Chapter 126 The Stowaways

An optimist may see a light where there is none,But why must a pessimist always run to blow it out?

Emma

Panic. That's the first feeling I become aware of. With every second we are being carried further away from Burns and the others.

I don't know where we are going or what will happen when we arrive on this truck's destination. If the Soul that drives this thing discovers us... what if he unloads in the middle of a city? With so many people around, we'll have no chance of getting away. Even if Arashi would shoot our way out, which I hope he won't, there will never be enough bullets to take out a city. Seekers will be on us before we reach the end of the street.

Arashi appears far more calm than me. He's sitting on the floor and leans against the wall.

"What are we going to do?" I ask him quietly.

He glances at me. There's annoyance on his face, as if I'm a child he needs to babysit against his will. "We wait for the right moment to get off," he says.

"How so we know when that is?" I ask, "we don't even know where we are going."

"We do," he counters and when I look at him questioningly, he sighs and waves the clipboard.

Oh.

"We're on the highway right now,"Arashi continues, "there won't be a stop for miles. Our best chance is the next intersection when they need to slow down, and hope we can jump off unseen."

"We're in the middle of nowhere," I say, "how are we supposed to find a way back? They'll be looking for us."

"No, they won't,"Arashi says.

Slowly I turn towards him. "What do you mean, 'they won't'?"

Arashi lets out a heavy sigh. "It's protocol," he explains, "when one of us gets separated, they either come back on their own or they make sure the others are not found." He pats his pocket meaningful and I understand. Either find your way home undetected, or swallow the pill we all carry.

"It's different when we're caught as a group," Arashi continues, "as long as we're together, we fight our way out, but once you're alone, you're alone. We protect the group, and the other groups, at all cost."

I know it's the sensible thing to do. I know that. Still, the thought of never seeing Burns again... of having to take my own life after all I've been through to keep it... I don't want to die, but I would do anything to keep the others safe. Hopefully we can escape before we have to make that choice.

"Here," Arashi says, and I'm just in time to catch a bread roll, "might as well eat something."

There's a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat, but I force the food down anyway. Arashi is right, if we need to walk all the way back we will need the energy.

"So..." I say after a few moment s of silence, "what's your story? I don't really know much about you."

He glares at me. "This isn't a movie, Emma. This is not the part where we have a heart to heart conversation."

I blink at his rudeness. What did I ever do to offend him? He doesn't need to brush me off like that. He could just be civil about it.

But then again, no one seems to know much about Arashi's past. Perhaps there are things he doesn't want to talk about. Perhaps there are things he'd rather forget.

I sigh and lean my head back against a crate. It's hot in the back of the truck and it's making me sleepy, but I force myself to stay awake. Falling asleep now is dangerous. We need to be ready to jump off.

I keep myself busy with thoughts of Burns. Will Nate keep him safe? He just gave up his friends for me. What if something happens to me? It will all have been for nothing.

The traffic noise outside gets heavier. Are we entering a more populated area? If we are, then it will lower our chances of escape. What if the driver makes another stop? What if he wants to check on his cargo?

My eyes flit to the door of the loading space, as if any second now it will open and we will be found.

"Calm down," Arashi mutters, "getting nervous will only risk exposure. You might knock something over and alert someone. Or you'll panic."

"Traffic's getting busier," I say.

"It's nothing to worry about," Arashi answers, "we'll cross a few towns before turning onto the next highway."

"What if he stops somewhere to check on the cargo?"

"They won't," Arashi says, "the Souls are too trusting. They have no reason to suspect something's wrong with the cargo, unless you start making noise. Just be quiet and patient."

I let out another sigh. Such great company this guy.

I pass the time thinking of the others in our group and wonder which planet they would be from if they had been Souls, comparing it to what I have heard of the other conquered worlds. Burns once said I would have liked the Singing World, because the creatures there produce their own kind of music. If that is true, then Sophie's caring nature would make her a Dolphin. James and Philip and Logan are interested in all kinds of mechanics, so I suppose they'd make great Spiders. Little Finn so full of life, would be a Dragon, floating through jello and tumbling around all day. Nate is a Rock. Not because he has the personality of one, but because he is so solid. Nothing can break him. Blake. He would probably fit in anywhere.

As far as Arashi goes... I glance at him. Definitely a Claw Beast.

I flinch when a bottle is waved in front of my face. Did I fall asleep? I look at Arashi questioningly.

"You need to keep hydrated," he says, "it's a hot day."

"Thanks," I mutter and I twist the cap off. "How can you be so calm all the time?" I ask. I've never really seen him stressed. Even now he is sitting there like we're on a pleasure trip.

"What use is there in panicking?" Arashi asks, "when you lose your head, you're prone to make mistakes. You need to keep it together and make the best of your situation."

I know what he says is true, but that's all theoretically. The fact that he can practice it too says a lot about him.

And he's not sitting idle. His eyes seem to have discovered something useful. He rearranges a few things in one of the crates and pulls out a long piece of canvas. Daftly, he starts tying it in a way I can't follow. The end result is some sort of knapsack. Effortlessly he starts filling it with bottles of water.

It must weigh a ton.

The noises of a populated area are behind us now and for a few minutes we hear nothing but the roaring of this truck's engine. Arashi peeks through the tarp and studies the scenery. "Get ready to jump," he orders me.

"What?" I squeal. He expects me to jump at this speed? I'll break my neck.

"Don't argue," he says, impatiently. He grabs the backpack at my feet. "We'll slow down in a minute. Jump. Hide. Wait for me. If I don't join you within ten minutes, start walking."

When I don't move, he grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. He pushes me towards the tarp. He glances outside again. The truck slows, but only slightly. "Now," he says while throwing the backpack out. He gives me a light shove and I hurry to obey.

I land on my feet, but lose balance and roll over a few times before coming to a stop. I cough to get rid of the dust in my mouth and nose. Staying flat on the ground, I take a quick glance around.

This is the middle of nowhere. No houses or buildings or whatsoever within view. Only a long road that splits into a fork right where I landed. Everywhere I look is sand and rocks and dried out bushes that remind me of tumbleweed.

No truck.

No Arashi.

I push myself to my feet and pick up the backpack that's a few feet away. I need to get out of sight. This doesn't appear to be a busy road, but you never know. Any vehicle that passes by will see me and offer to help. I can't take that risk.

Slowly I make my way to the nearest rock formation. It isn't much, but it will have to do.

Ten minutes he said. What am I supposed to do if he's not here by then? I don't even know where here is. I wish I had Blake's compass with me now. At least I would have a general direction. My father taught me how to navigate, back when I was a child, back when he still had time for me.

But I don't have a compass.

With a sigh I settle behind the rocks and start counting back from six hundred. The sun is blazing hot and the shadows from the rock only offer so much relief.

When I reach zero, there's still no sign of Arashi.

Now what?

I look down the road, to the left, then to the right.

Nothing.

I can't sit around here forever, but I'm not comfortable leaving on my own either. It was different when it was still just me. I had nowhere to go then.

But I do now.

A shadow falls over me and I whirl around.

The sun is shining directly in my eyes, casting the person's face in shadows.

There is nowhere I can go.

"Didn't I tell you to start walking after ten minutes?" Arashi's cold voice sounds.

I let my breath escape. I never would have thought I could be relieved to see him.

"I was just going to," I answer awkwardly.

He sighs. "You do know that knife I gave you is not decoration, right? Use it next time."

I had forgotten about that knife.

Another sigh and he pushes a water bottle in my arms. "Just start walking. We have a long way to go."