the next dark age: book two insanity

chapter 17 trying to regroup

Stephanie stared at the fire, which brought on violent flashbacks. Stephanie hated those flashbacks, but she also seemed to revel in them. They reminded her that she truly was who she thought she was. Maybe one day she could forgive herself, but that day would not be anytime soon.

The fire crackled loudly, breaking her out of her daydreams. Stephanie was still here, in the woods, with no one around. She was alive, while the others were dead, and now she was trapped.

Someone tapped her shoulder, "what?" Stephanie asked with a bite in her voice. Stephanie looked up to see Angel and Lizzy. Angel looked like she was on the verge of crying, again. Dear god, can Angel do anything else? Stephanie immediately regretted what she thought. Angel never asked to be a part of this mission, and the fact that Angel was here she supposed meant something. But Stephanie didn't want what all to have happened either. That didn't excuse her actions to Angel though. Stephanie felt even more stomach pains when thinking about how she had treated Angel from the beginning. There was nothing she could do now though, what happened, had happened.

"We found out where the Beast's virus is."

"Really, thats nice, are we going to destroy it?"

"Yep, and after that I told Angel that we would escort her to where her parents live. They should be able to take care of her."

"Fine with me." Stephanie said

"Where's Adam?" Angel asked. She had liked talking to Adam a lot, and he seemed to at least tolerate talking to her

"How should I know" Stephanie said, all her anger returning to her at the thought of Adam, "He's not here, and frankly put that's all I care"

Angel, winced and turned her head, "oh. I'm sorry." Angel of course had no idea that Stephanie wasn't upset at her. She assumed she had done something wrong.

"Whatever, you watch the fire, I'm going for a walk" Stephanie stood up and walked into the night.

"Wait," Angel cried. Angel hated herself for what she was about to say, but she didn't really have any other choice, "can't you please stay here with me? I would like to not be alone, at least till Adam gets back."

"Isn't Lizzy here with you?"

"I know, but Lizzy doesn't seem like much of a fighter though. You on the other hand seem like a great fighter."

That last comment really got on Stephanie's nerve, as she just saw an hour ago how much of a great fighter she was "Well maybe I don't want to be a great fighter, maybe I just want to take a walk in the woods and clear my head. In fact here's a good idea Angel, you become a functional human adult who can fend for herself, instead of relying on everyone else to do your work for you. Dear God you're annoying." Stephanie regretted that last comment. Maybe Angel would forget it in the morning. Whatever, she had better things to worry about. She just couldn't stand to look at Angel right now. Stephanie decided to continue her trek through the woods, as Lizzy tried to yell something. Stephanie thought that maybe Lizzy was yelling at her, but she didn't care.

After a few second of Lizzy trying to yell at Stephanie, Lizzy looked apologetically at Angel and told her "I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Angel faked a smile and nodded at Lizzy. Angel thought back to the times that she and Lance had shared. While thinking about all those times, Angel realized something. Maybe she truly was useless; after all it was always Lance who was saving her, and it was Lance who was always comforting her when she was sad. In the end she couldn't save Lance, she couldn't help with the fight, and now she would be no help in stopping Dawn.

With this realization in mind, Angel decided that it be best to not bother Lizzy, who was setting up camp, and instead she would wait for Adam, who hopefully would not be too mad at Angel for not helping with the fight against Dawn

And so Angel waited all night for Adam to come back. She told herself that it would be worth it to see Adam again, because if she couldn't see Lance, then at least she could see Adam.

In the morning though, they were forced to leave both without Stephanie, or Adam.