Survival of the fittest - AmyMarie and Shadowfax

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George turned around to look at Ashelin to check if she was ok, because the grab of the arm came quickly and went quickly.
"It's fine" he said back, watching her go ahead of him. He happened to smile too.

Aaron was unconvinced, as was Aimee. The arrival of George and Ashelin added sense of protection. George watched as the man began walking away after hearing what he had to say. A twinge of pity came over him. He had the experience of being lonely before.
"Hey...hey wait" he called. Aaron's mouth dropped,
"What are you doing George?"

George ignored him. He caught up to the stranger.
"Hold up", he stopped the man by grabbing onto his shoulder. "You are free to stay with us for the night, but no longer. I'm afraid you'll have to sleep outside though. It's up to you".

The young man walked back to his group.
"You're an idiot George" Aaron said, but not meaning it in a cruel way.
"One wrong move, then he's out of here for good" George said reassuringly, avoiding Ash's eyes. He knew he was taking a risk.

[Shadowfax]

With his back to him, the man smirked as George caught up to him and offered him their company for the night.

"No problem lad, I got me a good sleeping bag. No food though..." The man said with a hint in his voice as if asking if they had food.

When George made his way back to them, Ashelin was feeling rather annoyed about his decision to let the man stay here. She couldn't bring herself to get angry with him though.

"One wrong move and he'll be dead before he knows it" Ash said, re-holstering her pistol and giving the man a look of daggers.

She wandered over to Aimee as the man started to lay out his sleeping bag near to Aarons tent. He looked up at George and Aaron and then chuckled.

"Names Dan" He said outstretching a hand for them to shake.

"Aimee, do you still have that knife I gave you back at the hotel?" She whispered to the teen. "Keep it close. You shouldn't need it, but it won't hurt to make sure you have easy access to it. Ok?" She said.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

"Food? I'm sure we can give you a little something" George said, knowing well they had a decent amount supplies. Aaron watched the man closely, his gun retreating back into his pocket and a frown appearing on his face. George took the man's hand and shook it briefly,
"I'm George". He looked to his friend and Aaron merely said,
"Aaron" and did not extend his own.

"Yeah I do" Aimee whispered back, patting her jean pocket. "And I will". There was an unzipping of a bag and George handed out a bread roll to everyone and a bottle of water, including the new comer.
"I know it's not much, but we'll have a more filling meal tomorrow if we make a fire during the day, that isn't too noticeable". He began handing everyone a sleeping bag too.

"Me and Aaron will share" he mumbled, motioning to a tent. "Aimee, you can share with Ash, if you both don't mind of course?" Aimee shook her head,
"I don't mind". Her older brother seemed pleased with the response, especially since she had caught them having a bit of an emotional moment.
"And Sam, you can go on your own buddy. We're all here if you need us".

[Shadowfax]

Ash took the bread roll and the water and realized just how hungry and thirsty she was. Sam too downed the food in a matter of seconds, but agreed with George about the risk of the fire attracting unwanted attention so would save his appetite for the morning.

"That'd be nice lad. Yes. I'll set me sleeping bag up over by the tree line, just incase it rains" Dan said unrolling the bag and moving away a few paces.

Ashelin's eyes were like a hawk as she watched Dan move away. She didn't trust him, didn't want to trust him and hated that look in his eyes. It somewhat reminded her of Matt and she hated that. Sam nodded as the others mentioned the sleeping arrangements and crawled over to his tent.

"Ok.. Goodnight then" He said disappearing behind the tent, making sure to keep a hold of his torch. In truth he was a little scared of sleeping alone, but he knew the others were close by should he need them. After a few minutes he was lost in a deep snooze.

Ashelin stood up and also walked towards the tent. She didn't bid anyone a good night, but she wanted to check on her wounds before falling asleep. Once in the tent, she placed her own bag by the door so that Aimee would feel a bit more secure at the back. Settling down, she gently pulled up the lower part of her top, wincing as she did so and looking down she saw the whole side of her stomach was black and blue.

"Damn it..." She muttered.

"So where you all headed then?" Dan asked as he settled down in his own sleeping bag.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

George leaned against a tree, eating his roll slowly. Aaron had retreated into his tent, wanting no more chit chat with the stranger.
"Oh, we don't know" George replied. "Somewhere safe, I guess". He paused to take a gulp of water. "Where are you heading, Dan?"

"Goodnight Sam" Aimee said to him, making sure he wasn't ignored. Aimee watched Ashelin go into the tent and yawned. After she finished her own food, she guessed it was time to hit the hay as well. First though, she walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. "Night George". He hugged back.
"Goodnight".

Aimee smiled at him before going into the tent, she had been too slow to see the bruising on Ash. She climbed over the older girl and lay down her sleeping bag carefully. She took off her jumper so she wouldn't be so warm and she tucked her shoes into the corner of the tent so they wouldn't get in the way.
"You ok, Ash?" she asked.

[Shadowfax]

Dan shrugged his shoulders at George's question.

"Got no plans as it were.... Just.. Travel.. See a bit of the country ya know? It's not hard to find a car these days, but... Gotta watch out for those gangs and all" Dan said, oblivious to the fact that these people had just been through hell with a certain gang in the area.

He looked over at George and smirked.

Ash rolled out the way as Aimee entered the tent. She had covered the bruising again with her vest top and looked out at the lake once more. She caught George's eye briefly before zipping up the tent and lying back on her sleeping bag. She placed her arm across her forehead and heaved a sigh.

"I think so. How are you holding up? How's that leg of yours?" Ash asked.

Her tone had changed. She actually sounded genuine.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

"Well, we know all about gangs" George murmured, taking a few more sips of water. "Anyway, I'm going to bed. Night". He turned towards his tent and entered, finding Aaron already sprawled out and asleep. Aaron was a deep sleeper, hard to wake. George slumped down, not bothering to go inside of his sleeping bag, just to lie on top of it.

Aimee was somewhat grateful for her concern. She subcounsicly stretched her leg out.
"Not bothering me at the moment, I just hope it doesn't take another turn. Thanks for asking". Aimee lay back as well, closing her eyes. "Night Ash".

[Shadowfax]

An hour passed and Dan woke with a start. He smirked and wandered over to their abandoned packs. They were obviously so tired they had forgotten to take their things in apart from Sam. He wandered over to the packs and emptied them of food, water, medical supplies and batteries. He came across a few extra bits and pieces too so took them aswell. Once he had stuffed them all into his bag, he smirked and looked at the silent tents.

"Idiots.. Trust noone" He whispered before turning on his heel and disappearing into the night.

***

Come the early hours of the morning, Ashelin was tossing and turning in her sleeping bag. Her brow was covered in sweat and she was gripping at the sleeping bag fearfully. She had entered a nightmare from the time she left Matt in the electricity cubhard.

--

Ashelin looked down at the battered form of Matt. She felt a great victory stirring within her and knowing she was about to walk out on him and steal from him gave her great satisfaction. She knelt down infront of him and roughly thrust the end of the gun into his temple.

"Do you remember, back in the supermarket when I told you I was gonna kill you? Well mark my words.. If I EVER see you again, I will kill you. You're a vile, foul, spiteful man who deserves to die. But today.. Im not going to do it. Why? Because I am fed up with taking lives. But I swear to god, if I ever see you again. If you ever harm a hair on these peoples heads.. I will blow your brains out" Ashelin snarled, the gun pressing more and more into his head as she spoke.

Livid, angry and ashamed of herself, she stood up and kicked Matt in the stomach so that he fell over sideways onto the floor.

"That's for being a little b*stard" She snapped.

"You think you can run? You think you can hide from me? Wherever you go sweetheart, I will find you. You're mine. The St Johns are mine and Aaron.. Well. He's gonna pay for his betrayal" Matt began.

Ashelin slapped him hard across the face, so much so it hurt her hand.

"I am not yours" Ash snarled through gritted teeth.

"No?" Matt said, his eyes lingering on her stomach "We'll see about that" He said with a grin.

Ashelin turned away from him and headed out the door. In real life, she had just walked away, but in the dream Matt had broken free of his cuffs and launched himself at Ash. He clamped his hands round her neck and began to squeeze the life out of her. His demonic smile loomed above her as she felt the life leaving her body. His laugh echoed round the room and Ashelin felt herself getting colder and colder.....

----
BANG.

A sudden bullet flew through the air and into the morning as Ashelin woke, she was breathing heavily. The gun was in her hand and the end was smoking and Ashelin's entire arm was shaking.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee had woken up and half-yelled half-screamed from the sudden sound of the gunshot, with it being so close. She tried to stand up in the tent. Everyone awoke with a startled expression. George was up and out of his tent in seconds, Aaron being a little slower. Aimee looked down at Ash. It had been her.

She unzipped the door and peered out of the tent, she wasn't shooting at anything. Aimee lowered herself back down.
"A-Ash?"
George practically ripped the door open.
"Jesus f****** Christ" he exclaimed, taking the gun out of Ash's hand carefully. "Ash, what happened?" he asked worriedly.

Aaron hadn't rushed to the tent, instead, he was focused on the empty bags.
"Oh for God's sake" he yelled, things taking a huge turn for the worse. That bloke Dan had gone and taken all their stuff, leaving a few bare things behind. Aaron suddenly remembered something, he rushed to the thick bushes by the tree behind his tent. A little relief swept over him. His stash of beer's was safe.

[Shadowfax]

Ash looked through the bullet hole in the tent, totally oblivious to everything else around her. Sam woke with a start and for a moment he hugged onto his sleeping bag as if sheilding himself from something. When George ran over to the girls tent, he understood the gunshot had been Ash, but why? The boy slowly unzipped his tent and peered timidly out the gap to where George, Aimee and Ashelin were.

Ash allowed George to take the gun out of her hand. Her breathing was still rapid and her brow was damp with sweat. She looked at him for a moment and then over at the scared Aimee.

"Im sorry... It was... Just a dream..." She said, almost sounding like a child.

She guiltily got up and walked out the tent, rushing to the lake, unaware that their supplies had all been taken.

"George, what happened?" Sam asked as Ashelin ran past him.