City of Suits (not completed) By Reid H and Mira H

Chapter 9: Leo

BOOM! The bomb exploded, the sound ringing in my ears. Georgia was clearly not as affected by it, and was already walking up towards it. There was something off though, but I just couldn’t put my finger on what. Then I noticed it. It was a faint blue-green shimmer along where the wall used to be. I realized that it must be a forcefield, and I noticed it not a moment too soon.
“Georgia!” I yelled to her, “Don't walk into it!”
Before she comprehended what I said, she walked into the wall of energy and got shot into the air straight at me. Right before I thought I was going to be crushed, my reflexes kicked in, and I caught her, holding her by the crook of her knees and her back.
Luckily she didn’t seem too injured, just minor scrapes and scratches here and there. I set her down and grabbed her bag off the ground.
“I believe this belongs to you,” I said in a mock-fancy voice while handing Georgia her backpack.
“Why thank you, my fair sire,” she said in the same tone. I laughed at the way she said it. “We should probably get going before the guards come again with backup,” She said.
“How about we climb up that tree,” I said while pointing to the big spruce near the broken wall, “Then swing over the forcefield.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” she said, already finding footholds in the grooves of the trunk.
It took us a few minutes to find a high enough branch that could support our weight, but finally, we found one 30 feet off the ground. I gestured to her to go first, then I’d throw down our stuff and swing over myself.
Georgia grabbed the thickest branch overhead, got good handling on it, then jumped. She quickly rolled over her shoulder, using inertia to soften the impact. She stood up and indicated that I should throw the bags to her and mimic what she did.
I got up from my crouching position on the branch and shuffled closer and closer to the edge, grabbing the same branch she did. The branch clearly couldn’t hold my weight as much as hers, with her having a smaller frame and me having more muscle mass. I shifted my weight, trying to make it down the easiest way possible. Finally, I decided to just go for it, and jump.
I was not as lucky as her. I dragged the branch down a little too far, and my left foot clashed on the top of the forcefield, clearly the most dangerous and high-voltage area. It got burned really bad, as the searing pain shot up my leg. When I reached the ground, I tried to roll, but my already burned leg wouldn’t let me. When my feet hit the ground, my ankle made a big ‘CRACK’ sound and I already knew I was in for it. Another jolt of pain sprang through the same foot. I had clearly broken my ankle.
Georgia, who was already under fire by the uncoordinated shots of the guards, ran to my side.
“Leo! Are you ok?” She asked worriedly.
“Not really,” I replied, “but we need to get somewhere safe.”
She gestured to a rundown shack along the wall.
        “How about there?” She asked, already gathering out stuff.
        I tried scooting there, but it was useless. Georgia noticed me struggling and dragged me into the old hut. Once I was safe, I took my bandana off my head, which I had been wearing that day, and tied it around my ankle, making sure to apply pressure to the wounds.
        “Do you need any help with that?” I heard the sweet voice I’d grown used to.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Georgia.” I said, wincing in pain from my left ankle.
“So,” she said, re-tying the bandana, “What happened out there?”
I told her the fascinating story of my pain. As I talked, I applied some medicine to the burns, but no matter what I did, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything till tomorrow. I decided to settle in, and try to relax.
“Well, now that I’m clearly in for the night, wanna talk about something?” I asked her.
“Sure Leo,” She said timidly.
“So, you want to tell me the whole story about why you ran away?” I asked cautiously.
“Well my dad, uhh, he wasn’t the best parental figure. When I was younger at least,” Georgia said in a quiet, but kind voice.
“Continue,” I said in a rushed tone.
“He, um, well,” she started, “He killed my mother. It happened when I was five, so I don't remember a lot, but it was him. Everyone thought it was from a heart attack, but I know it was him.”
“Oh my god, I-I mean gosh,” I stumbled over my words. I grabbed her hands.  “Are you okay?” I asked, seeing a tear stream down her cheek.
“I- I, uh,” she mumbled, then started silently sobbing.
I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug, feeling her warmth against me.
“Hey, hey. It's ok. Take your time. If you want to, you want to talk when you're ready.” I said, keeping a firm, comforting hold on her in the hug. She all of a sudden hugged me back, and I just held her in silence.