Counterfeit ✓

Chapter 38

OLIVER WAS ASLEEP after observing the camp. Mila stared at the starry sky while waiting for the agreed hour to rescue Thomas. She couldn't leave him alone and the plan wasn't completely foolproof, either. She didn't want her friends to give up on themselves to save her. Stephen only wanted her.

She pushed herself straight with her elbows and walked away from where Oliver slept. Elody didn't wake up either. Mila took a backpack, heaved a sigh, and headed toward the camp. She refused to let her friends take the blame for her mistakes.

Once more, she looked over her shoulder. Oliver lay peacefully asleep without realizing at any moment she was going to give herself up to save Thomas. After a nod, she walked through the dark forest. In the last few days, she hadn't heard from the wolves. It was as if the wild animals had disappeared from the globe.

Mila breathed in and out. She walked across the steep mountain pass and saw all the lights of the camp in the distance. Once upon a time, it was her home and now it belonged to the enemy. Someone who just spread hatred and sorrow. Mila put her backpack down on the ground, tied her hair together, and walked downstairs.

Before continuing to the camp where the guards noticed her, she took a branch and wrote a message on the ground. The last few days, it was raining, making it easy for her to leave a note for Oliver.

I'm sorry.

She carved it into the ground, bit her lip, and threw the branch into the thickets. From this moment on, she had to leave her old life behind. It was time to start a new chapter. A painful one. But one to save Thomas.

"You're not leaving without me, are you?"

Mila was shocked. She pressed her lips together in a thin line when she noticed Elody standing in front of her with a big grin. Without saying a word, she walked to the camp.

Just in time, Elody stopped her. "You're in plain sight."

"I know."

Elody rolled her eyes. "We have a plan."

"Oliver can't give up his life because they want me."

"We're saving Thomas. We're saving you. You don't have to worry about the sequel."

"You can't save me."

Elody pulled her further away. "We can do that. Trust me, I won't let you leave."

With a smooth movement, she threw her backpack to the ground and got ready for a fight. Mila stepped back. She realized Elody wanted to fight with her to stop her from saving Oliver. Biting her lip, she turned her gaze away. She'd never win a battle against Elody.

"Changed your mind?"

"The attack means our death. We can't save Thomas and ourselves. Do you think Stephen wasn't preparing for it?"

"I'm willing to become a prisoner for a good cause."

"Trust me," Mila said. "You don't want it with Stephen."

"We had an agreement. You don't throw a spanner in the works because you suddenly have a different idea about it. I refuse."

With a sigh, Mila sat down on the ground. She hoped to reach the camp without distractions, but Elody had stopped her plan. Without saying another word, she stared ahead. Meanwhile, Elody wiped away the message and stood back with Mila.

"We're leaving back to Oliver. Stick to the plan."

In order not to cause discussions, Mila reluctantly followed Elody back to the place where they had left Oliver. Oliver was already standing by the campfire, looking around and heaving a sigh of relief once he noticed they were back.