Try Learn Destroy (Book One- Try)

FIVE- No Turning Back

Adrenaline begins to pulse through my veins as I shift into my position of preference and take aim as the brothers continue to argue. Harlem raises his arms to show Hawk how furious he is, instead of cowering away like someone who is afraid of their punishment, Hawk stands his ground. I release a lead finger. It glides through the air and stabs Harlem’s fancy blue and purple synthetic leather jacket and pins it to the closest tree. I gasp, astonished once more at the power of a single lead finger.

Harlem attempts to wriggle free from the jacket, only to have his other arm pinned to the same tree with another of my final thirteen lead fingers. I glance at Hawk who has just been spared a beating from his big brother. The violet haired boy appears to have met my gaze but I cannot be sure due to his glasses but a smile has just stretched across his face. His happiness, infectious as now the biggest smile I have had in years is spread across my lips.

"Bring her to me!" Harlem commands, squirming around attempting to get out of his jacket. "Teeh!" he calls, as Hawk and I edge closer to the egocentric redhead. The timid green haired boy tugs on the lead fingers allowing Harlem’s left arm freedom from the bark. Harlem frowns at me, staring me down. I retaliate with the iciest glare, reserved for only Sophia Burgerstien. Hawk smiles at me despite how ugly my face must look right now.

"Yes Harlem." I feign innocence. This attempt makes me sound somewhat sinister.

"You are insubordinate and untrustworthy from what I have just experienced. You have no use to the Resistance whatsoever and should be returned to the bubble immediately." Hawk’s brother declares.

"But..." Hawk protests.

"My word is final." Harlem growls.

"But you didn’t consult Temple!" Robin interjects only to be glared at ferociously by the oldest of the Hughes brothers.

"Temple has no need to know of this unless you decide to disobey me." Harlem smirks turning away, the boys gulp. I blink, unsure as to what is so threatening about whoever Temple is.

"She won’t know her way back!" Raven yelps.

"Fine." Harlem mutters, facing us again. "Hawk, Robin, take her back." He commands. The three of us nod.

Robin, Hawk and I walk away from the campsite, occasionally tripping on roots or walking into the trees themselves! I plunge my arm into my bag to produce the torch. The beam is dim but it’s enough to see a few paces ahead, also the light illuminates the ground in which we are stood upon so I can make out the expressions on my companion’s faces. Which just happen to be blank. We travel for around twenty minutes before Hawk breaks the ominous silence.

"How much further is it until we get to there?" he asks Robin.

"We are getting close and really have to distance ourselves." The rust haired teen shrugs.

"What’s going on?" I ask, baffled by the exchange between Robin and Hawk.

"Don’t worry Darcy, we have a plan…" whispers Hawk.

"So what’s the plan?" I ask after a brief yet awkward silence.

"We’re taking you to Karichuri." Robin beams.

"But Harlem said…" I argue, unaware as to why I am protesting.

"Harlem said." The pair sneer.

"Pffft. Harlem Hughes is nothing if not big headed." Robin laughs. "No offence." He says turning to his violet haired companion.

"None implied. I totally agree." Hawk punches his friend’s arm, a gesture I used to associate with Cyrus when we were having fun. Of course we would only lightly punch each other since Cy’ was always a tad fragile. I smile to myself thinking of how fun that was.

"Why am I being escorted by both of you though?" I ask.

"Because when you attacked Maroon you were spoken of. A lot. I didn’t know who you were but I knew your name and we were inside the bubble trying to work out where the Hell Maroon would have gone after he vanished." Robin explains

"And if they can hear about what you did in there then the Hord definitely know." Hawk continues his friend’s point.

"Okay, but shouldn’t that intimidate them? Cause a stalemate or something?" I find myself assuming.

"No, it doesn’t work like that out here." Hawk hangs his head.

"Oh but back home…" I begin.

"Back home." I hear Harlem spit in my head.

"You’re not at home anymore." Robin says sympathetically.

"And I’m sure there’s a reason why I can’t go back now right?" I ask. The boys say nothing, opting to just to put an arm around me each. I fight back a sob, knowing I was right, there was no turning back. So I take another step forward.