Page 5 of Echos and Empires
Chris considered the idea, his mind already mapping out the logistics. “That could work,” he agreed. “We need to make sure nothing gets through.”
“You don’t like how everyone just seems to trust that the coastline is safe because who else could possibly have a boat but authorized captains?”
Chris nodded. William saw everything, like always.
Their conversation flowed with the ease of two men who had fought side by side, who understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Chris valued William’s insights, his ability to see things from a different angle. It was a quality that had saved them more than once, and Chris was grateful for it, even if he knew William felt left out since coming to the island.
The island seemed to surround them as they walked deeper into their patrol, vivid and alive despite the dead leaves scattered here and there. The other leaves whispered secrets to the wind, and the seabirds called out their own warnings. The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest. It was beautiful, almost disarmingly so.
Chris’s thoughts turned inward, a familiar tension knotting in his chest. The island was a sanctuary, but it was also a risk. He couldn’t shake the feeling that danger lurked just beyond the horizon, waiting for them to drop their guard. The pressure of making the right decisions weighed heavily on him, but he refused to falter.
“You still feel useless?”
William flushed and cursed. “I never should have said anything.”
Chris chuckled. He wasn’t amused by William’s discomfort, but more by the way he always seemed to respond to Chris like he was worried he pissed off someone’s dad.
“Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would’ve figured it out. I did figure it out. I thought you moping on the ship was due to cabin fever, but when it didn’t stop a few days after arriving, I knew something was wrong.” He stopped walking for a moment and set his hand on William’s shoulder. “Look, I’m six years older than you, but I’m not a dad. I’m not going to chastise you—maybe kick your ass if you pull another stunt like shooting Marcus, but I’m not going to be upset. You had a purpose when we were in a wasteland. Your purpose now is to help everyonesee the things they can’t see, find what we need in a damn jungle, watch the behaviors of people we don’t know.”
“I’m not sure that was the best pep talk, but between you and Bash, I’d say that was the better option.” William smiled. “Thanks. I don’t always feel like we’re the most accessible since arriving here.”
“Some things do feel different,” Chris agreed, not sure if he thought they were a good different, or if he didn’t maybe want to be back the way things were when they only had each other to worry about.
Chris’s mind churned with the weight of his responsibilities as they continued their patrol. Each step through the jungle seemed to echo the doubts and fears that plagued him. The island was a paradise, a sanctuary from the horrors they had left behind, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all too fragile, too vulnerable.
He thought of the families that had come to depend on him, the lives that hung in the balance of his decisions. Every choice he made could have consequences that rippled out like waves, affecting not just his own unit but the entire community. It was a burden he had never asked for, but one he had shouldered willingly, knowing that someone had to step up and take charge.
But what if he made the wrong call? What if he let his guard down, even for a moment, and something slipped through the cracks? The thought made his stomach clench, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. He had seen firsthand the devastation that could be wrought by a single mistake, a single moment of inattention. The scars on his face were a constant reminder of the price of failure.
He glanced at William, walking silently beside him, and felt a surge of gratitude for the younger man’s presence. William was a steady presence, a voice of reason when Chris’s own thoughtsthreatened to spiral out of control. He knew he could count on William to have his back, no matter what challenges they faced.
But even with William’s support, Chris couldn’t escape the nagging sense of unease that dogged his every step. The island was too perfect, too untouched by the chaos that had engulfed the world beyond its shores. It was like a mirage, a shimmering oasis that could dissolve into nothingness at any moment.
His thoughts turned to Emma, to the love that had blossomed between them in the midst of so much chaos and uncertainty. She was his anchor, his reason for pushing forward even when the weight of his responsibilities threatened to crush him. He knew that he would do anything to keep her safe, to protect the life they had started to build together.
Except run. He had aged fucking twelve years in the last one and a half with all the damn running. They couldn’t run again, no matter how many plans he caught Liam making.
He thought of the council, of the responsibilities he had taken on in addition to his role as a leader of his unit. It was a delicate balancing act, trying to maintain the fragile peace that had settled over the community while also preparing for the worst. He knew that some would see his caution as paranoia, his vigilance as alarmism. But he also knew that he couldn’t afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment.
They continued their patrol, the sound of their conversation mingling with the island’s symphony. Chris felt the weight of his responsibilities, but he also felt the strength of the bond he shared with William. They would uncover any hidden dangers, and they would do it together. He was certain of it, even if the island itself seemed determined to lull them into a false sense of security.
For once,the chaos of the past seemed like a distant memory to William. He was no longer the uncertain kid scrambling to prove himself. He had a place of importance on the island even if it took a few months, and every moment getting to meet new people reminded him of who he’d been before, when there was only survival.
And he liked it.
It was a far cry from the uncertainty and self-doubt that had plagued him in the early days on the island. He had grown into his role helping the council without being directly on it. They had accepted Chris’s word that his eyes were better than anyone’s and his mind sharp enough to never miss a mark. And it was damn good not peering through dead bush and cracked earth to find supplies.
No, now he was a human lie detector, something he’d been good at since he was a kid, even if he wasn’t charismatic enough to charm people like Alex or Liam, he could figure out something they couldn’t.
Walking, William couldn’t help but marvel at the vibrant beauty that surrounded them. The jungle was a kaleidoscope of green, from the deep emerald of the canopy overhead to the soft, mossy hues of the forest floor. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced across their path. The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers and ripe fruit, a heady perfume that seemed to promise a brighter future.
William’s mind wandered to the early days after the bombs had dropped, when the world had been reduced to a bleak landscape of ash and rubble. He remembered the fear that had gripped him then, the constant sense of dread that had settled in his gut like a lead weight. He had been lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, unsure of his place in this new and terrifying reality.
But now, as he walked beside Chris, he had a sense purpose that had eluded him for so long. He had found his footing onthe island, had discovered a strength within himself that he had never known existed. He was no longer the scared kid who had stumbled into Chris’s unit, desperate for a sense of belonging and someone to avenge.
He was a valued member of their group—a trusted advisor to the man who had become like a brother to him.
Nothing had been easy, but here they were. The council meetings, the endless debates over how best to secure their new home, the constant vigilance required to keep their people safe. It was a heavy burden, but one that William bore gladly. He knew that his insights, his unique perspective, were essential to their success. He had a keen eye for detail, an ability to see potential threats that others might overlook.
