Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter One: Part Fourteen

Did he know? What a ridiculous question to ask. Of course, he knew, he always knew. The boy was always ahead like he had visions of the future. Emmy watched him the way he cocked his head to the side eyes trailing the map like he already knew every detail. She could almost sneer at the obvious however that he indeed knew. "I should ask when right?" She cleared up that it was a question that made more sense to ask after all.

"Long enough... At least speculating" he was always so calculated. He had two functions really either calculating or hot-headed either one came with impulsiveness however. At this point was there a point to argue she knew him well enough now Troy would always do what he wanted to do and if he didn't he would just figure out a way to do it anyway.

"Whether they knew about us before or after the run is a question right? When they tried to sabotage the vehicles and you... found them" she grabbed a marker and circled the area "Is there any other way besides this one road?" She tapped the section they were already aware of.

"Two at least I think.." he concluded.

Emmy simply nodded at points with Troy it was easier to nod in understanding than argue occasionally with his never-ending lingering of details. It was almost as if it were a game to him sometimes as though to figure out if someone would catch on and be just as smart as him. He tapped a single calloused finger against the map there was nothing but woods on the picture of the land itself but she didn't even doubt he already knew now she had caught up. "Have you scouted it?" Was all she bothered asking after all he was always going to be shady with his behaviour anyway.

"Not yet" he spoke giving her a side eye "I was waiting on you to confirm..."

Emmy met his eyes "Ready then?..."

:::

The truck rattled with every movement the roads were rough, nothing paved just sheer rocks and dirt occasionally the ding of a stone flicking up from the tyres could be heard as it hit the metal. Emmy found herself deep in thought anyway the silence didn't bother her and it wasn't like Kai was there to keep blabbering. Occasionally she glanced at Troy behind the wheel his eyes focused on the road ahead, I didn't feel like a run, it didn't feel like a normal move for them there was something that left a sinking feeling in her gut one she ignored however just to push forward. The woods thickened, branches stretched out as though trying to grab hold of the vehicle but merely snapped with its force tearing through the unfamiliar terrain that just seemed to get more uneven the more they moved along.

"These roads suck" Daisy suddenly groaned as though she were about to vomit. The sudden sound almost made Emmy jump however.

"Ease up Troy" Emmy spoke her voice came out a little weaker than anticipated. As though speaking just after screaming.

Troy's eyebrows furrowed as they so often did whether it be from the harsh sun glare or simply in thought "I can't flatten the roads, Em" she wanted to roll her eyes at his response instead her mind remained unmoved and fixed on what was ahead. She knew anyway it was a pointless request even slow the road was still nothing but rocks and dirt and every move was a bump on the uneven path. The vehicle remained moving fast through the trees till it happened, that uneven path was suddenly shaken up by thick metal piercing the tires the speed made the truck wobble and Troy's hands struggled to maintain it on path while everyone inside panic, Daisy was shouting to break she was shouting so loud Emmy couldn't make out what Jay was saying her hands tightly gripping the sides of the seat her knuckles whitening from the grip but eventually it succumb to the obvious as it veered off and slammed into a bunch of trees bouncing violently as it bounded through the brush.

Emmy's ears rang and every other sound felt muffled as she slowly opened her eyes light coming in through the now smashed windshield was blinding as she slowly began to look around the place. Her head felt warm and wet so she could only assume she had hit it somehow, glancing around the inside of the truck Daisy and Jay seemed to both be unconscious. Emmy struggled to move her body it didn't hurt too much more as though it was cramped up As she leaned over the seat she held her hand out able to feel both their breath. That was when she realised the driver's seat was empty. Looking to the spot beside her Troy was gone, glancing to the front as though he could've flown out the windshield but it was merely cracked and broken in places and not completely smashed up. Emmy unbuckled her seat belt before pushing open her door which seemed to resist for a moment or two before she finally got it open and stumbled out. There was no sign of Troy at all a sense of worry sank in as she slowly wandered around the truck trying to evaluate it. From it landing into a few trees it certainly didn't look good for its future. Emmy sighed rubbing at her bloodied forehead before glancing around again the glare of the sun was bad even through the trees that surrounded them. Emmy stepped away and back towards the road they were just on she wasn't sure how far they had travelled from whatever pierced the tyres. She knew one thing for sure though that they were definitely close.

A sudden whistle from behind her caught her off guard from the quiet of the place causing Emmy to quickly turn she didn't have much time to react before the butt of a gun made its way to strike her in the face.