Lost Soul

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Losses

We set up camp when we reach the other side of the lake.

All I want to do is keep going, but we're all dead tired. We can't keep pushing on while suffering this much loss.

I sit across from the head while everyone sleeps, drawing out the map to the cave he talks of.

Cat's map is similar, but it would've taken us two days in the wrong direction by taking one wrong turn.

"It's a waste of time," the golem's head says, watching me sketch the map.

I'll have Alex sketch out my rough drawing in the morning. I'm not the one with the artistic touch. "It's not."

The golem sighs, "he's probably dead. This is several days out of your way. It's a waste of time."

I resist the urge to smack it. "It's not a waste if I get him back."

He closes his eyes and I think we're done. But the head starts to tremble. "My mistress is incredibly powerful. She'll kill you."

"Good for her."

"She isn't these weak, drafted soldiers you've been fighting, Raven. She's here for vengeance and vengeance alone. She wants you to suffer. Please. Let me keep you safe."

I roll my eyes and slam my pencil down. "It's funny that you think I'll listen to you. You tried to kill my friends. You might've killed James if we didn't have Charlie to call the rebels. You don't care about protecting me. You just care about yourself."

"He's dead."

I close my eyes. "He's not."

"Why won't you just believe me? I'm going against my orders by telling you not to go. I want to save you."

"I don't need saved." I'm not worth it.

He's quiet for a while as I switch to mending Ava's jeans. She'd gotten holes in the knees earlier. I'll need to mend her green high tops, which are falling apart too. She hasn't worn them since the dome, but they were a gift from her dad.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I'm on watch."

"Izzy is on watch. You're doing menial tasks."

"Sewing isn't menial. Why am I arguing with a head of sand?"

The golem sighs, "you should rest. If you're going to be fighting my mistress, you really need to be at full strength. The mage just healed you. You need to recover."

"I'm not tired."

"Well, at least lie in a prone position with your eyes closed. It'll give you more energy than staying up all night."

"I don't sit still well."

"I'm worried about you."

I stab my needle into his face.

"Ah! What was that for!? Take it out! It hurts!"

"Good," I hiss. "Don't talk to me with his face like you care about me."

"I do care-."

I knock the head off the log I'd sat him on.

He yelps as he face plants into the dirt.

"Sleep well," I mumble, stabbing my needle through Ava's jeans.

We set off again in the morning.

Alex tries to make sense of my map while we walk, but all my landmarks look like squiggles.

Izzy even says one looks like a baby elephant.

It was supposed to be a large cliff side.

Cat falls in beside me as we walk.