The War Satellite

Chapter Nineteen

Miles

After meeting up, we quickly fled deeper into the woods following the only compass we had. We were a little off course and had to speed up our pace to get back on track. As the adrenalin wore off my arm began to throb and I was afraid to look at it. I had hurt it getting past the wall, but I still hadn't seen what the full damage was.

I gritted my teeth and kept up the pace, reliving the run for the wall, appreciating the miracle of our intactness. Hopefully there wasn't a similar roadblock for the other team. We ran for a few more hours, dropping sometimes to a walk but keeping a constant movement towards the east.

The night had begun to lighten when Ben stopped us.

"We'll rest here, get our strength back, we will need to move faster in the daylight, and more carefully. Archer, Audrey, and I are on first watch. Logan, Miles and Jane, get some rest. We will wake you up in three or so hours.

We all nodded and I leaned against a tree trying to get comfortable. I pulled off my jacket and turned to inspect my arm. I let out a breath I had been holding, it wasn't too bad, it looked like a bullet had just got the tip of my bicep. I ripped a piece of cloth tucked into my belt off and made it into a remedy bandage. A little more at ease, I settled down and closed my eyes.

Before I knew it, Audrey was shaking me awake. Her eyes were bloodshot and dark shadows laced under her eyes. I stood up, motioning for her to take my spot. She smiled weakly.

"Always the gentleman."

I chuckled and gave her my jacket as a blanket.

"You don't know half of it." I stepped away and surveyed the area, I felt oddly rested by the nap and I could just barely feel the pain in my arm and my neck.

I climbed a tree and sat down on one of the tallest branches. I rested my head as I surveyed the scenery.

I could see the shadow of the hornet's wall to the north. Rolling hills decorated the horizon and I could see the sea in the distance. It would have been a perfect spot if not for the view of the wall.

I sat back enjoying the wind blowing through my hair. It was a little odd, I had only experienced this for the first time a couple months ago. The birds chirped happily to a tune I couldn't follow, but I knew it was a symphony to them.

The three hours had gone by quickly. I balanced on the branch and carefully stepped out of the foliage to see below me. Ben, Audrey and Archer were still asleep, might as well give them a couple minutes of rest. I surveyed the area once more and then jumped down into the clearing. Jane started as I landed.

"Sorry Jane."

She smiled and held her hand out to me. I took it and she brought me into a hug.

"I just realized that in all this chaos, we never talked about you getting your memories back." She said her eyes trained on my face. Reading my emotions, even when I tried to hide them. I shrugged.

"It's definitely overwhelming. I get confused a lot, I'm not sure what I should do or say. It's like a puzzle but you've been only given the edges, none of the middle pieces. It's a little frustrating."

She nodded and leaned back into the tree.

"I'll help you find those pieces. I promise. I haven't been a very good caretaker recently, I've forgotten my responsibilities to you kids. But you know that I'm here for you."

"Of course."

She smiled and closed her eyes taking a deep breath in and out. A content smile across her face.