The Queen's Red Lake

XXIV

Sasha kicks me awake the next morning and I roll my eyes and look around. The camp is mostly packed up and Atlas is kicking dirt on top of the low crackling fire. I rub my eyes and Sasha looks down at me, "Time to move, Sleeping Beauty."

I run my fingers through my tangled curls and stretch but soon I'm up and trying to freshen myself up as much as possible. Iris was smart enough to grab toothpaste, brushes, and mouthwash. We hike with purpose again and I lead the group through the narrowing and twisting trail until the sun is beginning to set again and it is complete darkness.

We set up camp, exhausted and Sasha teaches me to prepare a fire. I watch her closely and try on my own. I can feel Atlas's eyes on us but I have come to ignore him. However, Sasha is always catching his eye and it's as if they are having a silent conversation. I hate it—I don't like feeling left out.

Especially, after being betrayed one too many times.

"What do you think about Atlas and Sasha?" I ask Iris two days later. We are bathing in the nearest river and it's cold but it feels amazing to feel clean. I dip my head underwater before coming back up. Iris is watching me oddly but she answers anyway.

"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?" Iris wonders her silver-ish wet hair sticking to her face.

"I don't trust them." I answer.

Iris cock her head to the side, "If you asked anyone, they would say you and Sasha are best-friends—"

I roll my eyes at Iris's smile, "My father taught me to always be one step ahead and smart." I'm not sure why I come to my defense so quickly. "—Sasha is teaching me survival skills and at least I'll know how to cover my tracks if she betrays me again."

"Right." Iris replies—dragging out the word as if she doesn't believe me.

I splash water at her. "I'm serious." I frown but Iris keeps that stupid smile on her face and it's nice to see her this way. I would have never thought that it would have been the two of us in the end. Especially, with Javier pinning after me so hard. She looks free as she laughs and splashes water my way. "Why did you leave?" I question.

Iris stops splashing and chooses to float on her back. "I had no reason to stay." She pauses. "I had no family and Javier didn't want me as much as I wanted him."

I chew on my bottom lip, awkwardly.

"It's okay." Iris tells me. "It wasn't your fault but you coming to town made me come to the realization sooner—and I know you didn't like him like that."

I exhale gratefully, "I didn't." I tell her. "I swear."

Iris gives me a knowing smirk as if she knows something I don't. "I know." She winks before swimming to shore. I turn around—my back facing her as she dries herself and put on her clothes—giving her privacy but I still scream, "What is that look for."

"Nothing silly." She laughs.

I then swim to shore and dry off—Iris's face is buried in the book as she flips pages and compares them to other notes. I come and take a seat next to her. I nudge her, "I don't trust them but I trust you—if anything was to happen, we have to have each other backs."

Iris nods her head with a smile and I turn my head when I hear steps coming our way. I smirk and yell toward the trees, "You're getting louder."

Sasha presents herself and she's freshly washed and her sides are freshly shaved—I'm curious as to how she does that so well. She comes closer to us and explains with a roll of her eyes but a playful smirk on her face, "I wanted you to hear me coming, idiot." She pauses and clears her throat becoming embarrassed slightly. "I didn't want to disrespect your privacy."