Epilogue: The first lead
"So where are we going tour guide?" Casey drawled, frowning at the map.
Cecilia's bright blue eyes held a fierce look of determination as she poured over the map. They were sitting in a Dunkin Donuts in Lakelyn, Pa. it was seven a.m. in the dinky little town they'd come to. Casey knew that less than an hour north was his home and his mother. They were sitting at a corner table in the back nursing their coffees and planning their next move. He picked at his coffee muffin waiting for Cecilia to come back to planet earth.
"She wasn't at the old library, she wasn't by the lake, so she's certainly in her home territory." Cecilia mused.
"Meaning?" Casey inquired, eyebrow raised.
Cecilia pulled out a different map from her bag and spread it out.
"Meaning she's gone home for lack of a better word. I say we check the hunting cabin next. Our father only uses it for the months of November and part of December. We're at the beginning of June so it's a good shot." Cecilia explained.
She double checked her Yankees baseball cap was still in place and slid her sunglasses back on.
"Let's move Ross." She decided, cleaning up her debris. Casey secured his Yankees baseball cap on and followed her out.
Casey gripped sides of his seat as the truck rocked back and forth on its journey up a worn path. The mad woman driving was Cecilia who he completely trusted but he wasn't sure this was a drivable road they were on.
Actually, he wasn't sure it was even a road for that fact. The road peaked at a clearing in the woods, tall grass, and big rocks. She slammed on the brakes so hard he braced himself so he didn't go through the windshield.
"Time to get out pretty boy. We got a lot more ground to cover by foot." Cecilia mischievously grinned.
"Oh, now you decided to stop driving? I'm pretty sure the road ended twenty minutes ago." Casey quipped.
"Oh come on. It's just an old logging path. Hasn't been used as long as I've been gone probably." Cecilia shrugged.
Casey laughed and climbed out. "Ya know we could always fly up." He wiggled his black eyebrows at her.
"We need to keep a low profile so no legacies," Cecilia smirked.
Casey let out a low moan and grabbed his pack from the back of the truck.
"Think of this as an adventure Casey. This is my old stomping grounds and Hope's home territory." Cecilia teased, grabbing her pack out of the back.
"Emma is too young to remember isn't she?" Casey inquired.
"Emma was barely three when we left." Cecilia sighed. Her blue eyes seemed to darken as her face took on a worn look.
"So who says they'd be at this hunting cabin?" Casey inquired.
"Before we start anything put this around your ankles." Cecilia tossed him a small bottle.
"Tea tree oil?" He questioned, a little confused why he needed to smell like a candle.
"It's a great tick deterrent," Cecilia answered, tying her dark brown hair back. Casey followed his instructions and tossed the bottle back at her.
"You have all your stuff?" Cecilia questioned.
"Yes, ma'am." Casey mock saluted.
"Come on. We still got a lot of ground to cover." Cecilia replied, heading up an overgrown path. "What's so special about this cabin?" Casey inquired, catching up with her long strides.
"The cabin is so secluded and nestled in the woods only my family would be able to find it," Cecilia answered.
"How do you know she'd be in this area?" Casey questioned.
"Because she is a brilliant little girl. This is her home territory and knows it like the back of her hand. Even if EG got whiff of them she could give them a run for their money because they don't know the area. The closest EG centers are Hancock and Millfield. Both are half an hour away." Cecilia explained.
"But what if they're in a group? Same logic apply?" Casey asked.
"Let's worry about finding them first." Cecilia huffed, marching forward. Casey sighed and followed her through the woods.
He underestimated how far Cecilia was taking him into the woods. The sun was high in the sky now and they were still hiking uphill to some cabin. They passed a tree with four green ribbons tied to it. Followed shortly by a sign saying 'all trespassers will be shot on sight ' nailed to a giant oak tree. Cecilia seemed to smile at there markers and pick up the pace.
"We're almost there," Cecilia told him.
He snorted as they passed a sign saying 'beware rabid dogs'. Cecilia held up a hand and climbed up the next hill. She flattened herself to the ground as she peaked over to crest. She already knew the small clearing would have a worn looking log cabin nestled in the middle but what she saw almost caused her to lose her balance. All sorts of ATVs and people were milling about. She squinted to make out any details and froze in place.
They all wore the EG emblem on their uniforms. EG officials had found the cabin.
She silently slipped back down to Casey.
"The cabin has been compromised." She whispered to Casey.
She led him down the hill and through the woods. They weren't returning the way they came but heading deeper into the woods Casey noted. After what seemed like forever Cecilia stopped. She sat down on a large outcropping of rock along a small crick.
"If the cabins been compromised she would've headed deeper into the woods then. We should head uphill, follow the crick up to Old House road. She would've headed northeast towards Lakewood." Cecilia explained.
"Why Lakewood? Another cabin there?" Casey quipped. Cecilia shot him an icy glare.
"Lake's abandoned farm. In the middle of absolutely nowhere with three barns in various states of decay, and a huge farmhouse. It's only half a days walk from here. Probably reach it by dusk if we get moving." Cecilia spoke, getting up and heading uphill. Casey sighed and trudged uphill after her. He never wanted to know this much about the area south of his home.
After a long time walking country roads, Casey finally saw what Cecilia was talking about. There were three big abandoned barns and a large farmhouse. There were a couple of deer drinking by the pond in the field below. An old sickly tree hung by the farmhouse full of crows. As they approached the farmhouse the crows took flight. They heard noise from the farmhouse.
"I'd say they're in the farmhouse," Casey remarked. Cecilia took off leaping over the deteriorating fence and up the overgrown driveway. Casey followed her onto the rotting porch and through the creaky front door. They entered a hallway with cracked stone flooring and chipping white paint.
Casey followed Cecilia through a decrepit living room with its threadbare furniture and a dated kitchen covered in dust. Another noise pierced the air except now it could be identified as a scream in agony.
They proceeded onto a landing with the railing in pieces and a rotting stairwell. Down in the living room though we're a group of teenagers. But the screams came from further down the walkway, echoing from another room. Cecilia turned and followed the screams.
They entered a bedroom with peeling wallpaper and faded carpet. On the floor were a few more teenagers. One girl looked like a younger version of Cecilia, she knelt on the floor next to another teenage girl. This one seemed older than the other girl but it was hard to tell with her features so strained. Her tanned skin and dark hair were slick with sweat. She was laying with her legs spread apart. She was propped up by what looked like worn pillows. Another younger girl was on her other side holding her hand. A fourth girl with a black braid sat in front of her where the girl's legs were spread apart.
"Come on Sienna! Give me another big push!" The black haired girl encouraged.
The Indian girl let out another scream. Casey's brain finally registered people. The girl screaming was Sienna Chenoa. She came to them pregnant eight months ago. The girl on her right was Hope, the girl on her left was Cynthia and the girl helping her deliver was Violet.
"I see the head! Push!" Violet commanded.
Casey looked at Cecilia who was watching intently. He didn't know if he should leave them alone because this was a female thing but his feet stayed planted.
"The head is out! Give me another big push," Violet exclaimed. Finally, a different noise filled the room. The cry of a baby. Violet scooped up a small squirming thing and rushed it out of the room. Cynthia showed them all out as Hope moved to place her hands on Sienna.
Cecilia followed Violet into another room. Casey stood out in the hallway awkwardly. Cecilia and Violet both came out. Cecilia was cradling the small infant.
"Meet the newest addition to the camp, Casey." Cecilia smiled.
"We need to tell Riley to up the number to two hundred and thirty-nine." Casey chuckled, grinning at the small bundle of life.
Violet led them back into the bedroom where they'd left Sienna. As they entered Hope looked up at them with sorrowful blue eyes.
"I did all I could but there was nothing I could do. I felt her life slip right my fingers. She never even knew the gender."
Violet walked out and came back carrying a sheet.
"Rest In peace Sienna." She sighed, laying the sheet over her body.
"Who's the father?" Cecilia asked as the baby let out a wail. It was like the child could sense the loss of its mother.
"Unknown." Cynthia sighed.
"It's that girl you always wanted Sienna. We'll take good care of her for you." Violet spoke to Sienna's body.
"What should we name her?" Hope softly questioned.
"Kimi, Kimi Chenoa. After her aunt." Cecilia announced.
"Her aunt was killed shortly after we fled camp." Cynthia sighed.
"Let's go tell the others," Violet suggested.
They all filed out and onto the landing. One by one they picked their way down the creaky stairs down to the others.
"Sienna Chenoa has passed away but we will keep her alive in our memory." Cecilia started. Everyone fell silent and turned to face them.
"She is survived by her daughter Kimi Chenoa." Cecilia continued. "I know it's been hard since the camp separated, it's been hard for us too. We've also experienced loss. But we have a new safe house for all you. We are not out of this fight. EG believes they have us on the run but that's not the case. We will regroup and we will make them regret the day they attacked us. Kimi here is proof that we need to fight this battle to the bitter end so she will never have to. So that she and others like her will grow up safe and with more opportunities than any of us ever had. We will deliver a blow to EG just like they've dealt us a blow. But first, we must reunite and recover. We may have fewer people than before but we will still be stronger than ever when we finally strike back. We will not stay down forever." Cecilia announced.
She finally locked eyes on the boy she'd been looking for. Warm brown eyes, reddish brown messy curls, caramel colored skin, and a fiercely determined look.
"Glad to see you're still with us Cade." Cecilia smiled.
"Glad to still be here. When are we moving out?" Cade inquired, an amused but inquisitive look on his face.
"As soon as your group is ready." Cecilia nodded.
"Give us ten," Cade replied.
"I'll start the clock now. Not a second more." Cecilia teased.
Cade rolled his eyes and laughed as he merged back into the group. Cecilia readjusted Kimi and watched the others gather up all their debris. This was only the start. Someday in the near future, they'd all be back together, well almost all of them. She sighed and looked at the newborn in her arms. They would find a way to do this. They had to do this for the next generation.