Try Learn Destroy (Book One- Try)

TEN He's Not Really A Pessimist?

"But wouldn’t Hawk be fearful if I’m not in karichuri?" I ask. I did write a note to him but I’m not sure how he’ll take his potential abandonment.

"Why would he know? People of such a rank difference do not socialise." Asks Harlem.

"He would know because…" I begin.

"Yes." The redhead cocks a brow.

"I sleep in his kitchen." I blab.

"In his kitchen?" Harlem asks.

"Yeah, he offered me the bedroom but I just fall asleep wherever..." I gabble, cutting myself off with haste once I realise what I’ve said. He knows I sleep in Hawk’s cabin.

"I never thought…" Harlem begins as my cheeks darken. "My brother would let a girl, live in his cabin."

"Why?" I ask.

"I still see him as the seven year old I left at home when I applied to join the Resistance." Harlem shrugs.

"Oh…" I reply we begin to walk away from the reserve.

"So, does he know?" Harlem asks.

"Know?" I blink.

"Does Hawk know where you’re going and why?" Hawk’s big brother asks.

"He knows that I’m leaving Karichuri to help Cy’. He has no idea why but I’m sure Hawk’ll guess where we’ll be going. I told him I would be safe because you’re coming with me." I reply.

We walk in an eerie yet comfortable silence for around an hour. The tension of the situation make me feel at ease almost. But at the same time I am still trying to adjust to the idea that Cyrus could die out here.

"We’re getting close to the edge of claimed Resistance land." Harlem note.

"So what’s the plan?" I ask.

"I’ll break in via ventilation shaft while you use the entrance indicated. Ask for Maroon at the information desk and pray to God that Benet sees you first." Harlem commands, the way he says it, this sounds almost easy yet I am aware that nothing, even something as simple as asking for Royce Maroon could have fatal consequences for not only me but Cyrus if done wrong.

"Why Benet, who’s he?" I ask. Harlem sighs, unhappy about my lack of knowledge.

"He’s the oldest son of Maroon, the only child who is not Nancy’s, he is next in line to control the Hord and if he were to take control before the war is won, then he will destroy all of Royce Maroon’s evil experiments." Harlem explains. I nod.

"So the rumours?" I begin to ask.

"Yes, they’re true. Maroon can create hybrids, cause amnesia, turn back a life and end it in a heartbeat. The Hord is so technologically advanced that they become arrogant and believe that they will be immune to the impact of a perfect shot with a crossbow." Harlem smirks at the fatal flaw in the Hord mind-set.

"Any advice?" I ask.

"Don’t get caught." Harlem replies gravely.

"Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?" I ask, small smirk forming at the corners of my mouth.

"The difference between us, other than age, gender and motivators is by far our skill sets, Darcy, the main difference between us as I believe you have been made aware of by my exemplary demonstration when we met, is that my skill level is approximately double that of yours. I can hold my own. You are still a bubble brain." Harlem almost turns up his nose at me. I frown but do not reply, refusing to allow my temper to get me hurt right now.

"When should we tune Hawk in?" I ask in reference to the earpiece frequency.

"Not yet, he’s fast, he has the drive, he can access a vehicle, he’s able to catch up with us. He’s back up, not necessary on the front line." Harlem states, a hint of resentment in his tone.

Harlem stands still for a moment.

"What is your weapon of preference?" he asks randomly. I blink, taking in the bizzare question.

"A crossbow." I reply confidently.

"Do you know what the best weapon we have in the Resistance is?" Harlem asks.

"A crossbow?" I suggest, unsurely.

"And what hit your window this morning?" Harlem asks. His questions still seem to be random.

Did this really only start this morning? Oh my gosh! How things have changed.. Yesterday, I feared Harlem yet today I have realised that he has a lot in common with me actually.

"Darcy, I asked you a question!" Harlem barks.

"I’m sorry it was a knife, a knife hit the window." I reply.

"So there has to be a double agent somewhere in our ranks." Harlem thinks aloud.

"How do you figure?" I ask.

"Nobody from the Hord has seen a crossbow. Nobody in the Hord can work a crossbow. And a knife, is a weapon that only those in the Hord use. We don’t use those sort of weapons over here and for you tp assume the knife was fired by a crossbow, then someone must be an ally of Maroon, that means the Resistance’s structure is at stake." Harlem grimaces.

"How do you know for sure?" I ask, doubtful.

"It’s obvious if you have been trained for twelve years to notice things." Harlem grins, proud.

I blink, he has self pride and a feeling of ambition to achieve, he also cares for his brothers. Harlem Hughes is not a pessimist, it doesn’t matter what way I think about it, each way he is seen as neutral, not cocky but not depressed. He shows off to intimidate the Hord. It’s a mask!

I begin to stagger as Harlem and I travel closer to Evertrent. My feet are aching! Throbbing in fact, I can feel them begin to swell in my worn tatty boots. It’s getting dark. Harlem appears worried. He murmurs to himself, theories as to what might happen if Hawk were to catch us in slumber. As we are on the edge of resistance territory, Harlem is fretting that we could be found in the open, so directs us westward, toward dusty, sandy, rotting ruins. In a warehouse, Harlem finds a mattress and a few blankets. He offers the saggy broken and shabby mattress to me. Screw hygiene, I nod to Harlem, grateful that he would offer me the closest thing to a bed here. He and his brother are alike like that. As soon as my head hits the manky mattress, I descend into a pit of darkness.

Aware that I have no choice, I obey, turning to the left and lifting the grate off. I then gently hoist myself downward into the room bellow. I look around, frantic and fearful. What’s going on? I turn around to see the blond facing me, smirking, his mismatched eyes emotionless. I gulp what if this is what Maroon wanted me to do...

I wake up with a start due to hearing Harlem scream my name. When my sceptical gaze hits his face, he exhales, deflating almost.

"Thank God, I thought you were having a fit." Harlem sighs in relief.

"I’m okay, just a nightmare." I assure.

"Are you okay to leave? Now? Hawk could have easily caught up with us while we slept." Harlem asks, sounding slightly paranoid. I smirk at the thought of Harlem fearing the wrath of his younger brother. His nerves increase as some sort of hybrid car, a mix between a limousine and a jeep pulls up beside me as Harlem and I start toward Evertrent. I look to where Harlem was stood for a sign of assurance, especially when the driver, an elderly man, opens the backseat door for me.

"Darcy Milan?" he asks. I nod. "Hop in."