Something Wild

Part VI: Chapter Twenty-Four

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Madison's POV

            "I left my group and Brie several months ago," Morgan divulges. "I couldn't handle being around them anymore, watching the way her sister, Katie, would suck the life and energy out of Brie. I know it doesn't come to as a shock, but I love Brie, even though most think I'm incapable of that. Anyway, I couldn't watch her put herself in more and more danger just to protect Katie who was only focused on protecting Alex, her girlfriend. So, I left, just like you're trying to do. Except, Brie followed me. She left her sister and her best friend to find me." She sighs running her fingers through her hair.

            "What happened?"

            "She found me a few towns over, we fought about it, like we always do," she continues to stare ahead. "I wanted her to do something for herself, to take control of her own life, instead of letting Katie dictate what she does. And Brie did, she came to look for me despite Katie not wanting her to. But when we got back to our camp Katie and Alex were gone, but their stuff was still there. We looked everywhere, but they were gone, we didn't have a choice but to assume they were dead."

            "Why are you telling me this, Morgan?" I ask softly.

            "Because, I left thinking I was protecting Brie, that I was helping her, but I made everything worse. We lost our friends, our family, and she blamed me." Her voice is thick, and I know she's fighting back tears trying to maintain the tough exterior she has shown to the rest of us. We're a lot more alike than I thought; I know what it's like to put on a façade just to survive, just to keep going. "I remember what she said to me right before we were taken by Samuel's men. She was cold when she spoke to me that day, she told me it was my fault her sister was gone, that Alex was gone. She said she took my advice and went for what she wanted: me. We know how that ended...

            "What I'm trying to say, Madison," Morgan says finally turning towards me. "We may think we're protecting them, helping them, but we're taking away their choice, their agency. It's not up to us to decide what is best for Brie or Valerie, or anyone us. You can leave if you want, if you think that it's best for you, but I can tell you, that it's not. It's lonely, and hard, and you will regret it. You said it yourself, you've both lost so much, do you really think either of you can handle losing each other too?" Morgan stands up then, dusting herself off before giving me her signature smirk. "Now, I have a beautiful woman waiting in bed for me, and you do, too. I know what choice I'm going to make, what about you?"

            With that, Morgan opens the front door and heads inside. And I'm left alone watching the sky get darker, the stars grow brighter, and my thoughts grow more sure.

            Inside, I rip up the letter and toss it in the trash. Marvel wakes up to the sound and sleepily follows me into mine and Val's room. As I crawl back into my spot, Vale wakes up.

            "Hey, where were you?" She murmurs, curling into my side as Marvel settles at the foot of the bed.

            "Just went to get some air, couldn't sleep," I say kissing her forehead.

            "Mm, I missed you," she sighs into my embrace, her breathing slowly evens out and I know she's asleep again. With her breath tickling my neck, and Marvel's paws kicking my foot, I start to fall asleep myself knowing I made the right choice.

***

            Ruby, Harley, and Dylan had gone back to the compound to see if they could get the truck working. The rest of us had no idea until a beaten up, burnt in some places, totally a death trap of a truck rolled up the driveway the other day. Ruby hopped out from behind the steering wheel with a satisfied grin as Luna, Morgan, Brie, Val, and I looked on in confusion.