ok twists and turns, running around trees, rocks, and plants, but I couldn't seem to lose them. Then I kept running breathlessly. "How much longer do you think you can do this," a familiar voice called
"Cora" I said and my voice was so full of anger and hatred it surprised even me, but I kept my eyes on her, full of fiery hot rage.
"Yes tis is I," she said dramatically with an annoying smile. I have so much hatred I feel like it's about to burst out. I looked around for the minions, "Oh, don't worry hon' they're not here right now,"
"What is this some sort of game to you? Are you trying to kill us for fun!" I yelled
"I don't plan to kill either one of you," she said, her voice steady and her smile turns to a more serious face. "You two are both vital after all, Normally you'd already be dead actually, but I doubt I'll be getting another woman any time soon, I've only ever gotten men,"
"And that kiss," she looked lost in thought, "at first, I was infuriated" she came a little closer to sit on a large rock and her smile returned.
"How do you know abo-"
"You really think my soldiers only fight for me? Soldiers can also be spys y'know,"
"But we got off topic, now I see the kiss as an opportunity, If you kissed, you must love eachother very much, so, I won't touch him, even get him to the tribe, if you," she came forward and whispered in my ear, "let me in,"
Then she was gone. It was all over. For now. But, I swear, in the distance I could hear her giggling, just call my name when you're ready.
I walked back to the cave. There was no need to run,not when there was nothing chasing me. No dangers in this deadly place. I saw Jaxon and relief flooded into my whole body. I hadn't even realized how worried I was.
He looked at me up and down to see if I was hurt then grabbed me and hugged me. "I was so worried," he whispered in my ear. "Me too," I whispered back.
We were getting ready for bed hopping in the hammocks, Jaxon said, "it was so weird- they just disappeared." he said. "Yeah, I guess the ones chasing me did too,'' I said.
Willow hopped into Jaxon's hammock on top of him. Jaxon ground and hesitantly pet him, I chuckled. "Another day over I whispered closing my eyes,"
That night was a restless night full of nightmares. Nightmares about Cora, nightmares about Jaxon, and even nightmares about Graham, which I thought ended years ago. However even though when I woke it'd be suffocating it'd be one of the best ways to wake from my nightmares.
I woke to Willow jumping up onto my stomach. Jaxon sent us a look and chuckled. "Well, now you y'know how I felt" he said, still chuckling. "Yeah, I guess I do,"
"You were tossing and turning a lot y'know did she-"
"No, I just- I just," I stammered. Well, I couldn't exactly tell him we talked. Not yet, not until I've decided "I just never knew how much I'd miss home, I thought this'd be a vacation compared to home," I said sadly, and I did mean it, because if I ever get home, I'll probably have a death sentence. But now, I might have to choose a death sentence.
I got up and looked outside, I still can never seem to get used to the vibrant sunset.
"I'll make the fish today, we should take turns I don't want you doing everything," I said as I began to stretch Jaxon noticed a couple of bug bites from last night when I scratch them "Here," said jaxon and he rubbed what of green lotion on the small red bumps.
"Thanks, we don't really have bugs at home, everything living seams to avoid it actually," I said taking a step out of my hammock, even though I had to move Willow, he got resituated by himself. Willow was curled up in a large ball in the middle.
I put 2 pieces of large fish, and one little fish, for Willow, one on the pan to cook on the fire. Jaxon sat down and seemed to be focusing on something only he could see. I put my hand on Jaxon's shoulder, "Jaxon, are you akay?"
He seemed to snap back to reality in an instant when he heard my soft voice and felt my warm hand, "Yes. Fine. I'm just- thinking…" he trailed off and slipped back into his own world.
I turned my attention away from Jaxon and back to the fish, which began to sizzle on the fire. I grabbed what was supposed to be a spatula, but simply looked like a stick with a rock at the bottom. The "spatula," however worked just fine.
Jaxon stood, "Jaxon," I said his gaze turned towards me "When I came, I came from school-- and you see, I had my backpack with some helpful items-"
Before I could even finish, there as a cold, hard, No "but jaxon it had sewing stuff, these clothes have been washed several times but," I paused "they're dirty and ripped" I said
"Clothes? That's what this is about! No way we're risking our lives for clothes!"
A fire seemed to burst within me, "clothes may not seem important but they are! And besides you have several sets" "If we could just find it then-"
"Then we could leave and this whole nightmare would be o-"
Jaxon looked furious, "No one leaves unless she lets them," he said in a sharp, cold voice.
"Or if she had no power over it, if we just-" I began, "It wont work,"
"So you're just gonna stay trapped here forever? Well I Won't everything has a weakness. And I'm leaving tonight,"
Jaxon looked angrier than ever. "Fine, we'll go out into the woods to die for some clothes!" he said, "I'm gonna go take a breather"
The clothes certainly weren't what I was so angry about, it was the fact the he thought he could control me! I could do what I wanted its not like he was my mother and I was simply a child in need of teaching!
The fish began to burn, "dam it!" I said. I took the fish off the fire and onto a wooden bowl. I really didn't feel hungry. Not yet.
I began getting ready, knife, bow, 3 arrows, and finally bandaids made from plants. Jaxon came back in still obviously furious. He began to get his bag ready too. And before I knew it, it was time to go.
"Let's go Willow" I said, clicking my tongue. Willow was quite smart and learned quickly to get in the bag, he never really seemed to mind the bag.
◈◈◈
The man sat across from me, his face still showed no expression, but in his eyes he looked happy and content. "What will you have me do" I asked in a wobbly voice.
He smiled. "You'll work for me and my company for five years and then you're released, and we'll forget that book even existed," 5 years? I think. But then again, the arrangement would be five years for my life.
"So, I work for the ASD, and that book will be forgotten?" I asked
"I never said anything about the ASD," He said, leaning forward. "So then- where" I asked curiously, "I'm afraid that's classified, but you'll find out if you decide to join,"
"The way I see it, I don't have a choice,"
"We all have choices, and your is, labor, or death," he said grimly "fine, I choose five years labor"
"Perfect, we'll start tomorrow at eight thirty, you'll meet one of my men at the well, tell him you talked to me,"
I sat there wondering what just happened, and what I'd just done. "Hey" Graham said, "Are you ok," he asked, his smile falling and his eyes filled with concern. "Fine, did you get it, of course!"
"Let's go then" he said as his smile returned, and so did mine as my thoughts melted