Valour

Chapter 9- Cal's Mistake

I nearly fall over.

"What." I respond numbly.

"Killer said he got it from Rodhen, said told us to keep a lookout for this girl I think she-"

Cal shoots him in the chest before Micah has time to explain himself. This time I actually fall backwards onto my butt and stare at the now dead corpse in front of me.

A small voice inside of me demands that I try to act indifferent in front of Cal, that I don't recognize the name, but he shot Micah in the chest!

Cal grabs me by the arm and pulls me up like an insolent child. I scowl and step backward, "You have two seconds to explain yourself."

"No time for that we need to move."

"No!" I shove him in the chest, "I told you he was mine and yet you didn't even listen to me. And you know what? You have an issue, and it's that you like shooting people in the chest right when they're going to say something important! You know how dumb that is?"

No answer, instead he clenches and unclenches his hands, looking away from me and taking deep breaths.

"You faceless looking, psycho-"

"Are you done!" he shouts.

I stop speaking for a moment.

"Trust me when I say this Sky, but when the name Rodhen comes out of anyone's mouth, then really bad shit probably happens next. That man is dangerous and it's better for us if we don't know what he was about to say. Do you understand?"

Micah was going to say my name. This sudden realization paralyzes me.

I think she-

Rhoden gave a ruthless squad comms, Rodhen is helping people and in return he wants them to find me. That's why they didn't kill me, even when I attacked their leader, Killer, in the face.

Cal must see the alarm in my face, "What? What's wrong?"

Rodhen knows I'm here. He's looking for me. I shut my eyes trying to breathe, trying to relax but my stupid plan suddenly feels inconsequential. How could I've been so naïve, of course he would come searching for me . Even in the one place where the Empire can't reach me and he still wants me alive.

I feel a steady hand rest on my shoulder, "Hey, I'm sorry if I shouted at you but I strongly recommend that we get the hell out of here."

I shake my head, as if that would clear the rising panic threatening to overtake me. How many other people had he bribed, how many other people are looking for me?

To Cal I reply, "Um, no. I think- I think we should stay for a bit. You know, it looks like a good place to camp out after sundown."

"No. I don't think you understand." Cal reaches into his pack that's securely attached to his back and pulls out his Corivan issued tablet, "After I took out their sniper this happened."

"What did" I ask, not liking where this is heading.

He displays the tablet for me to see, and on it depicts two red dots blinking steadily on a map.

Of exactly where we are.

"You're kidding me right?"

Cal laughs weakly, "Like I said, if we get tracked, we run like hell."

I flick Cal's visor, "See, this is what happens when we go with your plan. Everything goes to shit."

-----------------

I suddenly understand the meaning, time is of the essence, because every second I stand waiting here outside is one more second that somebody might be tracking us down right now and killing us.