The Nemesis Syndrome

39. Eliza

They walked in silence, Leo's steps sure as he pushed through the trees, though Eliza saw the flash of surprise in his eyes when they finally stumbled across a small town. The trees went right up to the fences that separated the outside world to gardens, and from the other side, children's laughter could be heard.

Eliza wondered what it was like to be really happy, to have that innocence and ability to laugh like there was nothing wrong in the world, no fear no hate no death.

There must have been something on her face- maybe longing- because Leo touched her arm lightly before nodding his head to keep her walking. They kept to the edge of the trees until they found a road and pavement.

'Come on.' Leo said, stepping onto the tarmac. 'Don't meet anyone's eyes or linger too long on anything.'

'This isn't safe.'

'We'll be fine.' He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes, and he swung his arm over her shoulders, looking down at her. 'See? We are a perfectly normal couple.'

They were far from normal, but she let it slide as they started to walk down the road. They passed a young man, and Eliza felt his hand tighten, and glanced up just in time to see his scowl fade.

He met her eyes.

'What?' She asked.

'You're so short.'

'That's just rude, Leo.'

'No. I just keep forgetting that you can look after yourself.'

Could she? Really? In the Circle...she hadn't raised a hand against him. Hadn't looked after herself at all.

'I keep thinking that I need to protect you. And I just keep failing. But you don't need it.'

She wasn't sure if he was really talking to her anymore, or to a ghost of his sister. I don't need you, She remembered those harsh words as if they were spoken days ago. I need to protect my sister.

'No.' she said quietly, wanting the conversation on safer, happier ground. 'Since I've been protecting you most of the time.'

'Where would I be without my tiny lion of a soulmate?'

Probably with your sister.

She knew he was only talking, playing along to keep up the act, to stop people from watching, but...

'Thank you.' She said suddenly.

'For what?'

'Coming back for me. You could have run and had it easier, I know that. So thank you.'

'I don't want gratitude for it.' It was a snap, but she knew it wasn't anger.

'Tough.'

'You're so stubborn.'

'It comes with height. The shorter you are, the more you have. Survival instinct and all that.'

He snorted- and they reached the main road, full of people and shops.

'Don't stare at the ground.' He said. 'Makes you look like you really are on the run. And suspicious.'

'You seem to know far too much about this, Leo.'

'Watch from the best, Eliza.'

She trailed behind him as he strode ahead, almost missing it when his hand snaked out and snagged a pair of sunglasses from a man's pocket.

He put them on as he walked into the small supermarket, and as Eliza walked in, she heard a huge crash.

'Oh god, I'm so sorry. I don't know how I even missed that standing there.'

Whatever it was Leo had knocked over was big enough to drag three workers away from where they were standing.

'Here, let me help... No, no. Please. Where does it go? I can...'

Voices, then.

'Okay. I am really sorry, I'm very happy to pay, just add it up when I get to the till. Thanks.'

He appeared round the corner, a grin so full of charm she almost did a double check to see if it was him. And as he walked, his hands snatched out and grabbed anything he landed on.

It was as he disappeared to the back of the shop Eliza realised something- something important that she had forgotten with the passing of so many days.

She went up a separate isle, pretending to study the fruit and drinks until she reached him.

'Pads.' She muttered, grabbing something and staring at the list of ingredients.

'What?'

Her cheeks burnt. 'I need pads. You know. For...'

'Periods, Eliza. You can say it, I'm not going to die of shock.'

'Yeah.'

'Okay. Go outside, I'll be out in a few.'

She ambled out and perched on the wall, staring at her swinging legs.

Until she heard another crash, and Leo running out, his pockets budging and a pack of pads in his hand.

'Might want to run.' He called out to her.

She swore, a very Leo word- they had spent too much time together. And she ran.

But she wasn't as fast as him, as strong. And for every one of his strides, it was like she was taking ten.

And then the car pulled up in front of them.

'In.' A voice snapped. 'Get in now.'