WEIGHTED SECRETS

Lena's POV As I dash across the underbrush, the dark forests nearby have branches snatching at my garments. Adrenaline floods, yet under it terror beats. "Marcus, are you alright? I manage to yell as we negotiate the woods. Indeed, he says, his voice strained but consistent. Just keep going! Adrenaline racing with every step, we go farther into the forest. Shouts and the sound of leaves underfoot still sound like pursuit behind us. Though it's horrible, I have to keep my concentration. There is no alternative; too many lives lie on the brink. "Where would we like to go?" I ask, looking for a road, any means to get away from this dream. "There is clearing ahead," he says, his brow wrinkled in concentration. We could hide there. I get a sharp surge of hope as we get toward the clearing. If we can only get there, we might be able to catch our breath and decide what to do next. I can see the route forward is plain as the moonlight glows across the ground through the trees. But I hear it—a twig cracks behind us—just as we are approaching the edge of the clearing. My heart freezes. "they're close!" "Run!!" Marcus pulls me forward and exhorts. We exploded into the clearing, the wide area seeming as both a trap and a haven. I glance about somewhere to hide. "Across there!" Pointing to a tangle of shrubs on the other side of the clearing, I yell. We attempt to catch our breath by plunging into the underbrush. Though the excitement still beats through me, now I have an edge of worry. "Do you suppose they looked at us?" My voice shakes as I whisper. Marcus peeking through the foliage says, "Not yet." Still, we must keep silent. Huddled together, I can feel his body next to mine, and it provides an odd solace among the tumult. I gaze at him, absorbing his focused attitude and the way his jaw is set with will. I add gently, my voice hardly audible above a whisper: "Thanks for having my back." He glances at me, astonishment dancing across his eyes. You rescued me right back there. I felt I was done for. Indeed, I was not going to let it happen. Charged with unsaid messages and common experiences, the moment lingers between us. We have both gone through a lot, and in this hectic environment it is difficult to recall what normal feels like. But in this still moment, I view Marcus from another angle. His obvious weight begs me to question what he is thinking. He breaks the quiet, "Lena," saying. " About what transpired back there... I want you not to suffer because of me. I answer, a bit more defensively than I meant, "I can handle myself, Marcus." I am not some helpless girl. Raising his hands in surrender, he murmurs, "I know." "I simply really worry about you. And I refuse to lose anybody else. I'm taken aback by his honesty. I see the fragility in his eyes, the anxiety resulting from losing those he loves. "You won't lose me," I said, my voice steely. Remember? We are in this together. Screams from the tree line blast before he can reply. "They're arriving!" I hiss, drawing toward the underbrush. We pay great attention, our breaths held as the sounds approach. At the brink of the clearing, a group of Beckett's men show up with their knives-like flashlights piercing through the night. I strain to hear their discussion and my heart races. One man points out, looking about, "We saw them run this way." One cannot be distant from another. Divide up and look around the periphery. My panic starts. "What if they located us?" Whispering, I feel the weight of the moment. Marcus says, "They won't," his voice low. "Just remain silent." We maintain our breathing constant as we venture farther into the bush. I can sense my body stiffening as the men fan out around the clearing. Every minute that flies seems like an eternity. I suddenly hear a familiar voice. "Lena! Marcus!?" "Daniel!" I call out, my heart jumping at his voice. "We're here!" Daniel and Jacob come from the shadows the next instant, looking exactly as relieved as I do. "Are you people okay?" With his eyes darting toward the seeking soldiers, Daniel asks. We're good, I respond, my voice steadying as I inhale. But they are looking for us. Scanning the clearing, Jacob says, "Let's find somewhere safe." This is not the place to dwell. We go carefully back into the woods, attempting to be as quiet as we can as Daniel and Jacob lead the way. The soldiers are still looking; their spotlights sweep back and forth, brilliantly lighting the darkness in horrific spurts. I keep looking at Marcus as we slink through the forest. He looks at me and I see a combination of terror and will reflected back. We are fighting this together, and I know I can count on him just as he can count on me. "Where's the safest spot?" As we drift further from the clearing, I murmur to Daniel. "There's a cave not far by," he says, his tone grave. "It will offer some cover.". Feeling the urgency of our circumstances, "Let's go there," I say. We negotiate the woods, going fast yet deliberately. The moonlight leads us, yet the shadows seem to be closing in all around us. At last we arrive at the mouth of the cave, a dark aperture that seems to provide security. Inside, it is cold and moist. Somewhere deep within the cave, I can hear water dripping, producing a soothing pattern that contrasts with the tumult outside. Daniel advises, looking back at the door, "We should stay here for a bit." "It's safer outside than." I nod, appreciative of the little relief. The strain starts to release as we settle in, and I pause to gather my ideas. "What's the current plan??" Looking at every one of them, I ask. Daniel, absorbed in contemplation, scrapes his chin. "We have to get back together and decide our next action against Beckett. He will not stop till he comes across us. Jacob nods in accord. "We have to start with strikes. He will come for us if we delay too much. "I can get intel," Marcus says with a firm voice. "I had been observing his gestures. I know when he will be sensitive. The cave comes alive with oneness. We are all in this together, and I am experiencing a feeling of belonging not like I have in a very long time. "Let's do this," I say, resolving to drown my voice. Marcus's stare on me weighs me while we talk about our future moves. "You are really coming into your own, Lena," he adds softly. "What do you mean?" Startled by his comments, I inquired. "You have evolved from the beginning of this road. You are stronger than I would have imagined. Though it makes me happy, his comment also makes me vulnerable. "I couldn't have done it without you folks," I say. You have all helped me flourish. "Don't sell yourself short," he continues, staring straight at me. "You've battled valiantly for this." Our connection grows and for a little period it seems as though the anarchy of our surroundings disappears. It strikes me that, in spite of all, I have discovered a family among this scattered collection of rebels. We are startled from our moment by a sudden loud boom through the cave. "What was that?" Jacob probes, his eyes wide with panic. "Sounded like something collapsing," Daniel adds, his voice tight. "We ought to look at it." I feel my heart rush as we reach the sound. I can't get rid of the impression that we are not alone here; the gloom feels alive. We go to the noise's origin: a heap of pebbles and trash dropped from the ceiling. " Looks like this cave is unstable, Daniel says. We ought to exercise caution. My thoughts return to what Marcus said as we begin to clean the trash. He believes in me and I cannot let his confidence go to waste. For all of us, I have to keep moving ahead. At that moment, I hear a far-off sound—a deep rumbling rippling underfoot. "Did you Hear that?" Looking around, I inquire. Daniel's countenance became black. We ought to leave this place. Not now. The rumble gets stronger as we head back toward the door and I start to fear. The cave is about to collapse. "Run!!" Shouting, I urge everyone into the opening of the cave. We emerged from the cave barely in time and staggered into the chilly night air, panting for breath. The earth vibrates underneath, and I can see pebbles falling behind us to close the opening. Breathless Marcus exclaims, "That was too close." I turn around to gaze back.