[b]Lauren - Farm - Elliot[/b]

A shot rang out, whizzing above Lauren's head. Having felt the bullet just barely miss her, Lauren found herself crying out in fright. She muttered under her breath a string of, "No... No, no, no!" How could she have been so dumb? Why did she think the farm would be safe? Why did she think [i]anywhere[/i] would be safe?

Lauren rose slightly to get a better look into the brush. She looked for Bull and Katie, but could not see either of them in the tall foliage. "Okay, okay," she said to herself. "Let's go." She began to move from her spot on the wall when a man with an automatic weapon emerged from the side of the house. He trained his gun on her and Lauren quickly raised her hands, freezing in place.

"Maddam, if you move I'll have to shoot, so please, don't," he said. Lauren didn't doubt him, but his voice had lacked something. It was something she had heard most every day back in the Catacombs. It was in all of those raiders, even sometimes Bull. She believed this man would shoot her, but she didn't think he had it in him to kill her.

She heard further gunshots, indicating that this guy had friends around the farmhouse. If they were willing to shoot at her for just wandering by, she understood what kinds of people they were. They were no better than Tyler, willing to step on whomever threatened their ideal world. She had just gotten away from these kinds of people, had just gotten Katie away from these kinds of people. She couldn't associate with these kinds of people anymore. She would die first.

That was why Lauren took a chance. Another man spoke up, and the man aiming at her turned his attention away. She immediately bolted toward the foliage. Toward Bull and Katie. Maybe the guy aiming at her would be sympathetic enough to let her go, but she wasn't counting on it. All she knew for sure was that she could never surrender, not now and not ever.