𝐦𝐞, 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞.

>>Chapter 13<<

Ember's P.O.V

My lungs were burning and my legs were getting heavy. I looked over at my team and saw they were in the same condition. "Okay, break." I said and slowed down to as fast walk. The building was quite a ways behind us and it seemed safe to stop running. I knew better though. It was never safe. The sun was unforgiving as it beat down on us. "Okay. We're going to find water and a cave today." I said catching my breath.

We continued to run and stop several times until it was dusk out. I'd say we made it a good 10 miles from the building. "Look." Crawford said and pointed at a cactus. "It's going to be a bitch to get water from." Hayes stated. We stared to slice the needles from the cactus and then we it was safe, put a hole in it and sipped from it. It tasted foul but it was still water. We ran again until we stumbled upon a cave in the rock side.

"Camping here tonight." I said and pointed to the cave. The had to be some kind of fox or something in it. "Williams, clear it out." I said and handed him the knife. A couple seconds after he went in, I heard a yelp. "I have dinner." Williams said and walked out of the cave with a large eared fox in hand. I cringed at the thought of eating wild game but it was all we had.

I looked back in the direction we ran from and couldn't see to complex we were held captive in any more. I sighed and wiped sweat off of my forehead with the back of my hand. "Okay start a fire with some sticks and get 'er cookin'" I said and rested on a rock to catch my breath. My mind instantly rushed back to Cole and the dying look in his eyes. He died at the hands of the savages and I vow everyone of them will die at mine. He was supposed to be my husband, the father to our children but it was quickly ripped away from me. My eyes had filled with tears but I refused to let them slip.

Survive. That's all you can think about, Ember. I told myself the team was the main priority. My job will not be done until they all are safe on American soil. I stood up and approached Crawford who was carrying sticks the a pile of smaller ones. "What I'd do to have some matches." She sighed as she got om the ground with two sticks in her hands. She rubbed them quickly on a piece of bark she was lucky to find. The rest of the team stood around us with wild eyes, wanting to see the flame engulf the sticks.

Then a spark flew from it and then another and another. After much effort, the fire with lit and Crawford was slicing the fox ito strips. She handed us each a strip and we roasted them upon sticks.

"Kinda like Marshmallows." Baker laughed a small pathetic laugh, probably recalling some childhood memory. I couldn't even smile at it. There was multiple minutes of silence before I spoke up. "Would you've still chose the Marines if you knew this was where you'd end up?" I spoke barley above a whisper. I listened to the crackle of the fire, thinking about Julian and Cole. Death plagued my life and I was only 19. I was naive to believe everyone would be okay. Then someone spoke.

"Yeah. I know I would. This isn't fun and I've been wounded more times then I could count but if it wasn't me sitting right here, in the middle of the desert, with you guys then there would be someone else, maybe in a worse condition than me, having to deal with it all. So I'd do it again. Maybe not make the exact same choices. Hell, I'd rather be flying planes than eating this shit but that's life. No do-overs." Williamson preached to me.

It was good to know how he felt on this whole situation. I nodded my head, still feeling completely numb. "I'll take the first shift."I grumbled and everyone shifted to headed into the cave except for Baker. She was my partner to take watch with. I sighed and got up off my ass. I couldn't push this numb feeling but had shit to do. I stomped on the fire with my boot and sat back down. I felt different, like whatever was left inside of me had just gotten darker, more deadly. Like I was losing this inner battle inside of me. I felt numb, like my heart didn't want to beat anymore. I was a different person.

This was going to be a long trudge back home.

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Emily here !