Page 48 of Explorer's Revenge
He laughs, cutting me off, and I know I’m not getting down. Luckily, the hill we are climbing isn’t overly steep, so he just takes extra care with his steps, and I notice he shields my bad leg from any rocks. When we reach the top, he isn’t even winded, which makes my estimation of him rise. We look around at the flattened hills. “Wilder spotted them on our way in,” Way explains. “We’ll find something up here to take shelter in for a while to wait out the storm.”
I relax back into his hold as they scout the area and talk between themselves.
Way carefully lays me down under the shelter of a copse of trees a little while later, helping me arrange my legs in front of me. “Are you okay?”
I nod, and Rick appears, handing me some water. I drink it as the others prepare around us, working in synchronization to set up a camp.
“Are we safe here?” I ask.
“For now,” Way replies. “Rest, we will be right here.” He ducks out of the trees to help the others, and Rick smiles and follows him.
Leaning back against a tree, I watch them. I should help, but I’m exhausted, and the pain is starting to return. They set up camp with an ease that shows they have done this together a hundred times, and for a moment, my heart clenches and I miss my dad.
My bag is at my side, so I rip it open, grabbing my camera. I don’t know if it will update to the server with the storm overhead, but I need to do this just in case.
Fiddling with it, I debate what I want to say before turning it on and aiming it at myself, forcing a smile. “Hey, Dad, sorry I didn’t update you before. It’s been a little . . . well, crazy.” I laugh bitterly. “You’ll never guess what we ran in to here. Well, you wouldn’t believe me even if I tried to tell you. I’m hurt, but I’ll be okay. I’m with Ajax’s other team.” I pan the camera around so he can see, careful not to show him my leg or anything else. “Hopefully this storm will pass soon and we’ll find our way home, okay? So don’t worry. I know by now you probably are.” Taking a deep breath, I surge ahead. They can hear me, but it’s important.
“If this gets to you and I don’t get home, please don’t be sad, okay? Don’t blame yourself. I know you will, but don’t. It was my choice to come here. I fell in love with exploring just like you. Like father, like daughter, eh? There is nothing you could have done. You being here wouldn’t have changed anything. I need you to know that I love you so much, Daddy, for everything you did for me. You gave me the best life I could have ever wished for, and you didn’t try to make me like everyone else. Thank you for exploring the world with me, even when your heart was broken, and I’m so happy you have step-monster. Let her look after you, alright? I’m sorry I can’t be there, but don’t be sad for long. Remember what you always told me? Death isn’t the end; it’s just a new beginning—another adventure. It will hurt for a while, but there is nowhere else in this world I would rather be right now. There isn’t much else I can say, but I just needed you to know that I love you, and I’m so grateful you are my father.” Biting my lip, I force back my tears, not wanting to upset him. “Goodbye, Daddy.” Looking away, I take a deep breath and glance into the camera.
“Ajax, if I don’t make it back, make sure this gets to my dad along with the insurance money. If I do, delete this so he never sees it,” I instruct. “Take care of him like you promised me.” I shut it off, letting it drop into my lap. I never thought I’d have to say goodbye to him. No parent should outlive their child, but I’m so fucking grateful he isn’t here right now. As much as I ache for his strength, his absence means he’s safe.
“What are you doing?” Aiy asks, and I notice the others are looking too.
“Saying goodbye, just in case,” I admit. “I don’t want him to always wonder what happened to me.” I hold out the camera. “Do you have anyone you want to say goodbye to? Just in case?”
“No. My family is all here,” he replies softly.
“We don’t need to say goodbye because we are getting out of here,” Wilder promises as he comes to my side and hands me some rations which are protein bars. “Eat this while we cook. You need all the strength you can get. Those shots will make you feel sick.”
“But what if?—”
He shoves some into my mouth and forces my jaw to chew as he speaks.
“No what-ifs. We are getting out of here. You’ll be fine, so no goodbyes, okay?” he tells me. His face is hard, but his eyes are soft. “Trust me, Carter, I’ll get us out of here.”
Faith, I realize, is what I feel as I nod.
They set out a tarp in front of the trees to create a tent and then arrange the bedding. Logan helps me to my feet and gets me comfortable there as they build a fire and start heating their rations. We can hear the wind and rain, but we are shielded from it, and we all start to dry off, our socks and boots to the side since none of us want gangrene.
I barely manage to scarf down the food they cook before my eyes begin to close, a mix of pain, exhaustion, and drugs hitting me like a truck. Before I know it, I’m out cold.
When my eyelids flutter open, I see flames dancing in the dark night. Snores fill the air, and bodies lie around the fire. The pain in my leg is back to a dull ache, but my head is cushioned by something soft, and there’s a blanket wrapped tightly around me.
Frowning, I shift my head higher, and I freeze when I hear a grunt, realizing it’s a person.
I look up to see Wilder, the firelight reflected in his eyes as he peers at me. “Sorry,” I mutter as I go to move away, knowing he won’t like me being this close.
“You’re fine.” Grabbing my neck gently, he guides me until I lay my head on his shoulder. “Rest, you need it.”
I should argue, but it’s better than the cold, hard ground, so I close my eyes once more, knowing my cheeks are hot, and go back to sleep.
Pain wakes me. The sun isn’t up yet, and I try to bite back my whine, but I must wake Wilder, who is at my side. He has one hand on my back, and the other is in my hair. I see Way move and realize he was on watch at the entrance. He scoots over, crouching before me.
“Maeve?” he whispers softly. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry.” I wince, trying to move my leg to alleviate the throbbing, but nothing helps. It’s burning and aching, and I know that isn’t a good sign. “Just the pain.”
“You’re due for more pain pills,” Wilder murmurs groggily. “I’ll get them.”
