My muscles were locked tight. The throbbing of my thighs seemed to increase, spreading to my heart that beat a mile a minute. And yet, I knew there was nothing physically wrong. At least, not more so than there already was.
No, all the pain was internal, growing and growing as I took the first step off the rough ground and onto smooth pavement. I may have not recognized where we were in the woods, but this spot, I knew. Only a week ago, this path had been my salvation, and now I was back.
The others had all walked ahead, traipsing across the cement with no worry in the world except for where to go next. But I couldn’t bring myself to move. Couldn’t bring myself to take one step closer.
I thought I had been strong. Able to make it through the torture at Vex’s hands. But all the memories bombarded me and I knew I was finally about to crumble.
A soft hand reached for mine, Mina’s soft gaze on me. No one else had realized I had all but turned into a statue, but Mina had. She didn’t speak any words, only squeezed my hand, and together we took the next step.
One step after the other, we caught up to the others, Mina never letting go of me even with the awkward position as my hand also held onto the crutch. My crutches were loud against the pavement, alerting the others to our position behind them.
“We can’t draw attention to ourselves,” Rainer whispered, and even if his eyes weren’t trained on me, I would have known what he meant.
Each of my steps in the silent night was a blaring signal of our position. We were still at least a mile out from the camp, but if any of the guards were sent out to look for more people, they’d find us immediately.
Murphy came over to my side then, brushing a hand over my back. “Can you walk without them?”
I nodded my head as Aiden said, “No, she can’t.”
Shooting a warning glare his way to stay quiet, I gathered the crutches into my arms, putting weight on my legs for the first time in several days. The pain was immediate, traveling up my thighs and right back down.
I clenched my teeth through the pain, putting one foot in front of the other and mentally congratulating myself when I didn’t stumble. The walk would be easier here than through the woods without the worry of tripping over a branch or loose rock.
Aiden, Murphy, and Mina hovered at my sides, waiting for my legs to give out, but I was determined to prove I could do this. The mental hurdles were harder than the physical. And I was going to overcome both.
Rainer nodded his head once and then went to take the lead again. However, Emmanuel held up a hand to stop him, drawing all our attention.
“I think it would be best if we split into smaller groups for the rest of the way. A group as large as ours will be harder to hide if we do draw attention.”
Warner and Rainer shared a heavy look, a silent pause permeating throughout the group. There had already been inklings of distrust spreading throughout us and I wanted to shake Emmanuel, ask him if he realized what he was doing.
Of course, I kept my mouth shut. Now wasn’t the time to have that discussion, not when we were currently standing in the middle of the street like sitting ducks. And although Emmanuel’s suggestion seemed strange coming from his mouth, in reality, it wasn’t a terrible idea.
Smaller groups would have an easier chance of hiding if we stumbled upon guards from the camp. Or if we happened upon someone that had managed to escape their grasp and was still hiding out.
Finally, the silence ended, everyone voicing their agreement. The split was chosen strategically, Emmanuel, Rainer, and Murphy, each to lead a group. Emmanuel solely because he knew where we were headed and Rainer and Murphy because they both had the knowledge to figure out the directions Emmanuel was doling out.
Emmanuel refused to split from his family again, holding tight to Stephanie and Lucas’ hands. Murphy, Warner, Sasha, and Mina created the second group, leaving Rainer, Aiden, and me together. Aiden and I didn’t want to leave each other’s side after months apart. We were the only family we had left.
“Alright, everyone, head out. We’ll see you in two days.” Rainer started heading to the right, our group choosing to take the shortest route due to my wounds. Emmanuel, Elizabeth, and the twins making their way to the left.
Aiden followed suit behind Rainer, but I found myself glued to my spot once more. I knew the uncertainty that came with separation, wondering if you’d ever see them again. And I knew the agony when you realized you never got to say goodbye.
Swallowing roughly, I prepared to say goodbye to the four people before me. But when I met Murphy’s haunted eyes, I choked on the words. Saying goodbye was preparing for the worst and none of us could handle that right now.
“I’ll see you in two days,” I finally managed, meeting each of their eyes.
Mina and Sasha waved with sad smiles, entwining their hands as they turned into the center of town. Murphy swallowed before croaking out, “See you then.”
He then turned too, hurrying to catch up to Mina and Sasha. Warner and I were left, standing several feet apart in the vacant street.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Warner told me, his signature smirk haunting in the moonlight.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I taunted back, his smirk morphing into a smile.
Tilting his head over my shoulder, he said, “Better hurry up before he starts to worry.”
Glancing behind my back, I spotted Aiden and Rainer standing in the shadows of one of the dilapidated buildings, waiting for me.