"The skin taker, He was using me. I was his to make do whatever needed. I had agreed to be on his side." Milo continued on.
"I know that," Janice said. "But what got us here?"
"He wanted me to get you and lie to you. He wanted me to take you back to him. I don't know what his plans were, but I wasn't gonna risk it. I wasn't gonna get you killed or put into whatever kind of labor he had planned. If I didn't do it, I would die for real."
"So you ran away?"
"I ran away with you. I don't need you getting hurt, Janice..."
Janice thought about what Milo had done. He'd risked both his own life and ran walked this distance to protect her. With what he's been through, he toughens up around people. He's this rude, angsty, boy who seems to only be satisfied by other people's hurt. That's who he pretends to be. He does it to protect himself, and to protect the people he cares about. He wants to protect her. He would never truly hurt Percy. He has an unconditional love for his big brother; he just doesn't show it.
"So where are we gonna go from here...?" Janice stared at the ground as they walked.
"Wherever we're taken, my dear." He looked up ahead, trying to see the deep blue ocean and the waves crashing, but nothing so far. Nothing but more dirt and sand, kicking up and making dust in the air.
"Milo, I'm hungry."
"You think we should have break time?" He looked down at her and she nodded in response. He sat down on the ground with Janice in front of him, and took a bag off his back. It was filled with things that would last them the next few days until they found somewhere.
The two ventured on, Milo typically having to carry Janice upon his shoulders, or in his arms during the night so that she could rest. However, not too long after their journey, they reached the sparkling water they'd been waiting for.
