Ready Or Not | ✔

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four - Love

Sunday, 27th September 2020

KRYSTALLIA

Tiredly, we walked out of the forest and got into the Jeep. Throwing the flashlight into the glove box in front of Zach, I sighed as I let my feet rest before driving.

We found an arm on a branch and Landon (or Kris) called to tell us they found a leg. A group found a head and the other found a torso. All of them were slightly rotten so we assumed it was all placed around the same time.

Putting the keys in the ignition, I started the car and turned it around, driving back. The car with us followed behind and we passed by where we dropped the other group off. They were waiting in the car and followed us when we passed.

I put my right arm on the console and Zach held my hand, resting his left arm against mine. He leaned over the console and placed a tender kiss on my cheek. He sat back down and sunk into the cushioned seats.

With the pad of his thumb, he gently rubbed the back of my hand in circular motions.

A soft and simple touch, yet full of emotions words can't describe.

***

Reaching the base, I parked the car and looked back to see Sam lying horizontally across the seats, sleeping. He must be tired from all the walking and it's around ten-thirty.

I got out of the Jeep and went over to the backseat door. Opening it, I shook his shoulder, "Sam, we're back. You can sleep in your tent."

He groaned before slowly opening his eyes, "We're back?"

I nodded. He sat up slightly hunched over before scooting over to the door and hopping out. He closed the door and slung his arm around my shoulders for support.

"We still need to debrief before ending the night so hold on a little more," I said, helping him to the campfire. I let him sit on one of the logs before standing behind him. Zach came and stood next to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into his side.

He pecked the bridge of my nose softly before leaning his cheek against the top of my head as we heard three Jeeps pull up. We heard a series of doors closing and crunches of dry leaves under pairs of boots before someone cleared their throat.

"Listen up," Landon gathered everyone around the campfire.

"Put the body parts on the table," he ordered and four gang members put what we found on the table, aligning them to resemble a human.

"Forensics, go work on that," Landon said and the forensic department got to work.

He started debriefing, "One track leads to a building, the other leads to a road. The left track has two marked trails, the same goes for the right. One of the trails on the left leads to another building, while one of the trails on the right leads to an old house."

He glanced at everyone before continuing, "Tomorrow, I want everyone up by six-thirty, eat breakfast and get ready, briefing at seven-thirty, head out at eight sharp. Understood?"

A chorus of 'yes, sir' could be heard and he clapped once, "Dismissed."

Everyone got up to either get a midnight snack or head into their tent. Zach let go of me and threw Sam's arm around his shoulders, helping him up. He leaned on him and I led them to the tent he's sharing with Mark.

I helped unzip the tent and he let go of Sam. He crawled into his sleeping bag and passed out the moment his head hit the pillow.

Zipping the tent halfway, Zach reached out to hold my hand and we walked towards our tent. We took our toothbrushes and toothpaste before heading to the 'sink', which is basically a bucket of clean water and a bucket of used water.