Faultless

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

            After what seemed like forever, with me walking alone with my hands crossed over my chest, Benson and Maryn finally found a spot they thought was perfect. It was a little clearing in the middle of the woods. I could look up through the trees and see the full moon clearly. Benson proclaims that it’s cold so he throws together some sticks, pulls out some matches, and makes a fire. I was impressed not only by how prepared he was, but also that he even knew how to make a fire. He had never been the camping type.

We all sat around the fire. Benson and Maryn sat huddled on one side while Kali and I sat as far apart from each other as possible on the other side. Maryn shivered and Benson dropped his jacket around her shoulders. I stared at the fire, trying to focus on what my next move was going to be. As soon as we rescued Louis I would have to find away to get us away from them because I wasn’t going back the Division like they all believed. I couldn’t believe thoughts and plans of leaving Benson were coming so easily and naturally to me, as if it was nothing. Before this week, I couldn’t imagine my life without him and now I was making plans to willingly walk away from him. For some reason, my life and my well being seemed more important to me now.

“Why are you so quiet?” Benson said, interrupting my thoughts.

“I don’t know,” I said, rather annoyed, “I’m just strategizing how we’re going to get Louis back. You guys seem to think this is all some fun vacation or something. It’s not.”

“We know that,” Maryn shot at me. Maryn and I hardly ever argued, “But right now it’s time to rest and relax. You don’t need to be so tense all the time. It will just stress you out.”

“I do have to be tense all the time!” I yelled at them, “They could come find us and attack us anytime. I have to be ready to escape at all times.”

“You have to be ready?” Benson said, “I thought we were a team again. You can’t just up and leave without us, Ramona. If you do, we’ll stop you. You can’t run away anymore.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, “Unless people show up to capture me or Kali tries to kill me…again.” I glared at her.

“Kali won’t hurt you and neither will anyone else. Don’t run,” Benson said.

“I don’t think you guys understand the seriousness of the situation,” I argued.

“Yes, we do,” Maryn said, clearly getting more upset with me.

“No, you don’t,” I said, “They like you. Benson is practically a prodigy. You’re safe. I’m not. They’ll kill me. This is my life we’re talking about here.” Suddenly I could see how the roles had reversed and I was acting like Arnold, serious and always on alert. I was beginning to understand where he was coming from a lot of the time with his arguments and stubbornness.

“You don’t understand that they’re not going to kill you,” Maryn said, “They would never hurt you, Ramona.”

“Oh really?” I asked, “They killed your sister so what’s stopping them from killing me?” I knew it was a low blow as soon as it was out of my mouth. And I instantly regretted saying it. I saw Maryn begin to break down while Benson tried to comfort her. And all I could do was stand up and march off, upset with myself.

A few minutes later, Benson came and found me. We sat in silence for a few agonizing minutes. I tried to keep my eyes away from him as I continued to try and calm myself down.

“Hey. Look at me.” It was more of a demand than a simple statement. I looked at him, but I couldn’t make my eyes meet his. Something had definitely changed between us and I felt a bigger change coming.