Years of Dying

Chapter Tweleve

     Alex and Lafayette's chatter eventually dies away, and all that's left is the sound of the tires driving over sand. Alex had to be the one to drive, Since Lafayette was sent to the mines when he was fifteen, so he never had the chance to learn when he was in France. Herc and I, of course, didn't even bother learning about it because we both new what the future held for us. Maybe it was comforting, knowing, even if it was depressing. But right now, I have no idea what's about to come next. Like, what's going to happy with my friendship with Hercules? I'm sure it was only miscommunication that separated us, but... if he doesn't want to speak with me...
     "John." I lift my head, and see Herc staring at me, sorrow in his eyes. I lower my head again, staring at my worn boots.
     "Yeah?" I say, with a hint of anger in my voice. I can't help but feel contempt on the way he treated me.
     "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to walk away- there was so much pressure because- I was a slave again- and that whole day I expected to see you there because- I don't even know why. A part of me thought I had dreamt you coming to see me. But that actually happened, and we didn't really talk about anything but myself. It was stupid of me to assume that you'd be a slave too... but then it doesn't make sense- why were you a guard John?" Herc says all of this very quickly, and then sucks in a deep breath, waiting for my reply.
     "I was kind of forced into it," I mumble. "For you."
     "For me? I don't understand-"
     "The Captain blackmailed me, okay? He said he'd kill you unless I started to work for him. I didn't take it very seriously until one day he sent me a letter that said he had punished you because I was neglecting my duties. The same day I saw you in the quarry, I spent the whole day telling myself to do it for you. To do everything for you, because I can't do it myself." my voice breaks, and I can feel my eyes start to fill up with tears. The tears aren't for myself, I'm crying because I'm so glad that he's alright. That we got out of this. That he gave me a chance to explain.
      "John, it's okay. I'm okay," Herc mutters, and proceeds to pull me into a one armed hug, using his other to run my back as the tears fall down my face. "I don't know what day you got that letter, but it was probably nothing. I'm fine. And I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could go back in time and change what I did."
     "I w-wanna go back in time too," I say, nearly unintelligible through my sobs. "There's a m-million things I'd do differently."
     "Alex keep your eyes on the road!" We hear Laf shout from the front of the vehicle. The truck swerves to the right, but then gets back into place.
     "Sorry," We hear Alex sniff from the front of the truck. "Wait... road? This is a desert!"
     "I swear Alex, if you can't stop crying in the next five minutes, I'm driving!" Laf says to Alex, followed by shushing noises. Evidently these walls are not soundproof on either end. I can't help but smile as I close my eyes, enfolded in the comfort of Herc's arms.

     By the end of the drive, we've told each other everything. Alex and Laf have told us everything the rebels are planning on doing, every attack they've set up against the British. Hercules and I have told them what it was like in the mines. The stories differ for each of us. Herc's stories are mostly about mystery liquids the Captain forced him to drink.
"None of them did anything," Herc says quickly after seeing me open my mouth. "They just tasted like shit."
Soon, it's my turn to tell them what happened. Honestly... I don't even know where to begin. So I start when I was taken from the rebels and to the British. There are many parts where I have to stop for a moment, because someone voices a question, or I get too choked up to continue. Once I'm finished however, I feel exhausted. "Thanks for sharing, John." Herc says.
"Yeah well, I guess the Captain's plans are ruined now. He didn't really want anyone to know what he did to me or you." I reply.
"Good." Alex says from the front, his voice slightly muffled coming through the walls.
"Well, I'm glad we're all back together. I missed you two so much." Laf admits.
"Me too." the rest of us say together. There's this awkward silence, and then all four of us burst out laughing, and for a long time, it's hard to stop. Impossible even. Because a part of me doesn't want to stop. A part of me wants to keep this happy moment frozen in time forever so nothing can stop it from continuing.