Chapter Eighteen

Effie's POV

Hardy cleared me for walking up the fell, as much as part of me didn't want to go- another part of me was excited to get out of Novena for the day. I knew it wasn't a chance to escape or anything like that because most likely I would die on the fell from either infection, starvation, dehydration or mauled by some animal up there. If I was going to escape I needed to do it somewhere tactful and resourceful. I needed to be smart.

After my check up Harry introduced me to Beck who I now knew ran all excursions up the fell for food and water. The Fell seemed to be Novena's main income source for fresh meat and water. It was dense woodland that was rich with life and death flowing waterfalls and streams. It went back for miles apparently.

We had nothing like this at home.
We were closer to the city than Novena, but this seemed to play to their advantage almost.

The car ride was short, ten minutes out of the gates maybe? It was a long dirt track that headed into dense forest. There wasn't much to look at on the way, only abandoned belongings and the odd animal bones on the side of the track.

The forest towered over the truck as we headed into the thicket. Beck said the truck only gets them so far and the rest you have to walk but I already kinda guessed that. Cole was also here too, he seemed alright- he kinda just talked to Harry the whole time whilst I sat quiet in the backseat.

The greens of the forest bellowed into the open as the sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves. The sound of water gushing near by was something I hadn't heard in years. Fresh water- waterfalls.. it wasn't something of the new world.

I couldn't take my eyes off my surrounding, in awe by every colour, sound and vibration the forest made.
It was just beautiful.

Life was thriving here.

Almost the complete opposite to the new era we were trapped in.

It almost was like a glimmer of hope.

"Alright lads.." Beck says as the car comes to a halt snapping me out of my thought train.
"This is as far as we go" He adds as he turns off the engine.

"Cole grab the gear" Harry says as he hops out the car shutting the door behind him.

Beck and Cole jump out the truck shutting the doors behind them causing me to sigh. Harry child locked me in seen as he doesn't trust me apparently so I kinda felt stupid just sat here.

My door pulls open immediately causing me to jump slightly, shocked as I wasn't expecting it. I thought I was just going to stay in the car.

"Are you just gonna stare or are you coming?" Harry says to me as he holds the door open for me. He looks to me with a raised brow as I notice his cheeks were now slightly blushed by the heat.

"I thought I was stayin-"

"If you wanna sit here on your own, be my guest- but I wouldn't recommend it" he cuts me off, stopping me mid-sentence.

I pause for a second as his eyes search mine- a weird sensation starting to manifest in my stomach pulls me from the gaze instantly as I jump out the truck.

"Cole-" I watch as Beck throws Cole a round of ammo before throwing a bow and arrow over his shoulder.

Harry shuts the door behind me as I watch Cole grab a set of arrows.
This was a lot more serious than I thought it was.
Bow and arrows? What the fuck was this? Had I suddenly found myself going back in time to BC times?
I mean it made sense- but still I couldn't help but laugh.

I jump slightly as Harry places just hand on the small of my back, gesturing for me to move towards the back of the truck near Beck and Cole. He says nothing as I glance up at him, feeling weird under his touch for some reason.

I watch as the sunlight cascades over his prominent features making him seem even more chiselled and handsome.

Handsome? What- I don't know why I even thought that.

I shake my head looking away from him trying to clear my forbidden thoughts.

"You know the drill-" Beck says as he hands Harry a round of ammo.
"Cole you're on south, I'll be north and Styles take West alright? Walkies will be out of reach so don't even bother trying, we meet back here at sundown any questions?" He adds raising a brow at the two men I stand beside.

Harry reaches over me grabbing a bow and arrow that Cole hands him before throwing it over his shoulder. They both nod in reply to Beck as I just stand watching the whole interaction.

"Any traps gone off recently?" Harry asks making me frown.

Traps? What kinda traps? Like bear traps or?

"No- but with the weather changing and shit just be prepared for anything" Beck says with a slight nod to Harry.

"Alright, Lets go.." Cole smiles as he starts to back away into the the forest.

Beck nods, checking with Harry one last time before turning away and heading off into the bushes.
I find myself staring off into the ocean of trees that littered the forest floor, sunlight seeping through every gap it could.

"Come on" Harry turns on heels grabbing my arm tugging me lightly before letting go. I turn following him without a word.

I didn't know how far I was going to get because of my injuries, I didn't know if this even was a good idea you know? What if pulled something or ripped my stitches? To be honest I think I was just being paranoid- Hardy cleared me to go, I was going to be fine.

"How'd you find this place?" I can't help but ask as my gaze roams around the greenery as we walk for what feels like miles.

We had been walking about a half hour, nothing much had happened- a few rabbits rustling in the bushes had us panicked twice but other than that we were silent.
Harry didn't make conversation with me nor did I with him- it was just weird.
I felt like there was stuff that we both wanted to say but for some reason we both were just- deadly silent.

I didn't mind though, it was a comfortable silence. The sound of water gushing nearby and birds chirping filled my ears, which probably was much more better than either of us speaking to be fair.

"I can't even remember- I've known this place since I was a kid" he tells me as his eyes glide across over the view. He was alert and on the look out, I could see it in his expression. I mean he had to be to find food and to keep us safe.

I let my fingers glide over each leaf and branch as I move past it, feeling a sense of freedom out here in a way.
Completely contrasting my life at the moment.
I loved the colours, the sounds, the smells- everything.

"It's beautiful" I say softly, almost muttering to myself in awe as my gaze darts around the forest trying to take as much in as possible.

"You don't have stuff like this at home?" He asks, glancing briefly at me as he pushes through the bushes letting me trail behind the path he sets out.

North Fort was pretty much just part of the city- it was on the outskirts but it was built around old abandoned buildings that the city had had forgotten about. We didn't have stuff like this- it was surrounded by a concrete jungle whilst also being made from it too.

Novena was nothing like home- they were polar opposites just running the same operation in these desperate times.

But he wasn't talking about North Fort- he was talking about the suburbs and tunnel system I made up on the spot yesterday. I had to remember that.

"Nothing to this scale" I shake my head.

"Where do you find food then? I mean obviously the shit you find in the city would put you on, but what about proper meat and shit?" He frowns just as I hear the sound of water get incredibly louder.

North Fort farmed their meat on site.
But I couldn't say that.

"We take what we can get.." I shrug not knowing what to say. I didn't want to shoot myself in the foot later on down the line and I had that in my head at all times. I had to be careful of what I was saying.

"Is that why you're so skinny?" He mocks me laughing to himself.

His laugh was new to me, I mean yeah I had heard it before but every time it catches me off guard. Like I felt like I shouldn't be hearing it- like it was wrong for me to like the sound and sight of him laughing.

Maybe it was the meds or something? Making me go a little.. I don't know, tapped.

"Funny.." I roll my eyes at him playfully trying not to laugh along with him.

"Oh no my apologies, that would be due to the fact that you don't eat" he teases almost. I watch as a small smile appears on his lips as he presses my buttons- probably just waiting for me to bite back.

"I do eat" I shake my head, not biting.

"Drinking water does not count as eating" he scoffs looking back at me with a cheeky smile.

I couldn't help but smile back.

"I had toast this morn-"

"You had two bites and gave the rest to Zac.. I'm not buying it" he laughs shaking his head at me.
I mean he wasn't wrong.

I didn't have an appetite at the minute.
I felt uncomfortable and stressed within my surroundings and it made it difficult for me to even think about eating. It wasn't because I didn't want to- I just couldn't.

"Zac wanted to come today.." I say as I start to see the forest opening up a little.

After seeing Zac this morning, as he came to see me when I was with Hardy- he was telling me about how Harry was still pissed at him for what happened in the city. I don't think it was just that though- I think the two of them had exchanged words that weren't doing their friendship any favours. But Zac was upset about it- Harry and the others had said that he wasn't allowed on raids for the foreseeable. I don't know if that was fair but I couldn't help but try and figure some of it out.

Zac was my friend, I just wanted to help.

"And?" Harry raises a brow as we start to head out into the clearing.

"And I'm just asking why he didn't.." I shrug.

"That has nothing to do with you" he snaps at me, not bothering to even give me a second glance.

I follow him into the clearing, as the forest opens up allowing light in helping illuminate a cliff edge. We had gotten to a waterfall, the sound of the water now as clear as day in my ears. The cloud of water evaporating at the bottom alongside the crystal clear water gushing over the cliff edge made it look like something out of a movie.

"But I'm asking about it because he's my friend-"

"Friend?" He turns to me, stopping us both as we now stand at the tree line.
"How the fuck have you come up with that?" He laughs in disbelief, shaking his head as he takes his bow from his shoulder, placing it on the ground.

"Since he's actually kind and cares about me-"

"Or the fact that he wants to get you into bed.." he laughs shaking his head as he kneels down, pulling ammo from his pocket as he goes to load up.

I didn't believe him.
Zac was my friend- that was it.
He wouldn't be that stupid to actually think that I would even be interested right?
Like there is nothing wrong with him, but I don't like him like that.

"He's my friend" I fold my arms over my chest defensively.

"Yeah I'm sure- do all of your friends want to fuck then or?" He teases, laughing to himself as he loads one of his guns.

I didn't understand why it was so funny to him.

"Why is it so hard to believe that he's my friend?" I frown.

"It's not-" he glances up at me with a smirk.
"I just find it hard to believe that a fucking smart girl like you is blind to the fact that he's wanted to fuck you since you got here" he says as I watch him load up his second gun like he had been born knowing how to do it.

Did I take the compliment that he thought I was smart or?

"And?" I raise a brow not seeing his point.

"I'm just saying babe.." he laughs lightly, standing back up with both guns in hand.
My gaze follows him before our eyes meet. The green in his being illuminated under the sunlight, making them look- I don't know, like something I hadn't seen before.
"Maybe you'll fall in love and live happily ever after? Who knows? With just your luck Novena might just become family to you after all" he smirks before his tongue presses against the inside of his cheek teasingly as he pushes his guns into his waistline.

I notice the distance between us was almost non-existent as I notice his body tower over mine, his breathe heating up my cheek as he spoke. His eyes search mine like he was waiting for a reaction- but I couldn't help but feel flustered by him.
I needed to get out.

"You read too many romance novels Harry, I said we are fucking friends- nothing more nothing less, so back off" I snap back furrowing my brows at him.

"Alright so I won't say I told you so when he tries to make a move on you out of the blue then yeah?" He laughs raising a brow at me mockingly.

"Would be appreciated-"

I'm suddenly cut off as the sound of bullets echo through the forest, the bullets falls at our feet clearly being aimed at us.

I duck as does Harry, before he grabs me pushing me further into the tree line.

"Fuck-" He mutters.
"Get back!" He yells at me before grabbing his guns for his belt. 

I run for shelter in the trees as Harry backs up slightly scanning the clearing for the source.

I peak from behind a tree, trying to see what the hell was going on. But I couldn't see a source. The bullets had stopped. The air now filled with silence, the only sound being heard was the sound of birds fleeing the scene overhead.

My gaze moves to Harry as he backs up behind the tree a few feet in front of me. He didn't look scared or anything- more determined as he checked his guns once over. He peers round the tree just as another round of bullets rain around us. I cringe hiding back behind the tree again.

Suddenly I hear Harry fire a few rounds into the distance, his aim seeming to be in the tree line across the other side of the waterfall.

His clip empty's and the air falls silent once again.

We pause staying silent for a moment before Harry turns to me, nodding for me to come to him.
I nod, moving quickly from behind my tree to his.

I press my back to the tree as he peeks outs, checking if he got the shooter or not. My gaze moves across his face as I notice the way his brows narrowed when he was concentrating. His lips falling a gape slightly as his eyes searched the distance. He looked deep in thought- so much so that he didn't even notice me staring at him.

"You good?" He glances down at me, catching me staring at him.

I nod not being able to speak as my thoughts swarm my senses.

His eyes search my own for a second, his expression softening for a second before he sighs looking away from me.

I look away feeling this weird feeling in my stomach and chest.
I don't know what just happened but the air felt thick between us.

"Fucking rogues.." he mutters, letting out a deep breathe he'd been holding in.
"I don't know how they even get in here" he tells me as he turns leaning his back against the bark mimicking my own stance.

I say nothing, still feeling weird as to what just happened.

"Effie.." His arms nudges into mine causing me to look up to him.
His gaze meets mine as he looks down at me, almost with a look of concern on his face.
"You sure you're good?" He asks again, his gaze never leaving mine.

Was I good?
What the hell was wrong with me?

"What- Yeah.." I stutter not being able to get my words out over the sound of my thoughts playing so loud in my head.
"I'm fine" I nod to him, trying my hardest to force a short smile that I barely convinced myself of never mind trying to convince him.

"They must have found a way to get past the bear traps.." he says looking back over his shoulder, searching the tree line one last time.
He sighs, leaving his head back against the bark for a second before shaking his head.
"Come on- we'll go round the edge just in case there's more of them" he says grabbing his bow and arrows from the ground before swinging them over his shoulder. He grabs my forearm, pulling me with him as he passes by me heading off in the opposite direction in which we were originally heading.

I follow, trailing behind as he pulls me through the forest.

My head still was elsewhere though.
My thoughts drowning me over the sounds of the forest.

I couldn't even begin to process what had just happened- being shot at was something I was used to by now. But I wasn't trying to process that.

The air was thick between the two of us, but I couldn't put my finger on the reason why. I was confused at the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach- the feeling was new to me and I didn't know if I liked it or not. I couldn't even describe the feeling if I tried- mostly because I didn't understand it as of yet but also because part of me wanted to neglect it, hoping it was would disappear as quickly as it came around.

We roamed the edge of the forest for what felt like forever, not a word shared between the two of us. The waterfall was bigger than I thought and now that we were on the edge it was so pretty being able to look over at was below. The drop was huge, a thousand maybe two thousand foot? Jagged rocks and thick vines draped aimlessly over the edges making up the walls of the waterfall. It was beautiful, but terrifying.

We were so close to the edge because Harry said there was bear traps on this side of forest so we had to walk in the clearing for safety. Rocks crumbling beneath us before falling to there deaths. It was scary to say the least. I wasn't afraid of heights but this was extreme and I was beginning to develop a certain amount of fear with all the 'What ifs?' that were going through my head.

I push the thoughts out of my mind and push on- focusing on my footing and where I was going more than I ever had.

But I had a bad feeling.

I don't know why but I just did.

Harry was a little ahead of me, he was very quiet- mostly in concentration I think. So I just kept myself quiet just wanting to get this day over with.

I was beginning to tire, my body aching from walking- clearly pushing my already weak body to its limit. I was honestly shocked Hardy even let me come, but I was glad to be out. However I couldn't ignore this ache for much longer- I don't know if I needed to stop for a second or let Harry carry on on his own.

All the sudden gunshots rip through the air catching the both of us off guard. As I look up to find a source I feel the ground disappear from beneath me as I loose my footing.

I scream in fear as I feel myself fall- without even thinking I find myself grab onto jagged rock sticking out the edging of the drop off. My body aches as I hang off the edge, using all my strength to keep myself from falling.

I look up, panicking as I knew I was too weak for this. I try pull myself up, cringing in pain as my muscles ache and tear under the pressure.

I was hanging over the edge of two thousand foot drop- I think panic would be a slight understatement.

"Effie-" I hear Harry's voice causing me to look up.
I see him crouching over the edge of the drop looking down at me. His brows deeply narrowed looking panicked for me.

Why wasn't he hiding for cover? We were getting shot at- again. Shouldn't be taking cover?

"Ugh-" I huff trying to push through pain, feeling my fingers and