The Marked

The Long Road Ahead

Sometimes, when things get really rough, I like to try and think back at what my mother looked like. My dad never even let me see Photoshopping so I just had myself to try and see what she looked like.

I'm glad we decided to keep the doors open because the dark night was really peaceful to think and be truly alone with my thoughts.

After Jenna and the boys were asleep I looked around the car for somewhere that I could be secluded.

After feeling around in the dark for a few minutes I found a built-in ladder hidden behind some storage bins. I quietly pushed them to the side and slung my bag over my shoulder.

Careful not to wake my friends as I stepped around them, I crept up the ladder and got a peek into the small empty storage compartment above.

The ladder was clearly built for a taller person. The ladder ended but the opening was about three feet above my head.

I held onto the ladder with one hand and with the other I carefully grabbed my bag and slung it up into the hole. Then I let go of the ladder and put my hands flat on the floor of the compartment.

I tried to boost myself up but I lacked the upper body strength. I considered giving up but then I remembered I'd slung my bag up there.

I stood on my tiptoes and tried to feel around the compartment for my bag.

Finally I felt the tip of my bag. I stretched as high as I could and reached for it. My hand barely grazed it.

I couldn't leave my bag up there. It had something very precious in it that I couldn't afford to lose.

I placed my hands flat on the floor of the compartment again and put all my anger, my frustration, and my loss into that push. This time my upper body made it in.

I pulled my legs up and into the compartment and I laid my head on the cold floor. My arms burned with exhaustion and my head was throbbing on the cold metal floor.

I realized at that moment that I wouldn't survive with my Mark if I didn't even have any body strength. So I devised a plan and then grabbed my bag and quietly climbed out and shut the hatch back.

I dropped down from the ladder and went back to my sleeping spot with new purpose and soon I too was sound asleep.

I awoke to the sound of Jenna and Will arguing. "You slobbered on my arm!" Jenna yelled and pointed to a wet spot on her arm.

"I did not! You must have done it in your sleep." Will argued while pointing at her to emphasize his point.

"I've never done such a thing in my life." Jenna argued back as she started wiping the spot off with a torn off piece of her shirt.

"It's never too late to start." Will argued as he began to run out of comebacks.

"I can't believe you Will you're such a-" Jenna was cut off as Josh said "Would both of you cut it out?" as even he could no longer stand their arguing. "We all need to get along or else this trip will be miserable for all of us. Plus the more we argue, the greater the risk that someone heard us and comes back here."

Jenna and Will both looked indignant but then dropped their heads and mumbled their apologies and then went back and sat down.

I figured now that the argument was settled I could "wake up." Josh started, then said a quick good morning. Jenna and Will, happy to have the heat off them, quickly followed suit.

"Hey Addy," Will started despite Josh shaking her head repeatedly at him. "What's the plan? I mean you dragged us away from home and onto a train heading who knows where. And you can't even provide us with some food or water."

Will probably would have continued but Jenna looked ready to plow him over if he said another word. Will knew I was sensitive so what I did next surprised not only me but everybody else.

I calmly got up, walked over to my bag and pulled two bottles out and then tossed them to the two boys. "Enjoy." I said and then walked over to the ladder and climbed up.

I found if I channeled my emotions I could put all of that into my push and I'd get up. I sat there before I realized I'd left my bag behind.

I was considering going and getting it when a hand reached up into the compartment with my bag clutched inside.

I crawled over to the edge of the opening and saw the top of the blond head. I backed up as my satchel was dropped and the person heaved themselves into the compartment.

We sat there for a moment before Josh spoke, "So this is where you go for some peace and quiet?"

I nodded and for a while it was quiet.

"You know I can't say anything bad about Will. He's my best friend. It wasn't his place to call you out or anyone's for that matter. But you've got to remember that we are all stressed out and angry all for different reasons. Arguments and fights were bound to happen but I'd just prefer we all stick together and not fall apart."

He looked anywhere but where I was because he knew that wasn't the answer I wanted. Although, even though I hated to admit it, it was the one I needed.

"I know and I'm glad that you have good intentions and," I paused as he looked up, "I think you should be the leader not me." He looked like he wanted to protest but I kept talking. "Right now I'm broken and solely heart-driven. But you, you use your head, you're the strongest of us all and I have no doubt that they think so too. If this group is going to survive, you're going to have to be leading it."

He sat there for a moment thinking things over before nodding his head.

I grabbed my bag and headed back down the ladder to tell them the change in leader. Josh was soon to follow coming to stand by Will in the circle we'd unconsciously made.

"Alright gang, who votes for Josh to be leader?" All of us raised our hands. "Then it's decided, Josh is the new leader we follow his rules and his plans." I said looking around as everyone nodded their heads. "There is one thing I need to discuss with you Josh." I said as I pulled him aside.

There I told him of my plan I'd devised and he thought it was a great idea. We rejoined the circle to some odd looks from Jenna and Will but I told them we'd have to explain later.

The dogs woke up from their long nap and began jumping around us which distracted Jenna and Will from the subject. We played with the dogs until we were exhausted and frankly, starving for a good meal.

Me and Jenna opened our bags and I rationed out the water and she rationed out the deer jerky and bread that she'd brought. We ate it up slow to savor it and almost ate more but because we didn't know if we had enough to last us the whole trip we couldn't.

Our plan that we all devised was to get out at the next stop and look around and shop for food and supplies then hurry back before it left again.

With fuller stomachs and a mind at ease tonight was a much easier night of sleep.