𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃, 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐨¹

𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 - 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
[ chapter seven—tensions rising ]

Adaline leaned forward as Jake leaned across the truck to reach inside the glovebox. He pulled a pistol out, placing it into the cup holder beside him.

Nick glanced at his sister, pulling his jacket off and covering the reverse mirror for a split second. He's going to kill him. Nick mouthed, tossing his jacket back at his sister.

The girl scoffed, shoving the jacket into the seat beside her. "You know Troy could've killed me— us," Nick spoke up.

Jake glanced back at Adaline in the rearview mirror confused. "Why would he kill you?" The blonde girl leaned back in her seat, twirling the green stone around her neck between her fingers.

"We'll, he wouldn't, but, you know, he could've hurt me. That's my point— he could've hurt any of us and he didn't." Good save. "I think he came to warn, not harm." He continued, Jake looked over at the boy refusing to respond to him.

Adaline climbed over the seat as a dust cloud rose. "Fuck." She hissed, the truck coming to a rolling halt, all eyes on the ever-growing cloud.

Jake put the car into third, pressing his foot down. The truck made it further up the hill when they noticed the horde who'd created all that dust.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Nadia sat in the empty breakfast tent, Mikaela seated beside her with a hot mug between her hands. "Nick, Adaline, and Jake are in trouble," Alicia spoke softly to Ofelia. "They went out this morning, and I think they came across a horde."

Ofelia furrowed her eyebrows. "You think?"

"We know. We saw it from Rook's rest, walking trail." The brunette girl spoke.

Ofelia sighed, pressing her eyes shut. "We need to go out there and see what we're dealing with." Ofelia frowned. "Wait, why'd they go alone?" Nadia looked up at Alicia, who looked back at her.

"Does it matter?" Nadia asked, standing up from her seat. "Yeah, it matters." Ofelia snapped. "We scout in packs, safety in numbers. It's protocol, you know that." Alicia avoided both girls' gazes.

"Troy snuck into the camp last night and told Adaline and Nick there was something wrong going on out there." Ofelia scoffed, rolling her eyes back.

"Trot, how wonderful." She sneered. "Yeah, Crazy Dog is gonna be overjoyed." The group glanced at the boy in question, Nadia shrugging gently. "He doesn't have to know how we know. We just need to stop it."

Ofelia narrowed her eyes at the girl. "How do I know Troys are not waiting to ambush?"

Nadia stepped toward the girls. "You don't. But we trust Nick and Jake to stop it." Mikaela picked up her cup. "Have a little faith, Ofelia."

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline walked to the edge, pinching herself for even believing for a second that he had warned them and not doomed them.

Troy knelt before the horde like they were his Jesus. Jake climbed down the hill faster than either sibling.

Nick stepped in front of Jake, muttering something that had gotten lost over the snarling of the dead. Adaline stood at what she felt was a safe distance from the boy. Troy looked at the blonde, smiling.

Nick stood before his sister. "It's a cleansing." More like an extinction, but Cleansing works too. Nick leaned over, his hands above his knees for support. "Troy." With no answer from the boy Nick who also knelt at a safe distance began to speak again. "Listen. You're not right in the head, man."