The Ascent

Chapter 33

Walking towards the base, Jasmine couldn't help but wonder what the best approach was. If she sneaked up on them, they were bound to get startled and start shooting at her, but on the other hand, the same could happen if she chose the more upfront approach.

In such stressful situations, people were sure to be jumpy, soldiers or not, and she was pretty certain that no matter what she did, she would be looked at with suspicion. Hoping that an honest approach would at least spare her from being harmed, Jasmine decided that was her best chance.

Going towards them was even more terrifying than facing the aliens because she knew very well what human beings were capable of, and what types of evils they dared to do to each other when social structures that held them together crumbled. Yet, Jasmine was determined to do something. Enough of her life was spent as the observer of life as it passed her by. She would finally do something about it, even if it killed her, which was highly probable.

Her footsteps were as loud as possible, partly because she wanted them to be so, but part of it was because she dreaded the encounter. Being a woman in a post-apocalyptic world rarely bode well, and all the horrifying scenarios running through her mind didn't help her sense of doom.

"Hell..." Jasmine started to say when the first soldier came into view.

Her friendly greeting was cut short by a sudden bang that made her ears ring because of its proximity.

She realized what had happened only when the soldier lowered his gun in shock.

The soldier had fired at her.

It wasn't entirely his fault, but it made Jasmine angry that he would shoot first and ask questions later.

What if it wasn't her but a child? What if it was Isaac?

The mere thought made her blood boil. Anger was a monster that she had tamed a long time ago. However, all it took was thinking of the potential danger for the innocent child to make it break its cage and roam freely through her whole being.

"Young man," she said sternly, although the guy didn't look much younger than her. "Don't you have any manners left? Just because it's the end of the world doesn't mean you should rudely shoot at anyone seeking help from the one place that should be able to offer them some assistance."

The man looked at her in utter puzzlement, as if her words made no sense to him while other soldiers gathered to enjoy the show. They behaved like it was the most entertaining thing ever, making Jasmine even more furious.

"Who is in charge here?" Jasmine demanded, tired of the glances and low whispers which were getting louder and louder.

"I am," a young man who tried to make himself look older walked out of the crowd. "I apologize for my men. We have been through too much, so we are all on edge."

"Very well," Jasmine said, wondering why she suddenly sounded like a school teacher scolding the naughty children in her class. "We have much to discuss."

He glanced at her with so much confusion and caution that he looked like a small child who had stolen his father's clothing to dress up as a soldier but failed to pretend well enough.

Before she could say anything else, a rustle was heard nearby as the bushes moved aside, revealing a small figure struggling to pass through. Of course, the soldier's first reaction was to raise his gun with shaky hands.

"Stop!" Jasmine cried out, dashing in front of the gun, blocking his target with her body. "He is with me."

The second Jasmine saw the figure, she recognized it as Isaac, and she was able to quickly predicted the soldiers' reaction and what she could do to stop them. Of course, she also knew they might discharge their weapons anyway, but it was a risk she was willing to take.

It was so strange.

In the past, she never thought she could risk her life for anyone or die for anyone. Yet, there she was, ready to do so for a child she barely knew. People were right when they said that times of peril showed our true selves. Jasmine found so much more bravery in herself than she could have ever anticipated.

"Lower your weapon. It's just a child," the guy in charge said quickly and was instantly obeyed.

The fact that there was still compliance and loyalty to those in charge was a relief for Jasmine, who expected everything to be much more chaotic and disorganized. But, then again, that usually came after many years had passed. Years after civilization's collapse was when people were at their worst because now, at the early stages, they still had hope. They still believed in something, and Jasmine planned to take full advantage of that.

"Isaac, what are you doing?" Jasmine asked when he came to stand by her, her body still shielding him from the soldier's deadly weapon. "Didn't I tell you to run away if something happened?"

"You did, but they were shooting at you! I couldn't just do nothing!" Isaac exclaimed, breathing heavily from the quick run down the hill he made in his worry for Jasmine. "Are you okay?"

Although Jasmine was touched by his worry, she was annoyed that he didn't listen to her and that he risked his life carelessly. On the other hand, she understood he didn't want to lose anyone else and that they had bonded even though they had known each other for mere days.

"I am fine," Jasmine said dismissively. "See!"

As she spun around to demonstrate her point, a sharp pain in her leg made her gasp. Funnily enough, it was the same leg that had already suffered one injury and really didn't need another one added to it.

"Jasmine! You are bleeding!" Isaac yelled out as Jasmine noticed blood smearing her favorite pants. Thinking listlessly about how she would wash away the blood.

"I am so sorry," the soldier who had shot her earlier said, his voice sounding terrified. "I didn't think...I didn't mean... I..."

"Josef, stop babbling and get the first aid kit," the man in charge said sternly.

The guy rushed to do as he was told while others stared at her like she was an alien or something, at a loss of what to do. It made her wonder if they had ever even seen a battle, making her think that they were probably the reservists who were never meant to fight anything or anyone.

"You," the guy in charge said, pointing at Jasmine. "You better sit down before you fall down. I'll check your injury."

"It's Jasmine, not 'you'," Jasmine said, annoyed, not sounding like her usual self, but that was what happened when you had so many lousy days only to be shot by idiots playing soldiers.

"Jasmine, I am Dereck, and I was a medical student before all of this started, so you are in good hands," he said, sounding more confident than before when he was exerting authority on the other soldiers.

Being a medic was a role that fit him far better than being in charge of a rugged group of soldiers. Somehow, it gave her more confidence in his healing abilities.

"Boy," Dereck said, looking at Isaac. "Why don't you help your friend by distracting her while I clean the wound."

"It's Isaac, and she wouldn't need any of that if your soldiers weren't such a badly trained bunch," Isaac snapped at him as he sat down at Jasmine's uninjured side.

Dereck didn't say anything else as Josef returned carrying the first aid kit, breathing so heavily that he had to sit down to rest the moment he handed it over to Dereck.

"I can tell you a story," Isaac said gently, addressing Jasmine. "Maybe that will help take your mind off the pain."

"Sounds good," Jasmine said, smiling through the pain as Dereck cut at her favorite pants and started cleaning the wound. "But make it a happy one, please."

Seeing how Jasmine winced in pain, Isaac decided to make up the happiest story ever seen, the story of their future. In his tale, everything turns out the way he wants it to.

They survive.

They become a true family.