End Of An Era

Chapter Seven: The Devil Laughs

November 20, 2023, Illinois, Genevia, Six Miles East of Camp SPEAR, 10:21 Hours

(Ashley's POV)

I shiver a bit as the cold wind blows directly into my face, and duck back down behind the barricade that me and Pierce were order by Jade to provide security.

It has been about two hours into our watch and literally nothing has happened.

Pierce sighs.

Pierce: "This is miserable, why does Jax get to be with Jade in the tent again?" He asks me.

"Because of his handwriting like always, by spirits this does suck." I admit it with him feeling the wind blow against my back.

I look up to see a gray sky devoid of any real indication of where the sun is at.

Just a dark gloomy day as usual.

"What do you think Phoenix is doing right now?" I ask, and notice Pierce get upset.

Pierce: "You are really still thinking about him? He even said that he is not going to come back, Ash." He stands up and takes a few steps looking around, "Besides, it seemed like we just tagged along with him just to bring him here."

"What if he does come back?" I ask.

Pierce: "If he does then he better have a good reason to want to come back, he doesn't like Jade and vice versa." He sighs, "I get it that you liked him, but you have to move on."

I stand up.

"What are you implying?" I say.

Pierce crosses his arms and lets his rifle hang from the sling.

Pierce: "You know exactly what I am saying and find it a bit disgusting myself." He states.

"Shut up!" I yell, "We didn't do anything, and he won't even dare try anything."

Pierce puts his hands out defensively.

Pierce: "Alright alright keep it down, the last thing we need is Jade coming over here pissed about us shouting." He mentions Jade and reminds me about how Jade is right now.

"Let's just get back to doing..." I wave my hand around the landscape in front of us, "This." I state, defeated.

Pierce just nods and leans over the barricade as he looks out into the distance.

Pierce: "Do you even think the human fighters would come all the way out here? It's a hell of a hike to even get near here." He says.

"I wouldn't bet on it, Jade makes these humans sound worse from her last brief from Alaska." I say, and lean on the barricade with him, "I would want to see the city that everyone in APEX always talks about."

Pierce: "I personally think Chicago is just ruins since everyone talks about how APEX laid waste to those bastards, and I don't blame them after hearing some of the stories." He says and rubs his hands together to try and warm up.

"It's still weird to me that you wanted to help Charle's back on the train even though you knew he was one of them." I say.

Pierce: "He spared me, so I at least wanted to return the favor. He took it too far assisting in Jade problems." He reminds me about Jade again.

I open my mouth to say something but stop and think for a minute.

"Alright, I'll admit what he did was wrong. Will that at least make you back off me about him?" I replied.