𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊- 𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐒

Chapter Twenty-Two

The four turned around heading to another area jumping down into another broken area of the building. "Look it's one of those bridge things they put in-between buildings." Aurora looked at it staring out the window once she fell in. "I wonder what it was like crossing it before. Seeing the cars and stuff." Ellie shrugged looking over Aurora's shoulder. "Probably cool. Scary even." Aurora turned back around and they continued on into the next building over turning on their flashlights when entering. "I cannot wait to steal their boat. I've never been on a boat." Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Really? Tommy and I used this really dingy one that fell apart in the middle of the lake. It worked though except the whole filling with water thing. But I didn't die." Jesse snorted, "thanks captain obvious."

"Hopefully it's a small crew. Finally make something easier on us." They walked through another door falling down onto the floor below them in front of some shelves. "This place is wrecked." Aurora stood up looking around into the darkness, "You don't say." Jesse replied looking around in front of Aurora. "This room is tiny." Aurora walked around to a fallen shelf hopping over it to the other side. "Guys over here." Aurora picked up a giant piece of fallen metal pushing it as hard as possible but struggled. "Here." Ellie ran up helping her push it up, Jamie helping hold it while Ellie moved another shelf crawling over to the other side. Ellie then held it up while Aurora climbed under followed by Jamie and Jesse. Then she dropped it, taking huffing, dusting her hands off.

"Yay more swimming, my favorite." They jumped into the dark water, shadows bouncing off the walls from their flashlights. They ducked under the water into a make-shift tunnel through the old debris and algae to the other side. When they came up they all turned off their flashlights, wolves voices could be heard. "Need a hand?" "Nah, I got it. This engine's being finicky." "Sniper spotted in twelve. I repeat, sniper sighted at the marina. Likely a trespasser. Any nearby units report. Over." The walkie talkie spoke. "Tommy?" Aurora whispered swimming around to a hole in the wall looking at the two wolves talking. "Likely." Jamie whispered back looking over at Aurora. "You four, take the land bridge to the marina. The rest of you, we hold here and wait for orders."

They swam through a break in the wall next to them reaching a rope leading to the ceiling. Jesse looked up tugging on the rope before pulling himself up. Aurora could still hear the wolves talking but tried to ignore it going up the rope after Jesse. Reaching the top it was a balcony allowing an overlook of the room, she stayed low staring at the boat, a man messing with the engine inside. Jesse stared out a large gap in the wall before turning back around.

"Guys." He whispered catching their attention. They ran over to the hole in the wall looking out. "We can get to the marina from here." "No. We're taking their boat." Ellie argued pointing in the direction of the boat. "You heard them right? They're talking about Tommy." Ellie furrowed her eyebrows shaking her head. "We don't know that." Jamie huffed putting a hand on her forehead. "Who else would it be Ellie?" "If it is him. He'll be gone by the time we get there. Abby is where he'll be headed, so if we just foll--" "What if he's in trouble?" Jamie looked at Aurora who stared at the ground deep in thought biting at her nail. "He can take care of himself." "Ellie." Aurora's head shot up looking at the girl, her face riddled with a mix of guilt and seriousness.

"Aurora, c'mon! He could be in trouble." Jamie argued, Jesse took a few steps away putting his hands on his head. "I know, I know." Aurora looked back at the ground rubbing her fingers over her lips. "Aurora, he'll be fine, he's been fine this whole time. We can go get Abby and meet him there. It will be fine." Ellie looked down to Aurora's face making eye contact with her. "Ellie, let Aurora decide for herself." Ellie glared at Jamie stepping closer to Aurora. "The best way to help Tommy is to go after Abby. You do this I'm not saving your guy's asses again." Aurora looked up to Ellie then to her other friends biting her nail. "C'mon Aurora, you've seen him fight before. He can handle himself." Aurora didn't know what to say, closing her eyes to block out the arguing.