• chapter five •
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They arrived in an abandoned neighbourhood, the group decided to stay here for a few hours, in hope that they lost the group which are affiliated with the Skitters.

"The rest of the kids are up in their bedrooms and they're already asleep," Lourdes sighed while coming downstairs. Rick, Ben, Jimmy, Hal and Jess were down there as well. Lourdes walked over to the piano and brushed her fingers over it.

"Did you play?" Hal asked her.

"It's been a while," Lourdes smiled, she picked up a music book. 'Once in David's Royal City'. "This is one of my favourites," She started playing and Jess laid back on the couch and put her legs up and wrapped a blanket over herself.

Ben looked over at Rick's spikes and felt his own. All the other harnessed kids spikes have gone away, but not Rick's and Ben's.

"I'm gonna go talk to Hal," Ben sighed at Jess, giving her a weary smile. She nodded and watched Lourdes play. Ben got up and walked over to Hal.

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"You sure that's a good idea?" Jimmy whispered. Jess turned her attention towards Ben and Hal.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Ben shrugged.

"What if you get lost or just keep going," Jimmy trailed off.

"Go where?" Ben asked.

"Someplace safer,"

"The only place he's going is back to the school and he's right, we need the help," Hal spoke up. Lourdes stopped playing and Jess sighed and pulled the blanket over her knees.

"You go to that highway and you follow it, you stay off road as much as you can, if you see or hear anyone you run, you run right back to the school, okay?" Hal informed.

"Okay, got it," Ben nodded. "Hal, I never thanked you for getting me from the Skitters,"

"Your welcome. Math geek," Hal smiled.

Ben laughed. "Dumb jock,"

Ben tapped Jess' shoulder, she looked up and smiled. She got up and walked over to him and hugged him.

"Stay safe," she hugged tightly.

"I will," Ben smiled and he left the house and Jess sat back down on the couch.

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Jess was resting on the couch, with her eyes closed but not asleep. Matt and Jimmy were playing Battleship and Lourdes was starting to pack somethings up. Hal came in and started talking to Lourdes about how things were and defeating the aliens.

"Good morning!" A voice yelled outside. Jess opened her eyes and sat up. She then walked over to Hal and looked out the window, Clayton and his men found them.

"They found us," Jimmy whimpered.

"Quiet," Hal shushed with a whisper.

"Come on out! We're taking you home!" Clayton spoke aloud.

Hal and Jess got their guns and quickly but silently walked over to the front door. Lourdes got Matt and Jimmy to stay back.

"Don't make me come on in there for you Hal, nobody wants to anyone get hurt," Clayton spoke a loud. Hal silently ran for the door and Jess followed. He opened the door.

"We know about your deal!" Hal yelled. "You need us alive!"

"Well, there's a term in war. 'Acceptable losses," Clayton spoke smugly. "If one of your friends get hurt or killed, I can live with that. Can you?"

"Go to hell!" Jess yelled and she started firing at them and Hal joined in. They quickly ran back behind the wall.

"What do we do now?" Lourdes whisper-yelled.

"We'll try to hold them off, take them out the back!" Hal whisper-yelled. There was a sound of a rifle firing and one of Clayton's men collapsed. It kept on firing and Hal looked out the window.

"Get your damn head down, kid!" A voice yelled. He fired again. "Hey, Clayton! How's that Skitter deal working out for you now?!" They fired at each other.

"Given up, Pope?!" Clayton yelled.

After a short while a wave of relief hit the kids when a voice yelled. "Hold your fire!" It was Tom.

"Pope's dead! Clayton its Tom Mason! I'm coming out!" He yelled. Jess looked at Hal.

"It's dad!" Matt whisper yelled and started making his way over to them.

"Get back! Get back!" Hal pushed him back. Lourdes got hold of him and brought him back. Tom started talking about how they know about Clayton's lie about Cornel Porter's orders because he just talked to him and he's making his way up.

"Call them out, Mason!" Clayton said a loud.

"Hal, Jess, come on out, it's all over! Everybody, come on out!" Tom yelled. Jess sighed and stood up and Hal and Jess led the group out the front door with their hands up. A guy took their guns and checked Jess for more.

"Dad! Matt yelled and he ran over to Tom.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Hal asked.

"You would've kept on firing and they would've killed you, I'm not gonna let that happen." Tom spoke.

"Going back is just as bad –"Hal started.

"First rule of combat is 'survive'." Tom spoke and they started walking back to the 'Sanctuary'.

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We arrived at the 'Sanctuary' and Hal was carrying Matt and Tom was in front.

"Alright, put all of the kids in the stable, for now." Clayton said a loud. A guy walked up to Matt and Hal and tried to take Matt from Hal. Lourdes came over and took Matt away.

"I got it!" Lourdes hissed at the guy.

Jess stayed with Hal.

"No! I'm not going! Dad!" Matt yelled. Tom started walking over. But they drew their weapons on Tom and he put his hands up.

A shot went off and killed one of Clayton's men. Jess turned her attention towards the sound.

"Drop 'em!" A voice yelled. Captain Weaver and his men walked out. One other guy drew on Weaver but Weaver killed him.

"Okay! Who's next?" Weaver yelled. "Who's next?!" Clayton and his men dropped their weapons and put their hands on their head.

"What about me, Dan? You gonna shoot me too?" Clayton asked.

"Only if I have to," Weaver spoke.

"So, Tom, what's next in this big plan of yours?" Clayton spoke and he grabbed a gun out and quickly backed away and pointed his gun at Hal.

BAM!

Tom shot Clayton and he collapsed. Tom walked over to Hal and Jess.

"Are you guys okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, we're okay," Hal sighed and put his hand on Jess' shoulder.

"Did you know they were waiting for us?" Jess asked.

"I hoped." Tom said.

"Jess!" A voice yelled and she turned her attention towards the voice. It was Ben.

"Ben!" he raced down the stairs and ran over to her and hugged her.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," She laughed.

He broke the hug and hugged his dad and brothers. Jess walked over and Matt hugged her.

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It's been a real bitch re-writing this story, but I'm getting there. Hope you guys are enjoying it! xo