The Earth After Rebirth

Chapter 438 An Order

Sekani strained his ears and it seemed like the two he was with were doing just about the same thing. He couldn't even count how many footsteps were headed their way.

They looked at each other with confusion and shock.

"Nikolai, you have to go with him. Run." He pointed to the dead corpse.

"What about you?" His voice was shaky as he asked.

"I can take care of myself." He said in a scolding voice, unbelieving that a young man like him was trying to protect him. "You're injured Nikolai, there's nothing you can do here."

"No, I'm not leaving you behind!" He answered stubborn, knowing full well Sekani was right he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Dammit kid they're getting closer!" He shouted through gritted teeth.

Nikolai only looked at him. He couldn't do it, what would happen if he really left. He couldn't help but imagine the people coming killing Sekani in cold blood, then what would he tell Kiro.

"Nikolai, leave, now." It was Jesús who said deciding then and there he was going to stay with his neighbour, he was usually slow witted but at this time he was quick to understand what Sekani wanted.

"You run and drag your dad until you reach the train. Tell Wilfred to leave without us, that is an order." Sekani told him with finality.

Nikolai shook his head, words were failing him now. He was also beginning to understand but he didn't want it to end like this, it couldn't happen like this, they were so close to completely leaving here without anyone on their team having died.

"We can make it, together." He tried to argue but he didn't believe it himself.

"We could but they'd find the train and everything we worked for could crumble into nothingness. It's better to give them something now so they stop searching this entire place, once the people in there are safe you'll release the footages and ensure our innocence.

Wilfred knows where to take the people on the train." Sekani reasoned quickly without missing a beat, the heavy footsteps were drawing nearer.

He didn't want to fail. Most importantly, he didn't want to disappoint him.

Nikolai quickly jumped back when a flashlight came down to where he was. There was rustling of leaves at his movements.

"Who's down there?" The voice rang deep and loud.

The boy down there didn't move an inch, he waited for the light to leave but it didn't. It stayed there for a while, moving from left to right, watching the wind, watching anything that would come out of trees.

"Paranoid are you Smith? Come on man. There's nothing there."

"Leaves rustles Johnson."

"It's a forest, there are animals of course there'll be movement." Johnson argued.

"You don't like being cautious do you..." Smith must've thought that would be an insult.

"We don't get paid enough to care."

The voice started receding from the edge of the hill. That's when Nikolai moved, he had his dad on his shoulders, with the adrenaline he had, nothing else mattered. He ran. Even when his lungs complained, even when his legs screamed at him to stop.

He only stopped and fell when he reached the train.

"Wh-what happened? Where's Master Waynworth?" Wilfred asked concerned, the chains littered the ground and everyone was already inside the train.

"Run. Leave. Wilfred. That's an order."

Was all he wa able to get out until he lost consciousness.