PATH UNCOVERED

Samantha's POV Nature sensed something different today. The morning was remarkably quiet, as though even the air and the birds were holding their breath. Since leaving the cottage, we had hardly slept, running forward through the night to keep Adam and his troops off our path. But today, when the early dawn peeped through the woods, tiredness followed me everywhere. Do you suppose we have lost them? Lena's voice, little above a whisper, startled the silence. I looked at her; the dark bags beneath her eyes matched my own weariness. Though I knew better than to trust it, I said, "I hope so." Adam was unrelenting. He would locate us shortly enough even if we managed to go some space apart. Adrian halted ahead and waved a hand to indicate quiet. His acute eyes surveyed the foliage, then he moved us ahead. His eyes gave a hard-to-read mix of concentrated, resolute yet something else too. maybe regret. Feeling guilty? With his face set in a familiar frown, Victor dropped into step next to me. "Still think he's trustworthy?," he said, slanted his head toward Adrian. "Do you ever provide folks the benefit of the doubt, Victor?" I said, my voice subdued yet forceful. He started to argue, then stopped his mouth, and we walked in a tense quiet. After still another hour of trekking, we came across a little creek softly flowing over smooth stones. Adrian bent next to it, filling a canteen and gesturing for the rest of us to follow. The sight of the pure water, cold and reviving, seemed like a little gift in the middle of all this uncertainty. Adrian's words shocked me as I stopped to drink. "We're almost here." I raised my eyebrows and glanced up. "Very near to what?" His tone is consistent, "To where we need to go." But his look seemed strange, something that sent caution bells in my head off-course. Victor tightened up next to me. "And just where exactly is that?" Adrian halted and looked between us. "An ancient road winds across the hills. Although it's risky, if we accept it we may be able to permanently lose Adam's soldiers. The quiet that followed was thick with unsaid uncertainty and residual suspicion. Adrian's comments were under measurement by everyone's gaze, analyzing the reality behind them. And how familiar are you with this road? My voice was weaker than I wanted, I asked. His eyes locked with mine, steely and uncompromising. "Because I have past experience with it. It was my way out when I left Adam. Raw and vulnerable, his comments hung in the air and for a time I felt his history weighing down on him. Though I wasn't sure if I should totally trust him, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. Breaking the quiet, Victor murmured, "Fine." But if this goes wrong... His eyes sharp as he met Adrian's stare, he let the threat hang. "It won't," Adrian said, his voice calm but with a steel edge. Then he turned without further remark and started to lead the way. The road was small and meandering among heavy underbrush and deep woods. The air got colder and the shadows sank farther as we ascended. Like a knot tightening in my gut, the discomfort that had been simmering under the surface became more intense. Every stride seemed like a gamble, every leaf rustling making me tense. Though I attempted to concentrate on Adrian's back and consistent speed, questions persisted. And supposing he was guiding us toward a trap? What if this were all some complex scheme? But then I thought of the sight in his eyes—the agony and guilt that seemed to follow him. Perhaps he was indeed attempting to atone. Lena said, "Samantha," startling me out of my reverie. She was near enough to clearly show the anxiety on her face. Are you really sure about this? Related to him? I paused, eyes straying toward Adrian. "I don't know. Still, right now he is all we have. Adrian stopped holding out a hand for silence as we arrived at a clearing close to the hill's crest. He bent low, his eyes surveying the space, and I felt my heart thumping in my chest—the quiet nearly deafening. Then he nodded, his shoulders just gently relaxing. More to himself than to us, he said, "We're clear for now." Grateful for the break, we paused to gather our breath and each sank down on the soft grass. From here, the valley below opened out like a patchwork quilt of browns and greens. It seemed quiet for a little time. Like we were, virtually safe. Then the sound of footfall broke the silence, and I looked up, heart lurching as Adam and his men came out of the forest. They were far too quick and too near. Time was not on our side for running. Adrian's face became white, his hands clenched. His voice strained, he said, "Stay behind me." With his jaw set, Victor moved forward; I grabbed his arm to drag him back. "No," We are all in this together. Adam's eyes flew over us, cold and deliberate, then landed on Adrian. He curled his lips to smile. "I knew you would lead them here," he continued, his voice full of delight. " Adrian, you always were predictable." Though Adrian's face contorted with rage, he remained silent. Rather, he set his shoulders and sent Adam a fierce look. His voice firm, he added, "We're not going back." Not one of us. Adam laughed, a black, hollow sound that chilled my spine. You believe you can run away from Adrian? You are stupid as well as ignorant. Stronger than dread, I felt a flash of wrath and went forward, my voice shaking but rebellious. Adam, we are not terrified of you. Not these days. He raised an eyebrow and fixed me, a menacing light in his eyes. Is that so? His hand reached for me and I staggered back, pulse pounding, before I could reply. Adrian came in front of me with a stiff body and clenched hands. "Leave her alone," he said, his voice low and tinged with rage. Adam's smile vanished, then he turned coldly disdainful. "Very excellent. If that is your desired state of affairs. The following few seconds were a flurry of noise and motion—shouts, scuffles, fist clashes. As I was thrown to the ground, the world whirled around me and I hardly felt the agony in my arm. My pulse racing, my vision hazy, I lay on the woodland floor as the dust fell. Adrian stood next to me, breathing heavily, a bruise developing on his cheek, but his eyes were on Adam, unconscious a few feet away, his soldiers scattering. Adrian said, "Samantha," his voice gentle yet firm. Are you good? I nodded, stammered to sit up, my body hurting. "I agree." You"? He gave a weak smile, relieved in look. We completed it. We turned aside. Every one of us was buried in our own thoughts as we made our way down the slope. The surge had subsided, replaced by tiredness and an odd sensation of achievement. We had fought Adam, and for the first time we had prevailed. Adrian glanced at me as we arrived at the brink of the woodland, his face softening. "Samantha,"I just want to say thanks. For depending on me. I grinned and felt warmth flood me. "You got it." He nodded, then turned away, guiding the way back toward the road while still staring at me for a time. Following also gave me hope—a hope that perhaps, just maybe, we might at last leave the past behind us and go ahead.