and pushed our backs up against the cool stone. The troops' voices got louder, and I sensed the strain in the air. My pulse pounding, I muttered, "Get ready." As we waited, minutes stretched into what felt like hours and the excitement grew. The cave's opening then burst with sound. A soldier yelled, "Check over there," ringing over the cave. I sensed my breath stopping in my throat. They were in front of us. "Now!" I cried, and we sprang from our hiding spot with all our might tossing sticks and rocks. Startled, the troops staggered back in bewildering bewilderment. One of them yelled, "What the—?," and we hurried on, attacked by adrenaline. I caught contact with Alex, who nodded as we surged at the closest soldier. Finn had handled another one, and when we battled back, our motions matched like a well-rehearsed dance. I felt a burst of exhilaration. But as the anarchy developed, I became aware of something in the shadows—a person hiding behind the troops. When I identified the dark figure, my heart dropped. "Jacob!," I yelled, my voice piercing the tumult. Everything slowed down as I yelled out and a soldier turned and pointed at her. My heart flew, a concoction of wrath and terror coursed through me. "Lena, no!," said Hurrying forward to cover from the soldier's aim, Jacob cried, his voice strained. But I attacked the soldier with all my might before I could register it, sending him off-balance. "Get away from him!" Adrenaline pumping through my blood, I yelled. The soldier stammered, but another one swiftly moved to intercept me. I sidestepped to almost miss a blow. I battled to retain my balance and my heart hammered. "Lena, be careful!." Finn yelled but it was too late. My shoulder felt a strong hand clasp, whirling me about. My breath stopped to meet the soldier. He gave me a scowl, and I could tell his eyes were icy. "Got you now," he snarled, raising his firearm. But Jacob was there, tackling him to the ground, before he could fire. The two guys struggled, the echo of fists filling the cave. "Get away from here! Throwing the soldier off him, Jacob shouted. I paused, divided between running to safety and tending to Jacob. But I knew what I had to do when I turned back to Alex and Finn and saw their resolve. "GO!" I cried and shoved them toward the door. "I'll hold off!" "No, Lena!," Alex yelled, terror flickering across his eyes. "Just get going! I'll be just behind you! One final glance, they sprinted for the door, the sound of their feet vanishing into the distance. I turned back just in time to see Jacob grappling with another soldier. Lena, get outside! Jacob shouted, but I would not desert him. Driven toward him, I felt a flash of terror and rage. "I'm not leaving you!," I cried and grabbed a nearby rock to toss at the soldier. It knocked him off on the side. Grabbing the opportunity, Jacob drove the soldier off. "Let's get going!" His eyes flaming with desperation, he yelled. With noises of anarchy whirling behind us, we turned and raced for the entrance. I wavered with relief as we broke out into the wide air. But that was fleeting. A freezing voice cried out from behind us as soon as we left the house. "Stop just here!" My heart skipped a beat. Turning to see many troops rising from the woods with rifles raised, "No!," With wide-open terror in his eyes, Jacob yelled. Taking his hand, I pulled him back as the troops moved forward. "We must hide! We ran behind a big boulder, my head whirling. "What are we supposed to do right now? We cannot turn back. Jacob's face tightened as he continued, "They will definitely catch us. Desperate, I said, "I'm not sure." Still, we cannot give up. We must arrange to get back together with Alex and Finn. I just then noticed a little road guiding more into the jungle. "That way!" I pointed with great urgency in voice. We could lose them in the trees. Jacob nodded, resolving painting across his features. "Let's get it!" We pushed farther into the forest, sprinting down the little trail dodging vines and branches. With every stride, my heart surged; the terror of capture tore at me. "Do you suppose they looked at us?" Jacob questioned, looking back tensely. "I'm not sure," I said, trying to stifle the terror building inside me. But just now we cannot stop. The noises of the troops vanished from view as we kept running. Though my pulse still pounded, I sensed a sliver of optimism. Still alive and still battling were we. At last we arrived at a little space where the sunshine poured through the trees. The far-off mountains emerged in the backdrop, and for a time I let myself dream of independence. But the instant was fleeting as I heard people close by. Breaking the silence, a soldier said, "They went this way!" "Quick!" Pulling me behind a big tree, Jacob urged. We listened while we pushed ourselves against the coarse bark, our breaths short. The soldiers' footsteps became closer, and I could sense the stress squeezing around us. Whispers of "I can't believe this is happening," my heart pounding. "We were meant to be safe. "I know," Jacob said, his darkly worried eyes "But right now we are not out of this. We must keep on traveling. I heard ruckling close just then. Turning to find Finn coming out of the underbrush, his face was grimy but determined. Lena! Jacob! he said, relief washing over me. "Finn!." I cried and hurried over to see him. "You made it!." "Of course I did," he grinned, but it soon faded as he looked about. "We have to leave this place. The troops are approaching closely. "Where'd Alex be?" I asked, a worry wave rushing over me. Finn, appearing relieved, said, "He's just behind me." "He has been on area scouting. We may reassemble and devise a fresh strategy. As Alex came out of the forest, with a tight but determined look, I felt a flood of optimism. He continued, heaving deeply, "I saw where they went." "We have to get moving quickly. "Let's go!" I rallied my buddies and said. I couldn't get rid of the sensation we were under observation as we slid among the trees. Still, together in our struggle for existence, we were more powerful. The road veered and turned us more into the woodland. Driven by the notion we would be able to flee, my pulse accelerated with every stride.