Survival: The Paths Between Shadows
Chapter 29
“How is Hayley doing?”
Matt shifted his numb stare from the men that were still building the wall in the distance, back to Bryan, his expression both hardening and trying to stay neutral.
“She’s... coping. Dr. Matthews is looking after her the best way that she can.”
Something tugs on his lungs, as a painful breath seems to tear his insides piece by piece.
Slowly, mercilessly. But it didn’t matter though. All that he cared about right now and where all of his thoughts were running to was her. There was nothing else in the world, just a girl that stole his heart and that made all of his dreams come true when she whispered that she loved him back. As if he finally found his home, a steady harbor in the never-ending storm. But he didn’t deliver the way he should and failed her. He couldn’t protect her. Maybe if she went alone, it wouldn’t have turned out this bad. If only Matt would....
His body flinches, as silent sobs grow in his chest. He wants to scream out all of his accusations, curse the world, cause destruction, only so to numb his thoughts and the torture. But then a warm hand on his shoulder stops all of that.
“Matt, she will pull through somehow. She won’t be the way that she was, but she is still the same woman that...”
Bryan looks at him with a silent question mixed with an unexpected softness coming from a tough soldier that has gone through the unimaginable. But then again, they all did.
“That you fell for without a doubt, deeply. She didn’t change, just the circumstances.”
“But how can I even look her in the eye now? With everything that happened?”
“She needs you, Matt. And you’re going to be there for her, do you understand me?
“Whatever made you panic the way you did at the crater last night... It doesn’t matter now. You will be strong for both of you.”
Bryan’s eyes harden for a moment.
“Do you understand me?”
Matt nods slowly, gaining back some calm and strength, a clearer mind. It was a good start.
“Yes, I do. I will do my best for her, for us.”
“Great, much better. We have so much to take care of, and I need everyone to be as focused as possible.”
*****
He crosses his arms tightly, back straight, gazing forward into the night without seeing. The rumors of Leila reappearing and apparently breathing despite the odds, have spread around the camp, gossips taking over as people suddenly seemed to have a lot to say, even if just among themselves, whispering in small groups. The word moved around fast, as Bryan, our beaten up leader seemed to both showing suspicious calm and strained tension under the surface. It was the way he carried himself and what was blazing in his once flat stare.
How could she still be alive? Hmm, if Monique were still among the land of the living, she would have been furious. A small smile spreads over his lips, deeper wrinkles appearing around his entire face, his sharp grey eyes finally gaining a spark or a two. How ironic, that his friend was now six feet underground, while the person she despised the most in the world, was shamelessly walking around this god forsaken earth. One could not miss the humor in the situation. He looks down at his arm and slowly lifts a sleeve of his shirt up to the elbow, as a long and thick line bends and curves against his skin, almost lighting up in the fading light of the moon. A symbol of loyalty by those that had to prove themselves to Banks when he had doubts.
John exhales slowly, not bothered by it much. It was a reminder of raw and excruciating pain that would always remain in his mind, but it was also a warning that he needed to never come back to that monster. He once more gazes at the bright scar that would always be there, a pale shape of a crooked snake; Lionel’s venom forever tattered, swimming in his veins. But the scars like that were just a symbol. They didn’t stop him from wanting to find peace. He pushes down the ragged sleeve and lifts an old rifle while gazing at Bank’s camp below. It was time to have a little peek at what was going on there, and what little treasures he could carry out. They were low on weapons, and from what he heard from Miles, and a somewhat hysterical Sue—there were plenty of toys under the big bad wolf’s nose.
All he had to do was to be very quiet and always be on alert. He would get some redeeming points and show others what he was capable of. He looked to the side and stared at the man that was with him. Two sets of eyes were always better than one, weren’t they?
“Come on, we have to get a move on if we want to make it out of that hell pit before dawn.”
“Not a problem.”
“Oh, and Phillips?”
The tall man turns his profile slowly to him, eyeing him cautiously, always the military man on alert.
“Yes?”
“As much as it would be fun to blow up a thing or two, let’s keep a low profile, shall we? We need to get out of here alive above all.”
“What about unexpected casualties?”
John smiles but then shakes his head slowly.
“Only if necessary or attacked first... or pushed to it.”
Phillips nods again and puts a hood over his head, the masking colors of his clothes and the dirt on his face, making him invisible from afar.
“And the woman?”
He asks unexpectedly.
“Leila? We will see how it goes. If she is even there. Honestly, the sharp weapons interest me much more than her sharp, lovely tongue.”
They move slowly in the dark, while the nearly full moon disappears behind the clouds. This plan might prove to be a complete disaster, but risks had to be taken if they were going to have any chance of survival.
Besides, his military companion wasn’t the only one on the lookout and ready to intervene if necessary. He also had a young volunteer to prove some distraction, and she was just the person to do it. Faster than anyone of them combined. And smart enough not to get caught. Brutal strength wasn’t always the most important on the checklist. What they needed from her were smarts and speed. And she could provide both.
Written By:
anarosewood