The Lady Darkness

Chapter 8

We have been trekking in the woods for about two hours now. I am in the middle of the long line of people that are stomping through the thick bush. Everyone carries a pack on their back stuffed to the brim with essentials for a long trip. The old man leads the pack with Charlie by his side. Leah just a few steps behind him. The walk is slow as we have people of all ages traveling with us. Those who are older, can't travel as fast and I'm afraid that we are going to get caught because of the slow pace we are traveling. We aren't the quietest either, but what can you expect from a large amount of people stomping through the woods. At the pace we are going, we aren't going to reach the other group for well over a month. Someone is bound to sniff us out by then and inform the GE's about our location, but we can't exactly leave anyone behind. That would make us no different than the GEs.

I am so deep in thought I almost didn't notice that we had stopped until it was too late and ran into the lady in front of me. Quickly muttering an apology and receiving a glare in return I turn my gaze to the front of the line, or what I can see of it. I don't see much, but I don't have to because I can hear well enough to know that an argument is taking place up at the front of the line. Taking a step out of line I make my way up to the front of the line; I recognize one of the voices. It's Charlie.

"It was chaos! I forgot! Why didn't you grab them while you were in your office?" Charlie's voice is strained and frustrated.

"I put that job on you! You had one job and you messed up!" As I get closer to the front I recognize the second voice to be the old man.

"I don't see why those documents are so important!" Charlie is muttering now, still obviously frustrated, but tired all the same.

"They could change the way this war ends! Those documents not only contain information on the whereabouts of all camps strewn throughout the country, but also intel I just received on them, intel that could allow us to win this war," the line is silent now besides the heavy breathing of the old man who stands a few people back.

If these documents contain information that could win us the war then we have to go back. I haven't been back long, but if anything I just experienced is what these people have been experiencing for years it is no way to live and we deserve more. We deserve to live free. Someone has to go back to get those documents before it is too late.

"Well, I'll just go back and get them if they are so important," Charlie is obviously embarrassed by his mistake and wants to make this right, but if he is to follow in his father's footsteps and take over this group then we need him, we can't risk sending him.

"No. I'll go," my voice is strong as I say this, yet on the inside my nerves are shot.

Everyone turns to face me for the second time in the past two days.

"Ivy we can't ask you to go back. Those documents are not as important as someone's life," the old man made his way over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I take a step away from him, ducking under his hand.

"If what you say is true and those documents can seal the fate of this war then we need them. If I go now then I can catch up with you guys hopefully by tomorrow." Again my voice is firm, but on the inside I'm asking myself why I'm volunteering for this. I know nothing about this war, I know nothing of my powers, yet I am willing to go back into a potentially dangerous situation all for some pieces of paper. Pieces of paper that could change our future if put into the wrong hands.

"Ivy we could not ask you to do this, not alone," the old man's eyes were pleading, he knew how important these documents are, yet he is not willing to risk me.

"I'll go with her," Damien says as he steps out of the crowd that has formed around us.

"It would need to be more than just the two of you, it isn't safe," the old man still refuses to let us go.

Damien shakes his head and comes closer to us before opening his mouth, "if there are more than two too much noise would be made and travel would be slower. If Ivy and myself leave now then we can be back before sunrise." Damien seems sure of himself.

The old man seems to be contemplating this, he knows it is true, he just doesn't want to have to send two of his people out on their own where possible danger could be lurking. He might have been more sure of sending us off if I could use the abilities that they claim I have.

"Father you can't really be thinking about sending them off! We just got Ivy back, we don't even know if she can handle the type of pace that Damien will be pushing!" Charlie says frantically making quick eye contact with me before his eyes go darting back to his father.

I understand that he just wants to protect me since I just got back, but that comment is uncalled for. I survived five years in prison, I can survive a little walk in the woods.

"We are going, I need to be able to do something to help instead of hiding away like a scared little girl," I hope my voice sounds fierce as I say this.

The old man only looks at Charlie before moving his eyes to Damien and nodding his head in which Damien nods back. Whatever agreement they just made, they don't want me knowing about it.

"Alright, we will make camp two miles east of here. If you guys are not back by mid morning tomorrow we shall move on and hope you guys can catch up," the old man focuses on me. He wants me to understand that if we don't make it back, he isn't going to risk the rest of his people for us. I nod. "Alright everyone, we are going to continue moving on! Stay together and move quickly!" The old man turns and starts walking.

I move out of the way to the side of the path to let everyone pass and Damien follows my lead. Most people don't look our way as they pass us by and those that do are sad looking, they think that this is a waste of our time, that we aren't going to make it back and unfortunately, they might be right.