The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
It took a little while. But the pair was able to find the foot path that eventually led them to the road.
Bad news was the map was more ruined than they thought. They went to unravel it again and unfortunately; it came apart in Galen's hands. It was very discouraging and disappointing that it was destroyed. It also meant they would have to navigate there on their own and hope for the best.
Or do they?
One idea came to mind. Galen knew it could be risky, but it maybe the only shot he and Hanna had at getting to Akron. He knew enough that the road they were on would eventually lead to Central City. Concordia Village was only about a couple hours or so away from the city on foot and he knew that they didn't wander too far yet from Concordia.
He recalls seeing on the map before it was ruined that this road, they were on lead to both Concordia Village and Central City was several miles down this same stretch of road, the road goes straight for a few miles then veers right and goes to the city.
"What are we going to do? The map is totaled and we're back to square one on trying to find Akron." Hanna said, as they walked along the road.
Galen was silent for a moment before shifting his gaze to her.
"I know, this maybe risky. But...I think we should go to Central City and go see my parents. My father knows the way there. Perhaps he can help us. I know enough that this road does lead to and passes by Central City. We already covered one mile down it, and only have another nine miles to go before we get there. As Lario told us yesterday, Concordia is around ten miles away from the city." He explained.
Her eyes widened and she gave him an incredulous look.
"Galen, that's crazy. Sure, they think we're dead. But if we were to just go walking in there, the troopers will see us and notify the council. Then we'll be hunted all over again." Hanna points out.
"I'm well aware of that. This is why we'll do what I did with Alan last time. Wait until the cover of darkness, then sneak around the city to get to my parents. I know many back ways through it. Plus, they live pretty close to the outskirts of the city. We can circle around the city to the area they live in and go through that way. It worked very well and efficiently last time I did it with Alan when we snuck back in to find Pete when he was captured that one time." Galen further explained.
Even though he tried to assure her it will work, and they will be fine, Hanna was still quite skeptical though. Just because something worked successfully once, doesn't mean it could work just as well again. But if they were to wait until nightfall and he does know the safest ways to navigate through it, perhaps, there was a small chance they could pull it off.
"I still think it's too dangerous. But if we do wait until nightfall and you know the safest ways, I guess I'll go with it." She finally says.
"As I said, I'm aware of the risks. But I know the city very well and this includes the least busy paths that don't always have a lot of people on them. If we also wait long enough well into the night hours, most people would be inside their homes asleep anyway." He added.
Hanna could see, there was something else he wanted to say too. Maybe there was another reason why he was keen on going back to Central City.
"I can't help but feel there is more to it and possibly another reason why you would want to risk going back. What is it?" She asks.
Galen was quiet for a moment, before speaking.
"It's just, I would like to see my parents again to let them know that I am alright and still alive. I have no doubts that once the troopers reach out to the high council, word will reach my parents about my 'supposed' demise. And I can't hurt them like that. While I want everyone else there to believe me dead, because it is safer that way. I don't want that to include my parents. They have a right to know that I'm still alive and where we intend to go, so that we may live safely and in peace." He admitted.
As he explained it all to her, she understood. It definitely would've been cruel for one's parents to think their one and only child is dead. When he clearly is not. At least it would put them at ease knowing that he in fact still is alive and well.
"Ok, but we need to make sure we are extra careful while going through with this plan." Hanna replied.
He slightly tightened his hold on her hand.
"And we will be." Galen promised her.
"A ten-mile walk is roughly around three to three and a half hours. It's still quite early yet. What do you intend we do during the day hours while we wait for nightfall?" She inquired.
"We can bide our time hiding out in the woods. If memory serves me correct, there is at least one village off of this road on the way there. But I don't think we should stop at it just in case, for safety reasons seeing as it is not very far from Central City. Don't want to run any risk of being recognized or seen by any troopers passing through who can notify others of us.
As we do get a little closer to the city, I also know of plenty of safe spots we can go to out in the woods. They are places I have discovered and been to a few times before. Having found them in my youth and had often used them as hangout spots. One is by this small waterfall and lake another is a small cave a little further out and roughly a mile walk from the city if you cut through the woods to get there. Though, the more I think of it, the cave maybe our best bet over the lake. Because the lake is a little in the opposite direction." He explained.
"So, find this cave and then possibly hunker down there until nightfall?" She implied.
"Yes, it will provide us with the best cover and I'm positive no one else knows of it." He said, seemingly sure of himself.
"And is there a certain point where we leave the road to get to the cave?" Hanna asks.
"Yes, there is. Once we clear Argus Village, which is the village on the way to Central City, it is only another three miles down the road, then that is where we turn left off of the road and enter the woods and resume or trek through the foliage to get to it." Galen says.
"Does this road lead through this village you speak of or is it off of it?" She inquired.
"No, thankfully this road doesn't go straight through Argus. There is a small dirt path that branches off of the right of this road and Argus is another mile and a half down away from this road. So, we wouldn't run the risk of being seen." He said.
"Good, because I don't know about you, but I'm still quite winded and bruised from sprinting through the woods, then falling through a hole, plus, getting half beaten to death by a crazed gorilla. So, don't feel like doing anymore running for today." Hanna stated.
"Believe me, I'm right there with you. I can only hope the same and that we don't have to end up running for our lives again. We just need to remain optimistic that we won't encounter anymore gorilla troops on the road. And I like to think we won't." Galen replied.
"Still, doesn't hurt to be on guard though. Just in case we have to dive into another cluster of bushes again." She teased.
He chuckled at that, remembering there were at least a couple times in the past that they did have to do just that to avoid being seen by some of Urko's men.
What's worse is one of those times, one of the bushes he dove into, he just had to go into the one where a skunk happened to be resting. He ended up startling the small black and white creature and just like all skunks, in defense it lifted its tail and sprayed him. Galen yelped in shock and the putrid smell. His yell caught Hanna's attention, and she come over quickly, only to quickly turn away with her hands covering her mouth and coughing.
Though when she got over the initial shock of it, she started laughing at him. Then he had to endure the next few days being called 'Stinker' by her. It took several washes in a nearby river or lake to get most of the horrid stench out of his clothing and off of his body and even then, Hanna slept pretty far away from him for a while and made sure she wasn't laying downwind of him.
"If we do ever have to do it again, we can only hope you won't dive right into another skunk. Because just your luck, it may end up being a family of skunks' next time. Then you'll have to endure getting a full-on spray down by all of them." She added, in a joking manner.
"Or maybe next time, it'll be you who is the unlucky one. Then I'll have to steer clear of you, so I won't pass out or get sick and vomit." He joked back.
"Hah! Never going to happen. Because I'll be sure to look before I jump in. Or quickly pick it up and throw it your way." She teased.
"No thank you, that is one stink bomb I don't need hurled at me. I already did my fair share of that when I put a baby skunk in the classroom closet where some of the teacher's supplies are. So, when tutor Larkin opened the door, he got sprayed head on, because he awoken it and startled it." Galen said, with a mischievous grin.
"You really were a demon child in the classroom, weren't you?" Hanna implied, with an amused smirk.
"I prefer to be known as the best little prankster there was." He announced proudly.
She laughed a little at his remark and the proud look on his face.
"Why? Is calling you a little devil giving you too much credit?" She joked, between laughs.
"Just a little." Galen says as he holds up his hand with his pointer finger hovering over his thumb a little.
She just shakes her head with a small smile as they continued walking along.
They continued chatting back and forth for some time as they traveled. It wasn't very long before Galen pointed out the small road that branched off of the main road to the right that led to Argus Village.
Of course, they couldn't really see the village seeing as it was a mile and a half down through dense foliage.
Afterwards, he said it would only be another three miles until they would have to turn into the woods to go to this cave he knew of it. He told her quite a bit about it on the way. How in his younger years, he had brought an occasional book out there and went into the cave to read. His reasoning for this is because it was very peaceful and quiet compared to the bustling city which can be a little noisy at times with all the people within it.
He did also bring a couplefriends out there a few times. But over the years as they got older, his friends quit going there. Because of this he doubts any of these friends have ever returned to that quiet little hideout. All these friends were grown now and busy with their own lives and families to take the time out to do so.
Hanna asked him just how often he went to this cave. In which he replied, several times throughout the years when he was younger.
Soon, they eventually came to the spot on the road where they would have to turn off and head into the woods on the left. Galen knew it was the right spot because of the familiar large boulder right there a few into the woods and off of the road. The large rock was a good ten to twelve feet high and tapered off into a point at the top.
"I call this the triangle boulder, because of its odd triangular shape. From here, we only have to walk maybe another twenty minutes through the woods before we get to the cave." He told her.
"Ok." She replied.
Galen still held her hand as they crossed into the woods as he began to lead her the direct location of this cave.
They walked about thirty feet straight ahead before he turned right and started walking that way. The woods here were pretty dense with a lot of trees. But Galen knew this part of the woods very well and still knew exactly where he was going.
The pair stepped over a couple large rocks on the way and one old, rotted log. Besides that, the hike wasn't all that bad. The only issue was that it was pretty hot out. So, they were pulling out their canteens every now and then and drinking water as they went.
But just as Galen said, after around twenty minutes of walking he stopped them in front of this fairly big hill that was around twelve feet high. The part of the hill they were standing in front of dropped straight down the ground with no incline to it. A small handful of trees sat atop it. He then pointed out this big opening of a hole within the hill and started leading her to it.
Hanna found some amusement in the layout of this cave. It instantly reminded her of a hobbit's hole in the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. Like the one Bilbo Baggins lived in. All it was missing was a little round door.
There was also a little stream that was sitting adjacent to it and ran along a small path near it.
Galen led her inside. They had to duck a little through the opening, but once they were inside, it was high enough that they both could stand straight up. The place wasn't too big. She wanted to say it was about ten feet around and stretched back about twelve to thirteen feet and the ceiling of the place probably seven to eight feet high.
The walls, ground, and ceiling were made up of mainly dirt and you could see tree roots popping out here and there through the walls and ceiling. There were also a few fairly large rocks in there on the ground.
"This is pretty neat. I can see why you would come here. Especially, if you wanted to be alone or bring friends here." She says, as she continues looking around.
"Yes, there were even a couple times I skipped school and came here instead." He told her.
Hanna snorted, "I can believe that."
Then as she looked around, she spotted something a little out of place on one of the large rocks a few feet away from them.
"Is that a candle?" She asks, gesturing to the rock in question with said object on top of it.
Galen shifted his gazes to the rock then he nodded.
"Yes. There were times I came out here at night. Usually on nights I couldn't sleep at all. I would just grab a book and walk out here. Then I would light the candle, sit by it, and read. I think...the small wooden match box may still be in here right behind the rock on the ground.
Out of curiosity, he went over there to check. The candle itself was quite old and melted. With streaks of wax caked onto to the sides of the rock it sat on. He peeked behind it and grinned. The old box of matches was in fact still there.
Of course, they didn't need to light it right now, because it was still light out and plenty of sunlight filtered the small cave right now. He only ever had to utilize the candle at night when it was dark.
Afterwards, he turned to Hanna.
"We can stay here until it gets dark. If you want to take out some food and eat lunch now, you can." He informed her.
"You don't have to tell me twice. I'm starving. I'm pretty sure I burned off all my breakfast during our run earlier trying to escape Urko and his men." She said, as she sat down and started going into her pack and pulling out some food.
"Indeed, got enough exercise then to last me the next few months." He stated.
"Ehh, you probably needed it. I think I did notice you getting a little flabby around the middle and I don't think it's extra fur." Hanna joked.
"Haha, very funny. But I'm not flabby or fat in any way. I am in very good shape." Galen quipped.
"Says the guy who gets winded after doing a light jog for ten minutes straight. Was shocked to see you sprinting for that long while we were being chased this morning through the woods." She countered.
"Well, when you're running for your life. All bets are off. And I'm running like the wind." He replied.
"Wouldn't say like the wind. You more or less run like a girl." Hanna teased him.
He leveled her with a look.
"I do not. Take that back." He says.
"Nope. You run like a little girl. Plain and simple. If you wore a dress, you'd be lifting it up as you ran." She continued teasing him.
Galen was silent for a moment, then a small grin appeared on his face.
He reached into his pack, unraveled a cloth, and pulled out that very mushy fruit, the elsbury fruit. Then Galen quickly snatched her pack from her and held the elsbury fruit over it in his hand.
"Take it back or I squeeze this into many little wet, gooey pieces into your pack. Should make for a lovely mess to clean up in there and give it a lovely, sweet smell." He said with a smirk.
He watched as her eyes widened then she glared at him.
"Don't even think about it, furball. You'll get that shit all over my clothes and blanket and I won't be a happy camper." She quipped.
"Then take back what you said about me running like a girl. Or you're going to spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning your spare clothes and blanket in the stream out there." He playfully threatened.
"Galen, you squeeze that and make a mess in my pack, I'll kick you so hard in the ass, you won't be able to sit right for a week." She threatened.
The chimp wasn't backing down though or deterred by her threat. His grin widened and she saw him start to lightly apply pressure to the mushy, yellow fruit.
A couple drops escaped it and dripped into her open pack and that is when she finally spoke.
"Ok! I take it back! Now, quit it and give me my pack back!" She called out.
Galen snickered, then he pulled his hand with the fruit away, then used his other hand to pass her pack back to her.
Hanna quickly snatched it from him while giving him a slightly dirty look.
"You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?" She pointed out as she set her pack aside.
"Perhaps. But I'm at least still your favorite pain in the ass, right?" He teased.
She taps a finger to her chin while looking up at the ceiling.
"Hmmm, I don't know. May have to get back to you later for an answer." Hanna joked.
Galen rolls his eyes and shakes his head with a small smile.
At some point while they ate, Hanna decided to go out to the stream just outside the cave and refill her canteen. She asked Galen if he needed to refill his and if he wanted to come with. He said, yes, and they left the cave together to refill their canteens.
While they were out there refilling them, it turned into a small water fight as they splashed each other a little for fun and some laughs.
Hanna nailed him good in the face a couple times, making him sputter and her laugh. While he also got her good a few times and splashed water onto her front. Then he made a joke afterwards asking if she was cold and gestured to her front.
When she looked down, she noticed her nipples were poking up beneath her wet shirt in little points.
Of course, this was one of those few times she went braless. So, he could make out the little indentations through the wet cloth. Not that he minded the look in the least on her.
The heat of the air dried out her shirt quick enough though.
Hanna and Galen spent a little time outside of the cave, sitting by the stream as the day went on. She even pulled out her iPhone, which was surprisingly still working, despite being submersed in water, and started playing some music to kill time.
The daylight hours seemed to drag by pretty slowly.
They went back into the cave and pulled out some food to eat for dinner. Then spent the remaining hours conversing more. Mainly about Akron and wondering what it was like and if it was as great as Lario claims it to be. Galen really hopes his parent can help them out and at least point them in the right direction on how to get there.
Soon evening turned to dusk, and eventually the sun went down completely.
Galen and Hanna waited a couple more hours after the sun went down. Then he rose up from his spot on the ground and informed her it was time to go. He held out his hand and helped her to her feet.
The pair still felt a little achy and bruised from the fall and fight earlier. But they checked themselves over at some point earlier and thankfully didn't find anything broken.
He led them outside into the cool night air. The dark sky was partially cloudy with a quarter moon peaking in and out of the clouds. This didn't deter him though; he was still confident that he could find his way to the city with limited light. He's done it before when he was younger and snuck out to the cave at night sometimes.
"This way." Galen told her, as he gestured ahead and slightly to the right.
As he mentioned earlier, there was only a mile between here and the city through the woods. So, the pair started walking, headed for the city.
Until Next Time ;)