It's been two days since we escaped the city. Even Uriah isn't acting like his cheery self. We have limited food left and are relying on Cara's makeshift water purifier to keep us hydrated.
"I thought something would have happened by now. I don't even think anyone has been following us." Uriah whined.
Tobias spoke over his shoulder. "We might actually be on our own for once. I call that a good thing."
We've been walking for a few hours, stopping every once in a while to rest. I don't like it when we stop, because I see the faces of my family in the clouds. I hear their voices in the wind. I am holding onto hope that Christina is safe. Alive. My first ally.
"I mean, what happened after we left? Do you think anyone else got out?" Uriah continued. I was not use to seeing him so distraught. You could hear him struggling to keep his cheery tone. No one had an answer for him. We are hungry and exhausted.
Zeke interrupts my thoughts with an urgent whisper. "Get. Down."
We all drop to the floor and hear a familiar noise in the distance. An engine. Someone was coming in a car.
"Evelyn." Tobias clenches his jaw. His gut reaction to danger is still to curse his mother. I don't correct him. I don't have to, but Cara does.
"It can't be," Cara adds in a hushed tone, "The sound is coming from the opposite direction. Listen."
"Don't want to interrupt your brainstorm session or anything ladies and gents, but maybe we should hide a little better." It falls out of my mouth before I can think about it. I am on edge.
Looking around, we don't have much option for cover. The grass is a bit shorter than me, but it is sparse and there are five of us in dark clothing. I scan the horizon and I see an escape route not too far from us. When I snap up, I am able to feel Tobias' shock and worry the second I am in the air. A couple hundred yards ahead to the left is a ditch. They needed to move quickly. I needed to move quickly. The engine was getting louder and other than the ditch and a few scattered trees and debris, we were out in the open. I turned before I jumped into the hole and saw the glint of recognition in Tobias' eyes.
"Quickly. Go."
Cara made it into the ditch just in time before we heard an engine slowly approaching. The ditch was deeper than I anticipated and Cara fell on her ankle wrong. She was struggling to quiet her breathing and grunts. Uriah covered her mouth with his hand as we heard voices just above us. Two men. The car engine cut off.
"You saw that right?" It was the voice of a young man. The sound of it would have been soothing, like silk, if it weren't for the potential danger. He saw us. He saw us. Tobias slams his eyes shut tight, waiting to be found. I grab his hand and lean into his shoulder slowly. The tension in his muscles does not release, but he opens his eyes.
"This is ridiculous. It was probably a possum. Sector 2 has been compromised, Zander. You know what that means. We've got to move quickly. No time for games. " It was a deep, gravelly voice. The contrast made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. They way he spoke was cold and robotic. It reminded me of Jeanine. Frustrated grunts. Two doors slammed and the purr of the engine disappeared soon after.
We emerged from our hiding spot without any words. Night was falling again and we needed to find shelter quickly. Over the tall grass I spot a shed about a mile out. We start walking. "They were talking about the city. You guys know that right? They're headed straight into a war." Cara's voice almost sounded shaky. Almost.
"Or the aftermath of one." Zeke rarely spoke in the past couple days, but when he did it was far from positive. We make it to the shack before dusk. Uriah has first watch and I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
I am shaken awake in the middle of the night by Tobias. I assume that it is my turn to take watch, but he hurriedly coaxes me into a standing position. He grabs my arm and we begin running. I don't ask questions. By the light of the moon I see two figures running away in the distance. The silhouettes of Zeke and Cara.
Zeke and Cara. Just Zeke and Cara.
"Tobias, where's Uriah!?"
No answer, so I stop running. Where is he?
He shoots me a stern yet urgent glare. I know it is stupid to stop, but I am not even aware of any danger besides Uriah being out of sight.
"TOBIAS"
"WE don't have time for this Tris. Just RUN. NOW!" He snaps, but I recognize the outburst is masking his fear. Real fear. This registers just as he is about to throw me onto his back. I recoil and begin to sprint away from our shelter and into the night. I hold back anger and tears, and convince myself that Uriah just had a bigger lead on Cara and Zeke. He is faster. Everyone is okay.
But even I can't convince myself any of this is true, so I focus on the run.