The Journey
The landscape was a blur as we flew though the countryside, purposely avoiding any contact with the largely populated areas. I had lost all sense of direction and it was all I could do not to throw up on Clare, we were moving so fast. I still couldn't believe this was really the Clare my dad had known, that she had really survived. I wanted to ask her how, but couldn't workup the courage to say anything.
"We'll stop here for tonight."
"O-okay." I said, a little unnerved by her sudden coldness, but then I guess she has every right to distrust me. For all she knows I could be some kind of spy sent to find the last remaining warriors. "We should be there late tomorrow. So be ready to leave first thing in the morning." Then she walked off, leaving me alone by the hastily built fire. I was exhausted from the long day, but tried to stay awake until Clare got back, it was bad news for anyone, even yoma, to be found alone and asleep these days. Especially out in the wild like this. Leaning forward in a vain attempt to use the heat from the fire to stay awake, I heard a crunch and quickly darted out of the ring of firelight. It was just Clare. "We will be meeting up with my comrades in the morning." 'So that's where she went,' I thought, 'to make sure everything was set for our arrival.' Even as I thought that, a tiny voice in the back of my head whispered, 'or their ambush.' 'No!' I shook my head. 'That won't happen. I know it won't.' Despite my brave words, I was still nervous the next morning while we were waiting for the others to arrive. Clank. The sound of a metal armored boot came from across the clearing where Clare and I had set up camp. "Hooked up with another kid, huh Clare?" A slightly mocking voice cut across the silence of the morning. "So, what happened to the other one?"
Clare started at the sound of the voice. "Helen! You're early. Are any of the others with you?" 'There's more!' I smiled and, feeling brave, decided to introduce myself. "Hello. I'm Teresa, Helen, right?" Suddenly Helen just burst out laughing. It was so unexpected I couldn't help but let out a little giggle. She was definitely one of a kind. "She's brave, too. Y'know, I think I might like you, kid." Still laughing, Helen turned to Clare and said, "Miria and Deneve stayed back at the camp with the others. It's just me and your old pal, Rubel." Clare looked totally shocked by this news, I was too really, this guy had to be another human. There weren't any male warriors.
"What?! Why's he with you? I thought the whole organization was slaughtered!" "Actually, he asked to come. Couldn't believe that the old 47 was still alive after the last war. Wanted to see you for himself I guess. Anyway, c'mon, we should head back now. The others'll worry if we don't show soon."
My head was spinning from all this. Everything that happened, it was all so fast. It felt like one second I was standing in the compound, wishing with all my heart I could be free. But even though I hadn't had time to really let everything sink in, I was amazingly happy. I had never been out side the fence before yesterday, and now I was with the warriors from my dad's stories! It was truly the happiest day of my life.
Still lost in thought, it took me a moment to register that our footsteps were echoing as if we were inside a cave. Glancing around, I noticed we were in a cave, a deep one too. I could see multiple tunnels branching off this first one, and the deep darkness behind that suggested even more tunnels and caverns. Ones I'd probably never get to see.
" Hey! Rubel! We're here!" Helen shouted from her position at the head of our little procession. At her words, a black hat popped up from behind a pile of rocks, also black. The effect was much like a ghost materializing and I started. Embarrassed, but glad I didn't squeak, I listed to their conversation.
"Took you long enough. So, what's the status report?" Rubel's voice was sort of rough, but not hoarse like he had a cough or anything, just rough, like he didn't use it that often.
"You know perfectly well that none of us report to you anymore. You're the one who should report to us, if anything."
"Hello, Rubel, it's been a while, has it not?" Clare's attitude was so icy; I think it froze me for a second. Much to my surprise, this Rubel character was utterly unaffected by it.
"Still so cold. And here I thought you missed me." There was a sarcastic edge to his voice that made it sound even rougher. I had to admire his bravery, talking to people who could kill him in an instant like that. Using that same cold tone, Clare replied in a way that told me she was familiar with this man's strange behavior.
"Actually, I was expecting you to be dead by now. Wasn't the entire organization destroyed?"
"If that were true, you wouldn't be here to say it, now would you?"
"You know I left before the war even-"
"Oh, really? Then why did you go to the north in the first place? If I remember correctly, you came back after our little chat. You agreed to go, on our orders, because,"
Helen had been standing there this whole time, looking more and more annoyed as the half argument went on. Finally, she burst out
"WILL YOU TWO SHUTUP FOR ONE SECOND! We need to go, NOW. You know what'll happen if we're late, Clare."
"Yeah, sorry, let's go." With that the four of us walked on, deeper into the cave system. 'What? Why are we going deeper? Is their hideout in this cave? Why would they put it in here? It's way too easy to find. If a yoma was wondering out here, they could find it by complete accident! I thought these guys were – the floor disappeared from under my feet, and I was falling through the air, any sign of a scream ripped from my mouth by the lashing wind. Instinctively I managed to stay upright. Coming to a hard landing about 20m down from the cave floor level. 'so this is how they've managed to hide for this long. A catacomb below a catacomb. Very cool'
"We're here.