Chapter Five

"Burn them alive!" A woman's shrill voice greeted me when I entered the town.

-Wow. Medieval much?-

I felt like the humans were devolving by the acts they were doing. I mean—who in this age and time would—

My thoughts vanished when I realized the situation I was in. I looked around and saw that everyone was walking towards the town plaza. Securing my hat, I followed the wave of the people. My truck was parked just out of the town so I could blend in.

When we reached the plaza, I tried to blend in the crowd as much as possible. But I tried my best to see what they were about. People continued to shout things like 'kill them' or 'torture them more', and other things I couldn't bear to hear.

They continued to shout profanities at whoever was in front of them. Some even threw rocks and other hard things. I could hear them laughed at the scene; every one of them. Their laughs were ringing in my ears, making me numb with anger as I fought my way to the front to see the poor Rein they were killing.

Finally, I pushed the last man out of my way and I couldn't stop the gasped that escape my throat when I took in the scene. Though, the crowd was too busy sneering and making fun of the Reins to even realize that one of them was feeling sick at the sight she was seeing.

Four men, Reins I'm sure, with their hands and feet tied together and several guns were pointed at each of them, making escape impossible. They were bloodied and to the point of passing out.

I felt sick to the stomach at the sight I was seeing. How could humans do things like this? How could they laugh as they hurt someone else? How could they watch as something beautiful be destroyed? Reins are a gift to the world. We don't deserve to be treated like trash!

-No wonder the world almost died a century ago!-

"Kill those monsters!" The crowd cried to the soldiers.

-Monsters? Don't they see they were the monsters here?!-

Without a thought for my safety, I dashed towards the four and grabbed the nearest one before running towards my truck. My hat flew due to the strong wind, but I hadn't reached for it. Taking the Reins to safety was my main concern. I jumped up obstacles and pushed anyone or anything out of my way. I safely reached the truck and opened the door of the truck bed before I gently sat him inside. Without a word, I ran again towards the plaza and carried the nearest man with me.

This time, the crowd realized what was happening, and they're panicking actions made escape harder for me. I had to push harder and fight the wave of the crowd than my first run. But thankfully, I reached the truck safely and sat him beside the first one.

Both of them were too weak to look straight at me. Making sure there were no people around, I started to run back inside the town, straight to the plaza. Despite my lightning speed, the crowd managed to hit me one time too many. And despite my strength and stamina, my body was petite; for sure those bumps would leave bruises.

The road was blocked ahead. The humans were spread on the narrow road, making it inaccessible. Sucking my breath, I quickly looked around and saw a narrower way on my left. Without second thoughts, I took the turn.

-I'll find another way.-

The street was a dead-end. But there were crates stacked by the wall. So, I swiftly jumped over them and reached for the roof of the house beside me. Then, I pulled myself up and started to run, jumping through roofs. It made my travel faster and easier since there were no obstacles in my way.

But as I jumped through the last roof I needed to get to the plaza, I heard to gunshots above the loud voices of the angry mob. The crowd had turned quiet at the sound and the birds flew away from the sight. Then, as sudden as the silence came, the crowd erupted into a cheer.

I came into a complete stop at the end of the roof. The plaza was directly below me. I could see the crowd dancing in delight. The armies were laughing as they pointed to the two lifeless bodies in front of them. I sucked in my breath at the scene.

Two of the Reins were left on the cold, dirty ground. They were facing the sky and I could see their glassy eyes clearly. I watched as their blood oozed out of their lifeless body, tainting the dirty street with a thick red liquid that eerily reflected everything around it.

I could feel my heart constricting in pain and my adrenaline pulsing in my veins. I was so angry at the world that I wanted to make them pay for all of it. I wanted them to feel the pain and fear they were giving us. I wanted them gone from this poor world.

-They don't deserve to exist.-

Cold liquid ran down my cheeks, waking me up from my sick thoughts. It continued to stream down my face as I started to run back to the truck. On my way, I saw a hat on one of the laundry lines so I took it and wore it tightly; making sure that I covered my face.

I stopped by the truck and closed the truck bed door. Then, quickly ran to the driver seat and floored the gas. I couldn't have stayed there any longer. I felt so sick by what I witnessed. As I drove, I couldn't stop the tears from spilling. I couldn't stop blaming myself. If only I was faster. If only I was stronger.

-I could have saved them all!-

I slammed my hands hard on the steering wheel, hard enough to hurt my palms. But the pain in my heart hadn't vanished. My eyesight was blurring by the nonstop tears. But since I've crossed this road so many times I could have driven by it blindfolded, I wasn't scared of crashing.

When I could see the entrance of our little hide-out, I floored the gas once more. It took all my willpower to stop myself from crying. Lifting one hand off the steering wheel, I dried my tears with the dirty shirt on the passenger seat. I could let no one see the weak side of me.

I hadn't stopped at the space meant for parking and that was enough sign for them to know that something was wrong. They quickly ran towards the truck as I stopped it in front of the clinic. I jumped out of the driver's seat and shouted for help.

"What is it?" Carly asked as she opened the clinic door.

She gasped as she saw what was on my truck bed. Then, she called the men to make haste and bring the injured ones inside. Steven and Drew carried helped each other with one and Jake and James carried the other one.

While Jack, who heard Carly's order before he could even near the truck ran towards the woods to get to the nearest river to collect water. Natasha ushered the younger ones away from the scene and led them towards the main cabin to busy themselves with the dishes.

The men came out of the clinic as Carly, with Coleen as an assistant, cleaned the wounds of the two with the water Jack brought. The men were covered in blood.

"Are you injured?" Drew asked worriedly.

I shook my head, "Maybe just some bruises but I'll live. Why don't you all clean up? We don't want the kids to see the blood," I said as I turned my back to them and climbed the truck once again. "I'll take care of the truck bed."

Without waiting for an answer, I started the truck and sped away from them. I parked it at its designated place. But I hadn't got out of the truck. I slammed my forehead to the steering wheel hard enough I was sure it would leave a mark and I repeatedly hit the dashboard 'til my hands hurt.

I was too slow. I have prided myself for being the fastest human ever but I couldn't save the two Reins back at the town. I couldn't save the three kids under my care. I was useless.

What's the point of having this ability when I couldn't even save a life?

"That's not true," Steven contradicted.

My eyes widened, and I sat up so fast I became a blur. I looked at my window and saw him standing outside the truck door. I stared at him with my mouth open and my eyes watering.

"You know it's not true," he repeated. "You saved us. You saved those two."

"I said that out loud, didn't I?" I asked, unable to answer him straightly.

He nodded with a solemn smile. "You're not useless,"

"But I couldn't even—"

He cut me off, "you can't save everyone. We're humans, too. We may have some abilities that made us special but that hadn't made us gods."