Chapter 4

I looked around to see a larger rock near the edge of the group and stood on it.

"Stop! Everyone!" I called out to gather their attention. "I know how to get across. The red haired girl told me what to do and entrusted me to lead you all to safety. I will not fail you." I told them, trying to appear with the confidence of Hope. I noticed Beef in the group, staring at me with folded muscular arms. She gave away no expression.

Without another word I started to lead the girls north, using the fading sunlight as my guide. The girls followed me without question. It must be because of Hope. She earned their trust and now I have temporarily gained theirs from her knowledge.

I tried to keep a quick pace but some girls were limping, bullet and knife wounds leaking out of them. At this rate, we would be slow but I did not want to rest till we were across the river.

I turned around and faced the group. "Those of you who can help carry any injured please do so, we must go quickly till we can cross the river." The girls looked around to each other before noticing the injured. Some had the girls climb on their back, others clasped their hands together to make a seat for the girls whose leg injuries were severe. I saw a younger girl with dried blood caked on her leg from a deep gash on her knee and scraped bleeding feet near me. She didn't have someone to help her. Without a second of hesitation I leaned over so she could climb on my back.

With everyone situated as best as possible we continued north in the growing dark as twilight peaked around us. Loud animal sounds echoed around us with only the crunching of our feet against the rocky bank of the river to answer it. I heard a scurrying of something in the bushes a few times but nothing ever popped out to attack us thankfully.

Just before the last gleam of light went out to trail in the darkness, massive and jagged boulders stood before us. I looked to my left and noticed a small rock path, almost hidden from the low level water. We were lucky it was a near full moon tonight and the pathway was lit up just enough to be seen.

I turned and faced the group once more before setting down the young girl I was carrying. "There is a small pathway on the rocks if you can see it." Most of the girls peered at the rocks while a few sat on the ground with a thump- their exhaustion starting to peek through their adrenaline. I noticed Beef set down a small girl who was being carried on her back. It gave me an idea.

"I need several strong uninjured women to come follow me for a moment. Preferably adults or anyone who carried someone by themselves." About fifteen other tall and muscular women- including Beef, followed me as I went towards the rock path. They gathered with me in a circle.

"I need you all to be the guides for the path. Spread out along it and as the injured make their way across to you, help them and everyone else cross first." I pointed out to the rocks staying strong against the current of the lower level water. "This also means you all will be going last and I don't know what may happen. Is that alright? "

All the girls nodded to me, determination in their glassy eyes. I wonder if mine looked the same.

Each of the strong women tested the waters. Beef led the way but let everyone go in front of her as she dubbed herself the last person to go across. Everyone made their way to their positions and Beef gave me a silent nod.

I spoke to the rest of the group as they did this and informed them of what to do. The injured started to hobble forward to make a line to cross the river.

One by one, the injured were led through the rough waters under the light of the pale moon. Each of the strong women waded with them as they continuously passed off girls one by one. I had those who could go in pairs go together just to ease the burden on the strong women and made sure I went across last.

At least an hour later, judging by the position of the moon and stars, the large group were all across and all that was left were the strong women.

I shouted to them that it was alright to cross now and one by one they made their way to the west side of the river.

When there were only three women left- Beef included at the rear, a girl with dark curly hair seemed to slip on the wet rocks, and she fell down in the water. With a scream, she clung to the rock as the river tried to pull her downstream.

Beef quickly lowered herself down to her stomach and reached her hand out to grab the girl. The dark haired girl gasped and coughed as water tried to fill her lungs. She reached out her hand to touch Beef's outstretched fingers before losing her balance slightly and gripped the rock again to prevent being swept away.

"I can't!" She screamed. Beef scooted closer to her and reached out further.

"Yes you can! Just grab my hand!" She shouted back to the girl. The girl grit her teeth and thrust her arms out to Beef's, grasping it firmly as she clung to her strong grip.

With a large heaving grunt, Beef pulled her back onto her rock as the other girl pulled them both back to the complete safety of the rock. The girls on the shore cheered for them and shouted out in relief that another person wouldn't be swept away. With a heaving gasp, the three girls all took a second to catch their breath before starting to laugh with relief.

I watched as the tension slowly slipped away from them as they made the rest of the way to our group.

With laughs and cries, Beef and the two other strong girls were congratulated into the open arms of the girls they helped across- each murmuring their relief and gratitude.

I hugged each of the strong girls who volunteered themselves to put everyone else first and thanked them for their help. They all nodded to me, tears in their eyes.

With a sigh, I sat down on the rocky bank of the river and soon after, the rest of the girls joined me.