Chapter 1: Found

Jenny ran, not caring about which direction she was going because all she heard was the screeching of Skitters behind her, and the creaking metal of the mechs.

Her younger sister Bridget was perched on her back, holding on for dear life. So hard in fact, Jenny felt as if her airway was going to be cut off soon, but she didn't care. She ran, and ran, dodging trees and tearing through bushes.

"What do we do Jen?" asked Bridget and Jenny shook her head.

"We run Bee, we keep running." she answered and Bridged just tucked her head into Jenny's long brown hair which right now was tangled in its waves.

But then an unsightly object came into her view. A fence. If she took too long getting over, they'd be dead for sure.

"Listen Bee," Jenny started as the fence came closer and closer. "I'm going to put you over the fence okay? And I'll be right out after you, alright? But that doesn't mean you stop running. You keep running and I'll catch up." she told her sister who just whimpered and nodded.

"Ready? Go!" she grabbed Bridget's small body from her back, and tossed her over as gently but as quickly as possible.

She watched as Bridget started running again, and was relieved her sister had actually listened. Then she started up the fence herself, but her cargo pants got caught on a loose wire. She tugged and tugged frantically, seeing the skitter fast approaching. She looked and saw Bridget beginning to disappear behind trees. There it was, the skitter. At her feet. It's claws reached up, scratching her legs so badly they began bleeding right then.

She kicked at it.

"You damn scum!" she screamed, kicking it in the face. That allowed her enough time to grab her knife and jab it into its eye, and the scream of pain escaping the creature was enough to make your skin crawl. She pulled her leg up so roughly her pant leg ripped free, and and jumped over.

She stumbled when reaching the ground, her legs burning with searing pain.

"Ah..." she trailed, running. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the skitter enraged, bulldozing right through the fence. "Dammit." she muttered, pushing herself farther.

But she heard the thumping of its legs right behind her, and then, it reached out, and pulled her back. The knife was still in its eye as it dragged her under so it was above her. It pinned down her arms and legs.

"No!" she cried. "Get off of me you fucking alien!" she screamed, struggling against it's weight. The skitter leaned down so it was right above her, its tentacle abundant mouth waving at her, so close she felt the slime dripping down onto her neck.

It was taking its time, feeling Jenny's fear well up inside of her with delight. When it lowered it mouth just enough to bite her, she heard a gun shot.

It pierced the air, and followed by many more. She saw the skitter's head snap to the left and it cried out. She reached up and grabbed the knife from its eye. She stabbed it square in the chest as someone hollered for a cease fire. Pushing her hand all the way through, feeling the alien's organs and blood squishing between her fingers, she pictured her mom and dad, her younger brother who was harnessed. Feeling her hand reach the other side, and poking out, she ripped her hand out from the body which was now lifeless. She hadn't even heard the grotesque screaming from it.

She shook the slime and blood from her hand and onto the grass, before kneeling down and wiping both her hand and knife clean using the morning dew as her water supply.

That's when she heard a screech and the skitter reached out grasping her injured leg.

She screamed, and then one sing shot was fired to the head, ending its life for good.

She looked and saw a team of men, barricaded behind bushes.

One ran out, the youngest of the bunch. The one she knew had shot the skitter.

Her leg was still trapped in its grasp, and she pried the claw off.

"Sick bastard." she muttered as the guy got closer, and she stood. "Bridget," she said to herself, and turned to go when she felt a hand close around her arm. She whipped around seeing the guy there, hazel eyes worried.

"Where do you think your going?" he asked, and his eyes went to her leg. "You're hurt."

"Thanks for the obvious, but my sister is running through those woods somewhere and I have to go get her!" she exclaimed as the rest of the men fell in beside him.

"Okay, we'll go get her. But we'll take the bikes. It's faster," he said and her eyes looked to the dirt bikes parked at the top of the ridge.

She sighed, and nodded.

As the bikes were brought down one of the older men looked to her.

"I'm Tom, and we're with the second mass." he said.

"I'm Jenny Harrington." she replied.

"How long have you been on your own with your sister?" he asked and she shrugged.

"Maybe a month or two. My younger brother Caleb's harnessed. He's fourteen." she said. "My parents were killed in the first attack, and we were part of the fifth mass, but then we were ambushed, and skitters and mechs came and wiped everyone out. Only a few survived, and those who did have been running." she explained.

Tom looked grave. "Great. Another mass wiped clean." the bikes were now in front of them.

"This is Hal," he looked to the teenage boy. "my son." she nodded.

"Jenny." she introduced herself.

"You'll ride with him, he's the only one with a double seat." she nodded as Hal got onto his bike, and she sat herself down, wincing at her leg.

"You okay?" he asked and she shook her head.

"I'm fine, just drive please." she said and he nodded, bringing the bike to life and entering the woods.

They drove for a few minutes before she caught sight of something.

"Stop! Stop!" she urged, and he braked abruptly.

She clambered off the bike, and ran up into the tree line. The blonde head of hair hiding between trees was unmistakeable.

"Bee," she said and Bridget turned and smiled, launching herself into Jenny's arms.

"Jen!" she cried with joy. "You're okay!" she said hugging her tightly and Jenny smiled, tears of relief filling her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm alright." she agreed as she set Bridget on the ground.

Holding her hand, Jenny helped Bridget down the slope where Hal was waiting.

"Bridget, this is Hal, he's part of another mass." she told her sister and Hal waved.

"Hi," he gave a smile and Bridget returned it.

"Hi," she replied and Jenny smiled a bit, getting on and placing Bridget on her back once more.

"Hey," Jenny started. "how did you get to where we were?" she asked and Hal shrugged.

"Doing a regular sweep and heard all the screeching. We watched you," he shook his head. "you're fast as hell." he said and she chuckled.

"Soccer. Track." she told him and he nodded.

"Right, that adds up now." they met up with the group.

Tom nodded appreciatively. "Good, you found her. That's one less worry. I can take Bridget."

Bridget looked unsure but Jenny gave her a smile and pushed her off reassuringly.

"Don't worry," she said. "he's very nice. His name's Tom." she said and Bridget wandered over to him.

"Hello Bridget," he greeted her. "wanna take a ride?" he asked and she nodded.

"If we'll be safe." she said to him and he smiled.

"Don't worry sweetie," he lifted her up onto his lap. "we'll be plenty safe where we're heading."

They all set off for the school.

"So you set up base here?" she asked and Hal nodded.

"Yeah, it was clear of the skitter's and mechs, and large enough to hold everyone." he shrugged. "Seemed like the best option." he looked down to her bleeding leg for a moment.

"Man, that's really bleeding." he said, looking back to the road and she shook her head.

"I'm fine," she waves a hand. "Some band aids and Polysporin and I'll be good as new." she assured him with a light laugh.

He smiled. "Well I think Anne's going to want to take a better look at it. She's out doctor at second mass." he told her and she shook her head.

"Fussy, fussy." she muttered and he laughed.

"Really?" he asked incredulously.

"Yep," she smirked.

"Unbelievable," he shook his head and she smiled.

"Thanks Hal, you're so sweet." he laughed.

"Yeah, anytime."

They pulled up to the school, and Anne was already waiting outside.

"Anyone hurt?" she asked and Hal looked to Jenny.

"We got Jenny and Bridget from a skitter attack. Clawed Jenny in the leg twice, but Bridget seems okay." he told her and Jenny waved a hand.

"Please, really, I'm fine. Just need a few band aids, a cloth and I'm good." Anne looked to her leg.

"Not if it's bleeding that much. We need a stretcher!" she called out and Jenny laughed.

"You can't be serious," she said and Anne looked her in the eye.

"I'm serious honey, hop on up." she said as a stretcher was passed to her.

Jenny sighed, looked to Bridget and said she'd be back.

"We'll watch out for her," Tom promised and Jenny nodded with a small smile in thanks as she was wheeled away.

Tom looked to Hal. "She seems rather against being taken care of." he noted and Hal nodded.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"Reminds me of someone..." his dad trailed and Hal shot him a glare while his dad chuckled and took Bridget in.

Inside, Anne was working on Jenny's leg, slipping her pants off.

"It's mandatory." she said as Jenny pulled away a bit. "I can't work with all this fabric, especially dirty fabric. It could infect the wound. I'll get Lourdes to get you some new clothes, and let you wash up." she explained, calling out to a nurse with dark hair and skin who nodded and disappeared down a hallway.

"So, you've been here the whole time?" asked Jenny and Anne nodded as she cleaned around the scratches.

"Yeah, I lost my husband and son in the first attack." she sighed. "So i decided that I may as well try and help as many people as I could for them."

Jenny nodded. "Yeah, for every person taken another one is saved I guess. War is a sad reality." she agreed and Anne nodded.

"What about you? Was that your sister out there?" she asked and Jenny nodded.

"That's my younger sister Bridget. She's six. Caleb, he's fourteen, was harnessed. Lost my parents in the first attack, and the rest of my relatives live in Canada so I have no idea where they are." she shook her head.

"How old are you?" Anne asked and Jenny counted on her fingers.

"Seventeen in five weeks." she answered. "So sixteen for now."

Anne took a cotton bandage into her hands, and began wrapping her leg.

"Wow, this sick guy got you good." she shook her head and Jenny smiled halfheartedly.

"It was worth it so Bee could get away." she said tucking hair behind her ear. "Anything for her."

"You've taken on the role of your mom. Or dad. A parent." Anne started and Jenny nodded with a small laugh.

"It's hard not to, right? I mean there's this child, and they're scared and hungry, and they feel alone...You have to make them feel like they're okay even if there's every reason to be scared shitless." she laughed and Anne smiled.

"Well it's just nice to see kids stepping up. You know Hal?" she asked and Jenny nodded. "Got two brother's. One of them is harnessed too. Lost his mom, and he's one of the best scouts we have." she shook her head as Jenny's mouth hung open a little. "We've seen him go from a sixteen year old kid to a man."

"Well, the war can do that to you." Jenny responded as Anne was wrapping tape around her leg.

"Yeah, it changes everyone at some point." Anne sighed and stepped back. "There you go, all done, just check back in and I'll change the bandage. A little better than a band aid and polysporin huh?" she asked and Jenny cracked a smile as she got off the table and put some weight on it.

"Possibly..." she trailed with a smirk. "Thanks Anne," she said as Lourdes appeared with a fresh pair of cargo pants.

"Here you go, I'll get the rest of them to you later." she said and Jenny nodded, and took the pants and slipped them on.

"Thanks again," Jenny said, turning to leave.

"Anytime Jen," she said and Jenny paused a moment at the shortened name. "Is everything alright?" she asked Jenny as she turned around slowly.

"Yeah," she smiled. "everything's fine." she waved and turned down the hall, and began wondering where Bridget could be.

As if on cue, Hal and Tom began walking towards her, rounding a turn.

"Hey, where's Bee?" she asked and Hal jerked his head to the schooling area.

"She's there with Scott's wife, getting settled." he told her. "I came to show you where you'd be sleeping." he said.

"We know it's nowt the best conditions but it's what we have, which isn't so bad in the long run." Tom said to her and she nodded.

"Yeah, of course." she said. "Lead the way," she swept a hand out.

"Hal I've got to meet up with Weaver. I'll check back in with you later," Tom said and Hal nodded.

"Yeah, I'll show her." Hal assured and Tom clapped him on the back before leaving down a different hallway.

"This way," Hal said, and Jenny fell in step beside him. "How's the leg?" he asked and she shrugged.

"Good. Anne did a great job with it. I'm just going to have to get the bandage changed in a few days is all. So I'm glad it wasn't anything worse." she said and Hal nodded.

"Yeah, could've been a lot worse." he agreed.

They were silent for a moment before Jenny spoke.

"Hey, uh, Anne told me about your brother and how he's harnessed." Hal's expression turned hard. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I mean, Caleb is too and I know what it's like, I just feel like if I know what it's like I should at least show some sympathy because it's hard." she sighed. "Not knowing where they are, what they're being told, if maybe they've forgotten who you are completely..." Hal's expression didn't change. "But we don't have to talk about it." she said shaking her head. "I can tell it's not something you enjoy hearing." she laughed bitterly.

Then Hal seemed to almost snap himself out of it.

"No, sorry." he said a bit confused. "It's just, yeah...It's not something we talk really openly about. Which i guess you get." She nodded and he shrugged. "I don't know. All that I do know is that my dad and I are going to get him back any possible way." his determination was clear in his voice. "And we gotta do it soon."

They came to a door which Hal opened. "This is where we sleep. Well some of us." they walked through. "Matt's there, I think Bridget got that cot there," he pointed to small green cot's with pillows and quilts thrown over them, as well as a few photos and personal belongings. "I'm here, and I guess this one here can be yours." he said gesturing to one across from his.

She nodded and dropped her backpack down beside her bed and then sat on it sighing.

"I can't even remember the last time I slept on a bed after the attack." she said with a small laugh.

"Yeah," he sat down on his and put his head in one of his hands, supported by his knee. "It's not much but it's better than the floor."

"Or a tree," she added and they shared a smile. She saw his eyes go to her chest, and for a moment she thought he was staring at her boobs but then realized she was playing with her necklace again.

"That necklace," he started. "where'd you get it?" he asked and she looked down at the silver puzzle piece with the black lettering of the word "hope", but it only had the H and O.

"Oh, well there's a second one." she reached into the front pocket of her backpack and pulled out a black puzzle piece with silver lettering of P and E. She took hers off and connected the two so they fit together. "One belongs to my mom and one to me. Because when I was nine I got diagnosed with cancer." she said and Hal frowned. "It was leukaemia. And then things started getting worse, so my mom gave this to me and she had the other because really, at that time, hope was the last thing I had." she shrugged. "We got rid of it the following year, and my hair started growing back, but I never took this off." she sighed and moved it between her fingers. "I guess now we need hope too."

He reached over and took them into his hands, and she let him. He fit them together and ran a finger along the engraved words. "Yup, we're in short supply of that right now."

They heard a knock and both looked to see Weaver standing there with Tom.

"I need to have a word with our newly acquired civilian."