[IC] This Means War

[liah]

"See, look!" I pointed. "He's coming, just stop for a second!" The driver looked out and opened the door. He wouldn't stop the bus, but he was going very very slow so Sam could catch up. I opened the latch and let my window down. "Hurry up!" I yelled, out. A soldier in the seat next to mine pulled me away from the window and replaced my spot. As soon as I was about to protest, he pulled out a gun and began shooting at the soldiers running after Sam.

[natcat]

I heard Daisy yelling from the bus and pushed myself faster to reach the bus that had slowed down for me. Hearing gun shots, I ducked instinctively and glanced over my shoulder, seeing some soldiers fall to the ground. I laughed in relief before pushing myself the last leg to the bus. Grabbing hold of the metal handle on the inside of the bus, I yanked myself up and collapsed onto the stairs as the bus sped up and the doors closed behind me.
"Thanks." I breathed out to the driver who only nodded at me before going back to driving. I breathed out in relief and struggled to get a hold of my breathing, my lungs strained as my chest wheezed for normal breathing again.

[liah]

The soldier who had tugged me out of the way apologized and gave me my seat back. "It's fine, man." I sat back in my seat and leaned my head on the window. I was exhausted. I wanted to go see if Sam was ok, but he was on the bus, safe like the rest of us, and for now that was good enough for me. I could hear mumbles and whispers of everyone on the bus. I noticed someone go over to Sam and help him up. Today had been a long day and the day wasn't even over yet. Hopefully, we'd get to our destination safely.

[natcat]

After sitting on the bus steps for a few moments, I felt someone touch my arm and I jumped slightly before remembering it was safe now. Looking up, a very freckly red headed girl smiled at me and began to help me up. Letting her help me to a spare seat, I fell onto the cushioned seat in relief, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins.
"Thank you." I said smiling at her tiredly, before leaning my head on the window and shutting my eyes, waiting for my energy to return.
"Not a problem." She said happily, and unexpectedly as she sat down next to me. "I'm Laura, glad you made it to the bus, otherwise that coulda been awkward."
I peeked through an eyelid at her. "Yeah... Awkward..." I mumbled ready for some peace and quiet.

[liah]

Still gripping to my inhaler, I took another puff. My lungs were on fire but I'd be feeling better in a few. My asthma almost never bothered me so I didn't know how to treat myself properly since nothing ever happened. Stuffing my inhaler in my pocket, I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to take a deep breath.
"Are you alright?" The soldier who had grabbed me earlier asked me. I looked over to my left to see him. He had dark brown hair and facial stubble. I nodded at him. "Your face is red." He pointed.
"I'm fine. I'll be alright." I forced a smile. I really hoped my face wasn't red. I was starting to feel better already. At least that's what I tried to convince myself.
"Alright." He shrugged. "I won't worry about it then." He ran a hand through his hair.
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head on the window, looking out at the scenery or trees and gray skies as we drove.

[natcat]

"I've never met anyone who's arm bled so much. Is that normal?" Laura said to me and I opened my eyes properly this time, looking at her in confusion.
"Sorry?" I asked not understanding.
"Your arm. It's bleeding." She said looking me straight in the eye as she then pointed to my right arm.
Looking down at it, I frowned before remembering what had happened and then the pain came shooting back through.
"Oh. Right. I forgot about that..." Raising my hand, I gently lifted the fabric around the wound and winced as it pulled on my skin. "It's just a graze, nothing bad."

[liah]

I noticed we were about to go through a tunnel. "Alright. Hang on." The driver's voice echoed through tiny speakers that were lined along the ceiling of the bus. "Might get a little bumpy.... And dark." He finished and I sat up. Just a few seconds later, the bus was black. The only light came from the headlights of the bus that peered in front of it. I could hear groans and occasionally a tiny 'eep' whenever we hit a big bump. It had been at least ten minutes in the tunnel and I was dreading it.
"When are we going to be outta here?" I raised my voice loud enough so the driver could hear me. He didn't respond. He just slowly began to speed up.
"Whoa dude. Slow down or you're gonna get us all hurt... Or worse, killed." Someone towards the front of the bus said. He was now walking towards the driver. I clenched the bottom of my seat, trying to hold onto anything that could keep me still. This guy was nuts!
"We'll be out of here soon." The drivers voice echoed through the speakers again. We hit another bump. This time I jumped so high in my seat, my head hit the ceiling of the bus. I wasn't the only one. The soldier who was walking towards the driver was now on the floor in the isle. What the hell was wrong with this guy?

[natcat]

"Oh sure. Nothing bad, my ass." She said as she shifted next to me, taking a hold on my arm. "Let me have a look, you need to get it cleaned up or it could become infected."
I sighed but let her take my arm anyway, her hands tough but soft on my skin.
"Now, you're probably gonna find me weird for this, but..." I watched as she trailed off, digging in her pocket for something before she pulled out a roll of bandages and held it up for me to see. "I can't clean it, but I can cover it. Which, in my mind, is better than nothing."
She quickly got started wrapping my arm up and after a few moments glanced up at my face. Noticing the look I had, she rolled her eyes and went back to work.
"I like to be prepared. Anything could happen these days, I'd rather have the means to help rather than do nothing... You know?" She explained a lot quieter than before, concentrating on what she was doing.
I thought about it for a moment, leaning my head back on the window and closing my eyes. "Yeah, I know."
The bus hit a bump on the road and I opened my eyes in pain and shock but couldn't see anything. "Why's it dark?" I asked Laura who finished up tying the bandage up.
"Didn't you hear him? The bus driver just said it was going to get 'bumpy and dark', we're in a tunnel." She explained and gave my arm a pat, signalling she was done, making me wince.
"Well then why are we going faster?" I asked sitting up slightly trying to see through the dark.
"I don't know. What, do you think I'm sidekick? Drivers probably afraid of the dark." Laura's voice came from beside me sounding irritated.

[liah]

"Slow down!" I yelled from the back of the bus. The guy in the isle had scrambled back to his seat. I could see a small light ahead. We were almost out. He sped up some more and I closed my eyes. A few seconds later, I opened them and we were out of the tunnel, but still going fast. We hit a sharp turn and I fell out of my seat, a long with the rest of the people that were sitting on the right side of the bus. The bus began to slip and slide until we came to a final stop.
"Y'all alright?" He said, turning around and looking back at us. I groaned, rubbing my head and pulling myself back up in my seat. One of the soldiers began to curse at him and call him all types of names. The driver ignored him and slowly started to take off again.

[natcat]

"What a nut head." I heard someone mutter from behind us.
I sighed and looked around the bus, people were pulling themselves back onto their seats, including Daisy who looked stressed as she rubbed her head.
"Some people are so strange." Laura mumbled as she frowned towards the front of the bus.
"Oh uh, thanks by the way, for my arm." I added as I glanced out the window of the bus, glad to be out of the darkness.
She scoffed and folded her arms. "About time those words arrived." She said with a smirk.

[liah]

I noticed we were now heading down a dirt road through some trees. We had to be going to another base. I mean, where else would he take us? Since I was sitting alone, I leaned my back against the window side and propped my feet up on the seat. I crossed my arms over my chest, leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. I figured if I took a nap, we'd be at our destination when I woke up. Hopefully we would get there soon.

[natcat]

After Laura had vacated her seat with a nod and a promise to 'smell me later', I was almost relieved that she was gone. Looking over at Daisy, I sat for a moment before pulling myself up off of my seat, walking over to her.
"Hey." I said, leaning on the seat in front of her. "Good to see you got here alright."

[liah]

I jumped, opening my eyes to see Sam leaning in front of me. "Thanks." I gave him a small smile. "Good to see you too." I sat up and moved my feet off of the seat just in case he wanted to sit down. "How'd you get so far behind?" I asked, tilting my head. "I could've sworn you were right behind us the whole time."

[natcat]

"Yeah." I said and gave her a small smile. "I tripped on... someone." I told her hesitantly, knowing that could've been believable. "It shocked me so I kinda just froze, before those soldiers came around the corner and spotted me."

[liah]

"Oh..." I knew what he was talking about when he tripped on someone. He fell over a body just like I did. "Well it's a good thing you made it back on time. I had to convince the driver that you were nearby. Good thing you actually were." I said with a sort of awkward laugh. Looking up at him, I noticed a bandage around his arm. "You got hurt." I nodded towards it. "Is it a burn from all the bombs or did you get shot?" I asked. He seemed to look ok. I guessed it wasn't anything too serious.

[natcat]

"Huh, yeah, thanks for that by the way." I said before looking down at my arm and seeing the bandage wrapped around it, stained in red. "A bullet grazed my arm when I was crossing the field. I'm surprised it wasn't anything worse, I was being fired at for a while." I explained before seeing the empty seat next to her.
"Alright if I sit?" I asked her as I gestured to the seat.

[liah]

"Well I'm glad it wasn't anything worse. You're really lucky." I said and patted the spot next to mine, letting him know it was okay for him to sit next to me. "So how did you end up here.... In the war?" I asked curiously. I had no clue how long the ride would be, so we might as well get a conversation started. " I don't mean to sound nosy with all the questions, by the way."

[natcat]

Smiling at her, I sat down beside her and looked out the window. "I don't mind. I got drafted about three years ago. It was just me and my dad so it there hasn't been much I've missed out on." I told her.
"What about you?"

[liah]

"A few months ago. I had two other siblings that were here. I don't know where Violet, my older sister has been stationed. But my brother got killed in action three years ago." I said and sighed. "So it's just my parents at home now. Other than being here, I don't think I've missed out on much either."

[natcat]

I glanced at Daisy. "I'm sorry, about your brother I mean. It must have been awful." I said looking her in the eyes. "Do you know the last place you sister was?" I asked her.