Escape

Chapter 9: Survive

Birds whistled and flew around while some crickets chirped a little. The sky was blue and had a lot of clouds. The birds never flew close to them. I was beginning to wonder why until I noticed what looks like straight cracks in the sky. Like they stuck glass together. It hit me. We are in a dome, but why ?. To keep us from running away ?. I had to stop overthinking and focus on the task. If i had to guess I'd say it was afternoon. Some minutes after 2 ?.

10 minutes in and no one moved from the doors.

"Ah f**k this". Kenzie starts moving into the dense trees. Some follow her lead. Even buff guy after sucking his teeth.

I hear the sound of running water so I go towards it. Needed to stay hydrated if I was going to be here for 2 days. 5 other contestants followed me but I paid them no mind. They could do whatever they wanted to do.

The water wasn't far. I could hear it clearly now. Passing a small clearing I could see it now. A small waterfall that turns to a stream with the clearest water I had ever seen.I bend down and cup water into my hands and bring it to my mouth to drink. I stop. What if the water was poisoned. I was sure they wouldn't make this easy for us but to poison the water. If we didn't have any we wouldn't have any energy to run away in an attack.

I send a small prayer towards the sky hoping I wasn't wrong then I drink the water.

The contestants behind me watch to see if anything would happen to me. I also wait to find out. Nothing. I drink again. Immediately they rush the stream seeing I wasn't going to die anytime soon.

Now I see that three guys and two girls followed me. Two of the guys were twins. Uncanny resemblance, african american and tall.

The last guy was of average height and looked like a plain white man. Nothing special. No striking features.

The girls were about the same height. A little on the short side. Although one had her pink hair in braids, caramel eyes and had a lot of freckles. The other had straight raven hair just like me. Blue eyes too. She could pass as my sister. She was a bit taller than freckles.

She spoke first.

"I'm Rachel."

She brings out her hand in an effort to shake me. I do the same.

"I'm Luna. Nice to meet you.

Under the circumstances."

I give an awkward laugh then flinched at my foolishness. What the hell. Surprisingly Rachel laughs too.

The twins come up to me.

"Devon and Damien. We're twins."

Freckles snorts.

"Yeah we know. It's obvious. I'm Eden by the way." She salutes me.

"Uh I'm Brian."

Plain guy finally speaks up.

We look at one another. No words. Awkward.

I cleared my throat.

"Uh, okay. Bye."

"Wait, wouldn't it be better if we stick together. You know so we don't die."

Eden sounded scared but determined. She still shivered and held herself when she looked around us.

Brian backed her up.

"Yes. Team work and all that."

Rachel raised a brow at me, asking if I was up for it. I thought of it. Well it is strategically better but I don't want someone to drag me down. I do need the company though. Even if we are going to die.

"Sure, why not but we gotta find a place to stay. Lay low So that whatever those modified animals are they won't find us."

"Yup. I don't wanna be eaten. "

Devon moved towards me.

Rachel smiled.

"Good idea."

"Where should we stay ?"

Devon and Damien asked me at the same time. They winked at each other. Guess twin connections were real.

Eden rolled her eyes.

"What about the trees. Their trunks are big and strong enough to hold our weights."

"Plus hide us from predators below."

Brian contributed looking at Eden like a lost child. Maybe someone has a crush.

We all nodded. It was a done deal.The trees it is.

Just then our bubble of air was pierced by a loud scream.