The End

Chapter Nine

I woke up to the smell of camp fire smoke and the sun shining in my eyes, I felt rested for the first time in forever.
I sat up groaning, sleeping on the ground did not however make my back feel any better.
I stood up turning and walking back into the tent. My aunt sat in front of a small chest rummaging through clothes.
"Lydia your up! I was just looking for some clothes you could wear." She pulled out a plain blue tank top and a pair of simple jeans.
I smiled in acknowledgment rubbing the sleep from my eyes. She handed me the clothes stepping out so I could change.
When I walked out of the tent Ash was sitting on the ground waiting.
"Hey." I said
He looked up smiling, "Hey, how are you?" He askedstanding up to walk with me.
"Better." I replied. The camp was in a beautiful place, everyone ran around busily packing things and enjoying their time.
Ash took my hand and we walked to the farthest side of camp. The waterfall rushed down below us. I stood at the top looking over the edge. Sharp rocks far below filled my view making my stomach flip. Ash gripped my hand tighter as if begging me to come away from the edge.
When we walked back into the camp the group was sitting around the camp fire laughing and eating. Catherine smiled when she say us walk up.
"Hey guys!" She smiled waving with one hand, I noticed in her other hand was Jackson's.
My eyes got wide and I squealed. I ran over grabbing her free hand and dragging her to the side of the camp.
"When?!" I yelled jumping around.
"Last night, calm down geez." She laughed putting her hands on my shoulders to stop the bouncing.
I took a breath smiling, it was nice to smile.
"So? Are you guys official?" I asked eagerly.
"Yeah, looks like we are." She smiled rocking back and forth on her heels.
We walked back to the campfire where a sweet lady gave me a plate of food. It was nice to sit down and have a meal. I felt a pang of sadness, the last real meal I had was by campfire the night all of this started.
I missed my family, it still hurt. I shook my head pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind. I couldn't think like that right now.
I tuned back into the conversation where Maggie was making a horrible joke that I'm sure she learned from Tyler.
Although the joke itself was horrible, just hearing everybody else laugh made me laugh too.
After eating we walked back to our tent where my uncle gave us some chores to help them pack for the move tomorrow.
After we finished that I presented our idea for stopping the terrorists.
"It sounds like a decent plan but this is a much bigger job than you believe it to be Lydia. We can't just give a heartfelt speech and expect everyone to rush into it. This country is going to chaos, the President is dead as well as the Vice President, who knows who is next. They are powerful enough to knock out our armies, as far as I can see the only chance we have at surviving this hell is to run, and keep running until we know it's safe." My uncle said.
I knew he was right but I didn't want to accept it. There had to be something, anything.
"Listen, I'll call in a favor and see what I can do okay?" He smiled rubbing my back.
"Thank you." I sighed in relief, I just wanted this to be over and if there was any chance of that happening I was gonna take it.
I spent the rest of the day packing mostly, some of the older neighbors needed help moving large boxes or heavy things and even though I was small I was still pretty strong. I picked one box up frowning at the box underneath it, why was my name on it. It looked just like a box I had used as a kid when we moved. Maybe my aunt had it and gave it to the elderly lady I was helping.  Finally after listening to the old lady talk for an hour about her seven cats she left behind, we all headed to dinner.
"I like it here." Maggie said, filling the silence.
"Me too." Catherine agreed.
"Then you should stay. You are certainly welcome." My aunt smiled, despite all the bad she still put a smile on and for that I looked up to her.
"It's really been rough. All this running, constantly fearing for our lives, for the first time since this started I feel safe." Maggie sighed tears filling her eyes, "I just wish Tyler was here to see it." A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it off shaking her head.
"Sorry guys." She took a shaky breath trying to calm down. I set my plate down walking over to hug her.
"We have lost a lot I know. And in all honesty I'm sure we will lose more. But this is a war. And those deaths and loses no matter how much they hurt make us stronger. We are all struggling but we are in a good place now, with people who are gonna help take care of us and make sure that those loses are few and that they are not for nothing. This is our home now." I hugged her close. I needed to hear those words for myself, even if I was the one who said them it still helped.
I walked back over to Ash resting my head on his shoulder.
"You are right you know." He said cupping my face in his hands. I nodded quietly.
"We are gonna get through this Lydia, I promise we will. As long as we stick together." He moved his thumb over my cheek sending chills down my spine.
"I love you." I whispered.
"I love you too." He whispered back before connecting my lips with his. Kissing him felt warm, and amazing, I could feel some of the pain and stress rushing away as if he was taking it from me.
He pulled away slowly standing and pulling me up with him.
"Rest.We leave first thing tomorrow." He told me kissing me again and making his way back to his tent.

********

"This is it."
We removed the tracker from underneath the stalled truck.
"They shouldn't be far now. In fact, I believe I know exactly where they are."