I tied a cloth tightly around and over Max's wound like I did for Ricky. Then I had Matt and Jason support the weight on his leg. "We need to get a move on, they will be coming for us soon." I called out and led the team on, we followed the tunnel until we came upon a fork. "Which way do we go? Does anyone see a map or know their way through here?" I panicked while watching back the way we came to make sure the doors hadn't opened yet.

One of the former guards raised his hands and I smiled brightly at him, with his help we could get out of here soon. He returned a small smile and crept towards me cautiously before handing me a map. I flipped it around in anger before looking around, I searched until he kindly pointed where we were at on the map to me. "Thank you, what is your name?" I asked and he looked around before looking down and whispering.

"I-its Julius miss." He said and I tilted his chin up to look me in the eye.

"Well Julius, you may just be the reason we make it through here so head up soldier." I said and he shyly smiled before freezing. Jason, Max, and Matt had all caught up to us. "They won't hurt you." I whispered and saw him lose a bit of the tension he had built up. "Take the left passage." I called and people nodded as the doors made a loud banging noise. "Quickly!" I called and we started down the tunnel again, my eyes switching from the Map to my surroundings every second.

We tried to be silent and I tried reading the map while running but neither were too successful. We stopped at a six tunnel passage and froze as I tried to translate the map. "They're coming!" Panicked a girl and Randy covered her mouth while the others worriedly watched our backs. The sound of the door opening had been heard a couple minutes ago and there was no doubt that they were on our trail. "Go right." The man whispered and I nodded before signaling for everyone to be silent as we made our way further into the tunnels.

With full on sprints, we made a few more turns until everyone was exhausted and in need of a quick break. "Should we be taking a break at a time like this?" Whispered Sage in worry, not looking exhausted at all. I wasn't too tired myself but the others were slacking and needed a minute to breath.

"No, not really but we can't exactly leave them behind. I don't hear the men which can either be a good or bad thing so we will need to get going soon whether they have had enough time to catch their breaths or not." I waited a few more moments before standing and heading back to the front. "Move out." I didn't have to speak loud since they were all trying their best to be silent. A few tired groans were heard but they all complied and got up as told.

I was worried that if we didn't move fast that Max would bleed out from his wounds as well as the others. Amanda still hasn't spoken and I felt bad for her but she needed to stay focused until we were safe. The others all worked together in keeping each other motivated to move, making sure no one lagged too far behind from the group. We had no bathrooms, no food supply or water, and so we really needed to clear these tunnels before we all become dehydrated and malnourished.

Time was untraceable in the tunnels and without any windows, we couldn't even track if it was day or night. I would hum to myself for motivation or too keep me sane but I was too scared of the men hearing me. Even the noise of our footsteps terrified me and there was no way we could help that, we were already trying our best to be quiet as it was. We made a few more turns before we ran into an eight tunnel path. "Which one should we take?" Whispered someone but I truly didn't know the answer myself.

The man who had been translating the map seemed to be having trouble as well when it came to which path we should take. Max seemed to be losing more and more energy as we went on and I wasn't quite sure how much more he could take. I had made him a tourniquet, but the way he had to move so that all of his weight wasn't smooshing the boys at once must have messed it up and he was bleeding through. "Its not much further." The man said with a bit of hope before closing the map and heading down the fourth tunnel. We heard the men from somewhere back in the tunnels which seemed to give back the motivation to those who started to lose hope. 

We moved quickly, now making less noise than before somehow and sticking together. The boys shifted Max, both taking on more weight in order to get moving faster without him slowing them down. He didn't seem to like being in a position where he needed their help but he was going to need it until I had more time to look at his wound. The tunnels seemed more narrow the further we went and I was beginning to think we would have to go single file to move on at the rate the tunnel was narrowing.

It frightened me at how close the men sounded to us at some points, I was scared they had caught us and that I left everyone down. The guards seemed tense at the noises too and would often stray to the back with their weapons ready to shoot. We moved on, no one daring to do anything more than breath as we tip toed down the dark tunnel. An echo of what seemed to be a water droplet hitting the floor was soon heard but I couldn't tell it's location. I wasn't sure what was forward anymore and sadly began to rely on the stranger I put in charge of directing our lives out of here to do as he said.

To put that much trust in a stranger was a big risk, one I'm not so sure I should have taken but it is way too late to go back and and so we must proceed. The darkness folding in on me gave me a terrible feeling as we marched on, the echoing of the droplet getting louder which only led me to believe we were gaining distance on it. That one droplet turned into a few and a new sound of water splashing agaisnt our feet was heard. I was overjoyed to know we had made it to what I hoped was the other side of the tunnelss but I was also frightened at the amount of noise our shoes were making as we blindly marched on.

A small and dim light could be seen far ahead but I didn't want to say anything in case I had just been imagining it. "That should be the exit, it should be our safe haven for the night." He whispered and my heart began to pound in excitement at the nearing light. 

"Run for it!" I called and everyone began to run for the light, greedily trying to out run each other and make sure they got themselves to safety. I let others pass me so that I could make my way to the back when we heard gunshots. "Hit the ground!" I yelled and people held their heads and ducked before lying on the floor. My guards laid down with their guns aiming towards the direction of the shots while some even held our original hand carved spears in protection.

Lights soon became visible, the light of lanturns and dirty men evilly smirking down upon us. "Thought you could get away that easily did ya? I'm surprised that you've made it this far on your own... Or did you have help?" He asked as he started to scan my new men for the map. I used my foot to push the map under the mans body before boldly walking to the back to shorten the distance between my enemy and I.

"I navigated the map, your terrible scribbles were just legible for me to read and follow. I didn't think you would make it this far either, we are both surprised in how far you made it. But now that you've made it with your few men left, what exactly is it that you plan to do? We clearly out number you, out rank, out think, out skill. So I ask you again sir, what exactly is it that you think your going to do?" I poked his chest and his face turned into fear once it dawned upon him that everything I said to him was true. Only six or so men were with him, and half didn't even have a weapon.

"Where are the rest of the men? We came in with thirty, you can't possibly tell me that this is the crew that knew how to navigate these tunnels. We all stuck together, where are the rest of us?" He angrily asked the rest of his men in embarrassment. Before he could finish his sentence, the splashing of water was heard again and it seemed to be splashing fast. "Ah here they come."

He smiled but his smile faded when he saw the look of fear etched on their faces as well. "Run!" The yelled before a vicious growl was heard and the men were pounced. I smiled as my fear began to disappear. The jaguars must have slipped in when the men reopened the gate to the tunnel and taken out the rest of the men in search of us. My smile was wiped off of my face when I felt a stinging sensation on my check and my face flew to the side. 

"At least I know I didn't die without giving a fight." He went to stab me but a loud boom was heard and blood shot out from his head as he fell towards me. I screamed in fear as his body tumbled on to me and I quickly pushed him aside, then looking up to see who had saved me.

I gasped in surprise when I saw a crazy woman holding a gun in my direction, that crazy woman being my mother. "Mom?" I asked shocked before she stood shocked for a second. I wanted to run up to her and tell her I forgave her but but I was scared she was thinking about shooting me again the way she still had her gun aimed me. When she noticed my fear, she looked down at her gun and apologized before putting it down and running to me.

I went to apologize but she beat me to it and held a finger to my mouth. "Don't apologize, I lied about your brother, I got you into this mess, and I shot you. If anyone should be apologizing it should be me, but right now we need to get of this tunnel." She said and I nodded before everyone got up and waited for my command.

"Hurry before more come!" I called and they started to run for the exit once more. Max seemed shocked to see her with us when we didn't know where she was or how she got to us. It actually was nagging at me too, how did she find us? She looked like a mess but not bad enough to have been kidnapped and beaten. Amanda gave me a questioning look and I realized that I had stopped running and began to stare at my mom.

"Naomi hurry up!" My mom called as she turned back and saw me zoned out, I had just looked away before she could catch me staring.  I began to run with the others as well, but never taking my eyes off of my mothers back. Max seemed to have the same thought process and kept himself back enough to keep her in his view at all times. The light was getting closer and brighter as we ran, we should be able to reach it soon.

By the time we had all made it through, everyone was on the ground and panting for breath. I looked back at the entrance and tried to figure out a way to block it off from them coming out after us. Max seemed to have the same idea and was looking around as well. "You guys we don't have much time, we need to keep going before they catch up." Our mother said but we ignored her and kept looking.

"There." Max pointed and I saw a pile of rock that was being held back by man made nets on each side. We nodded and began to climb up the wall as best as possible, though my side didn't have as much grip and I had to stand on Jason's shoulders. I began to cut the netting but made sure it didn't fall down on us until we were ready. My mother and the others watched silently as we cut our nets and hopped down.

Max and I had cut it enough that a tiny pull would rip the whole thing down. In silence, we nodded and full on sprinted to the wall. Once we reached the wall, we jumped and pulled the netting before running away as fast as possible. I smiled out of breath when seeing the dust come off and the pile now half way blocking the tunnel. "Its not all the way, but its good enough for now! Let's move!" I called before looking over at Max.

His jump made his blood seep through the bandaging we did and we had to wait for our mother to rebandage him before moving on. "Hurry mom, they might be coming any minute now!" I panicked when hearing noise within the tunnels.

"Patience sweetheart, I need to make sure it's wrapped properly." She said and I glared, it was like she was taking forever on purpose. Max locked eyes with me too and I could tell he felt the same way, it seemed that he and I had the same thought process.

I felt bad but I cut in front of her and wrapped it fast, still making sure it was wrapped properly and then helped him up. "Sorry mom, but we are kinda in a hurry." I said as she stared at me shocked as well as something else that I couldn't quite. put my finger on.

"My apologies, you are the leader here. I'm just a silly woman with a masters degree." She said and I rolled my eyes.

"No offense mom, but it doesn't exactly take rocket science to figure out how to properly wrap someone within a short period of time." I said and she gave a smile that seemed a bit scary for me. "Move out!" I called and everyone was quick to get up and start walking.

I couldn't tell how close we were but after about a half an hour of walking, a familiar site hit me. I stopped midtrack, and held my cheek. "Hey what's wrong?" Asked Jason as he stood in front of me and inspected me.

"This is where the bus's split up, mine was waiting while the first bus went I through there and that's when I was hit for the first time." I said while regretting it, seeing as how his jaw clenched from trying to hold back his anger. "I'm sorry come on, its about a half an hours way back to the school." I called and many smiles broke out among us.

We began jogging and happily making our way, never realizing how close we were to home all of this time. I didn't see any attached island so I was wondering where we were and just how long those tunnels actually were. My mother had gotten exceptionally quiet and I kept my eye on her. Once we were getting closer to the school, her pace slowed gradually which Max and I of course copied.

"Mom what are you doing, why are you slowing down?" I asked and the others slowed down as well when realizing we had stopped. She looked at us shocked to see that we had caught onto her and we all waited for her response. 

"I... I-" she wasn't exactly making out words at the moment and we grew even more suspicious of her. "I can't go back with you." She finally breathed out before opening up her shirt and showing us a blinking light that seemed to be apart of her.

"What is that?" I asked, cautiously raising my weapon to her. She couldn't get offended by this since she was the one who shot me first and so she didn't say anything to my raised weapon.

"When they let me go, I thought that maybe they had a change in heart. This thing didn't activate until you and I hugged. It made a noise again when you pushed me out of the way to finish Max's wrappings. Then it occurred to me what they were doing. If they couldn't have you, they would use me to kill you." At that, everyone raised their weapons to her and I had tears in my eyes. How could my own mother trade me in like that?

"If I go back with you then I'm bound to kill you and I can't let that happen. I've seen what it was like to see you die and at that by my hand, and I can't see that again. I won't. I can't risk them knowing where you are and taking you back so I planned to leave when no one was looking, but it didn't come out that way. Im sorry." She said and began to back up before putting a gun to her head. Where'd she get the gun? I thought before realizing she had taken it from me when I pushed her aside.

"Mom stop!" I gasped and tried to step towards her but a shot went off before I had the chance. None of us shot her, and she didn't shoot herself. Back from where we first came running towards here were the bad men with guns aimed and I knew they had killed her. I quickly grabbed my gun from her and looked down at her motionless body.

"We come in peace children, give us the one you call Naomi and we will leave." They said and everyone lifted their weapons at the men. "I wouldn't do that now children." The man laughed before lowering his men's weapons.

"Run." I whispered and we all took off towards the school. A couple shots were heard before the man yelled for them not to shoot in case they shot me and we ran like no tomorrow. When we got to school, we ran around the bus's and began to run around the school when guns were heard and flashing lights were seen. "Everyone stop!" I called and they all obeyed before I had our guards surround us, and I took the front to face our new threat.

There were a ton of peopl at the school. They ranged from special ops, FBI, regular town cops, reporters, family members, kids from school. "Lower your weapons!" I yelled too my people before seeing the men come running out of the woods behind us. "Everyone down!" I yelled and they all listened before I turned around and let open fire on the bad men.

The cops joined in as well as my guards and finally the bad men were killed. "Hold your fire!" I yelled as the last guy fell but he let off a fire and grazed my arm which I shot him down afterwards. Jason ran over and cut a piece of my shirt before tying it over my cut and then we faced the people.

"Are you with them?" I called, my gun aimed at them as their guns aimed at me. They shook their heads no and slowly lower their weapons which I then did the same.

"Who are you people, where do you come from?" They asked before I heard my name.

"Naomi!" I turned and saw my dad running through the crowd and towards me which many other families started to do the same.

"Dad!" I yelled and ran to him before stopping and letting him hug me. "Dad I-" he cut me off before I could finish.

"I shouldn't have missed all of those dances, I realized that with you gone and I don't want to feel that ever again." He said and I shook my head.

"I know why dad but its okay, I've found him." I said and he looked at me confused. "Max!" I called and he headed over to me slowly before looking through his cloths and seeing our father. My dads eyes watered as he started crying and just stared at the person in front of him.

Reporters started asking everyone questions but when the FBI came near me, everyone ran back to me and kept me hidden. "We would like to speak to your leader." They said but everyone shook their heads no.

"Why do you need to speak with her?" Asked Jason and he stood protectively in front of me.

"We just want to know what happened to you kids." They asked and I nodded before stepping out in front of everyone.

"Naomi." Jason warned and I cut him off.

"I'll be fine. I am Naomi, and this is my group. We had been taken for a sick trial of survival by men who made a deal with the school and they left us to die. My group and I became one and even gained a few people. It turns out the men had been doing this for years and so some of my people had been on the island for a long time. Some of their guards switched teams and joined us which is where we got our weapons and no we are not giving them up no matter what rule there is." Suddenly everyone gasped and they raised their guns to the back of my group but I yelled and stood in front of their guns.

"You shoot and you die, these belong to me as well." I called as my jaguar's all stood next to me and my dads fcae was the best I had ever seen in my life from the amount of shock it held. "We stick together as a group and you don't take them without me present, that includes my group members. We are a family now, and we don't plan on splitting up, not when those men are regrouping." I said and they all yelled in agreement with me. I womdered how everyone knew we would be coming back today but I would save