Chapter 9

Natalie awoke the next morning the a ray of sun, shining down upon her. Heating the part of her cheek.

She squinted her eyes open to help them adjust to the light. She lay in the middle of the camp, next to the smoking fire pit. Natalie could still feel the heat from the ash against the tips of her fingers.

Just as she rose to start her day, a sudden force pushed against her stomach, pulling her back down. Confused, Natalie panned her head around slowly, her emerald eyes widened at the sight that lay before her. Well next to her.

Parker lay sleeping beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist protectively. His eyes moved beneath his eyelids as he stirred. Natalie looked at him in awe, as he dreamt.

They were close, but never this close. And yet Natalie didn't seem to complain.

She carefully wriggled her way from his grip, placing his hand back down beside him as she stood. No one was awake yet which she was glad of, she didn't want anyone seeing the pair together.

Natalie softly stepped between the bodies littered around the fire, careful not to wake any. She walked up the small hill, heading for the large cliff edge. It would be a great spot to watch the sun rise.

It was a struggle to climb the large rocks to the ledge, but she managed. Staining her hands with dark blood as she did.

The view from the top however, was worth it. Land stretched for miles, all different colours painted the sky as the sun rose above the hills. It was extraordinary. She could look at it for all her days.

"Natalie! Are you coming down?" Came the sweet voice of Sonya. Natalie turned her eyes down towards the blonde girl, emeralds meeting emeralds.

"Of course" Natalie shouted back through a smile. Natalie admired Sonya, she was a beautiful woman. Strong, loyal, and she took care of Aris when Natalie couldn't.

Yet she pitted her. Wicked removed her memories, removed her family. The one thing every girl needed was a family. Natalie promised herself that she would reunite Sonya with hers, with her brother. Newt.

As she walked back into camp her eyes fixed on the tall brunette she was huddled with this morning. Awkwardly she walked past him, hoping not to be noticed. Thankfully she wasn't. She wondered if he even knew, she wouldn't tell him of course.

Her feet guided her towards Vince, who sat by the targets, training some of the other members. He looked puzzled. No. Worried.

"Is everything okay Vince?" She asked kindly, taking a seat beside him. His body was slouched of the log, as he watched to guns fire.

"I have a bad feeling" Natalie furrowed her brows at his response. It was never a good thing when Vince got a bad feeling, usually something bad would happen. "What happened to you? Are you okay?"

Natalie looked at his blood soaked palms and were now grasped between Vince's hands. He was always so protective over her, nothing compared to Janson. Vince loved her, something only her mother showed her.

"I'm fine trust me, it's only minor injuries" She giggled. Vince took the flask from beside his foot, and poured the water over her hands. A red puddle, sinking into the dirt.

He washed and cleaned her wounds, causing her to hiss at the contact. She was used to emotion pain, not physical. As he finished a loud explosion, echoed through the mountains.

Natalies eyes connected with Vince's, both filled with fear. There was rarely any explosions at the camp, not unless they were under attack. And they hadn't had an attack the whole time Natalie had been with them.

Vince led Natalie and the men down the dirt path back towards the camp. The smoke from the camp could already be seen above the hill, making the girls fear grow immensely.

The sight from the hill was horrific, their tents had been set on fire. Men in dark suits shooting at any moving object. Their bullets were a clear giveaway to Natalie, only one organisation used electronic bullets. Her fathers.

Seeing her people flee for their lives enraged Natalie. This was her family, and she wasn't going to lose them.

"Natalie stay behind me" Vince ordered, pushing the young girl behind him. But she never listened. As they ran to join the fight, Natalie split from the group, taking hold of a stray gun.

She was going to put an end to this war.

Natalie pulled the rifle to her face, firing bullets at any masked figure. She wasn't going to allow her father to destroy her happiness. Not now. Not when he had destroyed everything else in her life.

Running through the camp, dodging the flames and flying bullets, she was once again reunited with her family. Lost in the atmosphere of the fight, Natalie never noticed that one of her family members were missing. One she had grew to love deeply.

Sonya....