We stop to camp an hour before dusk and while he collects firewood, I quickly take a peek at the book I had found. It's markings seem ancient and unlike any other markings I have seen, but I comprehend their meaning. An endless list of names appear. I go through hundreds of them before brushing over the delicate gold lettering. The name's are in alphabetical order, so I go to search for names in the "W" section.

James Vyle

Barnaby Walter

Yancy Warbler

Paul Wesley

Jeremiah Wesley

Jude Wesley

"Did you know that the spruce tree is the most common tree in Canada?" Snapping shut the small book, I swing my head to look behind me. No one is there. Mr. Travis calls out again. "Miss Sutton?"

"Y-yes?" He is far enough away and covered by brush. It is not likely he has seen the book, so I slip it back into it's previous hiding spot to be certain. "What was that?"

"I asked you," twigs snap and crack beneath his feet as he marches into camp, arm full of firewood and kindling, "if you knew that the spruce tree is the most common in Canada."

I blink up at him, dazed by his warm, cinnamon roll smile. "How interesting." Of all the things to respond with. I want slap my palm agains my face for such stupidity. The circle of rocks is set, and I focus on their round and jagged edges instead. All while heat blossoms from my nose to my cheeks.

Travis smiles to himself and kneels by the circle. Steady, calloused hands work with ease to stand the large branches up against one another. Close enough to trap in the heat, but wide enough to allow airflow. I clear my arid throat, anxious for water, before sipping from the canteen.

"So, Miss Sutton..." My annoying companion is less annoying now as his tone is nothing but gentle and kind, and half-sparkling with curiosity. Why does he have to look at me like that? It only reminds me of Nathan. He always has that expression. At least around me. He probably doesn't think I notice. Ever since he confessed to loving me, I remember things more clearly. Little seconds of hidden interest all this time. I wish I had never allowed fear to have such a foothold in my life. "Are you courting anyone?"

I expell a small breath I didn't know I had been holding, so caught up in my thoughts of Nate. I hug my knees, pants wrinkled at the knees. But now I'm fully engaged with the conversation at hand. "What exactly has Nath- Mr. Grant told you about me?"

"He briefly explained your situation, what you have gone through." His smile falters once he sees my expression. How much does this man know about me? "Only for the purpose of better performance of my duties, of course. Nothing more."

I nod, brows furrowed, "I see."

"So, are you? Courting anyone?"

I don't exactly know how to answer this. No, I am not, but I might? I don't know. Will Nathan reject me now that I have changed my mind? Why does Mr. Travis need to know? "Not exactly."

He chuckles and says, "Complicated?"

"Very." He remains silent, jaw slightly clenched in effort to light the fire. A spark from the flint and steel finally catches on some dry leaves, producing the most wistful scent.

"I like to do things the old-fashioned way. I have matches, but I like to save them for when I really need them." Travis adds more twigs and kindling to the top. And we now have a perfect fire. Fire. I blink back the tears of the past, unwilling to let them attack me again.

"When was the last time you used one?"

"Maybe a year ago?"

I laugh, unable to believe he saves them for that long. "Then your day to use them will never happen."

"I disagree. Mock my words now, ma'am, they will come in handy. It can be the difference between life and death in my line of work sometimes." Travis removes his hat, hair creased where the fabric pressed against it. He is a very handsome young man with a strong jaw and a long neck. Cannot be more than nine years older than me.

"How did you get into this line of work?"

"Nothing fancy. My dad served his duty, and I desired to do the same. My family might have wanted it more than I at the time, but I was a troublemaker back then. Always got myself into trouble."

"And what is wrong with that? You grew up and learned what your values are as a man. I admire your humility to change."

"No one has ever said that to me." His dark gray eyes pierce into my own, a softness of gratitude within them. Suddenly I suspect that he might see more in me than just a mutual friend of Constable Grant. I cannot explain how I know this. Maybe it is women's intuition? "Thank you, Miss Sutton."

I might laugh awkwardly if I'm not careful. If my women's intuition is so strong, why didn't it tell me that Nate was interested before? "G-good night." I stutter, shuffling with my bedroll and laying down to sleep for the night. I am not sure what do do with the possibility of Mr. Travis's interest, but I am going to keep quiet until it is confirmed. I'll cross that bridge when it comes I guess.

The morning brings forth a cerise sunrise, painting the trees with a Heavenly glow. And so do all the other sunrises for the next week. We travel through town upon town, asking around for sight of the men anywhere. Which seems to have placed them in the westward direction. I am feasting on a freshly bought apple near a produce stall, when my hand slips down in paralysis. I look like a pig roasted on a spit. I yank the fruit lodged in my teeth and duck behind the corner of the mercantile building behind the stall. Sol, with her radiant blonde hair shimmering in the afternoon sun, is haggling with with the store owner over a box of food supplies.

I can't make out what they are saying, but the store owner does not look pleased. A figure pauses behind me, I know it is Mr. Travis. "Miss. Sutton, what are you doing?"

"Shhh! Are you crazy?" I wisper to him, but it is too late, Sol sees us, and bolts into the oposite direction. "Be careful! She's dangerous! Now try to catch her!"

I run after my once best friend, dying inside at the thought of her being a part of Jude's twisted intentions. I keep up with her at first until she quickly scales up a three story building like a tarantula. I run around, hoping to meet her on the other side, but all she ever does is pounce atop to the next roof's surface, a long thin pole in her hand used as some sort of weapon. I keep a steady gait, applying my knowledge experience with jogging and running to keep up with her. I know I'm gonna lose her soon if I don't come up with a plan fast, and against my will, my body slows down to a halt.

"Ahh!!" I scream as my body lifts up into the air. Arms swing tight around my waist. Mr. Travis has helped me mount a horse. His horse. Great. Now I will have to search for Nelly and explain to Lucas why she didn't return home with me. I already forsee this day as not going according to plan. Mr. Travis kicks the horse into a gallop. And sure enough, there is Sol, leaning onto her staff to dodge a pile of crates, using their hight to her advantage. The hiss of the train, whistles, and the announcement of "All aboard!" rings in my ears. Steam billows and surrounds Sol in an instant, her dark clothing blending into the cloud. The horse stops, and we scrape through the area for any sight of Sol. On instinct, I flee Mr. Travis's embrace and slip off the horse. I run straight for the train, love pounding through my veins. Sol cannot get away! I need to find Nathan! I need to find my brother! The pistons pull the wheels, their first movements pressed into the rails. Desperate, I race with the train, heaving with breath as I catch a hold of the last car. Mr. Travis on horseback behind me, he jumps on at the final possible second.

I gasp for air, while he glares at me, hands on his hips. "Miss Sutton, why are we on this train?"

"Because!" I exhale loudly, blood rushing to my face. "I saw her. She is in a storage car."

"Why are we chasing her?!"

"Because!" I lose my patience with the man, pain flooding into my voice. "I need to know why she betrayed me!"

"What?"

"She betrayed us." I swallow my tears back into the well from whence they came, heavy with the monstrous lies Sol must have been telling me all this time. Did she know about Jude's plan from the beginning? Did she lure me into that bathroom ritual because she was a part of it? "She attacked Mr. Avery, and helped Jude Wesley escape" I cannot tell the man he is my brother. I am ashamed to.

"So, that was Miss Troy. The one that Constable Grant informed me of. Yes, we need to apprehend her immediately." Travis places a hand on my shoulder, eyes tender with worry as he looks me over from head to foot to ensure there is no damage or injury. "Alright, let's go find her."

I ignore the blush spreading across my whole body. Maybe I should just tell him I am in love with someone else?

When we pass the conductor, Mr. Travis informs him of our reason for being on the train. The conductor nods and says the storage compartments are three cars down. "Thank you," I say.

When we reach the car, Travis climbs inside, while I glimpse at the ladder. I have a feeling she is up on the roof of the car. Nice. So I climb up when Travis is not looking. The rungs are rough, collecting the sweat pooling in my palm. And sure enough, she sits on top of the train car as if in meditation, glaring at me."What do you want, Nyrah?"

"I-" my feet threaten to slip back down the ladder, but I somehow manage to climb up the rest of the way after a few laboring seconds by some miracle. The jostling carriage is not as bad as I thought it would be and I join in her sitting in the center with a large sigh. Anger bleeds back in my heart, bitter and alarmed because of my friend. "Why did you do it?"

"I can't answer that."

"Sol!"

"Nyrah."

"Sol, please, let me help you."

"No! I take full responsibility! Don't you get it? It was all me! I shot your boyfriend. I was the one who set fire to your house! I was the one who helped Jude escape...and I was the one who gave the child to Jude Wesley." Her voice shatters at the end, as if broken and utterly destroyed. "Nyrah, I'm so sorry."All the strength in my body is knocked out, the ice as a barrier from the frigid wintery lake has now splintered. My head is about to dip under the bone-freezing surface, when a new emotion rises up. Rage. Beyond anger. Beyond restraint. Pure rage. All of my fears are confirmed. I was a fool to think she held a sliver of innocence. Standing to my feet, I kick her on the side of her head. If this friendship will be obliterated, I am going to make sure it is destroyed properly. Her chin jerks over until her face scrapes the metal and blood trickles down from her cheek."Nyrah, please, I don't want to kill you, but I will if I must."

I ignore her and lunge for her again, a little rusty since the last time I used any kind of martial arts. But the majority is instinctual and like a flowing river. I barely feel any pain from the burns on my hands and feet. She blocks me, twisting an arm behind my back, and I escape out of it by knocking her down by her feet. She is really good. When I throw anything at her, she dodges effortlessly. "Look, I have trained with the Green Arrow himself."

"Oliver Queen!" I shout before wincing, tears in my eyes and the wind knocked out of me when she tosses a kick near my abdomen.

"Yes!" She breathes heavier than before. "Now, are you going to fulfill what Jude wants of you?"

"He can't have my family!" I scream, eyes blinded by tears, blood dripping from my mouth and bruises on my neck.Sol chokes, tears in her own eyes. "Then you leave me no choice." She grips onto the holster on her hip, knocking me down, sitting on top of me to ensure I don't thrash around. A gun is pressed to my head. "Nyrah, please! Don't make me do this!"

"I am not forcing you to do anything. You chose to do it!"

"No...I didn't." I see her. My friend. Not the one who betrayed me, but the one who loves lipstick, comedy shows, and butter-drenched popcorn.

"Let her go! Let go of her right now!" Sol ignores the man's voice, her index finger ready to press on the trigger. The expression of desperation in her eyes is abruptly replaced with a wild surprise.

BANG!

"No!" I scream for my friend as she falls sideways. "Sol!" I look up and there is Mr. Travis, smoke trailing from the barrel of his gun. I am just in time to notice my friend's body rolling off of the train. "No!" I can't catch her in time, and her limp carcass flies off of the train into a deep gully below. The image of her twisted form upon the blood-stained rocks sinks in slowly and forever. I can't do this anymore. I grunt, unable to sob, unable to scream. It was my fault. If I hadn't wanted revenge, she would still be here. My friend wouldn't be dead! I press my forehead against the metal below, silent tears raining down, before the trickle turns into a roar. Primal and deep from my chest burns the roar of grief. I toss Sol's gun off from the shuddering train, shouting "No" over and over again. It is the only word on my lips that makes sense. Hands grab at me from behind, and I rage against the comforting touch, until my body melts, unable to fight anymore. Mr. Travis kisses the top of my head, holding me until my tears are spent.

"Miss. Sutton...she was about to shoot you. I had to do something." I nod, knowing that he wasn't wrong. I probably would have made the same decision if I had been in his situation. But the sharp ache in my chest is still clings to anger. At myself. At Mr. Travis. At everything.