Chapter 6

Caine left Perdido Beach. He knew that he shouldn't have; he was king after all, but he needed answers. So he told Albert to hold the fort, and left.

It was night-time. Albert had given him a map, but it wasn't very good. It was a stupid idea; leaving when it was still dark.

He found a truck which still had some gas, and drove it as far as he could up the highway. He got out and started walking up what he hoped was the right path. He walked for what felt like hours. He was glad when he finally saw what looked like a building up ahead. It must have been the Air Base compound.

As he walked, thought. And thought. And thought.

Soon Caine was sick of thinking. He knew that Diana must be fine by now; Taylor had told him that Lana was healing her.

But he was very confused. Diana couldn't be pregnant. He was sure that starving girls couldn't get pregnant. But then, she had got healthier on the island...

He tried to block it out of his mind. He was only fifteen. He was a king, not a teen dad.

And anyway, he doubted it would survive in the FAYZ, where everyone was constantly close to starving.

He hoped it wouldn't survive.

It was very late at night. Toto sat in his tent, alone with Spidey. He didn't like it much there at the lake. It was much more peaceful back at the compound. He was happier there.

He unzipped his tent and went outside. He saw what they called 'Sammy Suns' dotted around the lake, giving out some comforting light.

Toto looked at Spidey. Spidey was saying that they should go back to the compound. "Yes, I agree."

So Toto started walking. He knew the general direction; he had walked from there to the lake before. The darkness of the night started to scare him, but he was with Spidey, so it wasn't too bad.

He walked and walked and walked.

Finally, he passed the train. He took two Pepsi's and some nutella for him and Spidey, and walked the rest of the way back to the compound.

Then he saw someone else in the dim moonlight. Just the shadow of a figure. Toto looked at Spidey and nodded. Spidey was right. They should go inside and get away from the stranger.

It didn't take long for Toto to find his old room. He went there and sat in the darkness, drinking his Pepsi. Spidey still hadn't touched his Pepsi.

Then he heard a noise. Hide!, said Spidey. So Toto quickly went under his bed.

The door burst open.

"Who's there?" Called the voice. Toto recognised that voice. It was Caine.

He didn't like Caine. He heard him come in.

Then suddenly the bed lifted. Toto was no longer hidden. "Get up." Caine ordered. Toto stood up and moved so that he wasn't standing under his bed, which dropped back into place. Caine stared at him for a while, so that Toto and Spidey felt quite uncomfortable.

"You're the truth-teller." Caine said.

"Yes. That is true." He replied.

Caine paused before he spoke again. "What do you know?" He said quietly, more to himself than to Toto.

"I know what is true." Toto said. He wasn't sure what Caine was doing.

Caine took a long time to speak again. "Diana is pregnant."

Toto answered quickly as usual. "Yes, yes. That is true. The pregnant one."

Caine looked like he was in shock. But he spoke again. "She is happy at the lake."

Toto took a while to answer. "Yes. She is happy. Sometimes she is happy."

Caine looked angry at that answer. Toto hoped he would leave soon. But then Caine said, "I'm staying here tonight. And tomorrow, you're coming with me. We're going to the lake."

Toto shook his head. "I'm not going back to the lake. This is my home."

Caine glared at him. Toto felt a little scared. "You will come with me." He said more forcefully.

Toto nodded. Caine left his room. He heard Caine go into the room next to his.

Spidey wasn't very happy "Neither am I." Said Toto.

Sam had an extra bedroom on his boat. It was small, but he thought it would do.

So the next morning, he went and asked Diana to live with them. She looked reluctant. "You don't need to worry about me, Sam." She had said.

Sam smiled. "Stop being such a loner. You'll be safer if you live with us. And then if you have any problems, me or Edilio or Dekka will just be in the next room."

It didn't take much to have her convinced. Only Dekka didn't seem too sure. She still hadn't forgotten everything that Diana had done.

Diana only had a bag-full of belongings to move from her boat to Sam's, so she moved in straight away.

Edilio and Dekka were in the living room, awkwardly waiting to greet her. She laughed in their faces. "What is this, some kind of ceremony?"

Dekka turned to Edilio, already irritated. "Yup, she's still the same Diana."

"Come on, guys," Sam said calmly, "let's all be friendly here."

Edilio raised hands, defensive. "Hey, don't look at me. It was Dekka." Dekka elbowed him playfully. Sam was glad that they had become friends; the two of them never used to hang out together.

He turned to Diana. "Your room's over there." He said, gesturing towards one of the doors. She smiled and took her bag to her new room.

Dekka waited until the door was shut before she spoke. "What's up with this, Sam? Is this you playing hero again?"

Sam could tell that she was more annoyed than she looked. "Look, I know you don't like her, but she needs our help. I mean, she's pregnant. We can't just let her go through that on her own."

Dekka folded her arms. "I don't see what difference it makes if she's a few metres away on her own boat. We'll still see her, like, everyday."

"Dekka, what if Taylor comes back? Or worse, Caine? What's she going to do then?"

Dekka sighed. "OK, I get that yesterday was traumatising for her. And I feel sorry for her. But she has a gun now, and we'll be around-"

"We weren't around today." Sam said. He realised that he was getting angry, but he didn't really understand why. "She's staying here, whether you like it or not. I'm not letting her or that kid get hurt while we just stand by."

Dekka scoffed. "Really, Sam? Because it seems to me like you're the only person who wants her here. Which makes me question whether you really do miss Astrid."

She regretted it as soon as she said it. Edilio shuffled on his feet nervously.

Sam stared at her for a while. Then he stormed off to his room and slammed the door.

"Nice one," Edilio said quietly.

Diana had heard the argument. The argument about her.

She wasn't sure if she felt guilty or not.

She slowly opened her bedroom door. Dekka and Edilio were still standing in the living area, in silence. They stared at her as she walked out.

"I'm just getting some air." She said, and jumped out onto the dock. She went and looked out over the lake. Some kids had only just woken up, climbing out of their tents and boats.

It would take some time to get people on her side. But she was sure she could do it.

It was then that she saw him. Caine. He was with someone else...was it Toto?

He was staring at her. She stared back, not sure if she was imagining it. But it was definitely him. Then he looked at the forest meaningfully, and walked towards the trees.

So he wanted to talk.

Did he know? Did Taylor tell him? She hoped not. She wondered whether he would hurt her. He had threatened to do it before.

She went back inside, where it was safer.

Diana didn't want to go. But she knew from experience that it was always better to go to Caine rather than him searching you out.

So she took her gun and headed towards the forest.