Invalid

Eight

Sometimes the worst option is the only option... 

 ✗✗✗✗

Michael's lips were set in a firm line, the only movement from him being a hand lifting to his head and running through his hair, causing the blond locks to sloppily fall over his eyes and make a few random strands stand at odd ends. Dirt and mud were caked to his face as well as his shirt and pants from our fall. They were also slightly torn from my fantastic idea of digging my nails into him in an attempt to free myself from his hold minutes ago. The scratches covering his arms looked deeper than I thought I had originally made them in the struggle, red slowly gushing and rolling down to his elbows while creating long trails of quickly drying blood behind them.

The sight made my eyes dart to my fingers, instantly spotting the dried crimson color beneath my nails and in the spots where it ran down a bit, into the creases of my knuckles and along my own arms. The amount of blood covering my fingers was awful, but to ease my mind, I reminded myself that not all of it came from Michael, remembering that there was an unconscious Official behind me as well as a knife on the ground that was also covered in blood.

I forced my hands to my sides, leaving them to twitch and thump against my leg in a lame way to distract them from what they'd rather be doing; punching Michael in the jaw. The spot on my stomach ached and throbbed from where he clutched it, but I just gritted my teeth in an effort to be somewhat merciful to him for the time being despite the nausea that's come over me from the pain. 

But I knew I would only be so gracious for a short amount of time. Given the fact that just thinking about my hands curling into fists that would collide with Michael's stupid expressionless face brought me joy, i'd say I wouldn't be able to hold back for long.

When my mouth finally opened, my lips were dry and I tasted the slightest hint of blood. I hadn't fully thought out what I was going to say, but what came out seemed good enough. 

"You just caused a terrified four year old to get captured by the worst people on this planet." My legs moved forward, placing me right in front of Michael. I looked up at him, and not for the first time in my life I wished I were at least a few inches taller so as to seem a little bit threatening in appearance. Snarling, I poked his chest while still trying to not slap him. "I want a explanation. Now." 

He swallowed hard, the first action Michael's had that slightly insinuates that he feels bad about what he did. Beyond that, he only straightened his posture and remained emotionless. "Better him than us."

"Are you listening to yourself? Do you honestly believe that? He's just a kid!" I screamed back at him instantly. 

Michael must not have liked my yelling because he suddenly jolted forward, causing me to lose my balance and almost fall over. "So were we, sweetheart. I didn't see anyone making a fuss over it then. No one cared if we lived or died, and news flash, they still don't." He practically spat on my face when he said it. "And in case you didn't catch on, you couldn't gotten hurt if I didn't step in."

I crossed my arms and tried my hardest not to let it be known that his closeness was intimidating me as much as it was. Scoffing, I let the sarcastic side of me enter my words. "Oh, yes. You did a fabulous job with that, buddy. It's not like you stabbed your nails into the cut in my body or anything." I was going to slap him. Man, was I going to slap him. "You know what? I should be thanking you, really. Without your help I wouldn't have to be mentally fighting back the pain or worrying about whatever that Official might do to Wade."

He rubbed at the back of his neck and huffed. Good, let him be irritated. Lord knows I am. "That's not what I meant. I was just trying to say that you wouldn't have won against that other Official." I hung open my mouth a bit, both angry and shocked at what he was saying. "Sure, you damaged the first one pretty well, but there would have been a different outcome for the next. You were going to lose."

"Why? Am I not strong enough?"

"I didn't say that."

"Is it because i'm small, frail in your eyes or something?"

"No."

"A girl?"

"What? No, Jen, that's got nothing to do with it."

"You think I can't fight good enough to defend myself?"

"Stop talking!" He put his hands up and I took a deep breath. "Fighting about this is pointless. Bickering over something stupid won't get Wade back. But I have a plan that just might-"

"No." I said forcefully. "Go back to that crappy building where I found you. Your help is no longer needed. You've only made things worse."

Michael looked like he was about to object and battle over the issue a bit more, but a sound came from behind us, over where Jane was. It was a continuous cough, loud and throaty.

In a split second, I was next to her again. Her face, neck, and clothes were covered in blood. It was dark and black looking. All it did was make me freak out even more. Jane was going to die and I could do nothing about it.

She was conscience, trying to use her hands as she placed them beside her on the ground to help herself up. But she was weak and I ended up putting a hand on her back to steady her.

I could see Michael's shadow fall over the two of us and decided to pay no attention to it, focusing only on Jane and if there was anything I could do to help her.

"Keep her hydrated," Michael demanded, lifting her head up and saying soft things to her to keep her calm. "Jen, get her water. Now."

Not knowing what else to do, I listened to that logic, grabbing one of the last remaining bottles from my pack and he grabbed it from me without asking. Tipping the bottle a bit, he got some water into her mouth, causing Jane to cough some more, but eventually she did look better. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

Jane finally noticed that someone she didn't know was holding her and pushed Michael away, or tried to anyway. She still wasn't strong enough to actually push anything, but Michael let go anyway and gave her her space.

Then, confusion and fear became plastered on her face, her head shakily turning every which way, Her lips were quivering and when she finally looked at me, her eyes were still blood shot and her face looked drained of life. 

Jane looked like a scene out of a horror movie, blood dripping from her mouth and along her body and dark skin.

She looked scared and worried, the emotions were clear on her face and made her look like a small child, one desperate for help. And what came out of her mouth when she spoke was something that caused me to swallow hard and lower my eyes. 

"Jen," She croaked out. "Where's Wade?"

✗✗✗✗ 

I'M SO ANGRY BECAUSE WATTPAD RANDOMLY DELETED THE FIRST THOUSAND WORDS OF THIS  CHAPTER AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO REWRITE IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS LESS THAN A THOUSAND WORDS NOW AND IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THE FIRST DRAFT I WROTE AND UGH.... MAN, THIS IS JUST SO MUCH SHORTER THAN I WANTED IT TO BE UGH... I promise that i'll update again in the next few days to make up for this awfulness.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and/or comment if you did :) 

Dedicated to purity-ring for being an awesome reader. Thanks so much! :)