Page 135 of Beyond The Maples
"No..." she says, shaking her head, a statement and a plea.
Leo grabs our arms, shoving us into the buggy. We don't have the luxury of time right now. Another explosion rocks the bay as we leave the facility; Farra has left some distractions, apparently, in order to gain us more time.
We're silent as we rip down the hill, the siren fading behind us, towards the front gates at the city's entrance.
The fates must align, because as we reach the big metal gates, they open. There are no guards to be seen. We had assumed we'd have to fight our way out, but it's eerily empty. Maybe Farra's distractions worked better than we'd hoped.
My stomach knots at the alternative. That they are letting us leave.
We travel for a while in silence, constantly looking over our shoulders, watching as the city gets farther and farther from our sight. The familiar rock of the buggy over the rolling hills feels like a comfort I don't deserve, as we press further away.
"Maple?!" Farra's loud voice startles me as she leans over, shoving a canteen in my face.
I refuse. "I'm good."
"You’re not good. And that's ok. But you are going to drink this." I finally look at her. She looks utterly exhausted.Dirt and soot and blood cover her face. She's still beautiful, despite it.
I grab the canteen and take a sip. She tips it up, demanding I drink more, and I scowl at her before taking a bigger gulp. She gives me a satisfied nod and then pulls me over so I'm leaning on her. I go to slide away; I don't have the right to the comfort, but she leans on me, and I feel her body heave a quiet sob. So I stay, because she does deserves the comfort. I dare a glance at Leo, who's leaning on the other side of Farra. Wet marks streak down his dirty face, and guilt presses heavy on my chest.
Tarius drives, and he seems to have an impressive sense of direction. The dust parts enough for us to see where we're going. We move through the barren lands in silence, each of us sitting in our grief. I know Farra needs to know what happened, but I don't know if I can say it out loud. I don't want to see the look in their eyeswhen they realize I got our friend killed. And I hate myself a little more for being selfish.
"The battery's getting low," Deacon says from up front, waking me and Farra up from our daze.
"How far do we have?" Leo asks.
"Not far. It's just up ahead," Tarius says as Deacon looks over the map. We figured we'd have to walk a bit of the way, but it wasn't clear how far. Ideally, somewhere with enough of a valley or hill lip that we can hide the buggy.
We're heading to a small, abandoned village the twins told us about. There are only a few buildings—in such rough shape, and so far from the main roads that nobody with a brain wants anything to do with them. A fire had torn through at one point, and only a few concrete or stone structures remain. I see them finally, far ahead, in clouds of dust. Dread and anticipation mix inside of me. What if the others aren't here? What if this was all for nothing?
The buggy sputters and Tarius veers to the left; I look and notice a large dune, a bit of rocky overhang on the far side, and although it's not much, it's better than leaving the buggy out in the open.
In silence we park, unpack, and pull on our gear. I catch Deacon wince as he stubbornly lifts his pack without help. We walk in a straight line over the gentle slopes. The grey outline of the decrepit buildings slowly becomes clearer, and my heart thumps in anticipation. My mouth is gritty beneath my mask, but we don't stop for water, we just trudge on, sinking through the soft hills.
We get to the buildings, and my speed picks up. There aren't many places they can be. We spread out, peering around the buildings, when I hear someone holler. I turn and see two familiar figures standing beside a half-crumbled concrete wall, grinning from ear to ear.
"What took you guys so long?!" Linden demands.
Relief floods my entire system. They're here. Willow and Linden are standing here, in one piece, looking ready to take on the world in the gear the twins have gave them. My body sags as Willow runs at me, nearly knocking me over as she wraps her arms aroundme.
"Did you grow?" I ask. I swear she wasn't as tall as me when I left, but now we're looking at each other eye to eye.
She shrugs, a big grin on her face—until she takes me in, and shock crosses her face.
"What happened?! Are you OK?" She pulls back and her eyes run up and down me, looking for injury.
"It's not mine... " I can't bring myself to say the rest, so I just shake my head.
Whatever she sees in my expression makes her pause, and Linden comes up beside us to scoop us in for a hug. He leans against me, before pulling back to take in the dirt, and dust, and blood coating me.
"You look awful," he says with a gentle smile and I try returning it.
"Thatis what I like to hear," I murmur half-heartedly.
Briggs and Mack appear from behind the ruins, motioning for us to follow to where we can escape the dust a little. We end up in the alcove of one of the half-buildings, covered enough that the elements will give us a break.
Once my pack is off, I head to the twins, giving them both sincere embraces, and thanking them for getting my family here safely.
"That sister of yours is hilarious. She asked me about twenty times if she could have a weapon. I almost gave her my knife, just to shut her up." Briggs laughs, wiping a tired hand down his face.
