Aaron and I have remained silent since the argument earlier. I think he feels guilty about snapping at me. But then I could be reading the situation entirely wrong.

I don't know exactly how I feel about him snapping at me. I suppose yeah, I did deserve it, and my actions were a bit frustrating. Hell, I'm frustrated with myself for putting us into a situation where Aaron got concerned enough to call me on my crap. But he also didn't have to say some of the things he did. He could have pointed out my lack of tact without bringing my dead family into the mix, as well as the trail of destruction that seems to follow in my wake.

And I could have gone without the sob story, and I probably should have met him in the middle without creating anymore drama than I did.  But it's not like I can erase it now. The damage is done.

And while I feel absolutely guilty about how it turned out, I'm not going to be the first to apologize, because Aaron was out of line, and the way he turned on me was uncalled for. Even if some of it was valid.

With nothing to do, I've taken the time to try coming up with a plan that's not as dangerous, and not as likely to get the both of us killed. I'm pretty sure Aaron's sleeping. Or he's thinking. Either way, the tension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife. 

The door opens, and I look up, half expecting it to be Adam in all his pissed off glory. But we're not that lucky.

It's Vincent Powers, sauntering in with a smug expression.

I stand, noting Aaron stand from the other side of the room from my peripheral vision. I meet Vincent in the center of the room, stoic and unswayed against smug and self-confident.

"For prisoners, you sure are causing more trouble than you're worth," Vincent comments.

I look at my nails casually, noting the dirt, grime, and blood under them, and their non-pampered state with a slight wrinkle of my nose. "For a minion, you sure make yourself out to be more than you actually are," I retort.

Vincent growls in disapproval, but doesn't rebut. "I heard you got into it with the boss earlier."

"Yup. He failed to see teenage logic. Quite frankly, he was a little surprised when I handed his ass to him and poked a hole in that beautiful plot of his." 

"You're going to get yourself killed," Vincent says. "And I'm going to be there, laughing in the crowd."

"Oh, hon, the day I die in your presence will be the day the hell your dear mother departed to freezes over. My offer to send you to her still stands."

"Marcus is out for your blood. And after he's finished with his dip-wad of a son, Adam will be too. You've put him into this mess, after all."

I roll my eyes dismissively. "Thanks for the warning, but I can handle myself. So can he." I jerk my thumb towards Aaron.

"From what I hear, you had to step up when they were about to torture him."

"I stepped in of my own free will. You know, self-sacrifice for the people I care for, and all. Not as if you'd understand that concept."

He growls again. What is it with men and growling? "You're pushing your luck, girl."

"It's what I do best, apparently." I shrug.

"It's going to get you killed," he replies.

"Yeah... I know. But a lot of things are supposedly going to result in my death, so I'm not all that worried about one more thing on the list."

He narrows his eyes at me. "You're lucky the boss wants you alive."

"Eh," I shrug, "at this point I'm not entirely sure it's better than being dead. The company's unbearable, the entertainment sucks, and the food service is... pretty much nonexistent."

"You think this is a joke?" he snarls. 

"Meh." I shrug again. "Depends on what you're referring to."

"All of it. The war, your impending doom, our rebellion..."

I snort. "The first one is legit, so I'm absolutely serious about that. The last two..." I shrug once more. "I'm kind of in the laughing mood."

"You think dying is funny?"

"Nope. It's a very serious matter. I think you thinking I'm going to die is the hilarious part. I'm more resilient than I look. And then your whole idea of a rebellion is just quite ridiculous."

"So... you're saying you'll kill people and blame it on survival, but you won't fight?"

"I'm a sixteen year old who had to grow up far too soon. I do no more than I have to."

Vincent shakes his head sadly. "You're a coward."

"Goading won't work. I'm not, in fact, a coward. I'm logical. Something your boss is not."

"You haven't even tried escaping."

"Because it's illogical without proper planning. Something that I'm not bothering with at the moment, because I'm in no state to do any severe running." Lies. I have a plan. It's a work in progress, but it's something. "I'm not discussing my ability to escape with the enemy. Do you have a reason to be here, or are you looking to be egged on again?"

"Just seeing how bad the situation is," he says with a dismissive shrug. 

"I see. Well, I'd like to go back to sleep, so..."

Vincent frowns at me. "You're not being very accommodating to your guest."

I eye him dubiously. "You walked into our prison cell. You're hardly a guest. And maybe if we're rude, you'll get the memo."

The door opens, and a very pissed-looking Adam walks in.

Vincent grins at me, then turns to Adam. "Sir. Pleasure to see you." He gives a small bow, to which Adam responds with an eye roll.

"Get out of here, Vincent. If I see you mingling with the prisoners again, I will personally make sure you're punished."

Vincent seems surprised at his superior's behavior, but walks out.

Adam looks at me, closing the door behind him and turning on a flashlight.

"And what can I do for you?" I ask.

Adam doesn't speak, instead throwing two bags our direction. I step back, peering at the bags.

My lips curve into a small smile as I recognize my backpack. 

"What is this?" Aaron asks curtly, speaking for the first time since our blowout. 

"This is my way of apologizing for your situation."

"So you've decided to take up my offer," I say, kneeling and opening my bag.

"Everything's in there. There's an extra set of clothes and food that should last until you get to Rhode Island."

"Thank you."

He nods curtly. "It's no problem."

I stand, zipping up my bag and slinging it over one shoulder. "Adam, you don't sound all that well. Are you sure you're alright?"

Adam clears his throat. "Yeah," he lies. "I'm fine."

"Liar. What did he do to you?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll come back later tonight to help you get out of here."

I want to push, but I know that it'll just waste time. I nod instead. "Alright. We'll be waiting."

Adam nods again and turns for the door.

"Hey, Adam?" I ask.

He pauses, looking back at me. "Hm?"

"Thanks. We owe you."

"Thank me when you're safely out of my father's demented clutches."

I smile slightly and he turns back around, walking out.

I walk back into my corner and sit down.

"Bryna?" Aaron asks.

"Hmm?" I ask, pulling out my knife and the wood I've been carving for the past three months.

"Please tell me you have a backup plan that doesn't include Adam."

"I'm not stupid. Of course I have a plan."

He's silent for a moment. "Okay."

"M'kay."

~~~

Lea's P.O.V

We're walking again. I think our little bonding last night brought us together. Brian is still guilty about leaving Bryna behind, if she was alive in the first place, but he's getting better.

We're closer to Rhode Island, and I think everyone is a little giddy about it.

Brian and Alex are talking about random scenarios, smiling and joking. I think, for the time being, they've just put everything on pause to be themselves. I'm glad someone's able to.

Justin nudges me with his elbow. I look at him, raising an eyebrow. 

"Usually when they're like this, Bryna and I'd make some comments about how the radiation must have finally gotten to their heads." He motions to the two in question, smirking.

I grin. "Sounds like something Aaron would comment on," I agree, watching them.

He's silent for a moment, before sighing. "How was Bryna? When you met her? Was she upset?"

"She... was neutral. She did what she had to do, and she did it with a smile. She talked about what happened between you all and she wasn't bitter about you leaving, from what I could tell. She got injured on the way from your little brawl. Some guys attacked her. She didn't talk about your little battle, mainly laughing and joking with Brian as he stitched her up." I shrug. "If she was upset by your betrayal, she didn't make it obvious."

Justin nods slowly. "I... I know that I can't go and easily slip back into this. I shouldn't have betrayed them. I shouldn't have left. I just... I don't know. I hate myself, though. And if Bryna's dead, I'll be living without knowing if she ever forgave me." He sighs. "Did she ever tell you how I met her?"

I shake my head. "I don't think I heard the story, no."

He chuckles. "She was twelve, I was fourteen. The group had sent me out to scout the area. There was a Sentry Checkpoint a few miles south of our camp. I had gone in hopes of finding some rations for the group, you know? I saw Bryna, sneaking through the shadows. I hadn't noticed the spotlight until it had crossed me. She could have ran. Actually, I had expected her to. She ran in the other direction, and I led them away from her. The Sentries had caught up to me, and I thought I was dead. Until she came in and saved my life. Didn't even know me, and she was kicking their asses. At twelve. It was incredible."

"I can imagine."

He sighs again. "I don't know how I managed to screw up so badly. She was pretty much my best friend, and I totally ruined everything."

"I'm sure if she's alive, she'll forgive you eventually. She doesn't seem like the kind to hold that type of a grudge on the guy that saved her life," I offer.

He shrugs lightly. "Maybe."

The moment of serenity is cut short when a gunshot pierces the air. The bullet whizzes past my cheek. Another gunshot, and Justin shoves me away. This one grazes his shoulder lightly.

Two more gunshots miss, and then Brian's hauling me up and we're running for cover.

Justin's digging a gun from his bag as we run, and Brian's grabbing his from his newly acquired holster, firing a few shots at the Sentries behind us as we run.

"Look!" Alex cries, pointing to the smaller town in front of us. "There has to be some sewers we can hide in, or something!"

Brian puts his gun into his holster and grabs my arm as Justin starts returning fire. He gains speed, trying to get us to safety.

Justin utters a curse as he runs out of bullets, tucks his gun into his belt and focuses on running. 

"We're almost there!" Alex cries.

We reach the town, spotting a sewer hole almost immediately. Brian pushes me towards it, and Justin goes to get it up. He flings the manhole open and ushers me inside. I'm just getting on the ladder when the next gunshot rings out. Brian shoves Justin out of the way, and they both crash to the ground.

"Brian!" Alex and I shriek. I scramble back up as Alex opens fire. Justin is putting pressure on Brian's wound. He had taken the bullet in his side. Quite possibly it had gone all the way through.

"We have to get him out of fire!" I instruct Justin. 

"How?"

"I don't know! But we have to do something quick!"

"He's losing blood," Justin argues. "I need something to put pressure on the wound before we can move him. "

 "Just carry him, quickly, into a building and then put pressure on it," I instruct.

"That's a huge gamble, Lea."

"One we can't afford not to take. Hurry."

He sighs. "Fine. Let's get him into that store there." He motions to a drug store a little ways away.

I nod, helping Justin get Brian there while Alex covers for us.

It takes awhile, but we manage to get him there safely. Justin and Alex seal us in the back room and reload their guns just in case.

We're going to be here awhile.

:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:

Hey! I'm on time, and the books almost finished. Yay!

Eh, I don't really have any questions, just that if you find any mistakes to point them out, because my edits are very brief.

Off to debate the fates of my characters,

-Musical_Author