Page 62 of The General's Captive
“Does the train have the capability to reverse?”
“Yeah, it’s slow going, but Jim assured me it does,” he said, referring to the guy who had managed to get the train going.
“Then we go back just far enough so we can see if it’s clear. Then a few of us go back to the yard and get to one of the squad cars. Jerome is only about sixteen miles or so from here, which means the radios should be able to reach the base, or even if they are on their way back, they will pick up the signal. Either way, it means waiting for them to arrive, so they aren’t left behind. After that it’s your call but regardless I am leaving,” I reaffirmed what he already knew, and he gave me a nod.
“You’re going back for Riley, aren’t you?”
He already knew the answer to this, but I said it all the same.
“He would do the same for me.”
“And if he’s dead?” he asked, making me flinch.
“Then I will have my answer and won’t spend the rest of my life wondering if he is alive and whether or not I could have done anything to save him when I had the chance,” I answered.
“Then he is lucky to have you, and I hope you are right, so he gets the chance to realize it himself,” he replied, making me swallow hard, trying to keep the emotions down and stay strong.
“Thank you, Commander,” I replied, my voice thick and telling him all he needed to know.
“I should go and let them know the plan… we have a train to put in reverse,” he said, walking back toward the train cars when I reiterated,
“It’s our best shot at surviving this.”
“Let’s hope you’re right… for all our sakes,” he said over his shoulder, after pausing in his steps before leaving me to look back at the tracks and whisper,
“Me too.”
Three years was a long time.
My old life was more like a mirage in the distance, back when the sight of a dead body would have meant years of therapy. And now it was just another part of this cruel life. But if there was a way to save others from witnessing the horror then I would do it. So, I helped the few soldiers that had agreed to come back with me to move the bodies and burn them, because there was no chance of a burial, not when time was against us.
The Myths were long gone like I had suspected, thanks to The General’s own creatures. Which meant all that was left was the evidence of our own defeat. There wasn’t even a single dead Myth left behind. Yet I had seen them being taken down, so couldn’t help but wonder what The General had done with them?
We managed to reach the scouts that had been sent to the base at Jerome, telling them what had happened. The pain in their voices held that same haunted tone that we all had but they agreed that returning back to the base was the best option at this point. Confessing that the damage was easier to fix than they had initially expected. All efforts would most likely be focused on the gates because they held the most damage. This was thanks to The General forcing his way inside and those damn Spiked Uglies.
After the good news, I watched some of the soldiers’ jog back to the train to inform Michaels, and I walked toward the office, the one Riley and I had shared, knowing what still needed to be done. I didn’t have much time to do it, because we wanted to get everyone back to Jerome before nightfall, just to be sure. Thevery last thing we needed was to be attacked on the road. But lately, the Myths had been attacking during the day, so what the fuck did I know?
Damn, I missed Riley’s guidance.
I missed my journal and the picture I had drawn of him. That easy smile and those gorgeous hazel eyes of his. Speaking of which, it was time to learn of Riley’s fate and I knew there was only one way for me to do that. So, I deflated down on the bed and tossed an arm over my eyes, hoping that sleep would quickly take me.
But if I was expecting to find myself in the office once again, I thought wrong. Because it was as if The General had been waiting for me, quick to control this dream. A dream that took me somewhere else because he no longer needed to discover where I was.
Not when he knew I would be coming to him this time.
Which was why I saw him standing with his back to me, but whatwassurprising was that he took us back to my uncle’s cabin, making my heart pound at the painful sight. Of course, it looked just like it had done all that time ago. Back before the Rift and before the sight had been tainted by that fucking creature.
Before the death that had followed.
The moonlight beamed down on the road, not powerful enough to penetrate through the thick trees either side. I tried not to look as I walked toward him as if he wanted to replay history. Only this time, I wasn’t speeding away from him in a truck, and he wasn’t watching me do so.
So, I continued on until I was close enough to ask, “Why did you bring me back here?” My distaste for his choice was unmistakable.
When he turned toward me, it was as if I had just pulled him from his thoughts while he had been looking at my uncle’s home. The expression on his face was hard to read but then whatever itwas, it was gone in an instant as he walked toward me. I fought against my natural instincts, digging my heels in so I wouldn’t flee. Besides, he was the one I needed to see, so running from him was the opposite of why I was here.
“This is becoming a habit Alexandra,” he said, ignoring my question as he approached.
The sight of him, as always, stole my breath and held it prisoner.
