Sorry about the 3 month wait I was going to work on this but things happened though now I can update two maybe three chapters.
I really hope you guys like these next chapters because I sure am proud of them.
Also to give you guys more to read I may cut some of the longer chapters into smaller ones to update a little more often.
February flew by, and March was slowly coming to close. The spring sun warmed up not only the earth but everyone's spirits. Many of the patients were healed and ready to help rebuild some much needed houses in town.
Occasionally we would get a caravan of people fleeing up north away from the battles down south. With them came news of the war.
Expansionists now controlled a majority of the west coast, while the Philosophers grew stronger day by day here in the east. Planes from other countries had stopped flying here, since both of the parties now had control of the sky. The south, mostly Texas had become the battle field between the parties. There were even rumors of Texans raising a resistance, mostly just to protect their homes and families, but this rumor; well more like hope was killed the moment Texas was confirmed to be under Expansionist rule.
The state held the military bases, the air force bases and the soldiers. Everyone feared that the Expansionists would win and as Ingrid said.
"They're crazy sons of bitches. Once they have America, they will strive for the world."
"For the world?" I almost laughed, "They can't go up against all those armies."
"Oh but they will," she hissed and glared at the sky. "They have soldiers that are loyal like a pack of dogs. This is their dream for a world order and they will make it a reality and when they defeat the Philosophers, they will have the brainiacs and the weapons to take the world out."
Then she kicked stone, sending that rock a good ten feet into the air and walked away.
I didn't touch on the subject with Ingrid anymore, mostly for the fear she would replace the rock for me. The battles were farther from us now, meaning we finally got quiet nights but truthfully the silence was just as frightening.
The adults had surprisingly voted to let Jack stay, Ingrid said that if they had kicked him to the curb, they would have to do the same for the next soldier. That next soldier could end up being one of their children so it was precautionary for the most part.
"Careful now, don't over work yourself." Connor muttered as he and I helped Jack sit up on his bed. With his wounds fully healed, Connor gave the okay for Jack to walk around.
Jack wobbled on his legs as he rose, his arm were pressing hard into my shoulder as he stood using me for support while Connor hovered closely by. "Not bad," Connor applauded Jack as he kept taking little steps. "Just take a few steps every day and you will be able to walk on your own in no time!" Connor grinned.
Jack smiled softly, squeezing my shoulder, instructing me to turn back around and sit him back on his bed.
"That's great and all but it will still be hard to get around when I can only see out of one eye," he sighed deeply his smile melting away.
"That's why I will be appointing Ingrid to help you, at least till you can manage on your own," Connor waved off the concern. "Tyson will you go find Ingrid for me? I think she was outside helping with the repairs to the roof."
"Sure thing!" I saluted playfully and jogged outside.
"He wants me to do what?" Ingrid skeptically asked climbing down from the ladder.
"He wants you to help get Jack get used to getting around with only one eye," I explained kicking a rock down the hill.
"I got enough to deal with, and now he wants me to babysit a grown ass man." Ingrid grumbled.
"I could always tell him you're too busy," I shrugged, "I'm sure someone else could do it,"
"No, everyone else just is just as busy as me, except you of course," Ingrid raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't happen to be hiding from him would you?" she teased.
"No!" I snapped while Ingrid smirked.
"It's good thinking actually," she seemed to tell herself. "If you spend too much time with him, he could find out who you are. We also can't put it past anyone here not to turn you in if they find out you're the girl both parties are after."
We both stayed quiet for a few minutes till Ingrid finally said. "But we don't want to bring any unwanted attention to us. Like my father always said, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Be around Jack as often as you can, just to play it safe," I nodded. "And if he tries anything, just call me and I'll handle him."
I beamed, "Okay." The atmosphere was slowly becoming brighter. All we needed was a little more money squirreled away and Ingrid and I would be on our way.
"I think it's time to turn in for the night," The leader of our repair group groaned stretching and popping his back. I had been placed onto the barrier crew for about a week now. Together we had been working on a large wall made of logs and brambles along with any other debris we didn't have a need for. It was being made as another defense against any soldiers who may stumble upon the town.
For the past week things had been quiet at nights and during the days. While some people found peace with the silence, others, including myself and Ingrid, were more fearful than ever before.
"You did a good job today kiddo," many of them guys clapped my back as we all left to go back to our beds. I was placed here because it was found out I was very strong. Alfred said it was because he was helping.
Slowly Alfred and I were starting to become good friends. If I became to worn out he would take control of my body allowing me to sleep for a while. I also learned more about him. He was a very energetic guy, always looking for the brighter side of things, though he never answered my questions about who he was before I met him. He only told me some other time.
I fell behind the other guys without realizing, the sun now completely set and the moon coming over the tree tops. Lanterns lit the path back to town, the tall trees casting creepy shadows as I walked.
'Behind you!' Alfred shouted, my body moved on its own grabbing the pocket knife in my jeans the switchblade springing forth glinting menacingly in the lamplight.
"Whoa easy. I'm a Friend," ugh that cocky smirk, how I hated it.
Jack was standing mere centimeters from the blade of my knife which was near his neck. His one good hand was held up in surrender his mouth in a small grin.
Jack had taken a liking to following me around the town, when I went back to the gym to sleep he was there waiting. I ignored him of course, tolerating him for a good while, though now it was getting just plain weird.
I just glared at him and re pocketed my knife and kept walking not glancing back.
"Hey hold on!" Jack called out, I could here him stumbling to catch up. A few moments later a loud crash sounded behind me followed by a series of groans. I sighed contemplating if I should turn around or not. My niceness won and I turned back around seeing Jack had fallen, he still wasn't used to walking yet.
"Your hopeless," I scoffed squatting down in front of him as he rubbed his arm stump. He stayed silent as I said this,the only sound was his shuffling as he sat down on his bottom. "Why do you follow me?" I finally asked breaking the silence.
"I'm not that good at making friends," Jack admitted quietly.
"You want to be friends?" I was shocked to say that. "And you thought the best way to do that was to almost stalk me?" Jack hung his head lower as I scolded him.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, it's just you feel nice," he proclaimed.
"I feel nice?" I cocked a brow.
He flushed, "no, I mean yeah but," he groaned. "To me, I don't know how to explain it; I just feel more . . . at ease with you."
I sighed; he must be experiencing the feeling of me being a nation. I still called it 'the feeling' because truthfully I didn't even know how to explain it, and Alfred always dodges the question whenever I bring it up.
I crossed my arms, "don't you have Ingrid to be you're companion?"
Jack flinched slightly, "I know you two are friends but I don't trust her."
"You don't trust her?" I narrowed my eyes at him, "No offense but out of this entire town no one trusts you."
"You think I don't know that," he hissed as he looked away. "I see how they look at me, how they whisper behind my back." He snorted bitterly, "A part of me doesn't blame you. I'm the big scary Philosopher, here to take your men, women and children and force them into our army."
He was clearly joking but it wasn't funny. Everything he said was really happening. "You're not funny."
He sighed, "I know." He looked back up to me, "I just can't be around her. There's something off with her, she's hiding something."
Before I could question this farther, an annoyed voice cried out.
"Jack! Where are you?! Goddammit, I take my eyes off you for one minute and you're-" Ingrid stepped out onto the path and snapped her head around to us. Her confused look of us being together quickly dissolved into pissed off expression. She struts forward, "So this is where you've been hiding. Should have known, you follow Tyson around like a love sick puppy dog. Sorry to disappoint you Jack but Tyson doesn't bat for your team."
My brows rose at the assumption that Jack might be gay.
"I'm not gay," Jack hissed.
"Oh, so you're a homophobe then?" She shakes her head, "in this day and age, what a shame."
"I'm not a homophobe!"
She smirked slyly, "Then stop acting like one."
"I'm not!"
I covered my mouth to hide my smile, they were arguing like little kids. "Aw, you two are so cute when you flirt," I grinned evilly.
Both Ingrid and Jack glared, "not in this lifetime," Ingrid exclaimed.
"Agreed," Jack proclaimed.
The redhead sighed and pulled Jack to his one remaining foot. "Start walking, well as much as you can."
Jack fixed his crutches under his armpits, "you know what. You're a real bitch."
"Thank you, I try." She smiled sweetly and gave him a kick in the ass. "Let's go, you need to be in bed."
He cursed under his breath as he waddled away. After he was a good five feet away, Ingrid turned to me, "what did he tell you?"
"Uh," I stuttered nervously, "he says that he doesn't trust you."
She snorted, "Good, I don't trust him."
I should have left it be but I couldn't ignore what Jack said about Ingrid. For a small part of me actually had the same feeling that this mysterious redhead was not being totally honest with me. I've let this slide for the simple fact that she has kept me out of trouble, but I still couldn't figure her out.
I had no idea who Ingrid Bay really was.
"He also says you're hiding something," I said this without thinking.
She snapped her head up, her pale blue eyes blazed with a rage I've never seen before. I flinched and she relaxed, slightly.
"I have secrets. That's true. But all you need to know is that these secrets have nothing to do with you. Also don't forget you're hiding something to,"
She said nothing else as she turned her back to me and followed Jack down the path.
I did nothing but stare after her, feeling even more confused and irritated than before. Confused over Ingrid's actions and irritated that I allowed Jack to mess with my head.
'That look,' Alfred sighed sadly, 'I've seen that look before.'
'What look?' I asked.
'The eyes, they say it all. Her eyes carry the same cold steel of a soldier.' Alfred didn't sound like himself, he spoke with such pain that it caused a lump to form in my throat. 'She has seen battle, she has lost allies and she has killed.'
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