Marlon was silent; so was Brody; and therefore you were too. It allowed you to bask in the beauty of the forest, admiring the array of alluring colours and lilting sounds, the stunning aromas of spring lingering amidst the breeze. The scenery grew evermore familiar each trip.

A sharp twinkle caught your eye. A gorgeous silver necklace hung delicately from Brody's neck, it had a butterfly pendant encased by a deep purple gem which reminded you of the night sky. "I love your necklace." You complimented, your voice echoing amid the quiet.

"Oh, this old thing?" Her fingers grazed against it so gently -  as if it were a sacred artefact. "I've had this as long as I can remember. I'm surprised it hasn't rusted to a grain."

"It's beautiful." You added.

"Thank you." Brody beamed, "It was a gift from my sister."

"It must mean a lot to you then." You guessed.

Brody nodded, "Yeah, it does." 

You smiled, returning to the silence. It was strange: all you were doing was walking. No fighting, no talking, just walking. For so long your legs began aching. "Marlon," you began, "where are we going?"

"We're almost there." He evaded the question, his voice monotone. You had expected him to be on a high considering his interaction with Louis (he seemed to be in a good mood then). Before you could speak, he added, "You know, (Y/N), I appreciate everything you've done for us in the last couple of weeks. You've helped us more than you needed to."

"Anytime." His words meant a lot. "I'd do anything for you guys."

"I know," he said, "I don't know what we'd do without you." He lowered his head and mumbled, "What Louis would do without you."

His choice of words was odd, suspiciously odd. "What do you mean?" You asked warily. He didn't respond. "Marlon?"

"It's nothing." His dismissal was snappy. "My head's in the clouds is all." 

You frowned, unsatisfied with his answer. Averting your attention to Brody, you noticed a mild look of panic began to surface. Something was up: you both knew it. The air grew tense, unease weighing on your shoulders. Birds squawked and frantically flew as if it were nature's warning. Trees loomed over you, bystanders to your misfortune. Observing your surroundings, you realised, "We're outside the Safe Zone." Anger began building inside you, you clutched the handle of your knife, "Marlon," you stopped, a frightened fury brewing in your voice, "what's going on? You said we were just checking a few things." 

A snap crackled behind you, travelling through the trees followed by disembodied thuds. Suddenly, Brody gripped your forearm, her hands violently trembling as she whispered, "They're going to take us." 

"What?" Her words worried you. "Who?"

"We- we have to get out of here." You had never seen Brody so afraid, her expression was terror-stricken as paranoia peeled open her eyes. Her trembling hand tried to drag you away as she fled however fear's chokehold loosened her grasp, making her hand slip. 

It happened fast. Brody's efforts turned futile as a stranger charged out from the trees, whacking her head with the back of a rifle. Acting upon instinct, you unsheathed your knife - on the offence. The air was knocked out of your lungs as you were suddenly thrown to the ground, a boot planted firmly on your back, its sole dirty and undulating. The barrel of an additional rifle was shoved into the base of your skull, deterring any plans of fighting back. All you could do was lay defenceless, vulnerable to the wrath of the gun. 

"Do we knock this one out too?" A man asked from above you.

Marlon's voice was laced with fear which he desperately endeavoured to conceal with a stern overtone. "Don't kill her, she's strong. You'll need her for-"

"We didn't ask you." A woman stopped him, her boot situated similarly on Brody. She peered at you, her stare acidic. "She can't fight back unconscious." She said. "Knock her out."

You felt the rifle retract from your head. Mouth muffled by the mud, you spat, "Fuck you."

Black.