Jo groans as she crawls out of the tent, stretching her arms and arching her back quite similar to that of a cat. "Morning, all. You two look like you've been up for a while."

Lawrence shrugs and keeps poking at the sizzling meat on the camping stove. "Eh, just a few minutes."

"Is that bacon?"

"And mushrooms, yeah. Got some rolls too. We can eat while we walk."

I hand her one of the few rolls we have, not looking up from the newspaper clipping I found awhile ago about how Optic Fracture, a company that makes virtual reality gaming, can actually change the brain. It states that the effects can sometimes make people unsure what's reality and what's fiction.

"We could start living in a society where there are people believing that they are a gun-wielding commando, or a dungeon-delving warrior, or a member of a shady agency investigating a government conspiracy to hack our brains."

I shake my head. I definitely do not need help with my brain confusing reality and fiction.

Jo takes the roll, eyeing Lawrence with scrutiny. "You came amazingly well prepared for the breakdown of civilization."

"I was a boy scout," He answers plainly. "Be prepared... Actually, that-that's not true. Well, I was a boy scout, but I was never any good at it."

A smile tugs at my lips at his babbling, but it fades when he sighs, using one of his forks to pick up a piece of cooked bacon and stuff it into a roll.

"I um, I've been sleeping at my office for the past month or so. I'm sort of uh, between flats. Bit of a cash flow problem. I've kept it quiet, but uh, yeah. I've kept a sleeping bag and mini stove with me in the office. Wasn't too hard to pack it all up when I decided to leave."

She raises a brow. "To visit your Auntie Morag in Drumnadrochit?"

"Yeah. Well, I like my Auntie Morag," He replies, sparing a quick glance at me. I don't meet his eye, afraid if I do my face will only give something away and make Jo suspicious of us both.

"If you're in such a dire situation, sell that... what is that, on the chain in your pocket?"

Lawrence looks to where Jo is pointing, and then tugs on the chain to pull out a timeworn pocket watch. He scoffs. "This?" He shakes his head. "Nah, it's not worth anything really. It was my great grandad's though."

He pops it open, and a faint tick comes from the watch before he snaps it closed. "I like it. And since all the electric stuff stopped working, this thing still keeps perfect time."

"Handy," Jo replies with a click of her tongue before she stands. "Right. Come on. Let's get moving."

She takes a bite of her roll, keeping it in her mouth as she zips up her sleeping bag, something Lawrence and I have already done. "That chopper was heading south, south-west, so we'll walk that way. Hopefully I'll work out some of the kinks in my spine where you shoved your elbow all night, Walker. And Lawrence, did you know you snore exactly like a concrete mixer?"

She picks up her sleeping bag and starts walking, ignoring Lawrence as he calls out to her.

"Hey, wait a second! Gotta get this tent down and camping stove packed up!"

As I start to disassemble the tent, munching on a roll with bacon and mushrooms stuffed inside, I hear Lawrence whisper something to me.

"Psst," He murmurs softly. "Ix-nay on the arlie-chay, okay? Just between you and me."

I nod, quickly chewing and swallowing my food so I can give him a real response. "Yeah, of course."

His grin is like sunlight, warm and golden and too bright for me to look at for too long. So I turn my attention back to the tent, taking it down and putting it back in the pack so we can carry it. We must work quickly since Jo has already gotten so far ahead. I wonder if all journalists are this impatient or if it's just her.

We start our trek with a comfortable silence, or as comfortable as it can be with what Lawrence told me yesterday. I was actually a bit miffed at Charlie for not telling me Lawrence was on our side. Although, honestly, I'm not sure just what's going on on our side, or the opposite side since I was never supposed to have this box in the first place.

But still! For a moment I thought Lawrence was going to kill me, or that he was at least a part of the Burn!

It's better to stick together, figure out who you can trust. That's one of the few things my faulty memory allows me to remember. My dad always told me that, which I suppose makes sense, given who he works for in America.

But this means that I can trust Lawrence, at least somewhat. Not that he looks like he could hurt me. He's taller than me, sure, and I'm not exactly a skilled fighter, but he seems sweet, if a bit ditzy.

"Come on, you two!" Jo calls from ahead after about ten minutes of silent walking. "I can see it. There's a military base down at the valley. I don't think they got a good look at us after you blew up that car. We should be able to risk making contact. It'll be wort it at the chance of hitching a ride."

"Do you think they'll have internet?" Lawrence asks me, and I shrug. "Ugh. What I wouldn't give to check my emails."

My earpiece beeps.

"If you're that desperate, I can try to hack into it for you."

Lawrence's face breaks out into a wide grin, just as bright as the one before. "Hey! Charlie's awake. Hi, Charlie, how'd you sleep? In fact, where did you sleep? Ah, yeah, I know it's all hush-hush, but surely you can tell us where in the world you are."

"Slept fine, thanks," She answers quickly. "In the hotel next door. I like those anonymous rooms. They're calming. And well, I've told Walker. I might as well tell you. I'm in Geneva. Nice, old, boring office looking out over the calmest lake in the world. The Swiss are helping us out on a project. And uh, don't talk out loud to me, especially when you're out around other people."

He rolls his eyes. "Walker's alright. She knows the score. Don't you, Walker?"

I nod, and he smiles in satisfaction.

"See? And Jo thinks we're talking to each other. So, listen, Charlie girl, I've been really good. Really 'no questions asked' since the prof handed me this thing. Big reward, big service for Queen and country and all that, but what is it that we're carrying?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you that. Sorry, but I'm not," She replies, and he huffs in vexation. "You're not even supposed to be together; I can keep you safe if you do as I say. That's my job. But you're more of a target together. Now do you want me to try getting into your work email from here?"

Lawrence ponders on it for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah. Don't want you reading my emails and responding to them or anything."

"I wouldn't-" She cuts herself off with a sigh. "Listen, I don't have charge of who gets the devices, and if the professor gave you one, he must have had good reason. But you really must understand-"

She stops when I gasp, flinging my arm out to keep Lawrence from taking another step. We've caught up to Jo, but my eyes are on the gun that's pointed right at me. My gaze flickers up to the person in a military uniform holding the rifle.

"You move and I fire," She says. "This is military jurisdiction. What are you three doing here?"

The words get clogged in my throat, and any lie that I could have thought of in the moment vanishes from my brain. My eyes flicker to Jo, waiting for the blonde to start her spiel about being a part of the press and having footage of the bomb that went off and that she desperately needs to get us to London, but she doesn't say any of that.

Well, she does, but only after the soldier calls for backup and more soldiers come and grab our arms, as if afraid we'll try to run from the people that are armed. That is when Jo tries to talk her way out of it.

But it's too late. I'm sure they probably think she's lying since it took her so long to give an answer. My mind buzzes with alarm as we're forced to move, heading straight for the military base. I swallow thickly, trying to remember every breathing technique I've ever been taught so I don't freak out and make us look even more guilty than we are already believed to be.

None of them have patted us down to find the black devices. My hair is down to cover my earpiece, and Lawrence's hair is thick enough to cover his. At least for now we're in the clear, but I hear nothing from Charlie. Is she not coming up with a plan? Is she not going to get us out of here?

"Company, halt!" One of the soldiers shouts as soon as we enter the military base. She looks over at Lawrence, Jo and me, no doubt noticing our nervous expressions. "Prisoners, you're with me. Quick march."

Jo huffs when we're finally let go. "I'm fine. Quick march. Yes, yes. Will you stop-will you stop pointing that gun at me?"

Lawrence sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth. "You have to admit, they did catch us trespassing-"

"No talking," The soldier says with a bite in her tone. "Wing Commander Stanton wants to see you."

Jo scoffs, much to my and Lawrence's dismay. "Oh-ho. Wing Commander Stanton wants to see us? Well, that makes everything alright then. Arresting three unarmed citizens, interfering with the press-but if Wing Commander Stanton wants to see us, it's just fine, isn't it?"

"Shut up before you dig us into an even deeper hole than we're already in," I warn through clenched teeth, but she ignores me.

"You know, I was imbedded with the troops in Helmand Province, and I got treated damn better than this."

As Jo finishes talking, a tall woman walks up to us. Sleek red hair is tied back into a perfect bun. She holds her head high, giving off an aura of authority, and her hardened gray eyes make me recoil and brush up against Lawrence.

I've seen her before in my hallucinations. I'm beginning to get worried at just how many people seem to match up with the people I've seen in my head even though I've never met them in real life. But the woman in my head never had an expression quite like the one in front of me is wearing.

"Ah, the civilians," She states plainly, eyeing us up and down like we're bugs that she's not sure whether to crush under her shoe or not. She looks at Jo, who stiffens under her gaze. "You were imbedded in Helmand, were you? Which company?"

"I, uh, Corona Company, third Yorks."

"Third Yorkshire regiment," She repeats with a nod. "They saw some heavy action during Operation Herrick, lot of brave men and women."

"Yes, I was there. Uh, ma'am."

"Were you? Were you?"

When Jo doesn't flinch, the woman, who I can assume is Wing Commander Stanton, nods. She then turns to the soldier nearest to her. "That'll do, Mitchell. Put your weapon away. You three, walk with me. As long as you are who you say you are, we won't have to detail you long. We might even help you on your way."

Lawrence noticeably relaxes. "That'd be amazing."

I tip my head to the side, not feeling so relieved. While I doubt she would have any reason to lie, I don't know if trusting her is a good idea just yet, not when we're not in the clear.

"Just a couple of formalities," She explains. "Some descriptions are being choppered from the EMP zone of terrorists who blew up a car at one of the checkpoints. As long as you don't match that, you'll be free to go."

There it is.

Damn.

•

"We've gotta get out of here," Lawrence whispers urgently, which earns him a glare from Jo.

"Yes, I know that. It was your stupid idea to blow up a car."

He face twists into a scowl at the insult. "Well, it worked, didn't it? Besides, it was an emergency, you said. 'Have to get this footage to London,' you said."

"And I do. And you have to go and visit your Auntie Morag, yeah. You know, you seem very quick to know how to blow up a car. And you and Walker didn't know each other, now best of friends. Who are you both, actually? Do you have ID? What's so urgent for you to get out of Inverness?"

"You can't tell her about the project," Charlie states. "You just cannot. It's too risky. She could be with the Burn. We know they're still after you."

"Look, as sad as it is, I've been chatting it up with Lawrence because this is probably the first time I've interacted with another person that wasn't a classmate or potential employer since I started working on getting my Master's," I lie-well, it's not really a lie, just not the reason Lawrence and I have been talking so much. "I can't tell you why Lawrence actually likes talking to me. Maybe he thinks I'm funny or something."

"Eh. Your sarcastic humor could use some work," Lawrence says with a shrug, and I pout. He ignores it to speak to Jo. "But we can't turn on each other now. Look. We've walked around this base three times now, and there's no way out other than the heavily guarded main gate. Someone's gonna come in with our descriptions and then they'll know.

"Our best plan is to pretend we had nothing to do with that car, that it just happened while we were nearby. We could even say that we saw some other people running away. You're just as implicated as we are, Jo. Military law is in force, and your credentials won't get you out of that, will it?"

She glares at him but doesn't deny it. "We just need to get to London. If we can just get off this damn base somehow..."

Someone calls Jo's name.

"If we do, my editor will get this all sorted out."

"Jo!"

Jo finally seems to hear the calls for her, swiveling her head around to see a man in uniform heading towards us. His eyes are bright as he stares at the blonde, but her eyes hold no recognition.

"Don't look at me like that," He says. "I know how you are, and I know exactly what you've been up to."

I swallow thickly, and without thinking I place my hand on Jo's back and try to push her forward.

"Keep walking. Keep walking," I order, and thankfully, she actually does as told. Lawrence sends me a worried glance, but I glare at him, a silent demand not to say a word.

That man could be a part of the Burn or something. And even if he's not, what he said isn't exactly assuring given the situation we're in. "Maybe he made a mistake. If you keep walking, maybe he'll think he made a mistake. Just keep-"

The man's heavy footsteps cut me off, and all too soon he's caught up with us and is standing just ahead, forcing us to stop.

He pays no attention to me or Lawrence, only looking at Jo.

"Jo Mot-bloody-gomery. I knew it was you," He says with a wide grin. I give a raised brow to Jo, who looks just as confused as the rest of us.

"Um... have we-" She shrieks when the man picks her up into a hug. "Put me down! I won't stand for this!"

The man simply chuckles. "You'd recognize me better if I had my gear on, helmet-"

"Wait." Her eyes widen as it seems to click. "Andy? Andy Gibbs?"

"From 31 squadron, yeah," He replies, putting her down. "Blimey, we got out of some tight corners back in Helmand, aye? That one time, pinned down insurgents. You would have been gone if we hadn't airlifted you out."

I cock my head to the side, eyes alight with curiosity as I listen to them speak.

"I remember. You saved my life." Jo's smile fades, which is something Andy notices right away. "Listen, Andy, we have a problem."

He perks up. "I'm all ears. Your problem, Josephine, is my problem."

Jo looks at me and Lawrence, that small smile returning. "Give me a few minutes, okay? I think I can solve all our problems before that next chopper arrives."

Lawrence tsks, but he doesn't argue. Instead, he glances over at me knowingly. "Come on, Walker. We know when we're not wanted."

I trot along with Lawrence, leaving Jo behind to talk with Andy. I don't know what she'll tell him-probably how we're needing to get out of here as soon as possible, how she needs to get to London, the like. Her questioning us so suddenly was a bit off-putting as well as irritating.

She does realize we're helping her just as much as she's helping us, right?

It doesn't matter. As soon as we get out of here, we can part ways and Lawrence and I will never have to see her again. Then it will just be us and Charlie, heading to Edinburgh to get these devices where they need to be.

Speaking of Charlie, she hasn't said a word about any sort of plan to get us out of here. I know Jo is currently working on one for us, which is great, but Charlie is supposed to be our guide. Why she hasn't said anything about her own ideas of us getting out of here is at the very least concerning.

I sigh and fiddle with the ends of my hair. Because I didn't get to shower last night, my hair is already starting to feel greasy. My face twists into a grimace, and I let the strand slip from between my fingers and fall back onto my shoulders. The oily feeling stays on my fingers, only making my grimace deepen.

A few minutes later that Jo meets up with us again, and I can hear chopper blades whirling from nearby.

"Okay," She announces, a devious glint in her eye, "we've got a plan. Lovely Andy's going to cause a distraction on the other side of the base as the chopper comes in. Then you two are going to run as fast as you can to the helicopter. I'll meet you there, and we'll get out of here before they have a chance to read those descriptions."

It takes a decent amount of effort to keep my face from morphing into displeasure at that plan. It's... oddly simple, almost too simple.

"And where will you be?" Lawrence asks.

"I'll be with Andy, causing the distraction," She answers quickly, plainly.

Finally, finally, Charlie decides to speak, although her words are only negative. "I don't like this. The Burn has been destroying all motorized transport. Haven't you noticed?"

"They're not exactly-" Lawrence starts.

"Don't talk to me around other people!"

Jo crosses her arms, annoyed. "What? What's not exactly what?"

He bites his lip. "These... distractions... aren't exactly original, are they?"

"And yet they're effective. Your point being?"

"I...I..." He sighs in defeat. "Yeah, no point. You're right."

Shifting my weight from one foot to another, I speak. "Are you sure this plan will work? How do we know you'll make it back to us in time? Doesn't this plan seem a bit too simple?"

"Simple doesn't mean easy, Walker," Jo replies harshly, and I feel my face heat up at the scolding. "And don't worry about me. I'll make it in time."

"Roger that, Mullins," Andy says, his voice coming from the small walkie-talkie in Jo's hand. I wonder how she managed to snag that. "I'll be taking the whirly-bird straight back out, bringing three civilian passengers in. Stanton doesn't want to let them go, but I'm happy to vouch for them."

"Good man, Andy," Jo replies, before her eyes snap to me and Lawrence. "You two, over to the other side of the base. Remember, as soon as the chopper lands, start to run for it."

We both nod and start moving, leaving Jo behind to run off and find Andy. I suppose Jo was right not to be worried about her. If Andy's flying it, he and her will have to be there for us to leave, but I still don't like the simplicity of this plan.

It feels like there's too much left to chance. What if that distraction doesn't work? What if we get caught? That will just make us look even more like terrorists!

"Walker, are you alright?" Lawrence whispers, making me jump. I look up at him, his brows knit in concern. "You sound like you're hyperventilating."

It's only then am I made aware of quickly I'm breathing, and I take a moment to concentrate slowly on that in order to calm down. When I'm no longer panting for breath, I swallow, which takes a great deal of effort, and then finally reply to Lawrence.

"Sorry. Got too lost in my own head."

He nods. "This isn't exactly the finest of situations, but Jo's got a plan. We should be fine."

"Yeah." The word is about as shaky as my nod. "Yeah, we should be fine."

"I don't like this," Charlie says. "I really don't like it at all."

After taking a glance around to make sure no one else is nearby, Lawrence speaks. "How are the Burn gonna know that we're taking this helicopter, Charlie? Think it through. And even if they did, what are they gonna do? They can't have eyes everywhere."

He glares when she scoffs. "That's what you think."

"What other choice do we have?" I ask, and the sounds of the chopper are getting louder. "If we don't get off this base before those descriptions come in, we'll be labeled as terrorists and thrown into prison, and then we'll never get these boxes to Edinburgh."

"Too late to think about it now. Bird's landing," Lawrence states. "Come on, Walker. Run!"

We break into a sprint towards the chopper, but we only make it about ten feet before a gunshot rings into the air. The bullet flies past my face, far too close for comfort. Lawrence and I both come to a screeching halt when Commander Stanton's voice rings out behind us.

"Oh, no you don't. One more step and I fire."

We don't turn around to face her. My gaze is on the chopper only a few feet away from us, so close and yet an eternity away.

"I have my suspicions about you two from the start. Running to hijack that chopper, were you? Not on my watch."

Because we're still facing the chopper, we get a perfect view of Jo as she walks towards it and starts to climb aboard. She only stops to look at us for a second.

"Sorry, guys," She says, making a face. "Actually, you were the distraction. Have to get this footage to London, and your stories just don't add up. I only told Commander Stanton the truth."

I gape at her. She's really going to let us take the fall for this as if she wasn't just as big a part of blowing up those cars and sneaking out of Inverness as we were.

"Sargent!" Commander Stanton shouts. "Bring these two to my office, and then we'll open that description of the terrorists that blew up the car and read it, slowly."

•

My hands are clammy, and a cold sweat runs down my neck as Commander Stanton smacks down the files containing our descriptions on the desk in front of us.

"This seems cut and dry," She says, eyeing us with contempt. "Sargent, lock them up. Send a chopper to notify police we've found the missing terrorists. Flight Lieutenant Gibbs vouched for the journalist, so she's in the clear."

My heart is beating so fast inside my chest I'm surprised it doesn't burst free. This can't be happening.

"Okay." Charlie lets out a shaky, frustrated breath. "I didn't want to have to do this, but Lawrence-"

"And search them. No more slip-ups."

"Excuse me, Commander," Lawrence says, which earns him a scowl from the redhead.

"Yes, what?"

"Do you mind if I use your pen for a moment? My friend, Walker, has to write something down. I think you'll want to see it."

I glance at him with wide eyes, wondering why he had to bring me into this.

"Just do exactly as I say," Charlie instructs.

Commander Stanton narrows her eyes at the both of us. I fight against the urge to shrink back into my chair and make myself look as small as possible in front of the intimidating woman.

"If this is a trick, I warn you, you'll be imprisoned without clothes, both of you."

I visibly shudder, but still take the pen. Keeping a tight grip on it to keep my hands from shaking, I start writing as per Charlie's instructions.

ZTX5849-Broken Crown-Project Janus-Enact Evolution 7.

"What are you playing at, exactly?" Commander Stanton asks accusingly. Instead of answering, I slide her the paper.

All the color drains from her face, her eyes going wide as saucer plates.

"Christ... How do you know this code? How did you get ahold of this?"

Lawrence lowers his voice to a whisper when he answers. "We're on a secret mission."

She still looks skeptical, but then she looks down at the paper again. "Sargent, get out."

The Sargent's eyes widen in shock. "Ma'am, I-"

"Out!"

Without another word of protests, she leaves, and the door clicks shut behind her. Command Stanton's eyes narrow into thin slits.

"There's only one way on earth you can get these codes," She says.

"What do they-" I start, but Charlie cuts me off.

"I've told her the chain of command is corrupted, which it is. I just didn't want to have to let everyone know about it yet."

A distant boom causes the whole room to shake, and I grip the desk in front of me so hard my knuckles turn white. "What was that?!"

"The Burn," Charlie answers, her voice laced with panic. "It's the Burn. They know where you are. I knew it was too dangerous to have you two traveling together!"

The Sargent bursts into the room, her posture stiff. "The chopper, ma'am, it's gone down. Three miles north of here."

Lawrence goes deathly still. "Andy radioed to say we'd be on that chopper..."

My hand claps to my mouth in horror.

The Burn...

A/N: Here you go, guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Have a blessed day!