Sight

5. Escaping Safety

Rhys' POV

I looked at Theo then back at the intercom, panic seeping into my body. For three months I had heard nothing from anyone, and now they're calling when I have a stranger with me?

'Rhys, you need to answer otherwise they'll get suspicious'

'Well hide then!'
Theo quickly dashed behind the wall to the next room, sneaking his head round to watch me but not letting himself be in sight of the camera. I took long deep breaths before forcing myself to press the button.

'This is Rhys Waters'
The video flickered before I got a clear view of the people I was speaking to. Lieutenant Sawyer, and a woman I didn't recognise.

'Rhys, apologies for the sudden call, are you doing well?'

The Lieutenant's face was emotionless, giving me no insight as to why they were contacting me. My eyes flickered to the woman's, there was something off here.
'Lieutenant Sawyer, yes I'm very well. Is there a reason for this call?'

'Well, I'm sorry to bring this to you, but yes there is. I'm aware of your relationship with Canaan Reid, and it has come to our attention that a few week's ago he left the outpost he was stationed at'

My heart rate increased even more as I tried to discretely slow my breathing down. So Canaan was another guard.

'Do you happen to know where he went?' The woman's sharp voice made me snap to her gaze. Sawyer looked down as she spoke. Was she his superior? Who is she?

'No disrespect ma'am, but I don't happen to know who you are'
She chuckled lowly but didn't show any emotion.
'My name is Moira. There's no need to worry, I'm just trying to help figure out where Canaan went. When was the last time you saw him?'

Normally I was good at lying on the spot, but for once I didn't know what to say.
'I don't know, before I got posted here. I haven't had any contact with him at all. Do you think he was attacked?'

'No, he left willingly. We have CCTV of him just walking out of the outpost, no bags or supplies. It's a dangerous place out there, and leaving your outpost is a criminal act.' Sawyer spoke up, he had a sad look in his eyes.

'Sawyer, we have to go'
He looked up at Moira before the call abruptly ended.

'Holy shit'
Theo came running round the corner, grabbing my shoulders before I could even process what happened.
'Rhys, Canaan must have been a close friend of yours, another guard or something. We need to leave the outpost, we need to go and find him.'

I just looked at him, still not able to process everything. If he left a few weeks ago, he must have came across the Elf Theo was telling me about. He could be anywhere by now.

'Theo, I don't know what to do'

'Pack your bags idiot, we're leaving'

- - - -

I couldn't believe I was actually doing this. As soon as I leave this building, my home for the last three months, I'll be a criminal. Hell, I had been since the moment I trusted Theo.

It was a strange feeling. Knowing you were intentionally leaving safety, to go into danger you don't yet know the extent of.

So much had happened that I still couldn't quite wrap my head around, and now I'm staring at the outpost for most probably the last time.

'Rhys, we need to go'

I was bought back to my senses by Theo's voice, turning my head to look at him heading into the wilderness.
He was carrying some bags with him, mostly medical equipment and food whilst I carried my own personal belongings, not that I had much.

I headed towards him until we walked side by side. We were walking in silence for most of it. I still had a feeling of anxiety, not knowing what I was walking into. It was only a little while until I realised I was mindlessly following Theo without question.

I halted, staring at his back until he noticed the lack of my presence.

'How do you know we're going the right way?'

He stared back at me, it was now an uncomfortable silence that filled the air. It made me remember the moment before the call with the Lieutenant, about him saying he needed to tell me something.

He walked until he stood in front of me, an almost guilty look on his face like he had been caught out. I guess he had.

'Before the call, I was trying to tell you something. I guess I didn't bring it up again because I knew you were already stressed'

Despite my annoyance that he didn't bring it up, I respected the reason he did it. I also respected that he was scared, it was written all over his face.

'You can tell me, Theo'

He looked at me before letting out a breath.

'So, I was saying that we have Sight, but I also gained another ability'
This caught my attention immediately. I tried not to make it obvious, but he could probably tell.
'The reason I know where to go, is because the um, the tree's told me'