Going Overload - The Rescue

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Rani’s pov

“I have an idea” Ash grins. “We can boost each other up onto the branch. The last person gets lifted up by the others.”

“We have to hurry” Matthew reminds us, pointing to the hordes of Controllers behind us.

“Rani,you should come up last as you are the lightest,plus since you are just a kid, you haven't had much experience in the climbing activity at training.”Indigo says. Ash nods at her.

“ Indigo, me,Andrea and Matthew, if thats ok.” Ash say staring at Matthew.

“Yeah,thats cool.” He shrugs.

“And Rani.”Ash finishes. We all give agreeing hums at the order.

I watch as Indigo scurries up the tree in a breeze. Ash quickly follows behind. Andrea starts to climb and Ash and Indigo hold an arm each and pull her up. When she is on top, she pulls Matthew up like he is a feather due to her super strength. Then it comes to me.

I walk up to the hard tree surface and run my palm against its bark.I hoist myself up a little bit and my toenails cling on to the bark. I start to scale the tree. When I reach a spot that is slippery,I start to slide down. Panic floods through me. I can feel myself losing balance and I close my eyes shut, waiting for the five meter fall.Suddenly I can feel numerous hands grab me and I am hoisted up onto a branch. Then before I realize,i am perching on a branch with the others trying to catch my breath.

“Thanks.” I say and I turn my head to Andrea’s direction.I see her with her lips pressed against Matthews,I slowly look away and turn my gaze towards Indigo.I see her kissing Ash as well and then mumbling a conversation that we can’t hear. I snap my head forward,uncomfortable. I can hear Indigo laugh and I can see them smiling at eachother and they start kissing again.

“Umm Guys. Kid here!” I yell. Indigo and ash as well as Andrea and Matthew pull away from each other. They are all laughing naughtily.

I look down and see that the tree has been surrounded by Controllers in blinding white uniforms.. There is only one option left.

“We have to climb up” says Indigo.

“Are you crazy? Climbing up won’t solve anything” Matthew argues.

“Unless we jump from tree to tree once we’re up there” Andrea says with a sly smile.

“Um, is now a good time to mention my fear of heights?” I quiver.

“Just relax. It’ll be fine” Indigo reassures ne. My stomach does flips at the thought of being so high up. And jumping from up there? It’s impossible!

We scamper to the top of the tall oak, bullets thunking against the tree centimeters below our feet. If someone falls, or even just slips, they will be shot in seconds. We finally make it to the tip of the tree.

“What now?” I ask, knowing the answer.

“We jump!” Andrea shouts gleefully, leaping to the next tree. Her wings help her glide. Indigo and Ash follow with a pouncing technique.Matthew just takes a leap and hopes for the best.

I stand at the edge. My stomach feels like it’s in my throat and my vision becomes blurry making me  see three trees instead of one.

‘I can’t!” I yell at them, fear shaking my voice.

“Just jump! You don’t have much time. The bullets!” I hear Indigo yell at me.

The thought about bullets sends panic through me and I just jump aimlessly. I close my eyes and I scream as I fly through the air. The ground is so far away. I can feel a net of hands catch me but I crash almost right through them. Making me fall I manage to grasp a branch that is one lower than the one Matthew is standing on.

“Come on before the controllers come to this tree!” Andrea yells to me, hauling me up. My shoe gets stuck in between a tight squeeze two branches. Andrea continues pulling. Then suddenly there is a loud cracking noise and pain flood my ankle.

“Stop! Stop!My ankle!” I shout with tears streaming my eyes. The pain so strong.

“Shit was that your ankle?!” I hear Indigo yell back at me.

“I thought that was a twig snapping.” Ash and Matthew say.

Indigo scales down the tree to meet my ankle. She grabs ahold of it lightly and start to wriggle it out of the branch. I bite my tongue, trying to keep my screams of agony inside. When she frees it, Andrea pulls me up again on to her branch.

I look at my ankle. Its disoriented at a weird angle and it’s the size of an orange. Blood start o trickle out of a gash where the branch scraped me.

“Can you walk?” Andrea asks me. I steadily get up with the support of Indigo. Once I am standing on the branch I take a tiny sense forward. Pain erupts up my leg and it feels like its on fire. I bite my tongue at the pain making blood fill my mouth. I can’t walk. There is only one option left. The controllers are already surrounding the tree, shooting bullets at the branches.

“Guys you go on. I’ll only slow you down.” I say turning towards the controllers.

“What do you me- Oh my gosh Rani no!” Andrea shouts grabbing ahold of my arm.

“It’s fine, Andrea. I am just a runaway experiment. You guys are almost transformers, you deserve a life.” I say tears filling my eyes.

“Call me Andy” Andrea whispers to me. A bullet whizzes past the side of my face. I step of the branch, falling out of Andy’s grasp.

“Rani!” They all shout. I start hurtling towards the ground. A bullet hits my fore arm, making me shriek out loud.My body flips over as I am falling, making me face the others. Expression of horror are plastered on their faces. It is at this moment I feel another bullet go through my skin and into my heart.