A woman on horseback galloped towards the camp site, making everyone either freeze or get ready to attack.

"Aurelie, I have the results!", exclaimed Giamora, the rebel who was tasked with identifying what kind of blood was in the bags.

Aurelie grinned. "Gia! How wonderful! Why do you have a horse with you?"

"One of the sector's needed to get rid of a horse. They said I could have it, to make travelling easier", explained Giamora. "I have the-", she started, before stopping when her eyes landed on Glenn. "Aurelie, who is this?"

Aurelie looked at Glenn before turning back and waving his hand in the air. "Oh, just a fellow rebel. They're helping us, you can speak in front of them. I'll introduce you to them and fill you in later."

Gia nodded. "Well, the blood in the bags... it's far more gruesome than we thought."

"What are you on about?", questioned Duke.

-

Slivers of rock spat on Mikhail and Shelley. Shelley's voice had grown hoarse from screaming for help.

"Shelley, you need stay quiet. You'll hurt yourself", said Mikhail. His eyes darted around, searching for another way out.

Shelley shook her head, her eyes distant. "Need to get out. Slow... slowly losing oxy....gen."

"I know, I know. I'll figure something out", said Mikhail. "Just... s-stay put."

With a groan, Mikhail stood up. He grabbed on to bits of rock that protruded out, in an attempt to scale the walls. He got one leg up. "Hey, I'm doing-"

"-Mikhail, look out!", exclaimed Shelley.

Mikhail's leg grazed a sharp piece of metal, sending him crashing to the ground again. "Oof."

"Mikhail!", yelled Shelley, rushing towards him. "Did you hit your head?"

Mikhail shook his head. "No, that's about the only thing I didn't hit. What was that metal thing?"

Shelley stood up, brushing the dust off her leggings. She squinted at the metal object, trying to make out the letters on it.

"Any luck?", questioned Mikhail.

She opened her mouth to speak, but something caught her eye. She tugged at a loose piece of rock, gasping when more of the metal object was revealed.

"What is it?", asked Mikhail, attempting to stand up.

"No, stay there! You need to save your energy", said Shelley. "It's a meter. It measures oxygen levels."

"Why would-"

"-N-No..."

Mikhail looked up at Shelley. "What's wrong?"

Shelley just pointed at the meter, a knot twisting in her stomach. "It's dangerously low."

-

"Have you and Luna always been best friends? It took Duke a while to warm us to Lyndi and I", asked Holly.

Audrey shook her head. "Honestly, no. When I first met her, I thought she was so crazy and unpredictable. I liked that though, it was kind of inspiring, if that makes sense?"

Holly nodded. "For your art? So she was kind of like your muse?"

Audrey nodded. "I guess so, yeah. But... she's not exactly an open book. I couldn't understand her though. I still don't, not really. But she's a lot more fun than Noah."

"You need to cut Noah some slack. Seems like he's the one that keeps you both grounded", said Holly.

Audrey shrugged. "I guess. He's like the dad of the group."

Holly giggled. "I bet he'd love that title."

-

An uncomfortable silence loomed over the group as they processed Giamora's news.

"Let me get this straight", said Drea, unfolding her arms. "That creep had human blood in his fridge? And cupboards?"

Giamora nodded, a frown on her face. "It appears so, yes."

"I think I've actually been sick in my mouth", said Gigi, rolling her eyes when Naomi moved away from her.

"That sick b*stard", said Maaria.

"What if Holly was right? About it being for a blood bank or something?", suggested Noah.

"We'll check in his house tomorrow", said Aurelie.

"No we won't", said Glenn.

"I'm sorry?", questioned Aurelie.

"For your stupidity? That's fine. Anyway, it's clear that any documents relating to his little experiments will be in his cabin. He may have been horrid but he clearly respected keeping work and his home life separate."

Aurelie nodded. "Ah, yes. Quite right. Thank you, Glenn."

Drea glared at Glenn. "Maybe say it nicely next time?"

"Maybe get rid of that blue dye in your hair? You're not 'edgy' ", retorted Glenn.

Drea stepped towards him, only to be stopped by Noah. "Not worth it."

"Wait, shouldn't Mikhail and Shelley be back by now?", questioned SJ. "And Audrey and Holly?"

"Audrey's gone?", questioned Luna.

"Aren't you supposed to be her best friend?", asked Naomi. "How come a girl that's known her for five minutes knows she's gone but you don't?"

"A girl?", questioned Gigi.

Naomi turned to Maaria. "Uh, what's her name again?"

"SJ", replied Maaria, with a sigh. After noticing the dejected expression on SJ's face, Maaria mouthed 'sorry' to her.

Luna frowned, feeling guilty for not noticing Audrey's absence sooner.

-

Shelley and Mikhail lay still, trying their best to preserve their energy.

"We're going to die here, aren't we?", questioned Shelley, her voice barely a whisper.

Mikhail shook his head. "No. No, we won't. Someone will find us", he replied, though he didn't sound very convincing.

"M-Mikhail... I need to tell you something", whispered a weak Shelley.

"Shelley, save your-"

"-No. No, I need to t-tell you. If I'm g-going to... d-die... I need to tell you something first."

"You're not going to die! Wh-what is it?"

Shelley's eyes started to close, as if someone had placed weights on top of them. "I'm... I like g-g..."

"Huh? Golden syrup on your pancakes! Ha, yes! You always said it was an unsophisticated syrup but SJ and I saw you put some on-"

"-No, I'm gay!"

Every last bit of oxygen might as well have been sucked out of that space now because the silence was kílling Shelley.

"You're gay?"

Shelley nodded. "Y-Yeah. I've known for a while but... yeah. I was scared to tell you and SJ."

"Why were you scared? Did you think we'd turn on you or something?"

Shelley shook her head. "No! I just... I like to be in control. The unknown terrifies me. For once, I wasn't in control of my feelings. I just wanted to stay in control. Somehow."

"Shelley... no one can control their feelings. I get that you were scared but... it's ok. You'll always have me. And SJ. That's one thing you don't have to worry about", said Mikhail.

Shelley smiled softly, a weight lifting off her shoulders. And then on to her eyes because wow, she was tired.

"Does SJ know?"

"Yes. I told her because I thought she wasn't coming with us. And... she actually told me she used to like me too."

"Oh yeah, I know about that", said Mikhail. "She had it bad. She couldn't form sentences around you for ages."

"I thought she just ate some Pulmon Berries. The one's that make your mouth all numb", said Shelley, a laugh escaping her lips.

"That's what we wanted you to think."

"Well, I'm going to say something but you c-can't tell SJ", said Shelley.

Mikhail nodded. "I promise. As long as it doesn't put either of you in danger."

Shelley chuckled. Classic Mikhail. Always worrying about their safety.

"It won't. I first started to realise I liked girls... when I spent most of my time with SJ", admitted Shelley.

"No way!"

Shelley nodded. "It's true! We were the only girls so it made sense that we gravitated towards each other. I realised I liked her in a way I never liked a boy before. I was just better at hiding my crush, I guess."

"Wait, so are you telling me SJ made you realise your feelings for girls?", questioned Mikhail. "16 year old SJ would be jumping for joy right now!"

When Shelley didn't answer, Mikhail sat up. His eyes widened and his heart thumped in his chest when he saw Shelley.

Her eyes were closed and she looked dangerously... still.

"Shelley? Shelley!", exclaimed Mikhail. He struggled against his weakening body, desperate to get to Shelley. "No, no, Shelley stay awake! Come on, don't leave me! You have to stay with me."

When nothing would wake her, Mikhail closed his eyes and clenched his fists. With as much strength as he could muster, Mikhail stood up and let out a deafening cry for help.

-

"And then these bees started flying around, making Duke drop the whole thing! But it fell on Lyndi's dress. She had to go to her Uncle and Aunt's vow renewal with brown stains all over her dress!", laughed Holly. "I offered to go for moral support but she didn't want me breaking the law."

Audrey laughed, a high pitched screech coming out at the end of each one. Holly just smiled. "Awesome laugh! Mine's just boring."

"No, your laugh is the embodiment of joy", said Audrey. " This might sound weird but it reminds me of a great childhood full of family. That's weird, isn't it?"

Holly shook her head. "No, not at all! Family's super important to me so that's actually a pretty accurate interpretation. There was always laughter in my home."

Audrey smiled. "That sounds... really nice actually. No wonder you turned out alright with family like that."

Holly grinned. "Thanks. What was your family l-"

Holly was cut off by a loud scream. The pair followed the noise and Holly tripped over something, revealing the opening of the hole.

"Hello? Help!"

Audrey's eyes widened as she looked down. "Mikhail? Dude what are you doing in there?"

"Oh nothing, just having a party!", exclaimed a sarcastic Mikhail.

"Hold on!", called out Holly. "We'll get some rope", said Holly.

"Is anyone else down there with you?", asked Audrey.

Mikhail nodded. "Shelley, but she fainted about 8 minutes ago! Please hurry!"

-

Breakfast had only just settled in everyone's stomachs but they couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to learn some very disturbing things about the law maker.

"Maybe I should go. April's alone and... I don't know if I can stomache much more of this", said Duke.

"Your sister's in good hands... but if you want to go, you should", said Lyndi. She wanted him to stay, but didn't want to be selfish.

Drea turned to Noah. "I guess this means you'll want to go."

Noah shook his head, a smirk appearing on his face. "I'm here for the long haul."

Drea nodded. "Good", she said, simply.  When he looked away, Drea smiled.

"Help!", yelled Audrey. "Get these two some water!"

SJ's eyes widened when she saw Mikhail and Shelley. "What happened?", she asked, running towards them. She helped Holly carry Mikhail, whilst Duke helped Audrey carry Mikhail.

Aurelie, SJ, Drea and Deidre helped Mikhail and Shelley, whilst Holly and Audrey filled the others in on what happened.

"That kind of trap could only be for a wild animal", said Glenn.

"What kind of animal?", asked Gigi.

"That's not the question she should be asking", said Echo.

Naomi raised an eyebrow at Echo. "What should she be asking then?"

"Where is that animal now?"

As if on que, a Malumeq, more vicious than the last one they saw surged towards them, throwing its head back and forth.

Maaria's eyes widened when she saw Raina staring in horror at the Malumeq. "RAINA, RUN!"

Maaria ran towards her, pushing the little girl into Drea, who quickly opened her arms. Before Maaria could move, the Malumeq's tongue struck her shoulder, making the girl scream in pain.

"MAARIA!", yelled Gigi.

Glenn stabbed the Malumeq once again, this time getting kicked in the stomach by one of its legs.

Gigi cradled Maaria in her arms. Even Naomi seemed worried. Maaria's eyes rolled back, before closing. "Guys, she won't open her eyes!"

Gigi checked her pulse. Tears formed in her eyes as she scanned her face. "N-No..."

"What is it?", asked Naomi.

"She hasn't got a pulse."

-

Hi.

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in 3 or 4 days. I received some bad news and I just haven't been in the rightg mindset to write. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter.

Human blood? Maybe this is some kind of experiment?

Audrey and Holly to the rescue! What do you think of Shelley coming out to Mikhail?

Oh no! How will the group deal with this devastating attack? Could we be seeing a more sensitive side of Naomi?

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

DoodleYeet

LeMystical-Puffle

starryeyedturtle

hopefulfirebird

SoniczurcX

FishyFishy_Fries

Ladybuglolz

OrdinaryBard

breakingwallsdown