Across the Water

Chapter 9

48 Hours

Nine

When I wake in the morning, my heart's not racing. I don't emerge from a nightmare, and I didn't bolt straight up, limbs flailing, like I'd been shocked by an electric wire. I woke naturally, and even though I'm still in my permanently exhausted state, it's a nice change of pace to be calm for once in my goddamn life.

I dig my watch out from where it's buried under a mound of dirty clothes, and notice it's only five in the morning. Five? It's only five? I thought it had been longer than that for sure. I attempt to go back to sleep, but it's not use, I'm wide awake. After waiting until what I deem to be the earliest I can leave my tent without raising Twelve's suspicion about my unhealthy sleeping habits, I decide to leave and make breakfast for everyone.

After quickly making the standard fare without hurling, I decide to do the cleanup myself. Because I started cooking earlier than usual, I have extra time before Lisa and Twelve usually wake for breakfast. I'm putting away the last of the supplies when Twelve and Lisa emerge, but my eyes get stuck when I see that Lisa is wearing Twelve's hoodie.

For fuck's sake. How can they be so bold?

"What happened to everything?" Twelve asks, sitting next to me and tearing my attention away from Lisa.

"Huh?"

"You've put everything away," he says as he gestures around. "You must have gotten up early." He crosses his arms. "How long have you been awake?"

I backpedal. "I got up at an acceptable time." Technically not a lie, if you count 'getting up' as leaving my tent.

"The dark circles around your eyes tell me a different story, but there's nothing I can do about it," he says crankily. "But I can force you to eat."

"I know, I know." I've already accepted my defeat.

Over our breakfast, we unanimously decide we want to walk completely to the Settlement today—even through the forested portion—by the end of the day. We just want to be done with this whole ordeal.

After packing up the campsite, we're ready to begin our hike. This time, we anticipate it to be even more excruciating because we know exactly how long and uncomfortable our walk will be, and we have no adventure to look forward to, only dread.

As we set out, the rising sun is in our eyes. "What do we do when we get back to the Settlement?" Twelve asks, holding up a hand to block out the glare of the bright light. "Wait?"

I kick a rock out of my path. "We wait. We allow Shibazaki to make the arrest of his lifetime, and we spend the rest of our brief lives in prison, just like we planned." I say resolutely.

It seems like a bleak future, but Twelve and I have already discussed this at length and come to this conclusion a long time ago. I wouldn't be surprised if his relationship with Lisa is making him have second thoughts about what we had arranged years ago. I feel something harden within me. While I don't resent Lisa anymore, it still frustrates me our plans together always come second to her.

"I'm starting to wonder if Shibazaki will ever find us, though, " he doubts. "And we're running out of time. We only have enough food to last us one more week, if that." He bends down, picks up a stick, and idly fiddles with it.

Lisa speaks up. "I'm thinking it's a good idea for you to surrender," she says softly, reaching out and touching my arm. I jerk away in surprise, not expecting what I'm sure was meant as a friendly gesture. "Wouldn't you like to help with the investigation? Doesn't better treatment in prison sound nice?"