Chapter 19

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December 30, 1918

Jaylyn shivered and scooted closer to Adam and the fire, in the distance gunshots rang out in the night despite the war ending November eleventh. "Explain to me again why going towards the fighting is a good idea."

"We're going around it." Adam corrected. "Sladen is still put off our trail for now... I must say your work was very aggressive."

Jaylyn averted her gaze from the flames with a shudder of the memory. "I didn't... not intentionally... it just happened."

"Nevertheless, that colorful display has made him even more mad at you and now we have to leave before he catches you."

She leaned into his side as another colder gust of wind made their fire sputter. "You didn't have to come with me then."

"No, I didn't." He replied, holding her closer to him. "But something tells me you'd freeze without me here."

"I'm taking that as an insult." She said with a halfhearted huff of anger.

"Then it should please you to know I would too... I wouldn't be surprised if Jack was right now if he's out in the middle of nowhere like us." He replied with a slightly too happy tone.

"He can't be that far behind us, perhaps one of us should patrol the area and look." As she said it she glanced around at the shadowy landscape around them.

"No. Right now we need to stay close. Otherwise we'll either die from the cold or from Ripper if he is around." He scanned the land as well before settling his dark gaze back to the edge of the small fire. "I'll take first watch though."

Jaylyn could tell he was exhausted despite his façade and shook her head. "You always take first watch, I'll do it this time."

He nodded in acceptance before lying down. "If I start turning blue or something, wake me up... I don't want to come back in icy water."

"And I don't want to drag you back here if you do." She replied with amusement.

Jaylyn waited until he was asleep before standing up, she wasn't sure if it was the cold or worry, but she was feeling restless. She paced their small camp sight, continuously looking around for any sign of soldiers or Ripper before settling back on the fire, which only glowed weakly. Surely Adam wouldn't care if she went to get more wood, it would keep them warmer until they set off again at dawn and there was a small cluster of trees nearby. She could still see Adam from there, if anything happened she'd hear it. Adam shifted as her shadow past over him and she paused to glance at him before continuing on her path.

It was even darker under the trees, if that was possible, and Jaylyn continued to glance around and pause after every few steps. If Ripper were sneaking around this would be a perfect place for an ambush. The thought seemed to summon movement and she turned to the right to see Jack's outline standing among the trees as he watched her. When he saw she had spotted him he approached fearlessly.

"About time someone showed up!" He spat, rubbing his arms roughly to stay warm.

Jaylyn gave him a look that was colder than the temperature. "Why is that? So you could kill them?"

"I wasn't about to just waltz into your camp, one of you would kill me... or both." His tone was bitter. "I would love to kill you, really, the way I can send fear coursing through you... it's like a drug."

"Freak." She muttered, still giving him a suspicious look.

"I don't want to freeze to death at the moment, I swear I won't kill you if you let me stay at the camp."

"I wouldn't trust you on your word."

"I always stick to my deals." He grinned. "Unless I'm offered a better one."

"Go fall in a lake."

"Funny you should say that." He walked closer and swept the thick snow aside with his boots. "Have you seen what's under all this snow? Thick ice. This place is a lake... more like a swamp I guess, but I could still drown in it."

"Then save me the trouble and do it." With that she turned away only to flinch at the sound of gunshots and a creaking sound from under them.

"I wouldn't move." Ripper growled and prepared to shoot again. "Or we both go under."

Jaylyn glared back at him before scanning the area, there was a low tree branch; if she could jump and grab it she might be able to save herself from falling into the water. Ripper was still waiting for her answer so she gave him a smirk before running a few steps and jumping for the branch as another gunshot went off and the ice cracked as Ripper moved to stop her. She glanced back as he disappeared beneath the surface, thrashing sounds filled the air for a few moments before fading away to silence. Jaylyn gave a sigh of relief before trying to start climbing along the limb, only for an unexpected icy patch to let her slip off and fall into the swamp below.

She suddenly knew why Ripper had drowned. The cold seemed to seep right into her bones; she felt her muscles locking up as she struggled to the solid ground. Once she was safe, or safer, she laid there shivering violently in a vain attempt to warm up. Jaylyn could feel her eyes starting to close and forced herself to her feet, she couldn't go to sleep now. But she also knew she wasn't going to make it. Deciding not to let Adam notice she died, Jaylyn grumbled under her breath before walking back to the swamp, stripping her clothing and slitting her throat, impatient for the hypothermia to finish her off.

By the time she reappeared, got dressed and collected more wood, it was almost time for Adam to take his shift of the watch. She ran towards camp, relieved and a bit nervous when she got back and saw Ripper was still nowhere in sight, that could've been a good or bad thing. Whatever the case was she could feel ice forming on her as the water froze; she sat right beside the fire in order to stay a bit warm while continuing to watch for any signs of Jack. Snow crunching made her jump and whip her head around only to relax as she saw Adam walking towards her.

He narrowed his eyes at her with suspicion before speaking as he continued walking. "You were supposed to wake me up a half hour ago."

"Sorry." She muttered before sneezing.

Adam turned back to give her an I told you so look but didn't say anything before turning away once more and pacing around the campfire's light. Jaylyn frowned in response, had he actually been able to guess? A scowl crossed her face, of course he had, he'd been around forever. Not to mention since they'd been traveling together he'd had time to learn all her tricks and mindset.

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