Chapter Four
Contact
(part 5)


    He sighted on the vague female form and his breathing and heartbeat slowed dramatically. As his finger compressed the trigger completely the face came into visibility. "ELLIEA!!" He instantly jerked the weapon to the side but had no idea if it was already far too late...


    The agents trudged the path quietly before Landon poked Elliea in the shoulder, “Hey, you think he’ll remember us?”
Elliea shrugged, “Probably.”
After a moment of silence Landon spoke again. “In a good way or bad way?”
Essa shrugged and opened her mouth before a piercing whistle split the air and she crumpled to the side with a muffled whimper. She squirmed up into a reclining position against the dirt bank enclosing the path and gripped her shoulder. Landon and Damian both dropped to the ground and army crawled up next to their fallen comrade.
Damian looked into Elliea’s paling face with surprise, “He shot you!”
Elliea closed her eyes and laid her head back, “Yep. Got that memo.”
Landon peeked over the ridge at the house, “I think he can only just see us.”
They all shared wary glances before Landon continued. “Could it have been...a fluke?”
Damian shrugged, and pried at Elliea fingers as she gripped her arm. She pulled away looking a tiny bit stronger, “It’s just a graze, I’m fine. Someone wave a white flag or something before he mows us all down will you.”
Damian smiled shakily, “Well someone’s grouchy from the pain.” Elliea merely glared at him.
Landon curled up so he could untie his combat boot and took off his sock. “This might do.”
He carefully lifted his arm up and waved the sock. After a moment he peeked his head up, Con’s figure stood on the front porch now.
Landon ducked back down, “Looks good, he’s out now and no rifle. Get her up.”
Elliea leaned on Damian and the three made it to the house to find a panicky Con. He blurted out, “Is she okay? Tell me I didn’t...she’s not...I swear I didn’t know it was her!”
Damian made a calming gesture, “A graze, can we get her inside?” Con nodded and lead the way inside. He settled them at the table and then retrieved his sister from the closet, setting her down to play with her dolls in the adjacent living room.