Numbers can make you stronger or slower or even easier to destroy and in this world more people doesn't always mean more safety.
"Compassion… that's what makes you predictable."
As the raider's voice echoed through the cavern, dozens of them all aimed and ready. The group froze because there was nowhere to go on run to. Jasper stepped forward slightly placing himself between the raiders and the others especially the child. Stacy noticed a well and shifted too. The raider tilted his head slightly.
"Still choosing to stand," he said
"What do you want?" Jasper asked in a low tone.
The raider smiled faintly.
"To see what you'll do next."
The answer was worse than any demand, the tension was suffocating and the rescued survivors trembled behind them. The little child clinged to Stacy's arm. Then the raider Leader stepped forward.
"You keep making the harder choice" he said
He accessed the group counting and measuring.
"And somehow…you're still alive."
Jasper didn't respond.
"So let's change the rules," the man continued.
A ripple moved through the raiders as he gestured to the rescued survivors.
"You take them with you…"
"…and we hunt you all."
Silence dropped like a heavy weapon
"…or," he continued softly
"You leave them."
The choice was heavy and real, there was panic and anger among the group now as they reacted with panic.
"We can't carry more people!"
"We won't survive that!"
"This is suicide!"
As Stacy stepped forward, her voice was steady.
"We're not leaving them."
There was no hesitation or doubt on her voice and the adults looked at her like she's impossible. After Jasper watched her for a split second he nodded to the decision being made. Stan exhaled sharply feeling fraustrated and yet did not resist because deep down, he had already knew what they would choose.
The raider leader smiled even wider.
"Good." He said
The word sent a chill through everyone because it also meant that, that was exactly what he wanted.
"RUN!." Jasper shouted
The word dropped like a trigger as chaos exploded again. There was more vulnerability as they moved slower because of the weight and people but they all moved more coordinated and together. They all followed Jasper's instructions.
"Tight formation!"
Stacy helped position the new survivors in the center and stronger members spread out defensively with balanced movement. The raiders followed.
"They're dragging this out." Jasper said
"We won't last like this." Stan nodded grimly
Hunger was already breaking them and with more bodies to protect. The rescued survivors began to respond helping where they can and sharing the little knowledge they had.
"There's another was through these caverns…"one whispered.
"Where?" Jasper asked.
"Narrow…passage…hard to see…" A weak hand pointed ahead.
As hope flickered again in a dangerous but necessary manner, they adjusted their course immediately moving toward the unknown path. The raiders moved faster behind them. A passage appeared barely visible hidden between jagged rock.
"Inside!" Jasper commanded
Once by one they all squeezed through helping each other by pulling, pushing and supporting themselves. The group disappeared into the narrow path as Jasper entered last. He turned just long enough to see the raider leader watching and not chasing anymore but only observed and smiled. It was tighter inside the passage and harder to move but safer for now. The group collapsed briefly catching their breath with their bodies shaking from exhaustion.
They survived together stronger with more of them than before even if it didn't felt like it. Stacy looked around and counted silently. Everyone was still there but barely alive. Jasper leaned against the rock wall and close his eyes for just a second and then opened it again because he already knew that rest didn't exist there not yet. A faint sound echoed ahead from something like a machine which seemed impossible in a broken world like that it shouldn't exist. Jasper's eyes sharped instantly and everyone went still because whatever that was ahead isn't like anything they've faced before.
As the strange mechanical sound grows louder in the darkness—one chilling realization settles over them all; They didn't just grow in numbers… They may have just walked into something far more dangerous than the raiders ever were.