No Way Out ➵ John Murphy

02 //

TWO.
❝are you insane like me? been in pain like me?❞

Murphy, she noticed, was bleeding. Layla hadn't noticed it happen but the sea creature must have gotten him. Jaha bent over him with concern once they reached the shore.

"Let me help." Jaha said to Murphy.

"I don't want anything from you." Murphy gritted out.

Layla hopped out of the rowboat and ignored the spat happening between the two remaining men.

Her eyes scanned the area. There wasn't much of anything. There was a lighthouse and then the land was completely covered by forest. There were no lights except for the one on the tower above that had led them here in the first place and it definitely wasn't a city.

Layla had done a good job of tuning Jaha and Murphy out but her attention snapped back to them when Murphy started to raise his voice.

"You're right. I am a survivor," said Murphy, his eyes were narrowed in Jaha's direction. "That's why I'm done. I'm done following you around."

"I'll go my way and you can go wherever the hell you want."

"John..." Jaha said but Murphy was already brushing past him and stomping up the rocky beach closer to where she was standing.

She let out a gasp when Murphy fell. She had gotten a closer look then of how much blood Murphy was after losing and it was a lot more than she had thought. Layla stepped forward but Jaha had beaten her to it, he tried to help Murphy but it was clear Murphy didn't want any of his help.

"Get the hell away from me." Layla could tell by Murphy's tone of voice he wasn't playing around. He was done with Jaha.

The familar hum of a drone was heard above her and Layla looked up to see just that. Jaha noticed it, too. He stepped away from wrestling Murphy and all his attention was suddenly on the drone.

"Please! Whoever you are you need to help us!"

Jaha yelled after the drone like a madman. Layla kept her mouth shut, she actually couldn't remember the last time she said anything, but Jaha seemed ridiculous hollering at the drone as if it could respond.

The drone zoomed further ahead and Jaha whipped back to glance down at Murphy. "Come on, John."

"I can't make it," Murphy said. His voice was laced with pain and anger. "Just go. We both know you want to."

Jaha looked back and forth between Murphy and the drone, that was getting smaller and more out of reach by the second.

"I'll come back for you," he promised to Murphy before turning to Layla for the first time since they had reached land. "Are you coming with me?"

She was torn. The drone might very well lead to the real City of Light and Layla would be content and saved. But Layla had seen firsthand what could happen if she slowed Jaha down when Craig was thrown into the ocean. She didn't want to be stuck with him alone. On the other hand, there was no civilization where they were currently standing and no signs of hope. Her eyes flashed down to meet Murphys: he was lying there, bloody and weak, and as much as Layla wanted to be selfish and take off she couldn't, like Jaha, leave him there to bleed out and die.

"I'm staying here." She said quietly. She was afraid if she said it louder they would be able to tell how unsure she was of her decision.

Murphy shook his head. "You should go. I'll survive, I always do."

"No, I'm staying."

Jaha nodded, already breaking off into a jog after the drone. "I'll come back. I'll come back for both of you."