The Strength of Ten

The beginning of Six/Four

Everybody groaned in disappointment. All of a sudden, Nine let out a whoop of delight as he rushed forward. He was right next to an overturned Humvee from the earlier battle. The small procession gazed at Nine in confusion for a while before realising his plan. “Nice! Sweet idea, Nine!” Sam yelled. Nine grinned cockily before using his strength to turn the vehicle the right way up, clambering into the driver’s seat. Four dumped Sam unceremoniously into the backseat before joining Nine up front. Thankfully, the military vehicle was large enough to fit all of them, and the rest climbed on board, Marina sandwiched in between Ella and Eight, the two she felt the closest to in the whole group. She leaned against Eight’s chest and closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep. But she hadn’t counted on Nine’s bumpy, reckless driving. Every time she felt herself drifting off, Nine always managed to go over a pothole or a bump, and she would be startled awake. In the end, she gave up sleeping altogether and just leaned into Eight. “Where are we going?” She asked Four. Four turned back and smiled at the position they were in. Both she and Eight blushed lightly. We’re going back to Paradise. We have to drop off Sarah.” Four replied, his smile vanishing. “What? John, no! Let me-” Sarah protested, only to be cut off by Four. “Sarah, your family’s probably wondering where you are, they’re probably already worried sick. Plus, we can’t bring you along. Sarah, Social Services is probably already looking for you. You can’t stay, Sarah.”  Sarah finally conceded and for the rest of the journey, she was utterly quiet, only letting out the occasional sob.

The rest of the journey, thankfully, was uneventful, with Marina resuming her position against Eight and Ella asleep next to her, hugging her arm like a bolster. Six was glancing between John and Sarah. The time in Mog captivity had given Sam the time he needed to think over his feelings for Six, and he had come to the conclusion that it was just a silly crush. He had told Six this during one of the pit stops they had made, and Six had been relieved, because she had realized that her feelings for Sam were just a silly crush too. Instead, whenever she glanced at John, a slight shiver ran down her spine as she admired his rugged good looks. She realized that her developing feelings for that idiot were growing stronger by the day. If Sarah hadn’t been there when they saw each other again in the battle against Setrakus, Six would have kissed John. If only... Six let her thoughts wander as she gazed at Four’s handsome features.