TORN FLESH

CHAPTER SIX: OUT OF THE WOODS

DOUBLE checking to make sure the coast was clear, the two girls bolted out from their hiding spot their eyes set on the fence ahead of them. Violet did her best to keep up her small legs only producing strides half the size of Margos, in moments they'd approached the foot of the fence both of them glancing over their shoulders to check that they hadn't been spotted yet.

Helping Violet up as far as possible- the girl's small foot being held in her hands- she continuously glanced over her shoulder praying that the next shift would be behind schedule and they'd have more time.

But alas, that was not written in the stars for them, in fact, it was quite the opposite. The guards were earlier, eager to get through the day and get rid of the murder that was hiding among them, so when they approached their post and caught sight of a blonde female and small child scaling the large fence, they were beyond shocked.

Margo was alerted of their presence by the hissing of a radio as they told their fellow soldiers what was occurring, gently tapping the back of Violet's leg she urged her to go faster bile rising in her throat like a corrosive acid, she could hear them calling out to the two of them, demanding they climb down or be shot, either way, they were going to remain within the grounds of the camp.

One of them- after coming closer- grabbed onto her foot trying to pull her down- was quite surprised when he received a kick to the face upon grabbing her. She used the distraction to her advantage and quickly made her way to the close top happy it was nothing like a prison fence. Violet was already on the other side as neither of the soldiers had made a move for her.

Margo- glancing down at where the one soldier lay, and the other was running back to their vehicle to retrieve his weapon- slid over the top of the fence- careful to make sure she didn't catch her pants on the sharp metal- looking down to where Violet now stood on the ground waiting for her, she realized it wasn't that much of a drop and released her grip on the fence.

When she hit the ground, it was more shock than pain, her bottom hurt from the impact but she wouldn't bother to notice it till later when they took a break from walking for Violet's sake.

The girl grabbed her arm and pointed in the direction of the vehicle, the soldier was heading back now, and he was loading his weapon. Margo gently shoved the girl forward- in the direction away from the fence- quickly following her before they broke off into a run hoping to make it to the woods before they were caught.

Behind them, they could hear the sound of the vehicle- they'd more than likely climbed into it and begun to head after them or the other soldiers they'd informed were already on it, either way, they needed to run- Violet cast Margo a worried look before returning her attention to the path they were running along, if she tripped it would just bring the soldiers closer.

That was when she began to question the entire situation, why would people go to such lengths to protect a man they hardly knew, it wasn't like he had any large role in the community- not that she knew of at least- he wasn't anyone special.

So why?

Margo could see the slip of trees that they seemed to be nearing, as long as they made it there, they'd be home free.

The sound of the vehicles was becoming closer by the second sending Violet into a panting mess as she tried to ignore it and run at the same time, most would call this a panic attack.

Grasping at her throat, the small girl halted in her run and looked up at Margo with a red face, she was willing herself to try and breathe but nothing was coming to her, it was like she'd forgotten how to.

Margo- unable to leave the girl- stopped in front of her urging her to keep running, "Violet." she watched as she continued to wheeze for air, "Violet." she grabbed the sides of her face in her hands forcing her to look her in the eyes, "I need you to calm down and take a deep breath, okay? We have to keep running." the small girl nodded her head trying to breathe for several moments before it actually worked, letting out a wheezing cough seconds later, the girl seemed to have calmed down for the most part.

After a few more moments, Violet gave a slight nod of the head- signaling that she was okay to keep going- grabbing her hand, Margo began running, the small girl fighting to keep up as the vehicles continued to grow closer and closer, "come on, we're almost there." she stated, Violet let out another pant looking up through her small eyelashes at Margo.

"I can't- k-keep going." she breathed out her breathing becoming far more frequent, slowing to a stop for a half-second, Margo pulled the girl onto her back fully aware that they had no time to waste, she could feel the girls heart beat slowing as her body began to relax, once they finally escaped Margo would have to check on her and make sure she was alright.

Glancing over her shoulder once again, Violet frantically tapped the older girl's shoulder, "Raven, they're catching up." Margo had to think for a second before remembering the name was her own, she'd only ever been called that by Ronnie, in other words; she wasn't used to it.

She picked up her pace slipping past an oncoming tree in her path, Violet tightened her grip around her neck scared that if she loosened her grip she would fall off and be left behind. Margo, however, had her main priority set as getting the two of them out of danger's way with little to no injuries sustained along the way.

They'd reached the edge of the treeline when they heard the first shot being fired, it bounced off a nearby tree sending the bark scattering from the large oak in the process, the two girls ducked down into the bushes around them peering at the soldiers from their hiding spot. Violet looked up from where she laid in the dirt Margo crouched with her head lowered to prevent herself from being spotted.

Removing the pair of binoculars from her bag, she held them up to her eyes following the vehicle as it continued forward to search for them, when several minutes had gone by with no findings, it seemed that they had given up. Packing up their things, they gave a final look over the surrounding terrain before climbing into their vehicle to head for the city. At the sight of this Margo let out a sigh relief flooding her lungs like the very oxygen they inhaled every day.

Violet had her head turned to something behind them, although Margo wasn't sure what exactly it was. Turning to find out for herself, she saw a skyscraper poking out from the peaks of the trees miles away, the two exchanged a look before Violet went back to staring at it in awe.

The older girl looked back out towards the road checking to make sure the soldiers were far enough that it was safe for them to move, when she had determined it was she tapped Vioelts shoulder watching as she turned to look at her, "we should start moving, they're gone, but, chances are, they'll be searching the area for us." she nodded her head in response eager to get away from the camp, it gave her chills being so close.

Margo was the first to stand, offering her hand to Violet once she was on her feet. The smaller of the two hesitantly stared at it as if she trusted Margo but wasn't sure to what extent she did, after a few seconds, she reached up and grabbed her hand the girl yanking her to her feet in a single arc of motion.

They both silently stood for a few seconds checking their guns and bags to make sure everything was there and that the guns were loaded in the case they needed them; they were.

It was then that Violet would take the lead and direct them through the woods, though she didn't know them well, she knew them better than Margo so she had a small advantage, one they needed if they were going to put distance between themselves and the camp.

Violet pulled a shiny envelope-packet type of paper from her bag glancing over her shoulder to hold it out to Margo, she glanced at it before taking it unsure of what exactly the article was. Upon unfolding it, she realized it was a map. She stopped in her tracks looking up from the map to their surroundings, she could see where an angry red circle had been made around the city, indicating where they were- or in their case, what they were near- following the road leading out of the city, Margo quickly discovered the woods they were in, and by the looks of it, they weren't as dense as she'd originally thought.

"A mile or two left till we're out of the woods." Violet chimed pointing ahead, Margo chuckled her eyes never leaving the map as she did so, Violet frowned, "what's so funny?"

The older girl shook her head looking up with a smile, "out of the woods, it's an expression." she paused, "we're not going to be out of the woods for a while." she let out a sigh her eyes darting between the map and the path ahead of them. "Let's keep going."

And so they did.

Violet fell in beside her as they walked, the two exchanging small bits of conversation as they tried to determine which way to go and where exactly they were going to end up farther along the road. Every half hour or so, Margo would lift the binoculars to her eyes and scan the distance for anyone that might bring them trouble, when she had found none, they would continue.

That went on till late afternoon, that was when Violet plopped down into the dirt demanding a break, at least for water if not for food.

Margo relented her request settling down in the dirt with her, pulling her bag off her back, Violet removed a can of Spaghetti-O's going as far as to stab the can open with her machete before producing two shiny silver spoons from the pocket of her bag. Gingerly handing one to Margo, she took the can in hand and scooped out a spoonful of the contents inside before passing it off to Margo.

They went on like that, quiet and content, eating from the can until Violet mumbled something about water. The platinum blonde haired girl retrieved her clear bottle from her somewhat ancient bag twisting the cap off so Violet wouldn't have to, she watched as the small girl took a few small sips before emitting a satisfied sigh.

She returned the bottle to her before looking up to the sky, she had always been interested in the stars, more precisely, the things that lived among them.

She could remember a few vivid memories with her parents, sitting out in the grass of their backyard with a small telescope her father had given her for her birthday. He would name certain constellations and she would go on to try and search for them, when she proved unsuccessful every few times, he would point it out to her and tell her the stories behind them.

Violet missed him dearly.

TORN FLESH

CHAPTER SIX: OUT OF THE WOODS