Page 21 of Whispers and Warriors
Outside, the landscape had transformed, the trees giving way to a pot-hole covered roads covered in debris and god-only-knew what else. The truck bounced and jostled as Chris navigated the narrow, winding roads, the headlights cutting through the inky darkness like twin beacons of hope.
Liam’s mind drifted to the ferry, their last chance at escape from the relentless pursuit of General Bardini and the government forces. It seemed like a distant dream, a glimmer of salvation on the horizon that grew fainter with each passing mile.
He glanced down at the book spread across his lap, the worn pages crinkling beneath his fingers as he traced the intricate web of roads and trails. His brow furrowed in concentration as he mentally calculated the distance, the hours stretching out before them like an endless expanse.
“We’re about nine hours from the ferry still,” Liam said, his voice cutting through the tense silence. “But the only way to beat the General is to go farther off the roads. Into the dirt or dust or whatever we find. It’s more dangerous on the vehicle, but far less likely to be caught.”
“Fuck,” Chris snarled, but didn’t lash out against the wheel, meaning he wasn’t angry, just a little pissed. “Everyone, buckle up with the safety restraints. We’re going off road, into places we’re not supposed to be.” Chris’s voice was a low growl, the command laced with an undercurrent of urgency.
A ripple of tension passed through the vehicle, but everyone moved to do it, the soft clicks of safety restraints echoing in the confined space. Liam secured his own harness, his fingers fumbling slightly with the unfamiliar straps.
With a roar of the engine, the truck lurched forward, veering off the crumbling asphalt and onto the uneven terrain beyond. Dust billowed in their wake, obscuring the road behind them in a hazy cloud.
Liam braced himself against the jolts and bumps, his teeth rattling with each dip and rise of the truck. The headlights bounced erratically, illuminating the jagged landscape in fleeting bursts—a twisted maze of gullies and ravines, dotted with the skeletal remains of long-dead trees.
As they plunged deeper into the wilderness, the shadows seemed to close in around them, pressing against the windows like a living thing. Liam’s breath caught in his throat, his mind conjuring images of the horrors that could be lurking just out of sight—mutated creatures born of the apocalypse, or worse, the merciless soldiers of General Bardini’s army.
He forced himself to focus on the map, his eyes straining to make out the faint lines and contours in the dim light.
NINE
William shifted restlesslyin the back of the truck, his fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against his thigh. The plan had unraveled, spiraling out of control like a kite caught in a bad storm. Every bump and dip in the road jostled his already destroyed nerves.
He glanced around, taking in the tense expressions etched all around him. Bash looked even more stoic than usual, his mouth set in a straight line and even his eyebrows had drawn down. Alex seemed to have checked out, going god knows where, but he sat staring blankly while he bit his lip.
And then there was Emma.
She sat quietly, her brown hair tumbling over her shoulders, and her striking hazel eyes focused on some unseen point, similar to Alex’s eyes. Her legs were tugged against her chest, arms wrapped around them as if she could shield herself from their race. She’d sat beside him for awhile, but he’d moved to give Alex or Bash time with her.
They both seemed to out of it to take it, and Bash hadn’t let go of the latch, as if he worried the door would fling open.
William shifted in his seat, inching closer to Emma until their shoulders brushed. He sought the comfort of her proximity, craving the solace that only she seemed to provide. Tentatively, he took her hand, their fingers intertwining in a silent exchange of reassurance. The warmth of her skin against his sent a wave of calm washing over him, temporarily quieting the tempest of doubts that raged within his mind.
He marveled at how she could do that—bring him peace without even trying. It was as if her very presence could calm him soul.
As the truck jostled along the uneven road, William allowed his thoughts to wander, his gaze fixed on the passing landscape through the windshield without truly seeing it. He thought about the man he had become, so different from the naïve boy who had eagerly joined the military in the wake of his family’s death. The weight of responsibility settled heavily upon his shoulders, a constant reminder of the lives that depended on his decisions.
“What would my father think of me now?” William mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. “The choices I’ve made, the things I’ve done...”
Emma squeezed his hand, her touch a gentle anchor in the turbulence of his emotions. “You’ve done what you had to do to survive, to protect the people you care about,” she said, her hazel eyes shimmering with understanding. “Your father would be proud of the man you’ve become, Will. I know I am.”
William swallowed hard, his throat constricting with the swell of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He knew Emma’s words were meant to comfort him, but they also served as a stark reminder of the sacrifices he had made, the pieces of himself he had lost along the way.
“I’m not sure I recognize myself anymore,” he confessed, his voice trembling slightly. “The things I’ve seen, the choices I’vehad to make... It changes you, Em. In ways, I never thought possible. Not that I need to tell you of all people that.”
“He’d be proud,” Bash chimed in unexpectedly. “I remember the kid who showed up, ready to save the world after he lost his.” He gave a chuckle. “You’re not him anymore, not that there was anything wrong with him.”
Emma leaned her head against William’s shoulder, her curls tickling the side of his neck. “We’ve all changed,” she murmured, her breath warm against his skin. “But our love, our loyalty to each other... that’s what keeps us human, William. That’s what we’re fighting for. It’s why I wanted to leave the basement and find a real community.”
William nodded, drawing strength from the unwavering conviction in her voice. He knew that Emma was right, that their love was the one constant in a world turned upside down. It was the force that drove them forward, the light that guided them through the darkest of nights.
And yet, even as he clung to that love, William couldn’t shake the feeling that the man he had become was a stranger to himself. The importance of his role, the choices he had made in the name of survival...they had left their mark upon his soul, indelible scars that he feared might never heal.
As the truck continued through what had to be the bumpiest stretch of land in the world, William closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of respite in the comfort of Emma’s presence. He knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, that the ghosts of his past would continue to haunt him. Maybe, just maybe once this ferry took them where they were going, redemption for the lives he took might still be within reach, that the man he had become might one day make peace with the boy he had once been.
The truck lurched to a halt, the sudden stillness jarring William from his thoughts. The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by Ranger’s soft whine from the front seat.
“Alright, everyone out,” Chris announced, his voice cutting through the tension. “If you need to use the restroom, now’s your chance. But remember, no one goes alone. I’m not sure if my ID will work for fueling, and it’s abso-fucking-lutely a terrible idea to scan it, but we need gas. We’re not walking unless she gives out.”
