Operation Phoenix

Chapter Six

It was fairly dark now, only the faint light of the sky lit the woods around them--a deep blue hue that weaved through the trees like a fog.

Darkness... Darkness always meant danger, and they normally avoided it well, but there were only two of them now. Though they had hope that the others weren't dead, they understood that they'd have to get moving at some point. If they didn't get to New World, there would be hell to pay for everyone--not just the Runners.

Jack would've enjoyed the color of the sky, had the circumstances been better. It was navy, like the sweatshirt he'd given Rapunzel. He'd hoped she was still wearing it, wherever she was. it made him feel a bit more connected with her, despite how far away from each other they actually were.

Jack looked to his left.

Hiccup was sitting, silent and pensive.

He could understand what the man was going through, though Jack was rash and unreasonable when it came to grief. His heart still lurched every time he thought of the color of blood, or when he looked at the tunnel and the rubble that spread on the ground just a few yards away. He felt nothing now, probably in shock, or his body just didn't know how to react. Either way it was still painful. It was as if he was empty, and the only thing he could actually actively feel was pain--the deep, heart wrenching kind.

They'd decided they'd have to go the next morning, and that if neither Merida or Rapunzel showed up--well, they'd cross that bridge when it came.

The horses, Baby Tooth and Toothless seemed a bit uneasy, and upon closer examination it became apparent that Toothless had been cut down the barrel of his left front leg. The only thing both boys could think of was how Rapunzel would know just what to do--and have the tools. Toothless seemed distressed, being separated from the other horses. Of course, all four animals had not been taken off the farm for a while, as the Runners normally took cars, so they were Herd Bound now. It always made for difficulty when the horses were away from each other, especially if one was to go off on its own.

Jack rested his head in his hands for what felt like the millionth time. Why had he decided to go this way? Why hadn't he taken the longer way instead? He felt stupid, ignorant, like a total douche. All he wanted to do was hold both girls and tell them how much he appreciated them. He missed the playful banter that Merida and him used to have, not the actual fighting. What had been wrong lately? He might not ever find out, and that killed him. He felt like a dick, having their last memory together been of them quarreling.

As for Rapunzel, Jack just wished he would've marched up into Elsa's quarters and demanded the day off, told her that they weren't going to New World District--because then he would've had an entire day with Zellie to look forward to. He couldn't remember the last time they'd had a full day together.

Their common job was Running, but when they were home and doing nothing, Elsa also put them to work--not like she was a dictator or something, she just used them in places that she needed. For example, they'd spend some of their days patrolling the streets, or if a worker was sick she'd send one of them to fill in for them. But since Peak district had such a large population, they were always needed. Of course, they had relax time, Elsa didn't work them until their bones were falling off—she gave them half days and short days sometimes, but they hadn't had a full day off in forever. Not only that, but it had been a while since they'd been on an actual Run, which meant all those days they were home they mostly worked.

In fact, their only day off was the day they had to leave. Jack would've thought that was amusingly ironic had he not hated it, and had all this not happened.

Runners were the toughest, most reliable people in each district. So those situations are what he'd signed up for.

Jack reminisced in the idea of going back into the field and laying with Rapunzel. Listening to her slow breathing as she slept on his chest, the smell of her hair, the feel of her soft hands, the flowers she always had. He missed seeing her, he missed feeling her, and talking to her. He just missed her. The thing in his chest that seemed to tighten when he thought about her was almost unbearable, it was killing him.