THE BREAKING POINT

Lena's POV I can still feel the surge of adrenaline pumping through me as we come out of the rocky outcrop. The jungle seems to shut in, limbs reaching for us like skeleton fingers. The meeting with the wolf still bothers me in my head. It represented everything we were up against—dangerous, erratic, and relentless—not only a wild animal. Daniel walks next to me; his presence calms the tumult. He looks at me, worried brow wrinkled. His voice low, he asks, "You good?" "I will be," I say, pushing a smile that falls short of my eyes. Actually, I feel as though I am precariously close to something I cannot define. With Adam hiding in the shadows, the wolf served as a reminder that we still live in danger and begged me to consider how long I could suppress my anxiety. As we walk among the woods, the air thickens with tension. I feel our unspoken worries weighing on me. A few feet ahead, Nyla and Elias' quiet whispers mix with the rustle of leaves. "What if Adam strikes back once more?" Glancing back at us, Nyla whispers. "He will," Elias says, his voice dark. "We are not secure. Not until we really face him. I get shivers running down my back. Confronting Adam means confronting my past, the horror I have worked so hard to ignore. His treachery floods my memory, each one reminding me of my fragility. I cannot let that anxiety rule me though. I have to locate my will. I say, moving forward to join their chat, "Listen." We cannot continue to be terrified of running. We must be proactive if we are to interrupt this pattern. We require a scheme. Nyla nods, her eyes turning brilliant. "What do you have in mind?" I bite my lip, then admit, "I don't know yet." Still, we have to compile data. Find out Adam has in mind. Perhaps we can flip the cards on him. Daniel gently lays his calming hand on my shoulder. " I enjoy it. We will compile information and work on how to approach him. combined. His comments cause a little surge of hope. We might have a chance, for the first time in a long time. We head farther into the forest as the day goes on, the trees thickening around us. The sunlight lowers, creating complex shadows on the ground as it passes between the leaves. The air is calm yet somehow threatening. Daniel advises, looking about for a good place, "We should set up camp soon." Agreed, I answer, feeling the tiredness dragging on me. "Let's clear a path." We come onto a little clearing surrounded by dense vegetation. Hidden enough to offer some cover, I nod in agreement. "This will be effective." I can't get rid of the sense of being watched as we start to set up camp. The hairs on my rear of my neck prick, and I glance over my shoulder half-expecting to find Adam hiding in the darkness. But there is nothing here. The peacefulness of the woodland alone. "Hey, you okay?," asked Daniel, noting my discomfort and probes. I start to smile. "Just tired, I suppose." Nyla comes along and lowers her pack to the floor. "Let's ignite a fire. We could go over our next actions. I can feel my determination growing as we compile leaves and wood for the fire. This presents our opportunity for control. I want to help my friends and go past my anxieties. I refuse to let Adam decide our course. "Do you suppose we could actually bring him on?" With a doubtful voice, Nyla asks. "We can," I say with great conviction. Each of us has the other. That counts, for something. We gather around the fire as it blazes to life; the warmth gives our faces a cozy glow. If only momentarily, the leaping flames appear to hunt away the darkness. Daniel leans forward and adds, "Okay, let's talk tactics. "We have to learn what Adam is working on. Should we be able to obtain data, we could turn it against him. "What if he sees us??" Nyla observes. He is always one step ahead. "We have to be careful," I say, looking about as though the woods themselves could turn on us. But we cannot let anxiety paralyze us. Elias motions. "Perhaps we could separate. One squad stays here to guard against unexpected attacks while another scouts surrounding areas. Daniel nods and says, "That could work. Lena and I could go one way, while you two cover the other. I notice Nyla's eyes flickering with reluctance. "What if something happens? We have to hang close together. "We will," I said, my pulse pounding at the thought of separating. "We can keep in constant communication. We will have backs for one another. I can feel our bond strengthening as we go over our schedule. We are a family created in the furnace of adversity, not only a team. Every one of us has battled our demons; today we stand together. The evening progresses, the air turning cooler as darkness covers the woodland. When we wrap up our preparations, my heart starts to race with expectancy. Daniel says, "Let's get some rest," his voice calm. "We'll need our fortitude tomorrow." I agree, yet sleep eludes me. Rather, I'm lost in thought seated by the fire. My mind spins with memories of my past, revealing anxieties I thought I had buried. I consider Adam, his eyes steely and calculated, how readily he turned on me. Lena asked? Daniel's voice draws me back to the present from among my ideas. He walks up, worried on his face. "You okay?" I lie and say, "I'm fine," pushing a smile. Just thinking. He sits next to me, his body radiating coziness. "You know, you're not obliged to pretend with me." I look at him and uncertainty floods my chest. "I simply want to avoid letting you all down. I cannot pull you into my history any more. "Lena," he murmurs gently, staring straight ahead. You are not pulling us anyplace. We are traveling through this together. You have more strength than you could possibly know. Each of us has baggage; it is what defines us as human beings. I swallow hard, his words sinking right down inside me. "Just... I find myself terrified. What would happen if I'm inadequate? He takes my hand, his kind touch giving me a shock of comfort. You're more than plenty. We will side by side face whatever comes our way. I let myself believe in his remarks for the first time. The anxiety that has dogged me for so long starts to disappear and is replaced by oneness. I can meet anything—even Adam—with Daniel at my side. I peek at my buddies as the fire goes out; all of us immersed in our minds. Benefit the surface, yet, I can sense the common will seething. We go to fight Adam tomorrow. Daniel whispers, "Get some rest," then goes back to his position, staring at me for a bit more. I close my eyes and get a first-time flutter of hope in days. Tomorrow contains whatever; I know we will face it together. A sound shocks me from sleep hours later—a rustle of leaves, a crackling nearby. As I sit up looking about, my heart races. The fire has burned out, and shadows loom menacing over the clearing. Did you hear that? Whispering, my voice hardly above a breath. Daniel stirs next to me right away. " What was it?" A stranger steps into the feeble light out of the shadows before I can respond. Adams is it. My heart falls as the surroundings sharpen into focus. A smile playing on his lips, he continues, "I thought I would find you here." "Get away from us!" I yell, adrenaline flooding through my blood vessels. Daniel appears next to me, fists closed and poised for battle. Adam laughs, looking at us alternately. "You truly believe you could run from me? I always watch and always one step ahead. "What do you want??" Growling, Daniel positions himself defensively in front of me. "I want to make a deal," Adam says, his voice laid back and as if we were talking about nothing at all. But you brought along some small buddies. Very adorable. "You're sick," I spit back, my pulse pounding with rage. We won't trust you. Adam's face gets darker. "Trust?" This has not to do with trust. This is survival-related. If you would be ready to listen, I can assist you. I look at Daniel and search his eyes for solutions. The strain in the air intensifies, and I can feel my decisions weighing down on me. "What's your angle??" With a firm voice, Daniel asks. Adam approaches closely, his eyes fixed on me. Lena, you are not ready for what is ahead. I only help you if you let me. As I think about his comments, my heart races. I can't trust him even if he might have information that could tip the tide. I shake my head as his betrayal comes back to me. "Get out of this, Adam. We want nothing from you, I say, with a firm voice. She laughs.