Choices

Chapter 4: We Made It

The field stretches on in front of us. The tall grasses rustle as we walk through them, our pace is slow. We are tired, the day has taken a toll on all of us, both mentally and physically. The field is long, our journey is longer. With every step I take, it feels like the field stretches on that much further in front of us.

The narrowness of the field allows us to see the forest that surrounds it. The flowers and animals scattered throughout are a nice reprieve from the monotonous field. I can only hope that we can reach the end soon, as my body needs the sleep that awaits us in the trees on the other end.

We're nearly three-fourths of the way across when the sky dims, the setting sun filling the darkening sky with its colors. It's enough to give us a reason to push on that last little bit. We pick up our pace so that we can make it to the trees before dark and can have some light left to set up camp.

With our new pace, it doesn't take long to finally reach the trees on the other side. Mark barks out orders and we all follow silently, each just wanting to finally lay down and sleep. Jasen goes out and finds kindling for a fire, I grab a couple of fallen branches nearby and together we put together a little fire to keep us warm. Mark and Jacklyn work together to get our sleeping bags out and ready, and luckily, we get to crawl into them in short time. After eating, we all settle down with very little speaking.

I lay awake in my sleeping bag unable to fall asleep, even after the long and arduous day of walking. My mind is reeling and all I can think about is how I am one step further than Jax ever got. That if we had just waited a little longer, maybe he could still have been making the journey with me. That he's dead because of me, no, not because of me, because of my disease, my genetics, something I have no control over. These last thoughts don't do much to calm my mind, but they're just enough to allow me to finally fall asleep, and for that I am grateful.

***

We are on our way again making good time, fueled by last night's sleep, this morning's breakfast, and the future that is growing closer with every step. We hardly notice the tree branches that pull at our hair and clothing as we trek through the woods. We had set out almost immediately after we woke, only making time to eat and pack up. According to Mark's calculations and map, which hasn't been wrong yet, we should only be about two miles out from the base.

We stop when Mark believes we're half-way for water and to check our course. It's not long after that, that we start seeing signs of people. We all jump for joy when a path forms a few feet to our right. We step over onto it and continue on our way once again.

"We have to be close," Marks says, "withing a quarter mile I'd say."

"Close," says a voice.

We all jump at the sound, looking around for the source of the voice.

"Up here," the voice calls again.

I look up and see a man around the same age as me, sitting on a branch in the tree above, his back against the trunk and his legs out in front of him. We make eye-contact and he winks at me before swinging his legs around and jumping down.

"You're actually only about five-hundred feet away from the edge of our little base, but you would never know, would you?" he says smirking. "My name is Aiden, Aiden Clarke," he introduces. His face seems so familiar, but I just can't place it.

"I'm Jacklyn."

"Mark."

"Jasen."

"I'm Calla, but everyone calls me Cal." As I introduce myself, his gaze runs down my body, as it did for everyone else, but his reaction to mine is different. His eyes widen, and he looks away, refusing to meet my gaze as I try to figure out who he is.

"Let me lead you the rest of the way," he says and walks off.

We follow him as he walks between two bushes that line each side of the path, only leaving room for a single person to walk between. Once I step through, I'm greeted by the sight of a large clearing filled with houses and other buildings.

"Woah," Jacklyn says.

"Welcome to Westloch," he says semi-sarcastically. He swipes his hand out in front of him dramatically, as if he is showcasing something, which I suppose he is.

Jasen walks to my side and puts his arm around my shoulder as a sort of half-hug. "Are you okay?" he asks, turning and reaching to wipe a tear from my cheek. It isn't until then that I realize I have started to cry. I shake my head slowly and he pulls me into a hug. "It's ok, Cal, it will be ok," he whispers in my ear.

When he lets me go, Aiden is standing behind Jasen, I look of pity filling his eyes, but no confusion, unlike Mark and Jacklyn's stares. When his gaze meets mine, he looks away quickly once again.

"What is the matter with you Calla? I mean seriously, don't you think we deserve to know? You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for us!" Mark says exasperatedly.

"Come on Mark, can't you save it for another time? Maybe when she isn't so obviously shaken up??" Jasen says.

I put my hand on Jasen's arm, "It's ok Jas, he's right, they deserve to know." I swallow and prepare to tell them my life's secret, one only Jasen knows.