Counterfeit ✓

Chapter 25

THE HANDCART WITH the barrels of oil on it was heavier than expected. In the middle of the camp, Thomas and Mila waited for their breath to catch up again. They'd never make it at this pace, Mila rolled her eyes, irritated.

"What now?"

"Wait," Thomas said.

She scratched the back of her neck. The camp didn't have time to wait, in the end, they had no idea when the wolves were going to attack them or if they were just there to threaten. Mila bit her lip. It was already crazy enough that she thought of menacing wolves as if those beasts were thinking beyond their instincts.

Gripping the handle of the handcart, she pulled it. The cart didn't roll forward an inch. Mila placed her hands on her hips, threw Thomas a help-me-now gaze, and waited until he was ready for battle again.

After two minutes, he stood up, rubbed the dirt from his pants, and said, "I don't suppose Oliver will start a fistfight without us."

If the moment wasn't bad, Thomas had made a good joke, although Mila didn't laugh at it. Had the wolves approached the gate yet, or were they still where they stood before? Her stomach turned as she pulled the overweight cart.

Ten minutes later, they rounded the corner. Oliver was still standing on the viewing platform. Mila poked her tongue into her cheek, wondering what thoughts ran through Oliver once he noticed his best friend and Mila. To make it all happen faster, she pulled one more time. Her breaths quickened. She barely had the strength to pull it over, but she managed to handle it with Thomas.

"Who ordered roasted wolves?" Thomas joked.

Within a split second, Oliver peeked below and his eyes widened when he noticed them. "No. Wasn't I clear before?"

Mila's throat closed up. First, she didn't feel like fighting a losing battle against the camp's leader. Second, she didn't want to create a quarrel between her and Oliver. Stepping away, she put her hands in her pockets.

Thomas slightly shook his head. "Mila and I pushed it through camp. We didn't even try."

"No, Thomas. Climb up. See it yourself."

Without hesitation, Thomas climbed upward.

Mila was pretty sure he wouldn't continue his plan once he caught sight of the wolves. The animals could destroy the camp in a blink, and she assumed he wouldn't have wanted the destruction on his conscience.

"Enough distance between us and the wolves. We'll create fire in the middle. Shoot with our weapons."

Frowning, Mila looked up. As of now, she hadn't expected Thomas's reaction. In the last couple of days, she had learned he sided with Oliver all the time. Before Oliver responded, Mila joined them on the platform.

To make matters even worse, Thomas had a point. With strategy and luck, they could win the battle against the mutated wolves. Mila leaned on the railing, analyzed the situation, and looked at Oliver.

"He's right. Gather our troops. People who catapult the oil, others who stand ready with flares."

"We'll also make sure people throw water when it spirals out of control."

Mila added, "You can line up troops who shoot weapons on the other platform."

Thomas placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder. "We recoiled too much. Time to fight back."

Knowing Oliver, he'd stand his ground and keep everyone where he was now, but Mila was wrong. With a simple nod, he climbed down the stairs and instructed people down below to fight for their lives.