Linked

Chapter 16

After coming to an agreement that we would rescue Dustin, Jordan, and Emily, Liam and I stopped at a far off gas station to refuel.  Not only that, but to get me some new clothes.  My current attire provided little protection from the cold and guards we would fight, so we chose a small, desolate store to get new garments.

Liam refueled the car as I stepped inside to look for clothes.  The only person there was the cashier who was absorbed in her headphones, so I didn't need to worry about her.

I walked over to the clothes section and picked out a white, neutral t-shirt, some jeans, and a hoodie that read Free as a Bird; ironic how that worked out.  Anyway, I scooped up the clothing and deposited it onto the cashier counter.  She looked up at me and took in my strange aura, probably thinking I'm mad.

"Um, is this all?"  She asked me.   My guess was wrong, she wasn't phased be me, in fact, she seemed ready to fight if I proved dangerous.

"Yep.  Ring me up.  No receipt please,"  I added calmly, to through her off my trail.  I don't need this extra obstacle today.

"Okay, that'll be $66.50,"  I'd forgotten how much clothes were, yet excepted the price.

"Alright,"  I reached into the wallet Liam had given me and pulled the amount in cash from the leather, "Here."

"Thanks.  Here's your change,"  I took it quickly, eager to get out of these clothes.  I turned and stepped toward the bathroom to change, but the lady stopped me, "Ma'am, could I ask where you've been?"  Oh no.  Don't ask that.  Man, did I need Dustin right now.

I was preparing to respond as the cashier looked at me with more and more suspicion, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"She's with me.  We were just taking a road trip together,"  All Liam had was confidence while speaking.  The woman looked slightly taken aback, clear that this was a lie, but knowing she couldn't take him on.

"Alright then, Sir.  Well, you two have a great rest of your day,"  She nodded.

"Thanks.  We will,"  Liam took my arm and led me to the bathroom door, "I'll wait here.  You go change."

"I will.  Thanks for saving me back there."

"Anytime, C,"  He winked and I rolled my eyes with a loving smirk.

~~~

Soon after I changed clothes, Liam and I had gotten back on the road, and started driving toward another corner of the state.  I knew the Boss had spread out our facilities, and naturally made the conclusion that each of us were in a separate corner of the state.  It worked out perfectly since there were four of us:  Me, Dustin, Jordan, and Emily.

Not knowing who we were saving first, we reaching the edge of the state.  We parked along the road once more, and dove into the forest.  This time I wasn't on my own.  With Liam by my side, I felt unstoppable, and safe.

Before long, Liam and I were standing in the shadow of a large building.  Instead of the one I'd been jailed in, which was small and insignificant, this one was relatively bigger.  It loomed in front of us as we walked toward it.  The barbed wire fence that had circled my building, had been replaced with an electric one.  Can't climb this one.

"How are we gonna get inside?"  I questioned Liam, hoping he had a plan.

"Well, there aren't any visible guards on the outside, so our focus is gonna be this fence,"  He gestured to it, "Since we can't climb it, we could look for another way inside, or a way to disable it... Let's look around."