The Erebus

PART ONE: Chapter 17

- The mountains should be right over that hill, - Alisia said, pointing to a large mound over which the sun was rising.

- That's great and all but I can't go any further! My leg is KILLING ME! - Hannah shouted.

- Quiet! Someone will hear us! - Kara snapped back.

- Oh, let me drill a hole through your leg and then you can teach me all about being quiet!

She lunged towards Kara but Jaden held her back.

- Look, we're all still a bit shocked, plus very sleep-deprived and some of us are in a lot of pain. Feeling on edge is normal, but we have to keep it together, - Jaden said calmly.

- I suppose we could rest for an hour or two, - Alisia suggested - We've lost the advantage of the night anyway.

- Thank you! - Hannah said gratefully, sitting down on the ground with her back against a tree. Kara sat down against the tree next to her.

- I will go scout ahead, make sure we don't get ambushed by a patrol, - Alisia said.

- I will accompany you, - Jaden added, for which Alisia have him a funny look.

- What? You can't go alone, it's too dangerous.

- Well, aren't I lucky.

Kara and Hannah watched the conversation intensely, in silence.

- Well, fine then. You can come, - she agreed, rolling her eyes.

- Great! Kara look after my sister, we shouldn't be long.

Kara nodded and the two of them left, heading around the hill in their path.

- Those two are totally going to bone, - Kara commented with a smile on her face.

- Ew, that's my brother. Besides, we don't even know if she's real.

- I'm just saying, I know that look on Jaden's face when he wants to...

- Did you and my brother ever...

- God no! I mean, he tried. But no! It's NOT something you do with your friends.

Hannah rolled her eyes, fully aware the comment was aimed straight at her. Alisia and Jaden were slowly and cautiously making their way around the hill.

- So, you're still not going to tell me the truth about what we're trying to do here? - Alisia asked, attempting to break the silence.

- I'm surprised it took you this long to ask.

- You better be right about this mysterious power. A lot of good men died in that forest.

- I'm right.

- How can you be sure?

- I just am. It's... you wouldn't understand.

Alisia frowned. She didn't like it when people underestimated her intelligence. She always thought of her mind as brilliant, so the idea of not being able to understand something didn't sit well with her.

- On the ship, when you said our goal should be to get everyone out of here, what did you mean?

Jaden stopped. There would clearly be no end to her line of questioning if he didn't give her any answers. He took a deep breath, getting ready to start his explanation once more. He was sick of it. Each time he said it, it reminded him how real and dire the situation he was in actually was.

- Alisia, this world, everything you see around you isn't real. All of this is a story, made up by a deranged psychopath.

- That... is insane.