Halo | 18+

chapter forty one

- AURELIA JONES -

Being awake for thirty-six hours isn't something I'd ever expect myself to do.

Yet here I am, struggling to keep my eyes open as we walk miles to find a decent, working car. We'd found one a while back, but I gave up my spot so the others could fit. 

Shoju and I stayed behind, waling side by side with guns loaded and ready incase we drew any unwanted attention to ourselves.

"Where did you say the others were? Are you sure they're coming back?" He asked me.

I looked up at him through tired lashes, getting a fright as I realised it was him who was talking.

"Um- what? Yeah, no. They're coming back, I promise." I said, looking back down at the ground as I stifled a yawn. My feet ached from walking, and my back was sore from carrying a pack bigger than I was.

Shoju towered over me, a pack and duffel sitting effortlessly on his back.

"Hey- what about this one?" Shoju asked, stopping to look at a beat-up black Sedan with all four tires and no smashed windows, I glanced at it, eyes widening for a moment in fear before shaking it off.

"Aurelia?" Shoju said. I jumped again, feeling his hand in mine. I looked at our conjoined hands and smiled, my head ringing with fatigue.

"Are you okay?" His voice sounded faint, yet I nodded, "Perfect. This one looks fine. Do you want to check if it has fuel?" I asked him, unclipping the walkie-talkie that was hanging from my belt loop. 

We'd taken them from the boat and upgraded our old ones, finding a fresh pair of batteries to go along with it.

I fiddled with the buttons and raised the antenna, "Angel? Do you copy?" I said into the speaker-bit.

At first there was no response and my heart started to race, until the signal crackled through and her beautiful voice rang in my ears, "I copy. Have you found something?" She asked.

"A sedan." I made eyes with Shoju who shrugged and nodded, confirming it was safe to drive, "Where are you guys?" 

"Follow the tree-line a metre from where we left you guys, we hit a detour and had to stop. If you leave now, you can catch up." 

I followed her orders and waited for Shoju to work his magic on the car. 

Rez had shown him how to hot-wire, but something tells me he already knew. Judging by the way he cracked the window and unlocked the car without any tools, I have a suspicion there's more to Shoju then he's letting on.

The sun was growing hotter and I was getting worse. Hot and cold flushes kept appearing out of nowhere and I was starting to see things. I blinked away whatever it was I was seeing and adjusted my eyes.

The car rumbled to a start and I thanked the lords that I had somebody on my side, "Well, lets get moving shall we?" 

+ + + 

Eventually we caught up to the others. 

Lyza insisted on driving with Shoju and I, but I told her it'd be safer if she rode with the boys. Angel was keeping her company, and every now and then she'd turn around to wave at us.