8: Serene

Jaanai POV

"How much water did you pack? Did you remember your knife? What about antibiotics and bandages, are they in your bag too?"

"Baby I love you, but please for the love of God shut up." Jack moaned under his pillow.

"You are leaving in five hours and your bag is as light as a feather, I am not going to shut up unless you tell me what you need!" I raised my voice at him. I know he needs sleep but this is his first scouting trip with the new skills he learned, and I'm not going. So I'm sort of freaking out.

"Oh my god." He sat up and threw his pillow at my face.

"Are you serious Jack!?" I started laughing while grabbing the pillow to throw it back at him, but he did not seem amused.

"There's a thing called unzipping my backpack and FUCKING LOOKING! You said it yourself, I'm leaving In five hours and you will not be quiet and let me sleep. It is so exhausting making sure you are Okay all the time, you don't even realize how scared I am! You reminding me every five seconds isn't helping Jaanai! Go to bed!" Jack yelled at me. He never yells at me.

I rolled back and forth on my heels. A part of me wanted to break up with him on the spot just to be petty, but the other part of me loved him way too much and was ready to admit he was right this time.

I sighed.

"I'm sorry, I love you a lot. Like a lot. I overthink every situation you could possibly run into and it terrifies me Jack. I wouldn't be able to handle losing you. I know I don't express it in a healthy way, and I know I'm a pain in your ass, but I truly believe you are the love of my life, and I really can't lose that." I exhaled deeply. I never say things like that and honestly I instantly regretted it.

I walked past him and sat on the bed. We all chose roommates and roomed with people after living in the hospital for a few months and being positive we were the only ones in it. Now we are located on the same floor, in rooms where patients would be placed. Alex roomed with Briana, Dylan roomed with Kadyn, Hunter roomed with Tate, and Ralph had a room to himself.

Kadyn brought the new bedroom situation up a few weeks ago, after being fully comfortable with our abilities and shelter. I honestly think it was because of Jack and I's arguments every night, but who knows.

"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have raised my voice or been disrespectful. I could never be able to lose you either, do you ever wonder why I train so hard? Why I even wanted to learn these scary things in the first place? To protect you, that's my purpose. That will always be my purpose. The only thing keeping me sane about this trip is that you are staying here in the safety of the hospital. I'm terrified all the time, I just hide it better." He took a deep breath as well while sitting next to me on the bed. I put my legs over his and looked at him.

"We are a mess." I laughed.

"Yeah I have no idea how we've made it this long honestly." He chuckled bringing out his dimples.

"Everyone thinks our relationship is insane, they literally think it's just arguing." I smiled at him knowing it's so much more.

"I believe that's what keeps us going, we are both brutally honest." He smirked.

"Very true." I looked out the window that was all boarded up.

"Hey look at me." Jack stated while moving my face gently with his two fingers.

"You are beautiful." He whispered.

"I know." it was my turn to smirk, but before I could fully rub my sassiness in his face, he leaned In and kissed me.

He smelled like peppermint and cinnamon and all I wanted to do was fall asleep in his scent.

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Briana POV

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My alarm in the morning was Alex grinding her teeth, the repetitive sound just echoed off the walls, all night long.

"Alex when you wake up I will kill you." I whispered while staring at her lifeless body. She literally looks like a corpse when she's sleeping. I can't even count how many times I made sure she was still alive ever since I roomed with her.

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"Ughhhh" I groaned.

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"ALEX!" I yelled louder then intended while trying to grab my pillow and throw it at her, but I didn't notice how close I was to the edge of the bed and ended up on the cold tiled floor.

"I hate you." I groaned while standing up.

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"riattata ratttata!" I mocked her.

knock knock

"Yeah!" I yelled lightly.

"Everything okay in there?" It was either Kadyn or Dylan, they both got raspy voices when they wake up and they are both next door to us.

"Yeah sorry, did I wake you?" I asked trying to climb over all of our stuff to get to the door.

"Nah I've been up." They cleared their voice.

I opened the door to reveal a very tired looking Kadyn.

"Holy shit did you even sleep?" I let out the first thought to come to my mind.

"Yeah actually." He smirked.

I covered my mouth.

"I'm sorry I don't know what got over me. Alex is grinding her teeth and it woke me up." I yawned.

"Yeah I can hear it." He added.

"HAHA I'm going to embarrass her with it." I laughed evilly while looking back at her. She somehow got my pillow off the floor and was hogging it now as well.

"Ok good luck with that, we are leaving in two hours anyway so I would wake her up, I would like us all to eat something before we go." He became serious again.

"Are you excited that you are leading this mission?" I asked with my brows raised. He didn't seem like the leader type to me.

"Yeah for this particularly I am. I get to see my training program in action." I've never seen Kadyn genuinely smile until then.

"I didn't think about it like that, I would be siked." I laughed joyfully.

"Yep I'm going to pretend you didn't use teenage slang when we are literally criminals, get Alex up." He said sternly while going back to his room.

"Sir yes Sir." I mocked him. I'm on a roll.

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Alex POV

"Alex get up!!!" I heard faint yelling.

"Alex I will take every IV in this building and stab you with them, and I'll make you watch those long shiny needles go in your pale arm."

"Ughhh." I groaned while rolling over.

"Alex, the boss said we have to eat before we go, we leave in two hours come on." I felt her shoving me.

"Briana go away." I mumbled while putting my pillow over my head.

"Want me to get Hunter for he can see how beautiful your saliva covered face and pillows look. I'm sure he'll capture the memory forever." She started speaking a light airy voice, the one you use with babies.

"You wouldn't..." I sang back.

"OH HUNTER!!!" I've never heard her yell that loud.

"Yo shut the fuck up what the fuck." I sat up and threw her pillow at her.

"NEVERMIND SORRY!" She screamed again.

"See that wasn't so hard, now come on I'm craving a chocolate chip granola bar." She exclaimed while jumping up and down in her grey sweatpants and white t-shirt.

I had booty shorts on that were black and a grey t-shirt that looked like I went to summer camp. Let's just say it's not an outfit to walk around in for breakfast.

"I'm going to change." I stated slowly while rolling out of bed and looking for my hairbrush.

"Looking for this." She smirked while holding up my purple hair brush.

"Briana come on I'm not in the mood." I yawned.

"Ok." She whispered.

"Well, can I have it?" I asked after a long awkward silence.

"Yep." She replied quickly.

"Um ok." I looked at her weirdly while walking over to her.

"I'm so hungry Alex bye." She said rather suddenly and bolted out of the door.

"BRIANA I WILL SNAP YOUR TWIG LEGS IN TWO SECONDS" I screamed while bolting after her Into the cafeteria where breakfast was set up and Kadyn and Dylan were already eating.

Briana jumped over the counter that contained bananas, applesauce, granola bars, and pudding.

"Mm don't these options look so good Alex." She smirked.

"They look just like they did yesterday." I stated while crossing my arms. I was pissed.

"You look rough Alex." Dylan coughed catching on to what Briana was doing.

"and you look depressed but you don't see me saying shit." I rolled my eyes while stomping over to the food.

"Damn someone woke up on the wrong side of the cot." Dylan chuckled.

"More like on the wrong side of her mouth, surprised she wants to eat after grinding her teeth all night." Kadyn added while chewing loudly.

"Briana you did not." I gave her what I hopped was the meanest look of the century but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"They can hear it without me saying anything. It's loud." She dragged her words out.

"Whatever." I growled while picking up a banana.

"I DID IT, SHE'S AT BREAKFAST WITH AN HOUR TO SPARE!" She squealed while throwing the brush at my face and grabbing her granola bar.

"Ouch you bitch." I said while failing to have quick enough instincts to avoid being hit in the face by a hairbrush.

She hummed all the way to her seat next to Dylan in the cafeteria while I trudged to my room eating a squished banana because it became my stress ball real quick.

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Dylan POV

Everyone was packed and ready to go by six in the morning. Briana had her shoulder length dark brown hair in a ponytail, while wearing a brown leather jacket, dark blue jeans, and a white long sleeved shirt. Alex had her hair In French braids while wearing a black sweatshirt and light green leggings. Kadyn was wearing all black like always and his straight black hair was a mess. Jack was the only one in a short sleeved shirt with jeans, while I had a brown leather jacket as well with jeans.

Tate, Jaanai, and Hunter were staying back. Tate is trying to give us electricity for our showers could work, and maybe even TV. Jaanai chooses not to be aggressive and always goes with the safest option, besides she missed most of her trainings so we decided it would be best if she stayed. Hunter is there just in case they need someone to knock a couple of heads together. He's basically their bodyguard.

"You nervous?" I asked Briana while we were all waiting for everyone to say their goodbyes.

"Um a little, just to get caught, not to get hurt or anything." She mumbled.

"I mean if we get caught we most definitely will get hurt." I laughed.

"Yeah never mind. I'm just excited to test my knife." Briana has been obsessed with the knife Ralph and Tate created for her. You'll see her outside throwing it at targets all the time, and she never misses. She also finally got used to the boomerang feature. She knows when to open and close her hand, she even admitted to counting in her head to get the timing precisely.

"Gotta admit I'm jealous." Hunter came walking over to hug Alex.

"Yeah imagine staying here." Alex scoffed.

"Whatever loser." Hunter pretended to be disgusted with her and pushed her off of him.

"Be safe baby I love you." I heard Jaanai whisper to Jack while kissing him on the cheek.

Kadyn was leaning on the pillar near the exit. He looked highly annoyed that we haven't left yet, but then again he always looks like that.

"Let's go gang." I shouted while moving my finger in a circular motion.

We exited the building while waving our goodbyes. Jack was sending air kisses and Tate was blowing them back to be funny. Jaanai slapped him.

"Those are my air kisses jack ass." She smirked jokingly.

"As if I would have a hot guy send me some I know." Tate replied.

"Oh God, I'm going to be suffocated with you two." Hunter put his head In his hands.

"Be safe Alex I mean it!" He yelled before closing the exit door.

I looked up to see Ralph peering out from the Chief of surgery office he made his home. I haven't had a real conversation with him in weeks, he had some of the ugliest eye bags I have ever seen. He's been killing himself trying to think of a master plan to get our families back alive without being shot and killed. just like Simon. He didn't even want to go on this harmless trip with us to get fresh air.

All of us needed to practice our skills in a real life situation, so we were going camping for the weekend. To find some moving targets, and to try to live outside on limited supplies.

We had to go far into the woods, for Blade Briar's army couldn't hear us or track us. We also wanted to go far from base, just in case things went south.

The rest of the morning consisted of silent trudging through the woods. Everyone was tired, no one felt like keeping conversation, and everyone was starting to regret this.

"I wish Tate came." Briana whined.

"Aw you miss your boyfriend." Kadyn pouted jokingly.

"No, but he sure as hell would've been more fun than you." She rolled her eyes.

"I think this is far enough, we've been walking in the woods for three hours Kadyn." Jack exclaimed while looking at his watch.

"Can we at least stop at 10, ya'll are a bunch of cry babies." He groaned, never stopping his feet from moving.

"Fine." Jack didn't say another word.

All you could hear were the soft crunches of leaves and the light breezes of the wind.

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Kadyn POV

"Everyone stop, be quiet." I whispered suddenly.

No one moved, not even a breath could be heard.

"What is it? I don't hear anyth--"

"Shut up Alex!" I cut her off

"I swore I heard six pair of footsteps when there are only five of us." I started moving again.

"There!" I heard Briana gasp.

It was a beautiful buck, huge too. It would make a great dinner.

I took my bow out of my bag, and started loading an arrow. I began squinting one eye, preparing to shoot, when Briana suddenly got in my shooting view.

"What are you doing!?" I practically whispered yelled at her.

"It's a buck, they supposedly mean good luck. Besides I've never seen one. Can we just appreciate the beauty of nature. Half of us only dreamed of this moment." She pleaded.

"Bunch of bullshit." I kicked a stone and the Buck ran far away from us.

"That was our dinner Briana." I snarled.

"Well since you are so full of yourself already I'm sure you'll have no problems finding something else for us to eat." She crossed her arms and went back to walking with Alex.

Every time I start to like her as a person she just annoys me all over again.

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Briana POV

The two days of camping we had went amazing. I killed every squirrel I aimed at, my aim is impeccable, and now I know I can shoot moving targets. Alex just complained about having bugs in her hair 24/7, while Jack missed Jaanai so badly that he walkie talkied her every night instead of letting us talk to Ralph or even Tate. I miss all of them, and I'm sure Alex would've liked to talk to Hunter but whatever.

Dylan still went on his morning runs, but it was better out in the woods because you could hear him running, the joys of autumn and fallen leaves. So we knew he was safe.

Kadyn basically just tested how far his arrows could go, and if they caused the same damage.

Now it was five in the morning again and we were packing up all our gear.

"I sure hope Tate figured out the plumbing, I really need a shower." Alex groaned while scratching her scalp.

"You think your hair is bad you should see your face." Kadyn added.

"Shut up." Alex rolled her eyes. She was so tired she didn't even have a comeback.

"I honestly think we are fully trained guys, this trip just proved it." Jack said excitedly while waiting for Jaanai to wake up and walkie him.

"You'll think completely differently when we are up against people." Kadyn sighed.

I was listening to the leaves crunching under Dylans feet when all of a sudden they stopped.

"DYLAN!" I shouted right away. I've done this every time he went on a run during our trip, he's probably using the bathroom.

"AUGHHHHHHH"

"That was Dylan!" I looked worriedly at the group while sprinting towards his blood curling scream.

"Briana wait!" I heard Kadyn's and Alex's faint voices getting lighter as I got closer to the potentially heart wrenching site.

"Please be ok." I breathed heavily as I kept running.

All of a sudden I saw a foot and I completely fell over it, face planting into the dirt.

"Ughh" I complained as I grabbed my side.

"Well well, there's more of you." The man had sharp teeth and a horrible grin.

"Yep good luck." I groaned pretending to be seriously injured while he looked behind him for a second, taken aback by my words.

I kicked him in the leg causing him to slouch over me and then I kicked him in the groin, just for good luck.

"Get the fuck off of me old man." I yelled while standing up and grabbing a big rock.

I threw it at his head.

"Whoops sorry."

"Over here, he found two!"

"Shit, is it Blade's group?" I searched the guy frantically finding a badge and an I.D.

"Tate will know what to do with this." I whispered absentmindedly to myself while someone grabbed me by the mouth.

"Shhh it's me." I whipped around, it was Dylan.

"What the hell, are you okay? Why did you scream?"

"As a warning that I saw them searching, sorry didn't think it through. Also you are shit at following sound, you went the complete opposite way.

"Sorry. Let's go quickly they are going to close in on us." I said frantically while running back to our camp gear.

"Watch out, arrow!" I heard Dylan shout as I saw our group getting more and more in focus, crap we are surrounded by them.

I ducked just in time to see an arrow fly over my head and hit a tree.

"Oh god." I took my knife out along with my gloves that activates it.

"Time for the real test huh?" I yelled to Alex who was defending arrows with her spear.

"Piece of cake if you ask me." Alex tried to lighten the mood as well. We were all nervous.

Kadyn's knife was stuck in a tree, while he was stabbing a guy with an arrow. Dylan was behind a tree along with Jack shooting their guns. Alex was in the open looking like kunfu panda, and I was just there completely flustered.

I started throwing my knife, it pierced two bullet proof vests and hit one leg because one guy screamed.

I had two down when I noticed Kadyn was too busy trying to pull his knife out of the tree. So I started moving towards him throwing my knife at the guys aiming for him.

One soldier was ready for me though, he put his shield up at a perfect angle to where my knife ricocheted off of his and directly towards the back of Kadyn's head.

shit

I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me with my glove out trying to get my knife in my hand and not his skull.

"Holy sh-" Kadyn was abruptly cut off as my hand went across his face and got the knife as he was turning around.

"Holy shit is right." I breathed heavily being caught off guard.

He shook his head in appreciation towards me and started throwing his knife as well, even though his isn't as cool as mine.

We had two more guys to go when more vans started destroying the woods trying to get to us.

well fuck