THE CHOICES WE MAKE

Lena's POV Closing in as I nestle next to Nyla, the thicket around us feels like a prison of shadows. My heart thumps in my chest, every thug mirroring my terror. Although we have avoided the immediate danger, I know it won not too long before they discover we are missing. "I can't believe we're hiding in a bush," Nyla says in a tone that combines comedy with worry. "This feels outrageous." In an effort to lighten the situation, I glance sideways at her "Well, it's better than being caught, right?" She laughs gently, yet her eyes stay wide with terror. She is still disturbed from the chase, I know. "Yeah, but I didn't picture my heroic trip ending up like this." Her resiliency makes me smile automatically. Since our initial meeting, Nyla has developed really significantly. She is no more the shy girl that stopped at every turn. She has grown more courageous, but this is a whole other degree. "We'll get through this," I tell her, my voice consistent even if I have my own uncertainties. We simply have to keep concentrating. Outside the thicket, the sounds of footsteps get louder, and my body starts to tense. I look at Nyla, who is chewing her lip and radiating worry. Fear returning into her voice, she wonders, "What if they find us?" "Then we'll think of something," I responded, attempting to give my voice confidence. "This far we have made it together. Neither can we stop right now. Nyla nods, through her eyes showing her doubt. Though I wish I could protect her from this anxiety, we have to confront it together. Silent moments pass, footsteps approaching, and I find myself thinking of our buddies. Dani and Elias. They are out there, depending on us to get back in. I refuse to let them down. "Lena," Nyla says, shattering the quiet. "What would happen should we have to fight? I have never done anything like that before. I inhale and think about her comments. Neither have I, I say, although. Still, we cannot allow anxiety to paralyze us. We owe it to one another and ourselves protection. "What if I freeze?" she wonders, vulnerability leaking into her voice. I drop my voice and move in her direction. You won't freeze. You are more robust than you might believe. Think back on facing those wolves. You stayed put. We are in this together and I believe in you. Her face changes, and I sense her resolve growing inside her. She says, "Okay," her voice is more steady now. "I will try my best." The footsteps stop just outside our hiding place at that moment, and I strain to hear. I am breathing. I can pick out brief, muted but vital discussion fragments. "Verify the area once more. One voice orders, its tone crisp and forceful, "They cannot have gone far." My tummy turns as I quickly look at Nyla. We have to move, I whisper desperately. " now." Nyla nods, her terror replaced by will. We slowly slide backward, trying to separate the voices from one other. I see a trail leading farther into the forest as we emerge from the bush. "Over there," I say in motion. "Let's depart." We run, the underbrush rubbing at our legs as we dash along the trail. As I think about our next action, my head spins. "We have to figure out how to get in touch with Daniel and Elias," I continue, speaking urgently. They will be looking for us. "But how?" Then Glancing over her shoulder, Nyla probes. We live in the middle of nowhere. I act fast, looking around our surroundings. "Just not far from here is a clearing. We used to stay there for camping. We might be able to locate some signal if we can get there. "What if we come upon more of Adam's men?" Once more, Nyla's voice quakes; terror returns. Then we fight, my voice determined. "We cannot let them scare us. Our fate belongs to us to control. We are changing dynamically as we venture farther into the jungle. Nyla is my ally, someone I may count on, not only a friend. We are stronger together. The road narrows, and I lead the way across the woods, watching for any indication of peril. Though I keep going ahead, every crack of a branch sends an adrenaline rush through me. At last we come to the clearing. Though overgrown, this is a familiar location from where we used comfort. My heart pounding, "This is it," I say. "We can call the others if we can locate some sort of signal here." Nyla looks about, her eyes darting across the space. "Do you consider it safe?" I slow down, considering the weight of the choice. We have to run that risk. Our best opportunity comes from this. We enter the clearing and I grab my phone and beg for a miracle. I must try even if I know the battery is low. I hold it up and search the screen for any hint of service. Empty nothing. Just a whirl around a circle. I mumble, "Come on, come on," irritation boiling to the surface. I glimpse movement just then out of the corner of my eye. "Nyla, grab down!" I yell and toss myself on the ground to drag her down next to me. Lena gasps and looks wide with terror. "Stay low," I hiss, heart thumping. I observe shadows passing through the forest, clearly identifiable Adam's man figures. "What are we supposed to do?" Nyla murmurs, her voice shaky. We wait, I say, my head whirling. While we cannot let them see us, we cannot simply sit here and do nothing. I inhale deeply to help me to ground myself. "We go when they pass." Their voices resounding in the clearing, the men are approaching. "They have to be somewhere here," one of them grumbles. "Look at the area carefully." I can feel Nyla's hand hold me firmly and her anxiety evident. Her voice faltering, she wonders, "What if they find us?" "They won't," I responded with a strong stare toward the figures ahead. We are hiding. Just inhale. I can plainly see the men's faces as they go by. Years of allegiance to Adam have made them tough and hardened, and I sense their cruelty. Though I desire not to fight this, we have to be ready. I look at Nyla when they at last blend out of sight. "now." We have to reach the trees; I mumble and point to the thick undergrowth on the far side of the clearing. We break for it, crouching low to hide behind the trees and As we venture more into the forest, my heart races trying to keep as much distance between ourselves and the soldiers. I can't get rid of the sense that we are under hunt as we sprint. Though it's terrifying as well, the chase has an exciting thrill. Driven by the aim of locating Daniel and Elias, I force myself to keep on. We slow down at last as we arrive in a more open region. "What now?," asks Nyla breaths; her tired chest heaves. "We have to reorganize and come up with a strategy," I remark, my head whirling. "We cannot spend eternity running." Nyla nods, her eyes flashing with will. "We have to figure out how to get back at them. We cannot just be their targets. "That's the spirit," I say, suddenly feeling rather proud. "We are not merely running these days. We are rebuffing. I could feel the weight of the occasion crushing down on us as we got ready. This is our turning point; we cannot let terror rule our decisions any more. We will turn off our power. Nyla adds unexpectedly, her voice full with determination, "I want to help." "I want to rebel with you." Startled but inspired, I looked at her. Are you clear? Not simple at all. She says, "I've come this far," with a determined glaze. "I'm not going to let fear control my life anymore." I get a tsunami of respect. "Let's then create a strategy. We have to figure out how to alert Daniel and Elias to Adam's soldiers and get ready for what lies ahead. I sense fresh vigor growing within us as we plan. This trip has transformed us and I believe we will encounter whatever comes next together. Our link has grown stronger and we are choosing to fight, not only survive. I say, "whatever happens," and Nyla nods, a sharp glitter in her eyes. Together, we shall create our own road. We will oppose the darkness that seeks to engulf us collectively. Our decisions now will shape our destiny; I am not going to back down. Driven with a goal, we set out to take back our fate prepared for whatever obstacles ahead. Though they linger, we are not terrified anymore. We are prepared to rebel.