Page 51 of The General's Captive
“…There will be no letting you escape me.”
Iwoke with a start now struggling in the arms around me as the last of my dream still gripped me.
“Hey, it’s me, it’s alright, your safe.” The second I heard Riley’s voice I instantly calmed, his arms holding me tighter as I felt my body relaxing in his as he held me from behind. I then silently tried to calm my heart as well as my panicked breaths taking note of the office we were in. The room he had brought me to yesterday and the one we had obviously spent our first night in together.
My mind went back to our conversation, as I had just finished telling him about how I had survived the werewolf. He had been shocked, his hand reaching out to my shoulder where the scars remained, but then after giving me a hug, he told me to rest up whilst he went to get me some food.
At some point I must have fallen asleep and he had obviously let me knowing that I must have needed it. So, I looked down at our entwined bodies guessing he had joined me as a blanket lay over us both. Our clothes were still on with the heat of our bodies warming each other in the cold room.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” he asked making me shake my head, telling him that I didn’t. Because what would I say? Tell him that the General was now stalking my dreams trying to get me to tell him where I was. It would just burden him with worry and right now he had enough on his plate. So instead, he simply tucked the covers more firmly over us and held me as close as he could get me, telling me softly,
“Then sleep baby, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” I kissed his scarred arm that I was using as a pillow as his other arm lay across my waist. His rumble of approval ended withhim kissing the back of my head before sleep started to take me under.
And this time,
The General let me sleep peacefully.
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The next time I woke, it was to Riley gently stroking my arm but as he smiled it wasn’t one that reached his eyes. The dark circles under them laced me with guilt knowing that he probably hadn’t slept worrying about me after my nightmare. He passed me the bottle of water and medication that I knew would be for the pain I could still feel in my hip. So, I sat up popped the pills before downing most of the water as I didn’t realise how parched I was. Satisfied Riley sat himself down on the edge of the bed his hand laying on mine.
“What is it?” I asked knowing something was playing on his mind.
“We have sent scouts back to the base to see what the damage is.” This surprised me.
“Is that wise?” He shrugged his shoulders and told me,
“Everyone voted on it.”
“Everyone?” I questioned.
“No council to speak of anymore so we asked everyone to make the decision.” I nodded but then one look at his face had me pushing for more,
“And you don’t agree?” It wasn’t hard to guess.
“I think it’s too soon to go back there but I understand. This place isn’t sustainable long term as we are too exposed.”
“Well, it was only meant to be an evacuation point.” I reminded him, watching as he dragged a hand through his hair, a clear sign he was frustrated.
“But you think we should try looking for another place?” I guessed again.
“We found someone who was living here, he used to work these tracks and he thinks he can get the trains working again.” I frowned at this pointing out the most obvious fact about most places this side of the wall,
“How, there is no power?”
“He said some of these trains are diesel fuelled seeing as all of them are used for freight.” He told me before standing up and walking over to a wall that held a poster on the wall. It looked to be a map of the track routes.
“But where would we take everyone?” I asked my voice already telling him how risky I thought this was.
“As far away as we could get from here, the tracks end in Pocatello, where we first met.” He said now pointing a finger to the map making me shake my head,
“Another big town is risky.” I pointed out.
“The town we are in now is riskier as we know the General is closer to here.” He replied which was when it hit me what this was about, he didn’t just fear another attack…he feared the General coming for me.
“Riley.”I said his name which was when he placed his palms on the wall either side of the map before pushing away and facing me.
“He wants you Alex, I don’t know why or how I know I can just feel it.” I closed my eyes hating how right he was.
