Thank you so much, all those who reviewed. I hope you like this chapter.
The Great Love
Part One (Continued)
VI.
oh trouble can't you see, you're eating my heart away and there's nothing much left for me
The discussion the night before had left an impenetrable silence in its wake. Both girls went to bed (or, what served as a sort of bed) soon after that, Ashley refusing to take the blankets once again. She heard Spencer's light snores mixing with Madison's soon after, but Ashley's sleep was fitful, thoughts of her not-so-far-away past flooding her head. Really, it had only been two years since that day.
But so much had happened in between that time and the present. After that day, Ashley ran as far as she could get, picking up food and shelter with families along the way. People affected by the War were more than happy to help a young girl in need of assistance.
She played up the charm, just in case.
She didn't have a spare moment to contemplate her vast losses and she didn't mind that fact one bit. Survival held precedence over dwelling.
Even though, she still thought of it every once in awhile, like last night, and she found that it affected her almost as much as it had the night it happened – the memories were fresh and distressing. Anger welled up as she remembered her show of vulnerability the other night. She is strong, she's Ashley Davies. Ashley Davies does not cry.
Spencer wakes a little after the sun rises, with a soft sigh and a lazy stretch. Ashley watches from her spot on the ground, arms folded behind her head. Her arms are pimpled with goosebumps; it is a cold morning.
The blonde opens her eyes slowly, sits up, and looks to the other girl blearily. They look at each other for several moments. Ashley's stare is hard and unflinching. She seems to be looking for something in Spencer's eyes, searching them closely. When Spencer looks down with a small smile, tucking a lock of unruly hair behind her ear, Ashley blinks as if coming out of a trance.
When Spencer lifted her eyes, Ashley was already standing and picking up her jacket and shaking it out to remove any dirt. The blue-eyed girl stood, too, folding her blankets carefully. As she was folding the last one, a tan hand brushed against hers, taking hold of the blanket. The two girls folded the blanket in silence. When it was finished, Ashley gave her a small smile and turned to the fire pit they had set up the night before, starting a fire to cook breakfast. Madison was still curled in a ball on the ground, snoring heavily.
Spencer decides to break the silence first, as it stretches thin with time. "About last night…"
Ashley set down the stick she was using to poke the logs with a sigh, "Let's not, Spencer. I…it happened, OK? Now it's done, and I don't need to…I don't need to talk about it."
"I just…"
"No. This is where the conversation ends. Right here." Ashley's tone was final, resolved. Spencer was almost frightened of the edge in it. She nodded and Ashley reciprocated, frown still set on her face. She resumed her work on the fire and Spencer walked over to Madison to wake her up, suddenly in need of a buffer between her and Ashley.
The other girl woke after several tries, grudgingly, and she began to help Ashley with the morning routine. Spencer stood back, once again, but, this time, Ashley offered no reassurances. She mostly ignored the blonde girl, avoiding speaking to her or even looking at her. Madison noticed the change, but, for all her brashness, she didn't comment on it.
When they set off again, Madison carried the load Spencer had previously, giving the other girl a much lighter weight. They made good time, despite Spencer's obviousness soreness from the long journey the day before, and they had traveled a great distance before settling in for the night. Ashley, still in a sullen mood, did not pull out the guitar that night, and each went to bed early after sitting in uncomfortable silence for several long minutes.
--
Ashley woke late in the night, after the fire had burned itself down and the sky had filled with stars. She couldn't figure out why she had woken for several moments, before she heard a sound. To her finely tuned ears (trained from years of running), it sounded like a shuffling of feet. She let her instincts take her, grabbing her gun in a strong grip and pushing herself up in a crouched position. She snuck over to Madison, who got the picture quickly and readied her own firearm.
Spencer was a little more of a problem. Ashley shook her gently with her gun-free hand. The blonde managed a noisy stretch and a loud "Wha?" before Ashley clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into a sitting position.
"We gotta go," Ashley hissed urgently in the blonde's ear. Madison had already gathered the essential things they needed in a pack. She was gesturing impatiently for them to go. Ashley nodded and dragged the dazed Spencer along as they headed towards the forest.
The blonde had trouble keeping up with their hurried pace, still not fully awake and not used to having to respond to a situation so quickly. Ashley's firm grip on her arm was the only thing keeping her upright. And it didn't quite do its job.
Spencer's foot caught on a branch and Ashley, not expecting the firm tug, lost her hold. The blonde went flying, letting out a loud cry that pierced the night. All the girls froze as loud footsteps could be heard heading towards them.
"Fuck," Madison hissed, panic flooding her eyes. She looked to Ashley for guidance. She stood stock still for several moments before her gaze hardened and she wrenched the blonde girl up by her arm, without care for any pain she caused the other girl.
"Hide," she whispered urgently. Madison complied and they ducked behind a group of bushes, Ashley pushing Spencer in beside them roughly.
The shrubbery was thick; Ashley could barely make out anything through the thick leaves. She caught glimpses of feet and legs as a group of men in dark uniforms, masks obscuring their faces, rush through the spot they just vacated. There are shouts and questions about their whereabouts as their boots stamp the ground, making loud noises carelessly.
Spencer makes a squeaking noise as one foot crashes down a mere foot away from their location, but Ashley clamps her hand over the other girl's hand violently once again, cutting off the sound.
The girls stay put for several minutes after the sounds fade away. Ashley's knees are becoming painful from staying in the same crouched position for so long. Spencer feels something slither past her foot, but Ashley's restricting palm stops any noise from escaping. She fidgets slightly and Ashley gives her a menacing look, making her stop abruptly.
Ashley peers around the area slowly, looking out for any remaining seekers. She stands when she doesn't find any. Spencer goes to follow, but Madison tugs her back down with a whispered "Don't!"
Ashley sets off towards their camp site at a quick pace, feet silent against the forest floor. They wait for a few minutes before Ashley returns, arms empty and expression grim. She speaks in low tones, still weary of stragglers "They destroyed everything, all our supplies." She doesn't mention it, but Madison knows the guitar is the greatest loss in Ashley's eyes. "What've we got left?" The other girl's sad look is all Ashley needs to know the answer. She had grabbed all she could, but all it consisted of was a few clothes, and some food supplies.
Ashley sits down heavily, drawing her knees up to her chest and letting her head fall onto them. "Fuck." It's all she needs to say.