Night didn't bring rest, it brought truth and in that darkness there was nowhere left to hide who you really were. The click came closer again this time and no one moved, not because they weren't ready but because they didn't know where to aim. Darkness swallowed everything beyond a few feet as shapes blurred and edged disappeared, even breathing sounded too loud.
Japer's eyes were locked in one direction where the sound came from, reacting too fast in the dark? Could get you killed. One of the survivors still clinged to Stacy his grip tightened with his fingers dogged into her arm shaking violently
"They're here… I told you… I told you…"
Their voice cracked into something unstable and something dangerous. Stacy tried at all cost to be still even as pain shot through her arm and as tension rose.
"Let go," she said quietly.
But he didn't and that was when Jasper moved and grabbed the survivor's wrist firmly and the grip breaked instantly. The click came again from a different angle now from behind them and as they were being surrounded no one said a word, they raised their weapons and adjusted their backs, forming a loose defensive circle with each angle tightening
"They're testing us." Jasper said in a very low tone
And with a whisper.
"How many?" Stan asked
Jasper didn't answer him immediately he was listening and then Jasper replied.
"More than before."
Real fear spread deep instantly.
The group was already on the edge of breaking now as a result of the instability that hunger and fear brought, the first mistake was when one of them shifted too fast as his foot scraped the rock loudly, a single shot cracked through the night as one of the group members dropped with a scream.
"MOVE!" Stan shouted.
"GET DOWN!"
"WHERE…?!"
"STOP MOVING!" Jasper commanded
"Right flank. Elevated." He said
Jasper moved instantly without hesitation and Stacy followed him immediately because she knew that if anyone could see through what was happening that it has to be him. Others hesitated for a while and then followed knowing fully well that hesitation was worse. The group shifted their positions very swiftly using a broken structure for cover and another shot came through butmissed target. Just then, Jasper saw a silhouette of a weapon flash from high ground and waited for up to three seconds as he counted; one, two and three and then he moved towards the threat.
"What are you doing?!" Stan shouted
Jasper didn't explain and climbed fast in silence, the shooter adjusted as their bodies hit hard in struggle. The group was below the breathing shallow as their eyes scanned in darkness and their weapons ready, after some seconds Jasper drops down.
"One down" he said
"They're not attacking fully," Stacy said.
Jasper nods.
"They're pushing us."
Into what exactly? someone from the group asked.
Their was no answer because that's the problem. The one who was shot was still barely breathing. Stacy applied pressure trying to stabilize one of the member but her expression said it all, thelose was immediate and unavoidable
"This is your fault!" they snapped suddenly
Looking at Jasper now
"You brought this!"
Shifting their weapons towards Jasper slightly with doubt written all over their faces and eyes hardened. Jasper didn't argue or tried to defend himself
"They were already coming." He said.
And that was the truth that they hated because it removed blame but not fear. Another sound was heard closer now with multiple footsteps all coordinated and fast approaching.
"We move." Jasper said
"We can't!" Stacy snapped.
"They'll shoot us in the open!" She retorted
Immediately Jasper locked his eyes on her.
"If we stay, we get surrounded."
The hardest choice truly was to stay and die slowly or to move quickly and risk everything. After they've weighed the decision and chosen sides without saying it. Stacy held her gaze on himfor along time searching before she nodded.
"On my signal." She said
The plan they made was fast and dangerous as two drew attention, three moved first and rotated to keep them guessing. Jasper took the front.
"Now." Stacy said
And everything exploded into motion as screams where heard and gunfire movements followed. Darkness tore apart with flashes of light and they all ran as fast as they could uncoordinated but alive. As one of the member almost fell, Jasper grabbed him and pulled him forward. The shots were closer now and after a while there was absolute silence again. It hitted Jasper first because he felt that something was wrong that they weren't being hunted but were driven into the unknown.
As Jasper turned slowly scanning the darkness ahead, he saw the terrain, the landscape and stillness which was barely visible with lights. And as the group stood trapped between what chased them and what waits ahead, Jasper understood that they didn't escape the hunters but were delivered.