created →jason grace

twenty-nine

{Lina}

ONCE LINA HEARD THE TIRES STALL IN THE MUD, SHE KNEW THEY WERE OUT OF LUCK. The taxi making an awful grinding sound as the cab tried climbing up the mountain. They got about halfway and the cab malfunctioning when they saw a chain closing off the rest of the path.

"Far as I can go," the cabbie said. "You sure about this? Gonna be a long walk back and my car's acting funny. I can't wait for you."

"Tr ust me dude, you don't wanna be waiting for us." Lina muttered as she peered outside, trying to see her surroundings.

"We're sure." Leo was the first one out of the car, Lina climbing out right after him. As Lina stood on the mushy ground a scowl appeared on her face. The ground which was hard-packed and dry had taken up a soft texture, which had Lina's combat boots sinking.

As the other three got out, Lina watched as Leo paid the cab driver, handing him enough bills and telling him, "Keep the change. And get out of here. Quick."

The driver responded by reversing and turning, a dust trail the only evidence he was there.

"Leo," Lina started a light joking tone in her voice. "Did you tell him we're committing a murder? Is that why he left so fast? Because he doesn't want to be an accomplice?"

Leo smirked, responding in a similar tone as hers. "And risk blowing our cover, of course not sunshine."

Lina stuck her tongue out at him, not finding a retort fast enough. Luckily Jason interrupted her. "That's Concord," Jason said, pointing to the north. "Walnut Creek below us. To the south, Danville, past those hills. And that way ..."

He pointed west, where a ridge of golden hills held back a layer of fog, like the rim of a bowl. "That's the Berkeley Hills. The East Bay. Past that, San Francisco."

"Jason?" Piper touched his arm. "You remember something? You've been here?"

"Yes ... no." He gave her an anguished look. "It just seems important."

"That's Titan land." Coach Hedge nodded toward the west. "Bad place, Jason. Trust me, this is as close to 'Frisco as we want to get."

Lina frowned, a small voice in her head telling her that Coach was wrong. The Bay Area wasn't bad, just misunderstood. The blonde shook her head, how did she know that? She had never step foot in the Bay Area. Her whole life lived on the East Coast.

"Hey, guys, let's keep moving." Leo's voice was sharp.

The others noticed the problem. He had tried to move his foot but his heels were embedded in the dirt.

"Gaea is stronger here," Hedge grumbled. He popped his hooves free from his shoes, then handed the shoes to Leo. "Keep those for me, Valdez. They're nice."

Leo snorted. "Yes, sir, Coach. Would you like them polished?"

"Maybe some insoles to make them more comfortable?" Lina added her two cents to the conversation.

"That's varsity thinking, Valdez. And Goodwell, I'm finally starting to like you. " Hedge nodded approvingly. "But first, we'd better hike up this mountain while we still can."