A Final Stand

Chapter 6: Secrets Told

~Lukas's POV~

After two days of traveling, I've had no further contact from Jesse. Magnus hasn't either. That makes me worried. She said she was going to contact us if anything happened. So either nothing's happened, or she can't. I seriously hope it's the former, because if it's the latter... I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

"How much further to the city?" I ask.

"About ten minute's walk," Axel answers. "I used to scavenge there, before the Hunters took over."

"What'd you find?"

"Managed to pick up most of our old treasures."

"Anything else?"

"No, not really. Everything else was taken already. Just found some wolves. But never when I had any bones."

I nod. "What about Reuben?"

"Someone had already taken him when I started going back. He's probably been eaten by now."

I wish Jesse knew that. Not to be mean or anything, just like how you would want to know if your relatives died.

"Has Jesse contacted you yet?"

"No, she hasn't. I'm worried about h- about that."

He raises an eyebrow - half his unibrow - whatever - at me. "You were about to say you were worried about her, weren't you," he says. Not like he was accusing me, but just stating a fact.

I duck my head. "Yeah. I was." I'm about to get killed.

He pats me on the back. "Hey, I am too. Nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Axel? Can I talk to you?"

"You already are, dude. What's up?"

I take a deep breath. "Look, I - I get it now. Why you were trying to push me away from you and Olivia and Jesse, back at the beginning. They were your only friends back then, like a family, and I was shoving in and getting in your way. And-"

"Hey. It's okay. I forgave you when you and Jesse saved us from the Grinder."

I had forgotten about that. "Oh," is all I can say.

"You being worried about her... it's not just friend-for-friend, is it? It seems a lot deeper than that."

There's a long pause in the conversation as I try to organize my thoughts.

"You don't need to answer if you don't want to," he says. Helpful.

"I'm sorry, Axel. I really do like her. I mean, I don't want to get in your way, but I do."

Well, aren't I a blabbermouth. I'm telling everyone these days.

He sighs. "Have you told her?"

"No. What if... what if she doesn't feel the same way to me? What if she starts considering me an enemy?"

"Hey. If I know Jesse at all, she'll accept you, no matter what. And besides, what could happen to her?"

<Jesse's POV>

I lie on the ground, trembling. After the meeting with the Chief, my jailer tossed me into this cell and splashed a Potion of Weakness on me.

So that's why I can't say anything to Lukas or Magnus. Stupid potions.

My mind turns back to the meeting.

The jailer had pulled me into a grand throne room and told me to stand, then retreated to the door. By then, I was barely able to stand unsupported, but I managed, and the blindness potion had worn off.