Sorry for the long wait, but I've been incredibly busy lately. I hope you guys enjoy this one.

The Great Love

Part One (Continued)

XIII.

i'm capsized, staring on the edge of safe

A hand nudges Ashley's shoulder. She grunts sleepily and turns over.

"C'mon, get up! We gotta go!" The urgency in Madison's voice wakes Ashley instantly; she sits up suddenly, head almost colliding with Madison's face. As she reaches for her gun, Madison yells for her to stop. "Hey, it's not emergency time, stop trying to shoot things!"

"Then what the fuck is wrong with you?" Ashley collapsed back on the blankets, throwing an arm over her face.

"If we hurry, we can make it today!" Madison squealed. It was then that Ashley noticed Spencer wasn't beside her. She searched the empty space next to her with a hand.

"Jesus, Mads. You need to take a chill pill…or ten. Where's Spencer?"

"Right here." Ashley removed her arm and sat up, seeing Spencer standing a few feet away with a sheepish smile. "Did you have any part in this?"

Spencer shrugged, "She was unstoppable." Ashley groaned and closed her eyes.

--

An hour later, after Madison physically removed Ashley from the blankets, they were heading toward the town at the fastest pace Madison could get the still-sleepy Ashley to go. Spencer walked beside Ashley, with their hands entwined.

"So, what's this town like?"

"Well, it was started just after the war, for survivors. They built it only a few miles away from the New Regime, protected by the forest. To this day, few outside of the town itself even know it exists," Madison says.

"What's it called?"

"La Lumière. The light," she explains at Spencer's confused look.

"Sounds nice."

"It will be," Ashley sighs happily, "like heaven." Spencer looks away, shifting the pack she carried over her shoulder.

--

Night falls just before they arrive, the stars winking at them as they walk carefully.

"We're almost there," Ashley says, holding Spencer tightly to her to make sure she stays safe in the dark.

"I can see lights, they must have some fires going," Madison comments. Ashley nods, eyes narrowing at the brightness of the light coming from over the hill. As they climb, Ashley fingers tighten almost imperceptibly. Spencer notices and squeezes the hand holding hers. Ashley looks over to her and she can see her wide smile even in the dark.

She sees the smile slip away just as clearly.

Spencer sees what's happening in Ashley's reaction – sees the widened eyes, the slack jaw, the tightened muscles and almost bone-crushing grip on her hand. Then she sees what's happening for herself, and she doesn't know how to react.

The town is burning. They stand on a hill overlooking the blazing buildings and watch as troops swarm in and out of the streets and alleys, townspeople running away in terror. They watch as one soldier guns down a family running for their lives.

Before either girl can react, Madison is running down the hill. Ashley yells after her, but she doesn't stop. She makes it halfway down before Ashley sprints after her, leaving Spencer on the hill to see everything happen through the trees. She stands in the same spot and watches as Ashley catches Madison just on the edge of town, yanking her back and grabbing her arms to keep her from running again. Spencer can hear their screams, but can't make out what their saying, only see the rage in Madison's face and the urgency in Ashley's, illuminated by the roaring fire.

Spencer also sees what happens next, in a quick succession of events, no matter how much she wants to just close her eyes. Soldiers are bearing down on the two girls arguing just outside the blaze, but they don't notice, locked in their heated argument. Blue eyes fill with tears as she hears the gunshot, sees a hole rip open in Madison's chest, sees the blood as it glows, it shines, in the firelight.

Then Madison is collapsing to the ground and the guns turn, trained on a stunned Ashley, and Spencer can't stay still anymore. She runs as fast as she can, darting through the trees, and she's sure she won't make it in time, sure she'll see Ashley die just as Madison did. She screams as loud as she can, planting herself in between Ashley and the group of armed men in front of her. Her eyes are wild as she clutches the girl's arms behind her.

She hears a whisper from Ashley. "Just let them do it, Spencer."

"What?" She turns, taking Ashley's face in her hands, making her look into her eyes. "No, I won't let you die Ashley!"

"Why not?" Ashley's voice is broken – she's done, through with the world if it means she gets to see her family again.

"Because I love you."

Ashley shakes her head sadly, "I'm not sure that's enough, Spencer."

Before Spencer can reply, she hears the oddly familiar voice of one of the soldiers. "Spencer Carlin?" The blonde stiffens and lets her hands drop as Ashley looks on, confused and hurting. Spencer turns slowly, warily. The soldier at the front rips off his mask, revealing a boy, sweaty and messy haired. Ashley's fists clench and she grits her teeth.

He smiles, seemingly oblivious to the severity of the situation. "I sure never thought I'd see you again."

"Aiden?" Spencer goes to step forward, thoughtless, but she catches herself, backing away, into Ashley, instead.

"Yeah," his grin widens and he looks down at his black uniform, "I guess I stepped up in the world a bit, huh?" Spencer nods, dumbfounded. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I--," she goes to reply, but Ashley's husky voice cuts her off.

"She's here with me." Aiden looks to the curly-haired girl with surprise, evidently having forgotten she was there. The gun in his hands rises ever so slightly.

"Who are you?"

"Ashley Davies. Who are you?"

He ignores her question. "Davies? Haven't heard that name in a long time." A twisted grin spreads his mouth. "Family still dead?"

Ashley lunges, fists clenched so tight her fingers hurt, but Spencer catches her, dragging her back forcefully with a "don't". The brunette mutteres "bastard" and sinks back, fists still tight.

"So, are you comin' home? I bet Mr. Carlin would be very happy to see you. I just gotta finish up with this trash," he gestures to the burning town as a scream pierces the night air. "Then I can escort you home, if you want." Ashley can feel blood leaking through her fingers.

"Home?" she growls out. Spencer turns to Ashley, blue eyes pleading to hers.

"Ashley, I--," and then, it clicks in Ashley's brain. Carlin. The New Regime. She laughs hollowly, stepping back.

"I can't believe this."

"Just l-let me expla--,"

"No! Fuck that! Jesus, Spencer, you killed my family!" She brings her hands to her head, clenching tightly before letting them drop to her sides. A smear of blood is left on her forehead. "I can't….I have no one now." Tears threaten to spill from her chocolate eyes, but she sets her jaw, back straight. "Not even you." Spencer doesn't contain the tears leaking from her eyes, allowing them to trail down her cheeks.

"I love you, Ashley." But she ignores Spencer, looking past her, at the boy who murdered everyone she loved. He raises his gun with a smirk, aiming directly at Ashley. "No!" Spencer screams, stepping in front of the other girl fully. "Just let her live and… I'll come home." He shrugs, indicating for the men behind him to grab the girl. Ashley goes without a struggle, eyes dead and dry.

Spencer collapses with a strangled sob and Aiden catches her, picking her up with ease. She buries herself into his chest, wishing for cinnamon and warmth and curly hair and strong arms and Ashley.

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