Short Story

Phoenix wasn’t sure what he hated more, Allen’s snoring in his ear, that Carter had fallen back to sleep using his shoulder as a pillow, the suggestive look Mike kept throwing him over his shoulder or the fact that his legs were cramped due to the fact that they’d been driving for almost four hours straight and he hadn’t had one chance to stretch them yet. “Ellie, where are we going?” he asked politely, Mike smiling back at him, reaching out to pat his knee. “Crayton and I had set up a safe place, a training facility up in the mountains in case anything went bad, I’m taking us there, it should be undetectable” Phoenix bit his tongue and nodded, nowhere was undetectable for the Larks, he thought back to the safe place Mike had planned out …show more content…

Sure enough the car pulled up to the side of the road and Ellie bounced from the drivers seat, throwing the keys into the long grass. Carter watching her with wide eyes and Kosar barking happily. “Out” Mike stated as he reached back smacking Allen across the side of the head to wake him up, laughing a little at the boys gob smacked expression. Phoenix had to cover his own mouth to stifle his own giggles. “Are we seriously walking?” Carter asked, his jaw dropping open slightly as he sized up the mountain. “Come on Mr Dribbles” Phoenix retorted grabbing him by the chin, pushing his lips together “your leg is all better now surely you can handle a little walk” Mike laughed light heartedly, ruffled Nix’s hair and gave Carter a solid pat on the back. “You’ll do fine kid just as long as you keep up” “Wait where are we walking?” Allen asked, finally picking up the conversation before looking up towards the mountain “NOPE!” he laughed sarcastically “I’m not doing that” “Then babe” Ellie said, rolling her eyes and hitting him in the chest with a backpack “feel free to stay down here with the Larks” She shot him another look before stalking off into the shrubs, not looking back to see if anyone was following her, Mike had a thoughtful look on his face as he watched her before turning back to the three boys. “Come on guys” he sighed heavily “long walk ahead” “What did I do wrong?” Allen frowned. Mike