The Rain (Book 3 - The Evolving)

Chapter 6 - Photographies froissées et nouveaux plans

She was still standing there in the morning, her hand still holding the cross and her mind thinking about their plan for the day. The rain hadn't stopped but she watched as less fell from the sky. They'd have to wait a few hours before it stopped completely.

Ross was the first of their group who woke. His first action, Jane watched, was to make sure Eric and Nate were still alive by checking their pulse. He took no immediate action, which told Jane that they were alive.

He looked up and noticed Jane in the centre of the room, watching his every move. He hopped off the table and weaved around the bodies of all the sleeping people until he was standing by her side.

"You been here all night?" He asked, watching the rain fall to the ground out the window as well. He saw her nod out the corner of his eye and saw the glint of something through the gaps of her fingers. He turned his head to see what it was but he figured it out before he made the full rotation. The cross. Her cross.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Jane asked, dropping her hand and turning to face him. He glanced down at her and took in her appearance. They held eye contact for a moment, but strangely, he was the one that broke it first, moving his head back to look out the cracked window.

"I mean, we have no plan, no leader. We're...." She replaced her words with a sigh, pursing her lips and looking back out the window above Drew's head.

Ross unclenched his jaw and did his best not to look at her. He didn't want to say these words, mostly because he knew that they were right.

"You're going to make a fine leader Jane. You just need to accept the world." He stated, swallowing the lump in his throat. It was hard for him to see anyone other than Courtney as their leader.

"I have accepted it." Jane objected, turning to face him. She opened her mouth to say more, to defend herself.

"No, you haven't." Ross countered, turning his head to face her. "You keep thinking that the world is going to change, fix itself." He said solemnly.  "And maybe it is." Hope glinted in his voice. But it faded as fast as it came. "But it's not changing anytime soon." His firm tone told her not to reply and as she listened to his words, she knew he was right.

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"Where are you going to go?" Jane asked Brian. The rain had stopped and they were all packed and ready to go.

He shrugged and pursed his lips. "I don't know, maybe head up North to Scotland?" He asked, unsure of whether it was a good idea. He looked over to Jane and they nodded at each other, both doubtful of what they were going to do. "What about you?" He asked, looking over Jane's shoulder to her group who looked broken and defeated.

She took a deep breath and he looked back to her. Her face showed every emotion she was feeling. Fear. Worry. Doubt. "I have no idea," She let out a dry chuckle at her honesty. Brian nodded and looked to his feet, the air becoming awkward between them.

Jane turned to walk away but his rushed words stopped her. "I'm sorry," He blurted quickly, Jane's brown furrowed and she pivoted, looking at him in confusion. "I'm..." He looked to the side and swallowed his words. "I'm the one that brought you here, I'm sorry." He whispered apologetically, eyes boring into her own.

Jane smiled comfortingly at him. "I should be thanking you," She whispered causing his head to snap up. Jane looked over her shoulder. "If you hadn't brought me here, I'd never have found my group." She watched them with hopeful eyes, they looked broken and lost but they'd find their way. Jane would show them the way. Everything that they'd been through would only make them stronger, fuelling their tired bodies with rage and anger.