Mason placed his hands inside his jeans pockets, a sign that told me he was nervous for unknown reasons beside current nightfall. "Just wanted to know how you were holding up"
"I'm fine" I told him quicker than he had been expecting
Mason nodded "Oh, well that's good I guess, and how is your arm?"
"Also fine" I nodded in return.
The wound hadn't actually been a hundred percent fine. It had leaked quite a bit during the days trek and it had been burning more than I thought normal since it'd been stitched up. But I wasn't about to whinge about it; I wasn't about to ask for him to take the stitches out, re-examine it and then re-stitch it. Things were easier with my mouth shut.
"That's good also" He half laughed as silence threatened to reign over
"Hey, about that thing that happened with you and Austin, I was about to step in but –"
"Austin's all talk, he wouldn't have done anything" I interrupted him, in no way shape of form allowing him to pretend he had almost saved me from a disastrous situation. I had control over what was happening with Austin, I didn't need anyone else's help.
"How do you know that?" Mason crossed his brows
"He's afraid of what's going on around him, he overcompensates with violence towards people and things he can control, or thinks he can control" I told him with a shrug as I pulled my blade from my belt.
"Austin had gotten into fights with other people before, I don't doubt he would hold back on you just because you're a girl"
"I don't doubt that either, but I can hold my own, I've fought things a lot larger and uglier than him before as well"
Mason seemed to smile a little "You really aren't afraid of him at all?"
I shook my head "No"
"Hm" Mason mumbled "You aren't like any of the other girls here"
"Sorry" I apologized with a small smile in return
"No, don't be. It's good, not so much for me, but good for you"
This time I crossed my brows in confusion "It's not good for you?"
"It makes it a whole lot harder for me not to be so intrigued by you" He smiled, bowing his head down.
All of a sudden, I knew what I had started by simply talking to him. He was curious about me, something that lead to a whole lot of nothing. There's was no way I would reveal my life story to him, no matter how attractive he was, no matter how much he sweet talked me.
Silence settled again, my brain unsure of how to respond without sounding like a complete bitch that wanted nothing more to do with someone who seemed genuinely charming.
Mason opened his mouth, ready to speak further when Keira tore around the corner of a middle aisle, her expression easing into a suspicious smirk when she spotted us.
Both Mason and I stared at her with crossed eyebrows, unsure as she stood silent.
"What's wrong?" Mason asked her, confused
"Oh" She stumbled "Um, Arden wants to see you"
Mason sighed before turning back to me "I'll see you later?"
I nodded slowly "Uh, I guess so"
Mason quickly turned back around and began towards the direction of the front of the store.
Before I could return to my wallowing of thoughts, Keira had replaced Mason's spot beside me, her eyebrows raised as though she waited from something dramatic to occur.
"What?" I pushed her, annoyed at the gaze she held on me
"He likes you" She shot as she wiggled her eyebrows.
"How do you figure?" I shook my head
"Oh c'mon as if you can't see it" She dramatically threw her head back exaggerating the situation. If I was honest with myself, then no, I couldn't see it. I'd spent so long alone, that I'd forgotten what romance was, what hope was, what anything remotely close to intimacy was. It wasn't something I needed right now, it was the furthest thing on my mind since the outbreak.
"I can't, honestly" I told her as she stared at me suspiciously
"Wow" She sighed "You really are lost"
"Does it even matter?" I shrugged, returning my eyes to my knife in hand
"Well it does a little, I mean, if he did, would you even care?"
I shook my head once again "No"
"Why on earth would you not?"
"Because I don't have time"
"Don't have time?" She repeated incredulously
"There are more important things to be focusing on" I told her with a sigh, shoving my knife back into my belt as I shuffled off the bench top
"Just when I think I'm starting to understand you" Keira mumbled as she shook her head
"I wouldn't bother with that either" I told her as I began walking off, leaving her standing in place, her face contorted as she took my phrase as an insult.
I knew it sounded harsh, but it didn't matter. None of this social business mattered. Or so I needed to keep telling myself.
Everywhere I turned, stood a person, a person that would either stare at me with an indescribable expression or a person that attempted to woo me with some form of conversation. I wasn't interested in being in either one of those positions, so I did what I rarely did in threatening situations, I fled.
Walking past the faces, I ignored the voices, the remarks and made my way to the front of the store where Arden and his men sat, only this time a whole lot more comfortably. Arden sat on a front counter, leaned against the wall as he read over a map with Ronan over his shoulder, studying their future moves. Jaxon lie completely flat on the next isle counter, his arms and legs dangling over the edges as he stared at his blade bravely held above his face. Then there was Jesse, always the furthest from his friends. Jesse sat on top of a counter at the far right of the store, his left leg hanging over the edge as he traced his fingertips over the edge of his sword blade. They looked relaxed, calm as they kept guard at the front of the store, just in case.
The sun had completely vanished a little longer than two hours ago. It was now pitch black outside, silent and empty. Few candles and lamps had been lit inside, giving the giant room a small glow as all but Arden and his army of men settled in for the night. I could see Austin and his brother towards the side of the store, sitting against the wall with their eyes closed. Jarod looked as though he was deep in sleep, his stomach rising and falling slow and steadily. Whereas, Austin remained to twitch, his jaw moving slightly as his chest rose and fell a little faster. Every time I looked towards Austin, I felt the sudden itch to charge him with my bare fist as he sat oblivious to my threat. I didn't like the kid, I didn't like his attitude, and I found it hard to simply allow him continual whining privileges.
"Where are you going?" A voice broke through my thoughts of jumping Austin
I was near the front door, edging closer mindlessly.
My head instinctively turned towards the eyes now felt heavily on me.
"For a walk" I told Jesse as he stared towards me
"A walk?" He repeated with raised eyebrows
"Yeah, that's what I said" I told him as I moved forward again, this time aiming to leave the store quicker than I had before
As my footsteps neared the front door, I could hear Jesse jump off of his position to the side of the room. I tried to ignore it, continue through as my hand landed on the door handle, but as expected, Jesse was there to stop me.
I rolled my eyes and removed my hand from the door where Jesse now stood, his towering height directly in front of me.
"You should stay here, where it's safe" Jesse began as he looked down at me
"I appreciate your concern, but I'm sure I'll be perfectly fine on my own" I told him, hoping he'd simply give up and move aside.
Jesse looked up, above my head as he narrowed his eyes
"Well when you put it that way" He began as his eyes returned on mine "Sure, go ahead"
He now stood aside, allowing me escape.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of his intention
"Go" He urged with a nod.
Without thinking any further, I placed my hand on the door and pushed it open, warm air hitting me directly in the face as I exited.
Keeping my eyes alert, I continued forward out of the store. Darkness surrounded me, the air light and empty. I inhaled deeply and suddenly exhaled when I heard the door close quietly behind me, followed by footsteps.
"I knew there had to be a catch" I mumbled
"It's a nice night" Jesse spoke back as he sighed
I couldn't disagree with him. It was a beautiful night, no danger in sight.
"Don't you have planning and crap to do with your fellow soldiers in there?" I suddenly snapped. I wanted to be alone. I had no intention of being with company at a time as such.
"I should be, but some irritable girl wanted to wander into the dark looking for trouble" Jesse nodded as he now stood beside me on the very edge of the road
"Now who is being dramatic?" I scoffed
"Guess I took a page out of your sad book for that one" He snapped back
"My sad book?" I repeated, amused
"Mhm" His arms folded over his chest
"You can continue to assume whatever you want about my book"
Jesse grumbled, somehow annoyed that I hadn't continued to bicker with him.
The silence of the night rushed through my ears, to the point all I could hear was the slight ringing of my brain continuing to work in overdrive. Jesse stood beside me, quiet as we both seemed to inhale the atmosphere. Despite wanting to be alone, it was nice to have some company. I couldn't stand being around people most of the time, but as time progressed, I seemed to remember what it was like to actually have someone by my side.
"So you and Austin" Jesse began again after a few minutes silence "What's the go there?"
"There is no go" I shook my head
"You seem to know each other"
"No" I shook my head again as we stared forward
"Well, it's good to know I'm not the only one who is automatically hated by you"
I couldn't help but smile a little. Was that the impression I gave? Hatred?
"I don't..." I trailed off "I don't hate anyone, I just, I don't like being around people anymore"
"Like I said before, I know what you're doing"
I felt my frustration build up "You have no idea what I'm doing"
Jesse's eyes were now on me, burning into my face "Then perhaps you can enlighten me"
I couldn't help but turn in his direction, frustrated by his curiosity and intent to pry.
"Why?" I snapped "What good will that do? What difference does it make?"
Jesse kept his gaze even on mine "Maybe it'll make you less afraid of the world"
I shook my head and scoffed "I'm not afraid of the world"
"So what are you afraid of?" He continued despite my unwillingness
I narrowed my eyes on him "Didn't I just ask you what difference it'll make, or are you simply choosing to answer my questions with further interrogative questions?"
Jesse's lips slightly upturned, his expression lightening as a cool breeze brushed past my face
"This façade you're putting on, it's truly inspiring" Jesse spoke
I narrowed my eyes again, this time focusing in on his face "I think I hear Arden calling you, he may want you to fetch him some tea or blow his nose for him" I immaturely threw at him
"Ouch" Jesse instantly faked pain as his smile widened, almost pleased
It wasn't the reaction I was hoping for, so I spun on my heel and began walking down the road
"Hey, stop" Jesse called towards me
I ignored him and continued walking
"Hey, I said stop!" Jesse screamed this time more frantically as his body approached from behind, fast. Suddenly I felt his arm snatch mine, his grip fierce and forceful.
"What are you –" I began to demand when I was suddenly grabbed, my mouth now muffled by Jesse's warm hand over my mouth. I tried to fight him off as he dragged me backwards down the side of the road.
Jesse continued to hush me as we now knelt in the long grass. I couldn't breathe, I was furious; I continued to struggle until I felt Jesse's face against the side of my own.
"You need to stop, someone is coming" He whispered gently into the side of my face, his hot breathe running through my skin and ear as I breathed roughly against his hand.
Hesitantly, I slowed down my fight. My hands remained grasped hard around his bare arms around my body. My breathing slowing down as my ears quickly began to realize what Jesse had heard. Voices, voices could be heard faintly, yet distinctly in the distance.
As the noise grew closer, before I could make out the sounds, I had succumbed and sat motionless in the grass with Jesse still enclosed around me. Once my captor realized I was silent, his hand slowly loosened and I was able to pry it away.
My ears pricked up, my mouth slightly open as I breathing heavily. My right hand released from Jesse's arm and quickly found its way to my belt where my knife sat. My knife was my only weapon and as the voices grew closer, I realized they weren't of creatures, but humans.
"We shouldn't be walking in the dark Deakan" A new male voice began as I sat silent, listening, waiting.
"There's nothing out here for miles" Another spoke as their footsteps could now be heard.
It was then I began to realize just how much concern I held for the others back at the store, unaware. My fingers twitched on my weapon and my foot shuffled in the dirt.
"Don't" Jesse whispered again, his lips almost touching my cheek
"The others" I whispered back
"They'll be fine, trust me" Jesse whispered back
They wouldn't be fine, even if they saw or heard the men coming, that didn't stop the men from entering the store.
I needed to get back. I needed to make sure the others would be okay.
I shook my head unconvinced Jesse could be entirely trusted. It was then I attempted to move from my position, dart towards the opposite direction where I would cause a diversion.
I had thought I'd been fast, but I wasn't fast enough as Jesse held on to me tighter than he had originally
"Stop!" He roughly whispered into my face as he pulled me back "You need to stop"
"They'll go in the store" I turned towards Jesse, a move that I had instantly regretted.
"You need to trust me" He pulled me back again, my arms and legs constricted by his pure strength. Jesse's voice had never been more forceful and this time, my body obeyed him.
I eased into the awkward position, waiting, listening as the footsteps now directly passed us in the grass.
"Look!" One of the men called as I caught sight of the figures passing, one, two, three, and four...
"There's a store" A woman now spoke, her voice lifting
I struggled against Jesse's grip once more, knowing that the outcome was not going to be a good one on both my own side and the inhibitors of the store.
"We should keep moving" The seemingly brute male of the group spoke
"We need to stop, get some rest" Another woman complained as a disagreement broke out
Jesse and I both listened intently as the group of what seemed to be no more than seven humans began to argue. Few people wanted to continue, most others wanting to stop for rest, sleep, and sleep.
I peered forward more focused; my eyes narrowed as I caught sight of two of the men. Both were dressed in camo gear, unnecessary attire. But their choice of outfit wasn't what had caught my gaze the most. Instead, my eyes fell on their weapons, their large machine gun metal hanging from their shoulders along with their trail of ammunition. The women of the group seemed to be the weaponry mules carrying most of the gear. I could suddenly see why they had wanted to stop and rest.
After about five minutes of discussion, to my complete relief, the group had decided to continue on their trek without stopping. The women were afraid to argue further, and despite the darkness, it wasn't easily unnoticed as to why.
It took about ten minutes for the footsteps to gradually disappear and once they were in distinct distance away, Jesse's grip on me loosened enough for me to wriggle free. Throughout the ordeal, I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath at intervals and once I was sitting opposite Jesse in the dirt, my raging breathing finally let out to catch up.
"I told you they'd be fine" Jesse sighed as he looked towards me with even breathing, unfazed by the episode and near discovery
"How?" I managed out
"Mason's on the roof keeping a look-out" He revealed to me
"Mason?" I repeated. Mason was a doctor, why was he on look-out?
"Mason used to be a PI, he knows how to spy" Jesse told me, his voice bitter of sorts.
"And what if they had entered the store?"
"Mason would alert the others and they'd all wait on the roof" He shrugged
"In the middle of the night until they'd leave?"
"It's a nice night. If creatures were to show up, who do you think they'd attack first?" Jesse raised an eyebrow at me
I shook my head and slowly stood, making sure to assess the new threat. The group were gone, it was safe. I stood and stretched my back out, cramped and uncomfortable from the strict position I'd just been involved in.
"You okay?" Jesse asked as he now stood beside me
"I'm fine" I answered back as I rubbed my arms
Jesse began to move forward, back towards the "Next time you shouldn't be so stubborn"
"Gee, thanks" I scoffed
My joints were hurting, along with my arm. At the time, I hadn't noticed Jesse to have grabbed me directly over my stitches, now I was feeling the skin burning. I continued forward, following Jesse until we returned to the store.
"Where the hell were you?" Arden instantly demanded of his friend who walked in first
"I was making sure miss drama here didn't get herself killed" Jesse frustratingly sneered
"Are you aware that –"
"I'm well aware" Jesse cut Arden off, a move that surprised me. The moment I came into view of the men all staring, I noticed the anger plastered on Arden's face.
"You" Arden now turned his gaze on me "You've done well to help us up to this point, but if you want to run your own ship and place yourself as well as these people in danger, I suggest you turn right back around and leave" He growled at me as he pointed his finger
I wasn't sure why he was so upset and angry, nothing had happened.
"You think you're running a ship here?" I snapped back
"I'm trying to get these people to safety, the ones that chose to make the right choices for themselves and for others"
I scoffed, hesitating. I wasn't going to argue with him, only because I was exhausted, a feeling that rarely took a hold of me.
"Fine, I'll go take notes" I told him before exiting their view.
I could see Keira and Coby sitting at the back of the store, talking. As I began towards them, I could faintly hear Arden turn his attention back on Jesse and his reckless follow of me. I was still finding it hard to understand why he was as angry as he was about it. Nothing had happened, no one had been hurt, he needed to get over himself.
"Hey, what happened to you?" Coby spoke towards me lowly as I entered his line of sight
I shook my head "What are you doing awake?"
"We heard all the ruckus going on, Arden was freaking out after Mason came down from the roof and said people were coming" Keira answered
"Where were you?" Coby continued
"You should go back to sleep, the sun will be back up in about six hours" I advised them, ignoring Coby's prying as I took my spot back on the counter at the very back of the station.
Keira nodded and leaned her head back while Coby continued to stare "Are you sure you're okay, you look horrible"
I leaned my own head back, my eyes heavy "I said go to sleep Coby"
"Sorry for caring" He mumbled before I assumed him to have given in.
It hadn't taken long for me to fall into a thick slumber. I had been so exhausted, that my brain had entirely shut down, no room for dreams, no room for interruption, no room for anything but darkness. It was rare that I had found myself needing sleep so desperately. I had once gone three days without a single flit of shut-eye.
I wasn't sure just how long I'd been out, but it was when I heard the faint voice of Mason beside me that I felt myself being dragged out from sleep by my ankles.
"Time to wake up Arrow" Mason gently spoke beside me as my eyes slowly lifted "It's time to go, I waited as long as I could before waking you"
I instantly sat up, my body reacting to the words he spoke. My brain quickly caught up and within seconds, I was faced with reality once more. My eyes were blurry, but the more I blinked, the more I rubbed, the faster they cleared.
"It's time to go?" I repeated as Mason's face appeared clear in front of me beside the counter as I sat up
"The sun's been up for about an hour, Arden wants to leave now" He told me as I pushed myself off the counter. It was as my body readjusted, that the pain in my arm, returned.
"You okay?" Mason instantly noticed as my arm rubbed over my wound
"I'm fine" I told him, stretching my legs out as the voices of the others could now be heard from the front of the store.
Mason watched me, hesitant before he backed off. As soon as I was sure my body was ready, I was moving towards the front of the group.
"If we don't dawdle and keep on time, we should make it to the small town of Listhen by sundown" Arden spoke to his robots.
"Listhen is also desolate, just like Laylor, but Listhen is populated, houses lined along each road. Creatures will be lurking as soon as the sun sets, there is no time for error like there was last night" Jaxon now spoke as Ronan and Jesse stood silently beside them. I wondered how much trouble Jesse had gotten into. He looked tired, he looked lost.
"Right, let's move out" Arden sighed as he began to lead his followers like a pack of wolves.
This was the cue for people to start conversation, mostly about what had happened last night. Coby, Keira, Reana and Cara were a few steps in front of me, their conversation about what had happened if the others had entered the store. They all attempted to act tough, describe how they would have fought back, yet I knew none of them would be capable enough to actually kill an uninfected human being.