One Hundred Fourteen |

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This one is a long one! Enjoy!

One Hundred Fourteen | 

We toured the tunnels some more. Occasionally, we would stop: children running their little fingers into Owl's coat—the large cat purring loudly at the attention, others talking to Sam, some asking us questions and even asking Maeve to hold the pigeon. She would blush and decline, explaining patiently what the bird's purpose was. Honestly, the more she talked the more I realized Maeve was not one of Jessica's mindless soldiers. In fact, she had never left the island before, being born there and having started working with the birds at a very young age. 

"Are you hungry?" Sam asked us suddenly. 

I blinked, looking around. In front of us was a tunnel which at the top read 'cafeteria' in bold red paint. The smell of hot, roasted food tickled my nose and I glanced over at Oliver and Maeve. She held her own eyes on me, and I realized that without Jessica here to demand management, I was the next one in line. 

"Are you hungry?" I asked her, with a small smile. 

She blushed, and nodded, "I could eat."

"Owl is hungry too," Oliver said. 

Then it was decided, I looked back to Sam, my brow rose. He nodded, and turned, leading us into the new area. This place was a large room, with two floors—the upper floor (maybe two floors wasn't quite accurate), a metal staircase going up to a metal grate floor that only went around the rim of the room. On it, a series of picnic tables were set up and on the first floor, a very elaborate kitchen (kitchen?) space was set up with where people were cooking stuff. There was a large oven against the wall which had a large tube strapped to the back of it, hot tops set up were people were frying stuff, and so on. I wasn't really sure how to describe it, the room was very crowded. 

"How does all this work?" I asked curiously. 

He glanced at me, "The tunnels were fashioned to act like an underground bunker. The kitchen has a series of vents set up that disperses the air flow from the kitchen and into the surface, specifically into the mall." 

I blinked, "Oh cool, cool." 

"I think it's dried jerky stew with potatoes today," he continued on, "Is that fine?"

I tilted my head, "How'd you get meat?"

"I go hunting on the surface." 

I nodded slowly, "So what type of meat is it?"

"It was chicken."

My eyes lit up, "Really?"

He smirked, amused with himself, "No. I caught a family of rabbits a week ago. It's rabbit meat. There are no chickens around here." 

My cheeks burned and my eyes narrowed, "Ah you're funny."

We ate our stew on the second floor, and after, Sam finished the tour of the tunnels. It was extremely confusing navigating the insane amount of connecting tunnels and I was glad he was the one leading us. After the tour, he lead us back to Tom Cain's office. There we stood awkwardly waiting for the longer than expected meeting to finish. Hell, they must had been in there for four hours by now. I shifted from foot to foot, my fingers running over Owl's face as I glanced over at Maeve. She looked nervous, the pigeon still hanging in her jacket. 

"Are you alright?" I asked. 

She jolted at my voice and smiled slightly, "Yes. Sorry, this entire trip makes me nervous. It's the first time I had left home and for such an important task." 

I nodded, giving her a sympathetic smile, "You're doing amazing so far." 

"Thank you," she replied, relaxing slightly. 

The door suddenly opened, and Jessica stepped out. She had a hard look on her face, and as she stepped out into the tunnel, her gaze lifted to first me then over to Maeve, a scowl forming on her face. 

"Where were you?" She Snapped. 

Maeve's eyes widened, "Y-You told me to go with Mira."

"Well, you should have stayed with your group," Jessica replied coldly, "Now someone is going to have to fill you in and waste more time." 

My lips puckered with annoyance, "Or maybe next time don't send her off if you need her? You're blaming your own mistakes on a team member only undermines your own authority." 

Her head snapped over to me, "Excuse me?" 

"I did not stutter," I said with a silly smirk on my face, "not one bit."         

"Sam," Tom Cain said stepping out of the room, "Come. We need to talk."

I looked over at Sam who nodded, before walking past us. As he stepped into the room, Jessica gave me a cocky smirk, her eyes filled with a bitter humour." 

"Speaking of which," she said loudly, "Oliver and his cat will be staying here."

I blinked, "What."

"Yes," she replied, and I could hear the evil happiness in her voice, "As part of our new found alliance, Oliver and Owl was it? They will be staying here, and Sam will be coming with us. An illicit for an illicit."

"Mira," Oliver sounded panicked. 

I glared at her absolutely outraged, "You can't do that! He is a fucking person, he gets to decide where he goes, not you! And he wants to stay with me!"

"And you're fine with taking responsibility for the decline?" She replied, stepping into my personal space and grabbing my wrist roughly, "You will be the cause of this treaty falling apart and that is fine with you? I thought you wanted to take down Maxwell, not speed up his plans. This is the politics of this world, we have to give them something equal of value and something that can earn their trust. They are giving us their only illicit, we need to honor that." 

My eyes burned, "No--"

"--I-It's alright. I will do it," Oliver whispered. 

I spun to face him, "But you shouldn't have to." 

"I want to be helpful," he replied with a shy smile, "Owl does too. You have done so much, I-I want to do this for you, and for our friends. I want to make Ophelia smile after all this. I can do this, it won't be so bad. Owl likes the people here." 

I sniffled, nodding slowly, "Please be ok here." 

"I will." 

The pure confidence that left his lips was a confidence I had never heard from him. It was infectious, giving me the prideful feeling that he would be alright. I trust Tom Cain more than I trusted Jessica--I knew he would take good care of my friend. 

"Yes well, this is nice," Jessica said with a tone indicating she was anything but kind, "But we need to continue on. We have a longer travel ahead of us." 

"I-I want to talk to Tom Cain," I replied quickly. 

Jessica frowned, "No." 

"Yes."

"Not happening."

"And why the fuck not?" It came out a snarl, "He knew Sonar. I-I want to talk to him about that and I'm not going to let you scum me out of a simple conversation which may not happen ever again all because you're being a power-tripping bitch."

Her eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, "Listen here you--"

"That's enough." 

We turned to where Tom Cain stood in the door way, behind him was Sam. He looked both bored and tired. A pang of shame hit me as I realized he had seen our little argument, and I felt a sense of remorse. I shouldn't have snapped at her, I didn't want him thinking I was a bully. And yet, I think she deserved every word I said. 

He stepped forward, raising his hand. I flinched, shutting my eyes awaiting the blow. It didn't come, instead the man placed his hand on my head and ruffled my hair. My eyes peeled open and I looked up at him.  

"Listen kid," Tom Cain said with a small smile, "Arthur was a good man. He saved all these people and there is not one of us who dare forget his actions. He talked about you and his daughter most of the time, but I can't give you the memories you're looking for."

Tears stung in my eyes, "But--"

"No," he said, "You have to live without worrying about the past. Would Sonar want you trying to collec all these memories of him?" 

My face heated. No he wouldn't have. Hell, he didn't even tell me the truth until it was his deathbed and that was only to tell me where to find Mom's diary. Tom sighed, petting my head again before looking over at Jessica. 

"You're leaving now?" He asked. 

She nodded, "Yes. Maeve will teach you how to use the bird. She will need an open space that can act as the bird's keeping here. She will send our signed treaty to the Isle which will open communications between us. After that, she will be escorted to meet up with us at the Town of Roses. Which will be our next stop." 

My mouth suddenly grew dry, "T-The Town of Roses? I-I thought Wolf Coven was next? W-Why are we going to the Town of Roses so soon?"

"We had sent a bird to the Town of Roses prior, and they had said that if the Town agreed then they would," she replied coolly, "Wolf Coven is the only other settlement the Isle has had communication with through Doctor Brown." 

"R-Right," I muttered with fear. 

Of course Alpha and Luna would align themselves with the Town of Roses. I wondered how they would feel about me now. No doubt Jax had told everyone that I was the one to ruin their town and kill Alana. My gut clenched and I felt bile rising in my throat. I felt hot and cold all at th same time, my hands shaking. 

"Is that alright with you?" Jessica said, her voice like venom, "Or is there a reason why you wouldn't be allowed into the Town of Roses?"

My eyes widened, "No. That's fine."

What did she know? Or rather, what did she think she knew? 

"Good," she sneered, "Then we leave at once."

"I'll see you soon," I said to Oliver, all of my heart promising this. 

He nodded, "We will meet again." 

"Lead on little leader," Sam hummed To Jessica. 

She narrowed her eyes, "Little?"

"Are you not?" He replied, "What are you, five three?"

"I'm five five," she snapped. 

He looked surprised, "Really?"

"I'm five two!" I piped in joyfully. 

She glared at me, she was only an inch or so taller than me after all. 

"See?" Sam replied, "You're a little leader. At least compared to me. I'm six one if you're curious. Compared to me, in anatomical standards you are little compared to me."

"W-Whatever," she snapped, "We don't have time for this."

I smirked between them, it looked like Jessica had met her match.

"Good luck to you all," Tom said, "I look forward to the day that we can all live without the fear of Eric Maxwell. I also look forward to the day the sick are saved."

My brow rose, that phrasing was strange. 

"Come on; I'll show the group out of the tunnels" Sam said.

Jessica scowled, four soldiers following after her, "I could find it myself." 

"Sure," he replied half-heartedly, "I believe you."

A snort flew from my lips as we walked. For a moment, my thoughts on Jax disappeared. We reached the steps up and collected our stuff from the entrance with ease. Then, it was time to be off, towards the Town of Roses. We left the mall, and headed east (I think?) as we did, I found great pleasure in watching how Sam and Jessica interacted. 

"We should try and find some food soon," Jessica muttered after a while, while we walked down a crumbled road, "Some canned goods or forage something."

I shrugged, "I already ate a few hours ago." 

"What? When?" 

"Back at the tunnels," I replied with a smug look, "Oh I'm sorry, did you miss dinner through your own rushing our trip?"

"It is not a trip it is a mission." 

"Trip, mission aren't they both the same?" I grumbled. 

Sam looked between us, "Technically no--" 

"Ok," both Jessica and I groaned at the same time. 

Sam frowned, "I'm confused. Do you two like each other or hate each other?"

"Hate!"

Again we spoke at the same time. 

"See," Sam laughed, "I'm not so sure of that."

"Enough," Jessica snarled, "If it is not of use of our mission, stop talking."

So we did, for another hour or so. We continents down the same road, until it crumbled to an end completely. Then, we started through the forest, moving slower now as we stepped over wild roots and attempted to keep an ear out for any zombies. The topic hadn't came up yet, but I wondered what Sam would do if we came across one. 

Actually, it was very strange that we hadn't came across any zombies yet. 

"That reminds me," Sam suddenly said,  "Tom packed me a bag of food for the trip."

"Sam Cain said you remember everything," Jessica replied coldly, "Shouldn't you have remembered that?" 

He shrugged, "I wasn't hungry until just now. I also had some stew."

I laughed at that. 

"Fine," Jessica said with a sigh, "We'll make camp here for the night." 

"Ma-am," one soldier said, "Should we go hunting?" 

There's a rabbit hole just north of here, Zero said in my mind. 

"A rabbit hole is close to us," I relayed the message, "Go North."

The soldier payed me no attention and Jessica tilted her head but nodded.

"Gather wood too," she commanded, "Then pitch the tents." 

They went off, and Sam spoke, "I have water and dried meat."

"We'll start the fire," Jessica sighed, "Hopefully they get the rabbit and we can save the dried meat for the morning. We should reach the Town of Roses by midday." 

I began picking up branches and twigs from around our space. The soldiers did come back with not one rabbit but two—both having a clean bullet through their little skulls. While Jessica skinned the rabbits, Sam worked on building the fire (which Jessica had lit with a fire starter from her bag and I sure as well wished I had one of those growing up with Dad) the soldiers pitched the tents and I--I didn't do much. I just sat against a tree dreading the moment we reached the Town of Roses. 

    As the sun began to set, the rabbit was cut into pieces and placed on sticks. One side of the stick was dug into the ground, and the their end (with bloody rabbit hanging off) hovered over the fire. The tents were done--four of them set up, and we all sat around the warmth of the fire. Even the soldiers sat, with their masks off and enjoyed the warmth. 

    I declined the offer of rabbit, and just enjoyed the dancing of the flames. Once the rabbit was gone, Jessica moved to meet with her soldiers, explaining the next days plans. Sam sat beside me and for a moment we were both quiet. 

    "Why does Tom want to help us?" I then asked him, "Sonar is dead and the only people who knows were you guys are is the Isle. So why help us?" 

    He looked over at me for a moment and said nothing, his eyes on the flames.  
     I thought the conversation was over, until he let out a small exhale.

"In the night, they followed the wolf because he was the safest shadow they could see." he spoke suddenly, his eyes engulfed with the reflection of the flames, the words like honey off his lips, and yet his words were heavy, "but when morning came what was left was a pack of rabbits in a den of wolves."

I blinked, a frown on my face, "What?" 

"Words on a tyrant," he replied simply. 

"Oh ok," I said not understanding at all. 

"I was eleven when Eric Maxwell went up to my mother promising a new treatment idea for my diabetes. He did his tests and I remember the pain of them. I remember everything, every book I've read, every sentence muttered to me, and yet I cannot for the life of me remember my mother's face when she watched those tests go on. She watched while he did tests that could not have possibly been for the sake of diabetes and yet she just allowed it to go on," there was a thick anger in his words, "And then Eric Maxwell gave me a curse. He traded my diabetes for a curse, and infected the world with a new sickness. It took my father, my mother and my little brother. It took Tom's wife Casey who was the nicest woman I had ever met, and it took so many others." 

"Oh Sam," I whispered in realization. 

He looked over at me with anger in his eyes, "We didn't join to help you. We joined because we are exactly like you. Maxwell took everything from us, and we want our prices paid."

My head nodded in understanding, and yet I couldn't help but feel guilty. Maxwell may have been the bullet that tore the soft flesh that was this world, but it had been my mother who had fired that gun. 

"You are simply the McGuffin that will carry our revenge forward."

I had no idea what he meant by that, and yet it still drove a cold shiver down my spine. I said nothing more, allowing the heat of the flames to burn passion and fuel into our own bodies. 

"Uh Sam?" I said with hesitation, knowing he needed the truth.

He looked over at me, that anger so fierce in his eyes, "What?"

I swallowed the truth down, "Nothing. Never mind."

He nodded and silence fell upon us yet again, and I just hoped, this alliance wouldn't fall apart when the truth came out, and I knew deep down it would.


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