The Earth After Rebirth

Sekani strained his ears and it seemed like the two he was with were doing just about the same thing. He couldn't even count how many footsteps were headed their way.

They looked at each other with confusion and shock.

"Nikolai, you have to go with him. Run." He pointed to the dead corpse.

"What about you?" His voice was shaky as he asked.

"I can take care of myself." He said in a scolding voice, unbelieving that a young man like him was trying to protect him. "You're injured Nikolai, there's nothing you can do here."

"No, I'm not leaving you behind!" He answered stubborn, knowing full well Sekani was right he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Dammit kid they're getting closer!" He shouted through gritted teeth.

Nikolai only looked at him. He couldn't do it, what would happen if he really left. He couldn't help but imagine the people coming killing Sekani in cold blood, then what would he tell Kiro.

"Nikolai, leave, now." It was Jesús who said deciding then and there he was going to stay with his neighbour, he was usually slow witted but at this time he was quick to understand what Sekani wanted.

"You run and drag your dad until you reach the train. Tell Wilfred to leave without us, that is an order." Sekani told him with finality.

Nikolai shook his head, words were failing him now. He was also beginning to understand but he didn't want it to end like this, it couldn't happen like this, they were so close to completely leaving here without anyone on their team having died.

"We can make it, together." He tried to argue but he didn't believe it himself.

"We could but they'd find the train and everything we worked for could crumble into nothingness. It's better to give them something now so they stop searching this entire place, once the people in there are safe you'll release the footages and ensure our innocence.

Wilfred knows where to take the people on the train." Sekani reasoned quickly without missing a beat, the heavy footsteps were drawing nearer.

"Use you as bait? For us to escape? No way!" He shook his head violently. "I'll be the bait, you guys run with my father." He said with much resolve.

If they weren't so tired, if there were less than twenty people coming in their direction Sekani would've opted to fight. But in their condition, he couldn't see how they would get out of this alive. The only way was to surrender while the others escaped.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Maybe if Jon Scott's bombs and grenades weren't so dangerous, they could have used them. But they were too dangerous, if the user isn't careful they'd also get decimated.

"There's no time for this." Sekani grabbed Nikolai by the scruff of his neck.

It was only then did Nikolai recognise just how large the man was. He was able to lift him with just one hand. He knew better than to scream so he closed his mouth shut knowing the enemy was just around the corner.

"Jesús, grab that dead body." He looked ahead, the road down wasn't too rocky so Nikolai could afford being thrown down it. "Let's eject them forcefully."

Nikolai tried to wriggle himself free but the hand clutching his neck was too damn strong. Nothing worked, in that moment he also learned a valuable lesson, he was just a kid, a teenager and he was no match for people on Sekani's level.

"Don't disappoint me son, tell Wilfred to leave. That's an order. Good luck." He threw him down without hearing him utter another word.

Jesús found himself with a new strength that he didn't know where it came from and put the dead body on his shoulders, throwing it down too. It followed after Nikolai, before no time they reached the very bottom.

"So stupidly easy to get down there but harder to get up here." Jesús complained. Sekani would've agreed if he was paying him any mind.

He was too concerned about the injured boy he'd thrown down this hill. It wouldn't be too crazy if rolling down like that would reopen his wounds.

Nikolai got up shortly after, he looked up with sad eyes. He dragged the corpse of his father to a nearby tree, he was about climb back up when he heard the commotion at the top.

"Freeze, don't move. We've received a tip about this place. Looks like you've destroyed evidence before we got here."

Nikolai wanted to scream, wanted to tell them that wasn't true but he knew. If they found out there was someone down here they would come there, and eventually find the train.

"He called me son..." He couldn't figure out why he did that, but it was also what motivated him at that moment, this single word said with so much love motivated him to carry on the mission.

He didn't want to fail. Most importantly, he didn't want to disappoint him.

Nikolai quickly jumped back when a flashlight came down to where he was. There was rustling of leaves at his movements.

"Who's down there?" The voice rang deep and loud.

The boy down there didn't move an inch, he waited for the light to leave but it didn't. It stayed there for a while, moving from left to right, watching the wind, watching anything that would come out of trees.

"Paranoid are you Smith? Come on man. There's nothing there."

"Leaves rustles Johnson."

"It's a forest, there are animals of course there'll be movement." Johnson argued.

"You don't like being cautious do you..." Smith must've thought that would be an insult.

"We don't get paid enough to care."

The voice started receding from the edge of the hill. That's when Nikolai moved, he had his dad on his shoulders, with the adrenaline he had, nothing else mattered. He ran. Even when his lungs complained, even when his legs screamed at him to stop.

He only stopped and fell when he reached the train.

"Wh-what happened? Where's Master Waynworth?" Wilfred asked concerned, the chains littered the ground and everyone was already inside the train.

"Run. Leave. Wilfred. That's an order."

Was all he wa able to get out until he lost consciousness.