TWO

My elbow was instantly in the rogue’s ribs and he doubles over, coughing.

“Get the others!” I order Val as I take another swing at the fallen male on the ground – smashing the base of my gun into his head and knocking him out cold.

“You’ve picked the wrong day to mess with me,” I growl under my breath as I shoulder my gun and aim for the shelter of the trees.

“Rylie, on your left!” I hear Val shout.

I duck, spin on my heels and fire off to my left and the rogue is down in an instant. I can’t help but smile to myself.

“Val, we need to move out!” I yell, climbing to my feet and breaking into a run.

I’m surrounded in an instant, a rogue on either side of me. I can’t see Val in my peripheral vision, but pray she’s following behind me. I go to aim to my right, the rogue’s gun instantly mirroring mine. But instead of pulling the trigger, I duck and the bullet meant for my chest embeds itself in the rogue to my left.

The other is down before it has a chance to realise its mistake.

“Every time,” I mutter as I climb to my feet and glance around.

“Val!” I yell.

“I’m here,” Val states, appearing at my side, sweat beading on her forehead.

“We need to get out of the cover of the trees. There are too many places for them to hide,” I state as we run. My heart is pounding in my chest, but my head is clear. As much as I can’t stand Val and her obsession with Hunter, I’m not going to let her die because of it. She is my responsibility.

“Go left,” I order as I move right.

The bushes rustle behind us and I know the remaining rogues are close on our tail. I duck quickly behind a large oak and take out two more before my gun needs re-loading.

“I don’t have time for this,” I mutter under my breath as I see more bodies in black overalls stalk from behind trees. “We’ll do this the old-fashioned way.”

I pull my bow free from off my back as well as an arrow from my quiver. It’s not my preferred method of taking out enemies, but it’s quicker than re-loading.

Years of training have readied me for this, so I manage to keep my hands steady as I pull back the string and a flash of silver soars through the air before embedding itself into the chest of a rogue.

“Still got it,” I say, but as I climb to my feet I hear a grunt and glance over my shoulder to see Val in a brawl with a rogue almost twice her size.

“Val, your blind spot!” I cry as I see a rogue stalk from the trees towards her back. I run to her but I can tell I won’t be quick enough. Her gun is on the ground, forgotten, and the knife at her belt will be useless if she doesn’t pull it free quickly.

“You’re knife, Val!” I scream.

“I’ve got this!” Val yells, her eyes wild as she takes her eyes off the rogue to glare at me, causing her guard to come down enough that the rogue towering over her lifts her up by the neck of her jacket and hurls her against the nearest tree.

Her body slumps down the enormous trunk and lands in a heap on the floor.

She’s out cold.

“Great,” I mutter as I take shelter behind a tree to try and gather my bearings.

There’re at least eight rogues left roaming the forest and no sign of the pack. I mentally count up the number of bullets and arrows I have on me when I realise my gun is discarded beside the huge oak, leaving me with the arrows in my quiver and the knife at my belt.

“Time to show them what you’re made of Rylie,” I say to myself before knocking another arrow and unleashing myself upon the rogues.

Down. Down. Down.

Hit after hit, arrows collide with flesh, and bodies litter the forest floor. I move further into the trees, leading them away from where the rest of the pack should be. It’s my responsibility to protect them, even if I have to sacrifice myself in the process.

“I know you’re in there!” I yell, arrowed poised and ready to aim.

Leaves rustle to my right and I whirl around to see two bodies disappearing into the trees. Before I even have a chance to knock another arrow, they’re out of sight. Cursing under my breath, I glance around the forest but it seems I am alone.

Apart from the unconscious Val. Cursing her too for getting herself knocked out, I hurry through the trees to where her body lies against a tree, her head bowed-her blonde hair creating a curtain about her face.

“Val?” I say, pushing her head up and pinching her cheeks. She groans and bats my hand away causing a sigh to escape my lips. “You’re alive.”

“Of course I’m alive,” she mutters, wincing as she reaches a hand to her temple.

“We need to get back to the others,” I state, glancing over my shoulder at the eerily quiet forest. It seems as if the wind was holding its breath as not even the leaves were moving.

“Give me a second,” Val says but the wince she makes as she makes to move doesn’t escape my notice.

“You’ve probably got a concussion,” I state, forcing my hand on her shoulder to keep her down.

“We can’t stay here-“ but Val’s voice breaks off, a frown appearing between her eyebrows.

“What is-” I say but Val holds a finger to her lips to quieten me before pointing into the distance. My gaze follows and that’s when I hear it.

A deep, guttural moan travels through the trees and my heart sinks.

“No,” I gasp, my heart pounding in my ears.

“What is it Rylie?”

“Someone’s hurt,” I whisper, as the sound grows louder. I move to get to my feet but Val takes my hand, pulling me down.

“It’s probably a rogue,” she insists, but I shake my head. The sinking feeling in my gut grows stronger, and I feel an urge to follow the sound.

“No,” I state, shaking Val off and climbing to my feet. “It’s one of the pack.”

“You don’t know that for sure. You’d be reckless to go out there alone,” Val hisses.

“I’m the gamma, it comes with the territory,” I state, getting to my feet and heading into the depth of the forest alone, the cries of pain as my guide.