ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

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• ＲＡＩＤＥＮ •

The sky was still a deep shade of indigo when I woke, the faintest hints of dawn just beginning to creep over the horizon. I lay there for a moment, staring up at the dark, starless sky, letting the cold air sharpen my senses. The others were still asleep, their breaths rising and falling in soft, even rhythms around the campfire's dying embers. But even in sleep, there was a tension to them—an ever-present reminder that none of us were truly safe.

I turned my head slightly, my gaze finding Willow where she slept beside me. Her face was peaceful, almost serene, but I could see the exhaustion etched into the lines around her eyes, the weariness that had settled into her bones. She had been carrying so much—too much, really. And I didn't know how to help her lighten that load.

Not that I could talk. I had my own demons to wrestle with. I could feel them now, lurking at the edges of my thoughts, waiting for a moment of weakness. But I couldn't afford to give in to them. Not now. Not when we were so close.

Carefully, I untangled myself from the thin blanket and stood, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles. I glanced around the camp, noting how everyone was curled up in their own worlds, trying to find whatever comfort they could in this unforgiving reality. Adrian was snoring softly near the van, his arm thrown over his eyes to block out the light. Ethan was sprawled out on his back, one hand resting on the hilt of his knife even in sleep. Luke, a little further away, was curled on his side, facing the fire.

Luke.

My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary, my chest tightening with a mix of emotions I didn't want to name. He and Willow had always been close, even before everything went to hell. And maybe that's why seeing them together last night had stirred something ugly in me, something I didn't like acknowledging. But it was there, and it was real.

Jealousy.

It was a bitter thing, cold and sharp, gnawing at the edges of my resolve. But it wasn't just about Luke and Willow's friendship. It was the fear that, despite everything we'd been through, I might lose her. Not to the Reapers, not to the government, to the world, but to someone else. Someone like Luke, who could offer her something simpler, something less complicated than what we had.

I shook the thought from my head and headed for the van, where I found Adrian already awake and rummaging through our supplies. "Morning," I muttered, my voice rough with sleep.

Adrian glanced up, offering a tired smile. "Morning. You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep," I replied, leaning against the van's doorframe. "Thought I'd check on things."

He nodded, his expression growing more serious. "We need to talk about our next move. We're running low on food and water, and the fuel situation isn't looking great either."

"Yeah, I know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I was thinking we could head toward that town we passed yesterday. Might be risky, but it's our best shot at getting what we need."

Adrian's brow furrowed in thought. "It's a gamble. We don't know what's waiting for us there."

"I'm aware," I said evenly. "But we don't have a choice. We can't keep going without supplies."

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're right. But we'll need to be careful—keep a low profile, avoid drawing attention."

"Of course," I agreed, my mind already turning over the details. "I'll scout ahead, see if there's any movement in the area. If it's clear, we'll move in quick, grab what we can, and get out."