Cipher Code {complete}

Chapter Twenty Four: Paper Lives •EDITED•

"I didn't picture you as religious person."

Philip winced at the condescension in Isaac's tone. He remembered times when they memorized the words together, both Books and their Wills. Then his mind shifted to the times when he had burnt the holy texts just to spite his father.

"I'm not."

"You've become a good liar over the years. There was never a time when you hesitated to speak your mind to me."

"People change." Philip felt the words curl at the tip of his tongue, lies built upon lies to bury how much pain he felt. "I changed."

"Quite the nonsense," Issac sighed and said nothing more, looking down at the ground then up into the fog.

Philip had known that the captain wouldn't believe him. Still, he said what he knew would draw the line between them.

They weren't friends, not anymore.

Quite the nonsense indeed, Iza. Philip kicked the dry leaves beneath his feet, tired of the bitter taste intentional untruths had left in his mouth as he watched the disturbed foliage explode into puffs of plant dust.

A part of him wondered if he would be sucked dry by the fog eventually. That soon his suit would be unable to prevent the deterioration of his health. It seemed to be a better way to die than being eaten alive or mauled to death.

Major. His thoughts danced around the title. I just need to do one thing then it's mine.

Philip didn't dare to think that the man he was looking for was already dead. Hope for the future was the only thing that kept him going; the only thing keeping any dangerous thoughts at bay.

Thinking up to there he turned back to Issac, awaiting instructions as was required of him.

"How did we get here?" The captain asked, his voice cool and nonchalant. His tone was one of authority, not camaraderie.

It's for the best. Philip tried not to feel hurt.

He squashed the emotions that erupted in his chest and ignored unimportant feelings like he was trained to. He had a mission and he was a soldier of the lowest rank.

He tried to remember that.

"I was going to ask you the same thing, Sir." he answered, injecting as much apathy into his words as he could.

"Before we do anything, I suggest that we compare notes." Issac said, professional as always. "This might not be the right time for that, but we are blind without direction and an objective. Do you understand?"

"Yes Sir. . ." Philip said, deciding to choose his words carefully. "I engaged a handful of beasts along the route. They had surrounded. . .us. I stayed behind and provided cover for the rest of the rearguard as they retreated."

He suddenly felt claustrophobic. The wet fog added to the effect of Issac's aura of command. Everything seemed to drown him in waves.

"I fought off the animals and dismounted. . ." he struggled to continue.

"So did I," Issac clicked his tongue, "We both fought creatures along that path, lost our horses and ended up here. Why? All evidence suggests that we were moved. I found you unconscious along the dirt road then I was attacked by the beasts. In the midst of everything, we somehow ended up here along with our weapons. Correct?"