Life through the Mask (darkangel76 & frelance)

Jason glanced at his wrist then pealed off his gas mask and slid it on top of his head. He took a few breath of the fresh air. After wiping his forehead with his sleeve then unslung his rifle and brought the scope to his eye as he knelt on top of a small hill near the river. He had been following the man for the past three days now. He would have just let the man go but he had gotten his pack which had everything he owned except for a few things he always kept on him.


Nate glanced over his shoulder a few times as he jogged through the brush towards the sound of running water. His hand flexed as it tightened on the grip of his pistol and his hot breath partially fogged the bottom edge the lens of his mask. He had grabbed the pack on his back a few days ago and had left the city that very night. From then on he had kept moving, but what was bad was that he could never shake the feeling that he was being watched.

When he walked out of the trees and sighed as he walked to the waters edge where he shrugged off the pack and tested the water. After finding it relatively clean he pulled off his mask and set it on the pack before splashing his face with the cool water.

Jason's rifle

The sky was just beginning to lighten as the sun began its slow climb above the horizon. Peeking out the window of her room, Lilly took in the sight of the eerily quiet town as life began to creep out of hiding.

“It’s now or never,” Lilly mumbled to herself, her voice the barest of whispers. She was alone in her room as she stared out the window and past her reflection in the glass. But that hardly mattered. She wasn’t speaking to anyone directly, more just trying to build up her confidence, muster up some courage.

The night before had been typical. Lilly had gathered some food supplies and other such necessities for herself and had been on her way back to her place when she’d overheard one of the storytellers. Storytellers. Such people were becoming more and more popular in their little corner of the world. A corner free of the disease that had been unleashed on human kind nearly devastating the race. How they all didn’t become completely wiped out, she’d never know.

Walking through the main center of town with her supplies, a group had set up a bonfire. Such things weren’t all that uncommon now. She supposed it was a means of bonding amongst those who’d managed to survive. Before everything went down and things changed, you’d never see such a sight in the middle of town such as the one her group had formed.

Lilly had been lucky when all hell broke loose. She’d been in an area that, at the time, had been somewhat isolated. Without hesitation, the biggest and the strongest began to quarantine themselves off, building a fortress like wall around them to keep out what they could. Sure, they had no idea of the bacteria unleashed, but they figured it didn’t hurt to take extra precautions. After all, there were those who’d been certain, those with great paranoia, that once things settled, they’d need the security anyway. Such things caused panic and that would mean people would act outside what most had at one time considered ‘normal’.

As Lilly passed by the storyteller and the small group sitting about the bonfire, she overheard the low mumblings of the story being told. It was the tale about man-eating plants. For some reason, that story had become quite popular over the past couple months. But it wasn’t the first of such stories, nor would it the last. In a way, she figured it was probably a good thing that such goings on were starting to become a more practiced way of life. From what she’d heard, life outside the walls of their safe zone was harsh, terrifying. Definitely not the sort of place for a child to wander off too.

Lilly had to muse a bit at that last thought. Her own curiosity had reached its limit and she could no longer hold herself back. She had to satisfy it, give in and see just what the world had become on the other side. She knew it would be risky, but for some reason, she couldn’t let that hold her back any longer. She knew right then, that she’d gather up some things and take a trek come dawn.

Dawn had come all too quickly and standing there in her window as she watched the sun start to rise, she set her jaw and headed out. Pack in hand and a mask looped about her arm, she had all she could together. It was just a matter of getting the nerve to leave. In her pack she had the essentials - food, water, filters, first aid supplies. She even had a few extra clothes and a special suit tucked away in there. She’d been told by those who knew more about the outside world since the disaster that she could walk for several miles before she’d need to worry about the mask. Though even then, none of them could say for sure if it was truly needed. Tests needed to be done to see if that was true and since none had been administered, she decided to err on the side of caution.

Lilly quietly stalked through town. The place was quiet, no one about. Only the barest of life seemed to be creeping its way out of hiding, small animals and other such critters that seemed unaffected by the disasters of the bacteria that had been unleashed on humanity. Sticking close to the buildings and away from anything giving off light, she eventually made it to the security gate. No one was about given the hour and the locks were securely in place. Letting out a small exhale, she knew her only option was to climb. It wasn’t easy, but she managed. Barely. A bit tired and out of breath, she tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind an ear and looked away from the place she’d been calling home. It was still somewhat dark, though the light was beginning to brighten in the sky as the sun rose above the horizon. It wouldn’t be long before the heat beat down upon her like a relentless hammer. Again and again and again.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Lilly pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail and set off into the wilds beyond the safe walls. As she walked, she could feel the weight of her pack, her clothes starting to stick to her pale colored flesh as a sheen of sweat broke out along her skin. It was getting hot and soon she’d need to rest, not to mention drink something.

Moving, not wanting to stop, Lilly just let her legs move one in front of the other. She tried to keep track of where she was going, but with all the brush and tangling trees surrounding her, she was starting to realize that she was no longer sure where she was any longer. Almost immediately, she felt herself begin to panic.

‘I’ll never find my way back…’ Lilly thought to herself as her heart began to race. Fear starting to consume her, she found her legs moving faster, almost wanting to run. She knew doing so wouldn’t help her, but for some reason it gave her small comfort.

Worried and frightened, Lilly suddenly heard the sound of water. A stream? A brook? Coming to a dead stop, she tried to see if she could locate the source of the watery sound. Turning her head this way and that, she finally knew which way to go. She’d head to the stream and take a rest. Maybe then she could relax and figure out what to do, come up with a plan to get herself back home. She’d only been gone for a couple of hours, she couldn’t be too far away. Not yet. And maybe the rest and food would help her think more clearly.

The sound of the water was getting louder, bringing a smile upon Lilly’s face. Her pale eyes glittered at the thought of taking a rest. Though she still worried about what she was going to do to get back home. She was lost and only had minimal rations and supplies. She could possibly survive a couple days, if needed. But not much more after that. And then there was the unknown of what happened when the sun set below the horizon.

“Don’t think on that now, Lilly. Just rest. We’ll think of something,” Lilly whispered to herself in an attempt to calm her nerves. Following the sound of the running water, she finally saw a clearing come into view. “Yes!”

Lilly broke into a run just then and headed directly toward the stream ahead of her. Happy, yet terrified, she ran down to the water and knelt down next to it. Just then, she heard the snap of a branch. Immediately, she looked up and began to glance around. Up the way, she saw a figure looking at her. A man. Startled, she let out a gasp as her eyes went wide. For some strange reason she wanted to run, but no matter how hard she tried to move, her body was frozen. It was as if her mind somehow separated itself from the rest of her body, mind reeling, muscles not working. Swallowing hard, a scream ready to be let out, she suddenly found herself scrambling backwards and away from the man who was looking at her.

Nate looked up when he heard someone run out of the branch but even before his eyes focused on the girl down the river his pistol was out of its holster and at his side. He stood slowly walked towards the girl. He was so shocked to see her that he did not even think to grab the pack or his mask.

Jason was just about to squeeze the trigger when Nate looked up startled. He took his finger off the trigger as he saw Nate walk away from his pack. Jason stood up and headed down the hill at a fast jog that slowed only slightly when he reached the tree line but even though he was jogging through the forest he was making minimal noise.

Nate gave the girl a smile as his eyes scanned over what she had on her then over her as if judging what he could get for her things and even for her. "You alright girl?" He walked towards her slowly completely unaware that she had just saved his life for the time being.

Jason slowed as he stopped a few feet inside the tree line and watched Nate. It did not hit him for a few seconds what Nate was doing. But when it did he looked at the girl and noticed right away how clean her clothes looked, how pale her skin was. It was not hard to tell she had been out of the elements for a long time.

Jason unslung his rifle and leveled it at Nate as he watched him.

Lilly continued moving backwards while still crouched on the ground. Her movements were awkward and placed her at a disadvantage, though she was too frightened to really think about what she was doing. She had no idea who this man was that was approaching her, but there was something about him… the way he looked at her as if assessing both her person and her belongings. It made her uncomfortable, made her want to run.

“I… I’m fine,” Lilly stammered as she backed away. The ground was rough beneath her soft hands, biting into her flesh each time she pressed them firmly against it.

Lilly made sure that her pack was held tight and secure. She didn’t have much in the way of anything since it hadn’t been her plan to stay outside the safety of her group’s walls for more than a day. Though now that she was lost and somehow in this predicament, she knew that what she had now was indeed quite precious.

“Stay back,” Lilly added. And as she backed away, her hands suddenly found a stick.

Grabbing hold of the flimsy piece of wood, Lilly held it up defensively as if what she’d held was a knife rather than what it was. She knew she had to have looked stupid, but it was all that she had to distract him in case she needed to reach for the actual knife hidden at her hip. Hopefully, this strange man didn’t mean her any harm, though her insides were screaming at her to stay alert, to stay wary. The idea of having to fight this man terrified her to no end. There was no way she’d win. Not a chance in hell. However, despite that, she also knew she’d rather die trying than die doing nothing at all. That said, taking chances wasn’t something she could do. She had to use every single thing that presented itself no matter what that was.

“Who are you?” Lilly then asked.

Nate just groaned and raised his handgun. "Drop the act girl your unarmed and its obvious that you have not been around for long." He scratched his head with his gun hand. "You know thats bothering me. No one has clothes that clean any-" As Nate scratched his head Jason raised his rifle to his shoulder and adjusted the scope even though at this range he would not have used it but he wanted to hit the right spot with this shot. A fraction of a second after Jason pulled the trigger the bullet pieced Nate's skull then disintegrated and blew out the other side of the mans head taking most of the other side of his face off in the process.

The now lifeless body fell into the water and lay their twitching as its blood turned the river a light red. Jason stood up and slug the rifle over his shoulder. Then just before walking into the girls view he put his gas mask back on. he walked out of the brush and over to the body. He kept one hand on the butt of his pistol as he watched the girl out of the corner of his eye. When he reached he body he grabbed the ankles and dragged it out of the water before going over and grabbing the hand gun and putting it into the waist band of his pants.

He took off his mask and looked at the girl briefly then started to search Nate's body for anything of use. After he had put everything he found into his pockets he started stripping the body. "A than you would be nice." His voice was devoid of all emotion as he spoke but never took his eyes off his task.

Lilly’s body froze when the man spoke to her, an odd tone resounding in his voice. He seemed to size her up almost immediately, knowing that she had to have come from a safe zone, knowing that she was hardly a threat. She cursed silently to herself as her mind began to spin, desperately trying to come up with ways to get out of the dangerous predicament she found herself to be in. Try as she might, she knew the chances of coming out unharmed in someway were slim to none. And such odds caused an ache to rise in the pit of her stomach.

Licking her lips, Lilly’s grip on the stick tightened and she held it with more determination. Again, her thoughts drifted to the knife on her hip. She wanted to grab it, to hurl it at this man that seemed to bother her with just a mere look in his eye. But she knew to do such a thing was foolish. She’d miss and give him the advantage by losing the only true weapon she had on her person.

Hoping the man could be reasoned with, Lilly opened her mouth again to speak. It had taken every ounce of courage she could muster, but she had no choice, could see no other alternative. It was her last hope and by god she had to try. “Go a…” her voice trailed as her words were suddenly cut off. Just as she’d been about to tell him to go away, the man’s face suddenly disintegrated before her very eyes.

Pale eyes wide, Lilly felt them suddenly prickle with tears. Terrified at the gruesome vision before her, she frantically began to glance about herself, looking for the source of whomever it was that shot the man standing before her. Panicking, she crawled away slightly from the staggering man as he crumpled to the ground in a shivering heap, his body splashing the water as he fell against the trickling stream.

“Oh god,” Lilly whispered to herself. There was so much blood. It was pouring out of the man and making the water turn a bright shade of red as it flowed over his now lifeless and very maimed body.

Suddenly, in the distance, another man walked out from behind some greenery. Lilly hadn’t seen anyone hiding there; he’d blended in perfectly with their surroundings. As she tried to get a better look at him, she noticed that his face was hidden. He had on some sort of mask. Shaking, she shrank back in fear, worried that this man would be more terrifying than the one now dead before her. Silent tears began to stream down her pale cheeks as this new person began his approach. He looked ominous and it was then that she realized that she’d been naïve to come out here. She belonged back in the safe zone, within the walls protecting her little city.

The man barely acknowledged Lilly’s presence. Instead, he seemed consumed with the dead man lying half in the now red water. Without a word or care, he dragged the body up the bank a bit and without hesitation began to go through his pockets and strip him clean.

‘What is he doing?’ Lilly thought to herself, her entire body trembling with fear.

Just then, the man took off the mask, revealing the person whose face had been hidden from view only moments ago. “A thank you would be nice,” he spoke, his voice so cold it made Lilly shiver.

“Oh… uhh… yes. Thank you,” Lilly stammered.

Unsure of this man’s intentions and motives, Lilly remained frozen to the spot. More than anything, though, she wanted to run. But she knew doing such a thing would be stupid. This man could easily take her out. After all, there was evidence enough in the gruesome corpse before her. Yes, this man was a sniper, a cold-hearted killer.

Blinking and finally wiping at the tears in her eyes, Lilly tilted her head a little. “I… I’m Lilly, by the way,” she said.

Lilly didn’t know if she was foolish or not to give out her name,. But the way she saw it, he had indeed saved her life, even if he did seem to terrify her. All she could do now was hope that the same fate that befell the dead man didn’t come to pass for her. So far, so good, but she’d only just met him. Deciding to test fate and resigning herself to the fact that she was hopelessly lost and in need of both help and guidance, she made a snap decision. Oh god, she hoped this man could help her. Or, moreover, would help her.

“Please,” Lilly then began, hoping that she didn’t come off too forward. The last thing she wanted to do was anger this cold man who’d just saved her. “Could you help me get back home?” She didn’t expect much, but she knew she’d regret it if she didn’t at least ask. So, bracing herself for the worst, she awaited his answer.

Jason just rolled his eyes when she thanked him and continued to strip the now headless body. When he finally stripped him of everything he stood up and looked at Lilly with a stare that was scarily close to the one Nate had given her but the difference was that Jason looked bored with her rather than wanting to take control of her. "I can't help you get back to where every your found close like that. I have places to be and I don't see why I should stick my neck out for you."

He turned and walked up the bead of the stream to the bag that Nate had set down there. He was quite for a few seconds then looked back at Lilly. "Why are you here? You obviously are not used to life so why are you walking around here?" What he really wanted to know was how she had survived this long and acted like she had never been in the wild before at the same time. As he looked away he moved to the other side of the pack and grabbed two large water bottle then lifted the pack and walked back over to Lilly only to walk past her and kneel at the rivers edge.

"If you really want to get home just follow your foot steps back to your home." His voice showed that he did not hold much respect for her since he would have done it before ever asking anyone for help.

By the way he was moving it was obvious that he was not planning on staying long. For whatever reason it was obvious that he was getting ready to leave.

Lilly arched a brow at the man’s cold demeanor, the nonchalant way in which he brushed her off and dismissed her. Couldn’t he see that she was terrified and alone? That she was more than out of place, not to mention her element? For god sake he didn’t even tell her his name after she’d given him her own! Standing there, speechless, she felt her pale eyes begin to prickle with unshed tears. He truly didn’t care, had absolutely no compassion.

Lilly was on her own. Alone.

“I…” Lilly stammered, her voice barely audible. She could feel her entire body shaking as fear threatened to consume her. Swallowing, her eyes drifted to the headless body that laid on the ground beside her. What was she to do now? This man had saved her, but for what purpose? He was just going to leave her to die anyway. She’d never find her way back. Never.

Feeling her teeth begin to chatter, Lilly thought she was going to be sick. She’d been so stupid to wander beyond the safe zone’s walls. Adult or not, this was no place for her. It was rather ironic. She’d been glad about the rise of the storytellers and their carefully weaved tales to scare the children from venturing out into the world beyond. If only she’d heeded the warnings. Or, at the very least, brought a companion to travel with her. The problem there was that no one would have. In fact, they’d have stopped her before she’d made it across the city.

“I can’t do that. I don’t know the way…” Lilly’s voice trailed. She winced at how it quaked and faltered, making it rather evident that she was both panicked and frightened. “I don’t remember how I got here.”

At that, those damned tears Lilly felt prickling her eyes began to fall. Cursing herself silently, she angrily wiped them away. They wouldn’t help her case. This man was too unfeeling to give a damn. That much was clear. But she couldn’t help how she felt. So small, alone and insignificant.

“Th… Then can I follow you?” Lilly suddenly asked. She was desperate now. And though she knew the man didn’t care, she was also well aware she’d never make it on her own. That guy he’d killed in cold blood. He’d have robbed her or worse, the thought of which made the bile rise into her throat. “I can’t stay here by myself. I… goddamnit.” Again, she had to wipe away those tears. “I won’t bother you. The moment we find civilization I’ll leave you alone. I… I promise.”

Jason glanced up at her when he heard her stammer but went back to his work after a quick glance. When he had both bottles filled he pulled a bottle of tablets out of the bag and dropped one into each bottle before screwing the lids onto them and setting them to the side as he went down on one knee so he could unzip a large pocket on his pant leg that had a large plastic bladder which he unhooked after pinching the hose attached to it. "Well you should have paid more attention to where you were going then." He emptied the bladder then filled it up and put it back into the pocket. Then after hooking it up he switched knees and repeated the process. "So again, I have know reason to stick my neck out for you." When he had attached the second bladder and zipped up the pocket again he packed the bottles back into his bag. After making sure all of Nates things were packed away he stood and looked at her.

He was silent for almost a full minute even though it felt like much longer to him as he wondered if he should let her follow him. He frowned and shook his head. "No, don't follow me. You won't find civilization where I am going. You have a better chance to find it if you head back to the way you came. You must know the general direction at least." He knew from the look on her face and in her eyes that she would probably follow him anyway but he had to try at least.

With that he brushed past her as he went to kneel beside Nate's body then hefted it up and over his shoulder before slowly standing up. Even though he made it look effortless the body was about one and a half his weight. He walked over to the tree line slowly to make sure he did not drop the body then he disappeared for a minute as he walked deeper in before dropping the body and going back to the his bag. He picked it up and looped it over his shoulder then with one last glance at Lilly he started walking back into the forest. He was retracing his path and would continue to do so until he made it back to the highway he had crossed the day before. He tried to forget about Lilly since he knew from experience that anyone that innocent would not last long. At least thats what he told himself but the real reason ran deeper than that, much deeper.

What was this? What sort of person was this man? Cold hearted bastard! Lilly felt her eyes sting again with those damnable tears. She truly was alone. And now, she was desperate. As she watched the man walk away, leaving her to her fate, her mind began to spin. It searched for any possible answer to help get her out of her current situation.

To stay put wouldn’t help Lilly much. Even if her people realized she was missing straight off, it would take them quite some time to organize a search party. No doubt it would be a few days before they found her and by then, she’d starve. If she decided to move, to try and find her way back home, she knew she’d only get more lost than she already was. And more than likely she’d end up killed by who knew what in the process. Unfortunately, that didn’t leave her many options left to choose from. The only sane answer, one that terrified her to no end, was to follow this icy man and hope he didn’t turn around and off her for being such a pest.

“Shit…” Lilly whispered to herself. She picked up her bag and slung it on her back and began to follow the killer into the forest.

Was she mad? Lilly was starting to truly believe so. Not even a day out in the wilds beyond the safe zone and she was seeking aid from a stone cold killer. Truly she’d gone crazy.

No. Desperate.

Desperate. Lilly chuckled nervously at the thought. She was indeed desperate. Following the man, she’d at least increase her chances of survival by a little bit. And a little bit was better than nothing. As she followed him deeper into the wilds and away from the babbling stream, she felt the urge to ask him his name. But fear prevented her from calling out and asking. He already didn’t want her around and more than likely he didn’t want to be on a first name basis with her. It made her wonder why she’d even bothered introducing herself.

Swallowing, Lilly tucked a dark strand of hair behind and ear. It was difficult going following the man. He definitely didn’t care that she was following him. The fact that he didn’t slow his pace or even glance her way told her as much. For a moment, she wondered if he just didn’t notice her. But there was no chance of that. He was a sniper. A killer. He knew she was there. She was certain of it.

Jason ignored Lily as much as he could for the first hours or two but after that he picked his his pace to try and at least drowned her out with the extra noise he would make. He knew it wasn't smart to make more noise than he had to but he couldn't stand having her behind him.

When the sun was starting to get low Jason slowed as he walked into the shadow of a cliff face that ran a few miles in each direction and rose to a height of 30 feet to a hundred feet. Jason had made sure he came out in the right spot so the cliff in front of him was one of the lowest stops and was filled with hand holds. He pulled out a flash light as he walked up to the cliff and ran the light ups it as he mapped out the way he was going to go up it. Once he was done he turned off the flashlight and walked back into the woods then shrugged off his bag and unslung his rifle before he started to secure the rifle to his bag.

Once he was finished he took a quick drink then stood up and slipped the bag back then secured it. He walked over to the base of the cliff then sighed and turned around. He looked back the way he came. "If your going to follow me then your going to want to get up there before night falls." He turned away and started climbing. He was going slow because of his bag but he made it up without any problems. When he got to the top he headed left towards the higher areas. The area on the other side of the cliff was a few kilometers of steep hills that got steadily lower and less pronounced. He stopped when he got abut half way up to the highest point and found a tree that he could lean his back against as he sat down then took off the bag and sat down against it.

He looked out over the hills for a few minutes before he pulled out some food and one of the water bottles. He started to eat slowly as he watched the hills for any signes of life.

Lilly had all she could do to not call out and beg the man to slow down, to wait for her. Tamping down the urge, she knew it would be useless. He didn’t care about her or her situation. After all, what was she to him anyway? More than likely he saw her as a means to getting killed. Given that, she decided if she’d tried to get his full attention, he’d only move faster just to prove a point. Yes, it was clear that he didn’t want her there at all.

As the man continued on through the wilds of the forest, Lilly couldn’t help but notice that the light in the sky was dimming, growing darker and darker. It would be night soon and the thought of being alone in the darkness terrified her. She knew she was far from home now, farther than before even. The idea of having to survive the night outside and alone definitely didn’t set well. Wondering what she should do, if she should even attempt to speak to this man she felt compelled to follow despite how loudly her instincts screamed at her that she was foolish to have done so, her teeth began to chatter. It wasn’t just the cold of the oncoming night that made them do that. No. It was the fear and paranoia she felt creeping up on her, slowly devouring her whole.

The man started to slow as the sun set beyond the horizon. Lilly was glad of it, but the fear of the unknown still bubbled on her surface. When he finally stopped, she saw the cliff before them.

“Oh god…” Lilly muttered to herself. Were they to climb that? There was no way she’d make it.

Her fear and worry rising, Lilly clutched at her middle with her arms and watched the man take a sip of water and situate his bag on his person. She knew he was going to climb. Immediately she felt a sense of despair and hopelessness try to take over.

“If you’re going to follow me then you’re going to want to get up there before night falls,” the man suddenly said. His voice startled Lilly, making her jump. But all she could do in response was nod. She knew he was right. But the problem was that she didn’t think she’d be able to manage. Not without his help.

At that, the man wasted no time. He began to climb, slowly scaling the cliff’s face, making his way up and toward the top. As Lilly watched him, she frantically looked at the rock, trying to study the various crevices and nooks she could use for foot and hand holds. Not seeing any other choice, she began to climb as well. Her breath caught in her throat as she began to scale the wall of rock, her heart pounding, her hands shaking. Looking up after some time, she saw the man suddenly disappear over the edge.

“He made it,” Lilly whispered to herself. A tiny smile quirked the corners of her lips upward. She was happy for him. Now if only she could join him. “Just stay calm, Lilly. Keep going.”

Setting her jaw, Lilly pressed onward. Slowly, she continued her climb. Just then, her foot slipped on one of the foot holds and she slid down against the rock. It was rough and painful, not to mention terrifying, as she began to fall. Panicking, she began to grab for anything she could to prevent her from falling further. Unfortunately, she was unable to find anything and so, within minutes, she was suddenly crumpled in a heap at the base of the cliff.

A bit dazed and now very afraid, Lilly looked up into the ever darkening sky. There was no way she’d make it now. Not a chance in hell. Shivering with terror, she brushed herself off and inspected her body to make sure she hadn’t injured herself too badly. Luckily, save some minor scrapes and bruises, she was fine. Standing up, she knew she had to try again. It was her only option. She couldn’t let the man get too far ahead of her, that would surely mean her death now and she wasn’t ready to die.

Squinting and trying to find something to grab onto, Lilly suddenly found herself going still. Her heart nearly stopped and her blood went icy cold. Behind her, she could hear a low rumbling growl. Chattering, she slowly turned around and saw a wolf stalking her like she was to be its next meal. Trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall, she slowly edged backwards until she bumped into the rocky wall of the cliff. She was trapped. She was going to die.

Just then, Lilly heard a whooshing sound and instantly, the wolf fell over with a whimpering yelp. Her pale eyes went wide and she leaned toward the animal to see what caused it pain. When looking a bit closer, she realized that the wolf was dead and that it was an arrow that had killed it. At that, her head snapped up and she frantically began to look around about herself. Someone had to have shot the arrow. Maybe they could help her since the man she’d been following had no desire to help her at all.

At that, Lilly heard a rustling in the distance. A figure peeked out from behind the leafy branches of the forest. It was male, massive, strong looking. Immediately, she felt a bad feeling form in the pit of her stomach. She needed to run, to get away from him. Something. Anything. Without hesitation, her hand went for the handle of the knife she wore on her thigh. The man only smirked at her.

“Two prizes,” he said as he stepped out and into full view. “A wolf and a girl. The guys are gonna love this,” he added.

“Please… I…” Lilly stammered. All that left her lips after that was a scream as the guy pounced and bound her wrists.

The man then slung Lilly over one of his shoulders. He slung the wolf over the other. Screaming and frightened, she wondered just where this man would be taking her.

Jason looked up and turned to his head back towards the part of the cliff where he had climbed up. As he listened he started to get up before he heard another scream that seemed to be moving. His mind raced as he grabbed his bag and sprinted to the edge for the cliff. When he arrived the knelt down and looked over the edge. Even from on top of the cliff he spotted the dark stain on the ground near the base of the cliff.

He sat back and ran his hands down his face as he tried to think of what had happened. All the things he had seen over the years raced through his mind but the victims faces were replaced with Lily's face. He clenched his fist as he heard another scream and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood then he stood up and grabbed his bag. He started jogging in the direction that the screams were coming from. As he moved along the face of the cliff he freed his rifle and held it in one hand as he slug the rifle over his shoulder.

It took him about an hour of carefully moving along the edge of the cliff before he saw the man carrying Lilly and the wolf. He sighed as he spotted them. He just could not get a fucking break from this. He had to kill one man already to save her, although he would have killed him. He decided to bide his time and wait for the man to put her down since even he could not be sure he would only hit the man and not her. But he found out all to soon that he did not have the time he thought since the next time he looked over the edge he saw the man walking towards a cave. "Shit, fucking hell." He made sure that he went into the cave before Jason moved away from the edge and sat down as he tried to think.

He could not shoot them if they were in a cave, not from any distance anyway. He rubbed his eyes as he mentally went through what he had in his bag. About half an hour later he took the mask that he had let fall around his neck off and checked its filter before he slipped it on. After tightening the mask until it was fit him perfectly. He then dug through his bag until he pulled out three objects that looked like grenades. After he slipped them into his pocket he closed the bag and hid it under branches and other things he found around until it looked like nothing but a low pill of dead fall against a tree.

It took him another hours to attach a rope at the top of the cliff securely then repel down the cliff face a few hundred feet from the cave mouth. He hid the lower section of the rope as best as he could then left and made his way to the mouth of the cave. He waited there with his handgun in his left hand while he listened carefully for any movement. But after two full minutes of not moving he and listening but hearing nothing he made his way into the cave with his gun raised. He wished he had his rifle but he knew it would be no use. He slowed as he came to a bend in the cave that seemed to be cutting off a flickering light. He stopped at the corner and heard voices. Within seconds he could smell cooking meat as well which explained the flickering light since fire was needed to cook.

He took a few deep breaths to keep himself calm as his hands started to shake and his heart raced. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the three objects and pulled the pin out of each other them before tossing each one as far around the corner as he could then slumping to the ground and covering his ears a split second before a huge bang was heard and was accompanied by a flash of blinding light. Jason shook his head to clear it then stood up and glanced around the corner. He could see the tear gas starting to spread through the room and already four out of the five men were on the ground.

He raised the his gun and fired three rounds at the only standing man who fell to the ground clutching his chest as blood bubbled up around his fingers. Jason walked into the room pumping three bullets into each man before he looked around for Lilly through slightly fogged up lens. When he spotted her he ran other to her pulling out a knife as he reached her. He didn't say anything as he knelt down and cut her free. Once she was free he grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. "Move, fast." He pushed her towards the cave entrance while he walked to each other men and fired one shot between their eyes. He had to reload for the last two but as soon as he was finished he left the cave to find Lilly. When he caught up to her he took her by the arm and led her away from the cave up wind of it cave.

He pulled out a bottle of water then pulled his mask off as he spoke. "Stand still, and let me wash the gas out of your eyes. Its just tear gas and will wear off soon." He put his hand on her forehead and started pouring the water as close to her eyes as he could without pouring right into them. When the bottle was about half empty he stopped and looked around then took her hand and pulled her into the forest but stayed just inside the forest. "Sit down. We have to wait for a bit before we can go anywhere." He sat down with his back against the nearest tree and took a quick drink before watching Lilly as he held the bottle out to her.

All the fear Lilly had felt when she’d first come upon the man she’d been following were suddenly nothing compared to what she was feeling now. She was hoisted over a gruff stranger’s shoulder, her wrists bound, making it impossible for her to get away. She’d tried to thrash and kick and even bite the brute. But it was to no avail. He was much larger and stronger than she was plus he had the advantage of knowing his way, something she was clueless about and would forever cause her to need assistance until she found her way home.

If she found her way home…

Lilly’s pale eyes welled with tears as she was carried through the forest against her will. The stranger muttered things, lewd things, to her over and over again - reminders that he was the one in control now. Not her. He mentioned his buddies, the fun to be had once he presented her to them. It had been a while since any of them had been in the presence of the fairer sex. And ah, what a jackpot! She was clean and soft and easy on the eyes. His words made her tremble and as he continued to press onward, the fate that was to befall her was becoming more an more real.

The sky was darkening fast and Lilly somehow knew that as the moon began to rise higher and higher, they’d soon be at the stranger’s final destination. Whimpers escaped her lips as they traversed the forest. Time moved too quickly and she suddenly felt her stomach lurch. In the distance, after traveling for quite some time, she made out the silhouette of what appeared to be a cave. No doubt that was where they were heading. Shaking, she knew that once inside, there’d be no way she’d be able to escape. There was only one way in and it was the same way out far as she could tell. She’d be trapped. Oh god… what was to become of her!

“Nearly there, bitch,” the guy mumbled. “You’ll be a fun after dinner treat. It’s been a while.” He guffawed and bellowed as he carried Lilly. “So you’d better be ready for our stamina. That cunt of yours is gonna be fucked raw. RAW!”

Lilly let out another cry. “No!! Please!!”

The brute of man just laughed at Lilly and made his inside the cave. Once they reached the inner sanctum, she heard voices. The others. His buddies.

“Well, I’ll be goddamned!” one voice said.

“Nice piece of ass!” said another.

Lilly could do nothing but sob. As she cried, her carrier brought her to the back of their little sanctuary and tied her a thick and jutting stalagmite. As she sat there preparing their dinner, the men openly talked about the things they’d do to her. Oh god, it was awful. She’d rather die.

Just then, there was a loud bang and a flash of light. Lilly curled up into the corner and covered her head as she let out a scream followed by a sob. Her tears were falling freely, as they had been for the past couple hours since she’d been captured by this rabble. As things began to settle, she tried her best to focus. But it was nearly impossible. She couldn’t see straight and her eyes… they burned. Her lungs… At that, she began to wheeze and cough. Suddenly, she a voice speak into her ear.

“Move fast,” it said. It was the man from the river, the one she’d been following. He came for her. He came.

Lilly didn’t bother speaking. She could barely breathe as it was. When she felt herself cut free, she immediately followed the man she had thought to be so cold and heartless. They moved quickly, making their way out of the cave and into the forest. Once they stopped, the man told her about the tear gas and began to clean her up. She was grateful for the crude rescue. She knew what her fate would’ve been had he decided to move on without her. When she finally was able to look upon him, her eyes no longer burning, she studied him hard in the moonlight. The fact that he’d come for her said that somewhere deep inside he had a shred of compassion. Something. And it warmed her just a little.

“Sit down. We have to wait for a bit before we can go anywhere,” the man spoke as he took a quick swig of water and then handed the bottle to Lilly.

Lilly accepted the bottle gratefully. “Thank you,” she whispered before taking a small sip. “For everything.”

As Lilly handed the man back the bottle, her hands and body were shaking violently. So much had happened in such a short time and all because of her curiosity. Why hadn’t she heeded the words of those storytellers? So much truth in those stories they weaved for the children. So much. As she looked to the man who’d saved her, she gave him a smile and then dropped to her knees. As she sat there, she brought her hand to her mouth and began to sob violently yet silently. Reality was sinking in, the ‘what could have been’. She’d come close… so close…

“Oh god,” Lilly whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

At that, Lilly tried her best to pull herself together, angrily wiping the tears away as she pushed down her fears and paranoia aside. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things. She’d been saved. They needed to focus, to move on. More than ever she found herself wanting to go home. She was a mess, not ready for the world outside the walls of the safe zone. That had been proven time and again since she’d left the place. And somehow… each time… this man was there for her. How he must hate her.

As Lilly got herself together, she looked at the man once more. “So, what now?” she asked, hoping that he’d find that compassion she saw in him once more.

Jason sighed and ran his hand over his face as he leaned back against the tree with his gun in his free hand. He used he rubbed his temple with the fingers of his gun hand. "Now?" He had his eyes closed as he spoke. "Now we rest and wait for the gas to leave the cave." He opened his eyes as he clicked on the safety. "If you left wherever you came from once I am sure you will want to do it again. So before I help you get home your learning how to stay alive out here." He stared at her for a few seconds before he blinked and looked away.

He was silent for a minute before he sighed and looked back at her. "I never did tell you my name did I?" He almost smiled. "Of course I didn't. Anyway I am Jason." He held out his free hand towards her. He knew that he wanted to stay near her even if it meant he was just helping her home he wanted to stay around her. He was not sure he she was the only person he had not been able to push form his mind.

Lilly bit down on her lip as Jason extended his hand to her. Finally, an introduction, some sort of civility. She looked at the man for a moment, studying him and trying to take in as much as she could. It was funny. Now that this killer, this cold and uncompassionate man, had a name… he suddenly didn’t seem as ominous. He’s saved her. Twice. One time in which he had to actually go after her. It made her wonder slightly. Had she been wrong about him? Had her first impression been wrong? She still wasn’t sure, but there was a part of her that was beginning to question, wondering if somewhere underneath that cool exterior there was a man who could actually feel.

Setting her jaw, Lilly then reached for Jason’s hand. It was larger than hers, much warmer. He could easily break her hand in two if he’d had a mind to do so. She had no doubt. “Nice to meet you, Jason.” She gave him a small smile, letting him know that she was grateful for the sudden kindness, even if it wouldn’t last. “Lilly,” she then said out of instinct though she’d introduced herself to him earlier.

Lilly wondered where exactly they’d be staying as she and Jason waited for the gas to dissipate. There wasn’t much in the way of cover and being out in the open didn’t overly appeal. She’d heard that many nasties came out in the night and she was hardly ready to face anything like that. Even with this man by her side. Too much had happened and she was still very much frightened though she tried very hard to hide that fact.

“Where exactly will we be staying?” Lilly then asked. “And how long do you think it’ll take for the gas to clear?”

Lilly hoped it wouldn’t be long. It was already rather dark and her body was very weary and tired. So sore, not used to such exertions. She really needed to rest, but she didn’t want to stay where they were. Besides, not only did the fear of being out in the open and so vulnerable to anything and everything that could be lurking in the shadows, she thought about what Jason had told her. He planned on training her a bit before bringing her back home. Given the way this man seemed to operate, he’d be hard on her. After all, how long did it take for him to even tell her his name let alone a simple hello?

Crouching low and hugging her knees to her chest, Lilly tried to keep herself warm. “When are you going to start training me?” she then asked, adding to her list of questions. She hoped she wasn’t annoying him, but his mysterious demeanor allowed her no choice but to be inquisitive. She was at his mercy now. All she could do was hope that he’d be able to see and understand what her needs were, that he’d do his best to see them met to ensure her survival. Swallowing then, she averted her eyes and looked toward the ground. “I’m sorry for all the questions, it’s just…” her voice trailed a bit. “I’m just frightened and feel rather silly for placing myself in such a predicament. I’ll do my best while I’m with you. I promise.”

Jason just looked at her for a second as she shook his hand. He was not sure if she was trying to make a joke or just something she had raised to say. “Nice to meet you again Lilly.” The ghost of a smile showed on his face but it disappeared again as he took his hand back and closed his eyes.

He was listening to the forest around them for anything that might be lurking in the trees but to anyone watching he would look more like he was sleeping. He had started to relax since he had not heard anything nearby and his mind had gotten used to the normal sounds of the area enough that he was confident he could wake up any time he needed. So when he heard Lilly ask him a question he suppressed a groan and opened his eyes to look at her. “I was just going to stay here, there is nothing around us at the moment.” He considered her question and then started to read deeper into her words. He stood up without a word and looked around for a moment. “Come on, I’ve got a rope we can use to climb back up to the top of the cliff. As for the gas we can go in anytime as long as we us masks. If we wait for the gas to disperse it will take a few hours.”

“Come on and try not to fall off the cliff this time.” He gave her a quick glance after he spoke but the expression on his face that was something close to humor but there was a dark twist to it. He took one look around as he pulled out his pistol out and held it against his leg then walked over to the cliff face. After a few feet he found the rope and tested its strength then turned and waited for Lilly. “You go first. I will make sure you get up before I follow.” He was not sure if she would be able to actually make it up but he was pretty sure she could do it.

Lilly felt her heart stop briefly when Jason casually and coldly mentioned that his plan had been to stay put. Immediately, her mind began to reel with all the possibilities of what could be lurking behind any given tree. Waiting. Hungry. Just then, a shiver ran along her spine and she felt herself grow dizzy. Never had she felt more stupid than she did at that moment for having left her home behind. It was the most ridiculously stunt she’d ever pulled and, if she ever made it back home, she’d be certain never to do it again. Not ever. Better to be cooped up and safe than living in constant fear. There were hostile people out there, wild animals and, of course… the infected.

Placing a hand against her forehead, Lilly felt weak and worried she might pass out. She could feel the blood rushing from her face and pooling in her feet, making them feel heavy like lead. Just when she thought she might lose it, Jason began to mumble again. He mentioned that they could go back to where they’d been, back to the cliff they’d originally tried to climb. He’d managed just fine. But her? Well, she recalled all too vividly what had happened there.

Again, Lilly shivered. Though she found herself nodding as Jason led the way back. It took a while and wasn’t easy going. After all, it was dark. The trees were like brambly thorns trying to claw and snatch at anything that passed by them. Several times, she wanted to shout out, to scream and run. But there was no way she’d leave Jason’s side. Not so long as he’d help her and guide her home. Even if it meant a small diversion of him teaching her how to defend herself on a basic level. Better safe than sorry and she knew damned well she was much safer with him. Probably more so than even in the safe zone, if she had to truly admit such a thing.

Lilly stared up the cliff face as she and Jason paused briefly at the foot of it. The sky was an unforgiving black, ominous as the inky color swallowed up everything the sun normally allowed one to see. Jason gestured that she climb first and after what had happened earlier, she was in total agreement with that. Swallowing, she reached for what looked like a decent hand hold. Slowly, she began to make the ascent. It was difficult finding anything to hold onto or use as a foot hold. And the darkness only made it that much more difficult. But, over time, her pace glacially slow, she finally made it to the top.

Lilly peered over the edge and waved down to Jason. “I made it. I’m all right,” she called down.

Sitting down on the ground, Lilly then hugged her knees to her chest and rocked a bit. The air was cold and she was still scared. Continue to gently rock, she waited for Jason to join her atop the cliff.

Jason watched as Lily slowly made her way up the cliff face for a few moments then turned and put his back to the cliff as he let his eyes scan the forest. He wondered if he was wasting his time with this. He knew the smart thing to do would have been to leave her and get on with his life. He thought about his reasoning but in the end he gave up and admitted that there was no logic in what he was doing. If he was thinking logically he would have kept going when he got to the top of the cliff but instead he had stopped and waited for her.

He was snapped form his thoughts when he heard Lilly call to him from the top of the cliff. He glanced up just in time to see her wave to him then duck out of side. He shoved his gun back into its holster and grabbed the rope. He started climbing up at a much quicker pace that quickened even more when he realized he had let her get within a few feet of all his things. The only thing she could not take was the small computer strapped to his wrist and the other items he had on his person at the moment. He pulled himself over the lip of the cliff and went into a crouch instantly. He was just barely able to stop himself from pulling his gun as he noticed Lilly had not even attempted to find his bag.

He went to the tree he had tired the rope to and pulled the rest up the cliff before he untied it and walked to the tree that he had hid his bag under. After a quick glance around he pulled it out of under the tree and pushed the dead branches away from it so that he could get it out easier. When he had it out Jason looked around them for a good place to spend the night. He settled for a few trees that were clumped together nearby. “Lilly over there. We will spend the night there.” He pointed to the trees then started walking for them with the bag in one hand and his rifle held firmly in his other hand.

When he got to the trees he brushed the leaves and twigs out of the way then sat down against a tree so that he had a good view of the area around them. Jason immediately started looking over his rifle to make sure nothing had been altered then when he was satisfied he set it to the side and opened the bag. He rummaged around in it for a few minutes then pulled out some food. There were a few energy bars, jerky, two chocolate bars and some cans of baked beans. “Probably not what you are used to but its what I have for the moment so eat up.” He had divided the food up equally then used a knife he pulled from his boot to open the cans then started eating with his hands not really thinking about how it might look to Lilly. He had not had to worry about manners for years so it did not even occur to him now.

Lilly waited, anxiously and nervously, for Jason to make his way to the top. She felt alone and frightened and hoped he’d make it up sooner as opposed to later. It was a grave mistake to have wandered outside the safety of the walls of where she was from. The tales woven by those storytellers had indeed been true and then some and coming to grips with that only made her feel worse about her decision. She’d been foolish, impulsive and too curious for her own damned good. Hugging her knees to her chest, she continued to wait, her heart pounding beneath her breast, her ears listening for the sound of anything that could be approaching and be a threat to them both.

“Hurry, Jason,” Lilly whispered to herself, her body trembling a bit in fear.

Finally, Lilly heard movement near the cliff’s edge and she felt sudden surge of adrenaline course through her body. She knew it was Jason and, sure enough, he came slowly came into view. His head came first followed by his upper body and soon he’d joined her at the top. As he quickly gained his bearings, she felt a shiver run along her spine. She wanted to run to him since she knew she’d be safe so long as he was nearby, but she also still feared him to an extent. She knew what he was capable of and that he could still very well leave her if he chose, only… he hadn’t so far.

There was nothing on Lilly’s person that was of any value. And though she knew her safe haven could be considered something, he was only one person. A single person trying anything on an entire city the size of hers was madness and wouldn’t serve to help him in any way. No. He had no reason to help her. So why was he? Maybe buried deep down beneath that icy exterior was a man with a conscience, maybe even a man with a past. She pushed the thoughts aside since survival was more important at that moment. Perhaps, if the chance arose later on, she’d muster up some courage and see if she could dare to learn more about this cold man who, for reasons unknown, was still helping her.

Swallowing, Lilly’s eyes locked onto Jason’s. As he gained his bearings and focus, she noticed his stance change a bit. He seemed poised and ready, ready for a fight. Licking her lips, she clasped her arms about herself and gave him a weak smile showing him that she was grateful he’d actually followed, that he didn’t just up and abandon her. Standing up, she watched him pull up the rope and head over to the tree in which the rope had been tied to. He untied it and rummaged around until he revealed a bag. He then opened it and placed the rope inside it and slung the bag onto his body. Slowly, he walked toward her and as he did, he motioned for her to head over to a nearby clump of trees.

Lilly nodded and did as told. She could tell that Jason was the sort that wouldn’t ask twice. Besides, when it came to survival, she did trust him implicitly. Though she didn’t know him at all, the fact that he was a survivor was extremely apparent and as such, she follow his instructions without asking too many questions.

Sitting down, Lilly watched Jason join her on the ground. He still seemed so distant despite everything that had happened. He’d saved her, gone after her. And even now, he was still helping her. Earlier on by the stream, she’d have sworn he’d have killed her in cold blood if she so much as breathed wrong. And it only made her wonder yet again as to why he was helping her.

Before Lilly could speak, Jason set out some food. It wasn’t much, but she was grateful. The glimpse she’d gotten of the world outside her safety zone had already given her a good taste of how scarce food and companionship truly was. Giving him a smile, she averted her eyes and reached for an energy bar.

“Thank you,” Lilly said, her voice just above a whisper. “And not just for the food. But for not leaving me.” She paused a moment as she bit her lip in worry. “I know I must be a burden to you. So… thanks. I really mean that.”

Lilly felt another surge of adrenaline wash over her. She truly was at the mercy of this man. No doubt he knew it too. She could only hope that he realized just how grateful she was.

“How long do you think it will take to find my home?” Lilly then asked. “It has to be at least a day or so away by foot. Though I know you’d said you wanted to teach me some basics in survival before bringing me there, for which I’m grateful.” Again, she gave him a smile before suddenly averting her pale eyes. “I don’t know how to repay you. Though, when you return me, I’ll make sure you’re given whatever supplies you desire. That is… if you feel you cannot stay there.”

Lilly wondered if Jason had even thought about the possibility of staying at the safe zone. He wasn’t infected and his skills would be an asset to the community. So she knew he’d be accepted despite his standoffish manner. However, she could tell he was a loner sort. Not the type of person to stay put or hang around people for too long. Even still, she felt the need to make the offer. It was the least she could do. After all, she owed him her life.

Jason nodded as she thanked him then looked down and opened the energy bar. He took a few bites not sure what he should say so he decided to just stay quite. When she had finished he thought over her words and how if she was someone else she would have been a burden but he did not see her as one. She was the first person he had met who had not tried to kill him or steal from him. He had not none anyone like her for years, years before the world ended even. As he at the energy bar he shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t usually think about his past or what he wanted anymore. He didn’t have time for what he wanted, he only had time for what he needed.

He slowly rolled back his sleeve as he chewed the energy bar. When his sleeve was rolled up to his elbow he turned his arm over and undid the buckles that held a small device to his arm. He cleared a small area on the ground between them before setting the device on the ground and activating it. He tapped the screen a few times then slid a switch on the side and a 3D model of the area appeared in an odd green color between them. “If you can recognize a landmark from where your home is we might be able to get you back there faster.” He reached out and turned the image and zoomed in and out to show her how to manipulate it.

He looked at Lilly over the map not sure how to explain what he wanted to teach her. When he thought about it he cracked a thin smile that was almost invisible in the green light as he thought that explaining what he would teach her would be easier than explaining why he was going to spend the time teacher her. “Supplies will be enough of a payment.” He pulled out a knife and used it to open the can of food and started to eat the contents with his fingers. It did not cross his mind of how he must look for almost a full minute. When he did realized he stopped eating and looked around before h dug through his bag and pulled out two cups handing one to Lily before he poured the rest of what was in his can into the metal cup and started to drink it slowly. It wasn’t much better but it was a start. He disregarded her offer to stay in the safe zone. He doubted it would be safe, there might be safety from the dangers he was used to but there would be many he was not attuned to and that was a danger.

Lilly sucked in a sharp breath when Jason first began to speak. But rather than telling her what his own desires were, he instead showed her a three-dimensional map. She quirked a brow at first as she looked at the holographic image, squinting a bit to see if anything looked familiar. Unfortunately, nothing did. Though, she did know there was a small mountain range to the south of her ‘city’. She had no idea which mountains they were since the area wasn’t her hometown. She’d just been fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time for once when everything went to high and holy hell.

Heaving a soft sigh, Lilly was about to mention the mountains. But before she could, Jason interrupted. He mentioned that he’d be taking the supplies, his loner mentality obviously stepping forward and making his decision both known and clear. He wouldn’t stay once he got her safely home.

Lilly just nodded at Jason’s reply. She understood, though oddly a part of her had hoped the seemingly cold-hearted man would want to ease some tensions by surrounding himself with good people. People who could support and encourage, provide an ear. Hell, even be taught a thing or two by him. But, no. She understood and she wouldn’t push. If he changed his mind later, so be it. If not, she’d accept it.

Just then, Jason began to work open a can with his knife. Once opened, he began to eat the contents within as if he were an animal in a hunger frenzy. Lilly’s eyes went wide at the sight of him acting in such a manner. Then, as if sensing her bewilderment, he pulled out some cups and poured the remaining contents into them both. He handed one to her and carefully began to drink from his own.

Lilly couldn’t help but smile at Jason’s gesture, not to mention change in manners. It was sweet of him to take notice and actually give a damn about her own comfort in their present situation. And it was also almost becoming difficult for her to see him as that cold bastard she’d met at the side of the stream a few days prior. Once again, he was proving himself to have some sort of feelings underneath that tough and cold-hearted exterior he showed off so very well.

Taking a sip from her cup, Lilly felt a warmth wash over her. In that moment, she realized that Jason was indeed honorable. His methods might be barbaric, but he had a sense of honor nonetheless. It wasn’t his fault that the events now shaping the world placed him in survival mode, forcing him to have to act and react brutally in order to stay alive and thrive. Setting down her cup, her smile was still playing on her lips.

Leaning toward Jason a little, Lilly pointed at the map. “Not sure if it’s on here or not. But, there’s a small mountain range to the south of where I live.”