A teenage girl by the name of Ayla Meadows is held against her will and experimented on by a crazed scientist. Although she manages to escape the horrors with the help of a sheriff and his group, she is forever haunted by the memories of her torture...
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"None of us knows what might happen even in the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have faith." - Paulo Coelho
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The journey to Terminus doesn't take as long as Ayla expected it would. Fortunately for them, it turns out the compound was only half a days walk away and by the time they reach it, the sun is still out and shining.
In the short hours they spend following the train tracks, Ayla and Carl make the decision to stick by each other's side. At first, they attempt to keep the conversation positive by discussing simple things such as what new interests or skills they'd learned while apart - and for a brief period of time, it works.
Carl mentions that he took on a role in gardening whilst at the prison and found out it was something that he oddly enjoyed. Meanwhile, Ayla rambles on about how she has been given many opportunities to practice with her knives and in result has become so equipped with them that she is teetering on the edge of mastering them completely. However, the topics of conversation inevitably grow more difficult as the day drags on.
They walk in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company as the adults walk together ahead of them - however they are sure to not let their guards down. Although no words are spoken between them, Ayla can sense by the way that Carl is fidgeting with his hands that there is something on his mind. "Whats wrong?" She asks him worriedly but Carl only shakes his head.
"It's nothing." His words are rushed. "Don't worry about it."
Ayla nods and tries to let the whole ordeal go but Carl just won't stop fidgeting. She looks over to him and sees that his face is screwed up as well and she simply can't take it any longer. "Oh my god, Carl! Just tell me what's bothering you!" She snaps - probably a bit harsher than she should've.
However, Carl doesn't look offended by her outburst. "It's just..." He begins slowly as if unsure how to phrase his next words. "I'm worried about you, Ayla." He whispers softly and the girls eyes widen at the sincerity in his voice. "You're a walking medical miracle and it scares me. We don't know anything about your condition or how long this vaccine will last. I just got you back - I don't want to lose you again."
Pity fills Ayla's eyes as she looks at the boy. He appears so scared at the thought of losing her and it makes her chest physically ache. For a reason unbeknownst to her she has been given a second chance to be with her family. The thought of it being ripped away from her the second she's finally found them shakes her to the bone and she knows that Carl must share her feelings. Nonetheless, she wouldn't put it past the sick and twisted universe to kill her off right after she's been reunited with them. It wouldn't even be the most surprising thing that's happened lately.
