Together We Survive

Follow the Leader

Alicia POV

I hovered in the doorway for a few moments as I gauged what my new travelling companions were doing with their time. Octavia sat on the arm of the ancient looking couch, angled towards the window so that she could cast her gaze out over the motel entrance. Atom and Murphy could be heard through the thin walls of the next room going through drawers and cupboards as they exchanged what they considered to be witty comments. 

A number of candles had been lit throughout the room, now that darkness had fallen outside it was our only source of light. 

After a slight hesitation I moved further into the room and claimed the side of the couch furthest from Octavia, who continued to stare unblinkingly out of the window. She seemed to be a tough character, undoubtedly shaped by the new world to survive whatever came her way. After being tackled to the ground by the girl, I had no reservations about her ability to take on danger, living or otherwise.

'Gum?' I offered, remembering the packet that I had been saving, shoved safely into the back pocket of my jeans. 

'Sure,' the she said, swivelling on the arm of the couch to face me. 'You found it?'

'Well, Elyza did, but she let me keep hold of it,' I explained, pulling out the foil packet to hand over a strip. 

Octavia said nothing in return and popped the gum in her mouth, resting an arm on the cushion as she observed me curiously. 

'What's the story between you two?' Octavia inquired, 'When Elyza left she wasn't exactly in the mood for company.'

'She saved my life, multiple times really. My family were long gone and I guess we sort of got stuck with each other,' I said slowly, not needing or wanting to go into the finer details. 

Octavia snorted, miraculously managing not to choke on her gum in the process. 

'I should've guessed, Elyza could never resist a damsel in distress,' she chuckled, noting how I immediately bristled at the comment. 

'Things have changed since then, I can handle myself.'

Octavia nodded, the humour falling away as her expression returned to it's previous seriousness.  

'I'm sure you can, Elyza wouldn't keep company with a useless dead weight, there must be something she sees in you.'

I paused, meeting her gaze, unsure if this was one of her concealed insults but there was no malice in her eyes. The tension fell away as a smirk grew on her lips.

'You could pass the mark on your cheek off as a battle scar, unless you'd rather tell people what really happened.'

'I think you'll find I had just bested Elyza before you intervened and took me off guard,' I scoffed, reminded of the sting in my cheek now that she mentioned it. It must have been convincing if Octavia had considered me a threat to her friend. 

'Well maybe one day we'll have a spar and see what you're really made of,' she said, clearly confident that there was no competition on my part. 

'From what I've seen it looks like you were raised to by assassins, you could always give me a few pointers though,' I suggested, not fancying my chances against her anytime in the future. 

'Smart,' Octavia commented, 'I see why Elyza likes you.'

And just like that it seemed that the air between us cleared. Any early suspicions about my presence had dissolved and I found myself liking this girl, her attitude and bravado a fresh experience.

---

Elyza's POV

'And he turned in the backseat?'