Jorn had finished wrapping her left arm with fresh bandages. She finally made the time for it, the old ones fraying, offering no real protection against the sharp hands and jaws of The Rot. She even changed her shirt, wearing a thick black cotton shirt now.
Mara was waiting outside, ready to run their route today.
Jorn double-checked her pistol, feeling the weight in her hands and checking the magazine. She checked the knives next, sliding one into its holster at her thigh, the other in her boot. Everything needed to be perfect, every strap tight, every weapon in place. She couldn't afford to make mistakes today. Not with this new route and not with Mara watching.
She pulled her poncho over her head, the fabric falling over her shoulders, obscuring her upper body and the weapons she carried. Lastly, Jorn picked up Spencer's katana, a leather rope now securing the scabbard so Jorn could carry it on her back instead of her hip.
She ran her fingers along the hilt for a moment, feeling the rough texture of the grip beneath her calloused skin. Securing the katana across her back, she adjusted the straps once more, making sure everything was perfectly in place—something told her she would need it today.
Jorn stepped out, her boots crunching lightly on the dirt as she moved toward Mara. Today, the younger woman wore a black vest over a burgundy long-sleeved shirt, her dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail that swayed lightly with the breeze. The contrast of the deep red against her skin made her stand out, even amidst the dull grays of the camp.
Mara's eyes caught Jorn's approach immediately. Jorn steeled herself, the expression she wore was unreadable at first, but as Jorn drew closer, a flicker of something—maybe approval or curiosity—passed over Mara's face. Jorn noticed the shorter woman's gaze briefly lingered on the katana strapped across Jorn's back before she met Jorn's eyes with a raised eyebrow.
"Ready?" Jorn asked while walking past her.
"Yeah. Gonna grab my bag from Becca," Mara replied. "I'm leading today."
Jorn raised her eyebrow, halting her movement and turning around. "What?"
Mara slung her hands into her pockets and gave a casual shrug, as if her statement was the most natural thing in the world. "I'm leading," she repeated, her tone calm but firm, eyes meeting Jorn's without flinching.
Jorn's brow furrowed, her stance tightening. She didn't like surprises, especially not before a run. "You didn't discuss that with me."
"We're discussing it now."
Jorn exhaled through her nose, the irritation rising. She hadn't mentally prepared for Mara to lead, and the thought of not being in control didn't sit well with her. She didn't know if Mara had the capabilities to call the shots. One run together wasn't enough.
"Can you just trust me?"
Jorn shook her head, afraid of what might slip if she responded. So she didn't as she clenched her jaw. She hadn't even got a good look at the map yet.
※※※
Upon leaving camp, the tension Jorn was working through simmered, unspoken but palpable. The road ahead was going to be rough—Jorn could feel it. But Mara leading? That might be even worse. Having a negative mindset during a run was the easiest way to get killed, and Jorn knew this better than anyone, but she couldn't let it go.
As they moved out, the landscape around them grew increasingly desolate, with skeletal trees and abandoned vehicles dotting the sides of the road. The distant hum of the city loomed, a reminder of the danger they were heading into.
YOU ARE READING
Through The Ashes
RomanceOne day, the world falls. Chaos erupts, and nothing is ever the same. In the wake of a deadly virus that wipes out much of the population without warning, Jorn fights desperately to survive. As time passes, she finds herself working alongside a new...