✯ North Star ✯

14 - The Path We Follow

"Come on. We gotta keep moving," John B says as we walk.

His voice is tight, clipped. I can tell he's trying not to look over his shoulder every two seconds, but I feel it too — that creeping, prickling awareness that Singh's men are probably stepping on our footprints, every rustle of leaves behind us sending a fresh jolt through my chest.

"Singh and his men can't be far behind us," he adds.

"Keep on that heading northwest. That's the way the hand pointed. That's home," Big John says.

"Come on pick it up old man. Let's go."

I slow just enough to look back. Big John is falling behind, leaning on his knees. Something about it makes a knot twist in my stomach, worry creeping in underneath everything else I'm already carrying.

"I just need a minute..." Big John says, breathing hard.

"You need a minute? What are you talking about? Come on let's pick it up. Let's go."

"Go on I'll catch up. I just need a minute to catch my breath."

John B stops, groaning.
"Star, one sec. We got a straggler."

"All right." I nod, crouching down. My legs burn from the climb, my lungs feel like sandpaper, and for a second I'm grateful for the pause.

Then—
That sound.

A low, eerie whoosh like wind caught inside a throat.
My whole body goes still.

"Come on Dad."

"Yeah I'm coming. I'm coming—"

"Wait. Shh. Listen. Listen. Listen." My voice comes out sharper than I expect, some instinct rising up in me before I even understand why.

John B stiffens.
"What is that?"

"Do you hear that?" I whisper, my heart already picking up its pace.

It sounds like a cave is breathing.

"What the..." Big John murmurs.

"What?"

"Do you remember when you said no tongue but always speaking?" I ask Big John.

His head snaps to me.
"How do you know that?"

"I heard you talking to yourself." I said

"Yeah you do do that," John B says.

"I am nothing but hold everything. No tongue but always speaking," Big John repeats.

"Dad....she's onto something."

And suddenly I know.
I can't explain it — it's like something tugging inside my chest, pulling me forward before my mind has caught up.
"Oh my God. It's this way," I say, already running.

And the boys chase after me.

The cave mouth yawns open like it's been waiting.