“You don't have to come," he replied without looking at her.
Baba's eyes gleamed with triumph.
“No. Coal, no. Promise me you won't," Alicia pleaded.
"Alicia, drop it." His voice held such firm command that she did so instantly.
“Fine, we'll do it but I want a v
ehicle," Alicia snapped at Baba, folding her arms over her chest.
"Of course," Baba smiled at us wickedly. "Why don't you go and collect the patient and I can get you all the information you'll need."
“You realise this is blackmail?" Alicia said indignantly.
“Ah, but what's a little blackmail between friends?" Baba chuckled.
Taylor's MRI didn't show anything out of place and the diagnosis was that he needed to rest until his body decided it was ready to wake up. Baba set him up in a hospital bed and attached him to a drip and a heart monitor. I insisted on getting him a room with a view of the forest so that he could see it when the time came for him to wake.
I sat on the edge of his bed wondering if he had any clue about what was happening and chewing on my bottom lip as I considered what I needed to do.
“I'm going to have to leave you here for a bit," I told him. "Coal said that I don't have to go with them, but I feel like I should help. Laurie is going to come with us too so don't hurry and wake up. I want you well but I don't want you waking up alone here in Fairview." I couldn't believe I was actually going to leave him. I reached out and brushed his hair aside, my fingers were shaking. A tear ran down my cheek but I quickly wiped it away. He would be okay, I had to believe it. "Baba says the information we'll get is going to help a lot of people so it's worth it. Not that I care what the price is really, you know I'd do anything to keep you safe."
Taylor didn't respond.
I stood up and walked over to open his curtains as wide as they would go so that the green view was clear. At night, huge metal shutters would cover the windows to keep any predators out, but hopefully he would wake up to that view. I placed a letter explaining everything under his pillow and bent close to kiss his cheek.
“Love you," I told him finally as I pulled the covers up around his chin.
I turned away with a heavy heart and found Coal standing in the doorway, frowning.
“What's up?" I asked him.
"Nothing." He smoothed his expression. "Just thinking about the trip. Are you sure you're up for it?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"You know I am, besides this is kind of on me anyway. I should be asking if you're sure you want to come."
"I'm hardly going to miss an adventure now, am I?" He smiled and led the way out of the room and I followed, looking back at Taylor one last time.
Alicia had returned my Lawless Trials clothes after getting them cleaned and I was enjoying the feeling of wearing something that actually fit. She’d also leant me a few things as spares and I carried a little pack containing them, together with some food and water.
We hiked to the far side of town where the road expanded and shot out into the unknown. The trees were thick on either side and some vines even connected above but they weren't actually affecting the concrete in any way. It was eerie.
In the shade of the trees we found a large, dark vehicle with Alicia lounging against it.
“Like it?" she asked with a grin.
The truck had bars on the front grill and lamps on the roof. It was painted in a camouflage effect and blended in with the trees behind it. It sat at least four feet off of the ground on huge wheels. There were five big seats inside a cab on the front end and a truck bed on the back. The bed was piled high with weapons, food and water. Laurie was already sitting in the front seat looking around a little apprehensively but she smiled as we approached.
"You two are in the back, you turn up late that's what you get." Alicia jangled a bunch of metal objects at us and ran around to hop into the other front seat behind a wheel.
Coal grumbled something about her driving as he stepped forward and opened the door for me. I smiled gratefully and clambered in. I wasn't very graceful as it was so high up but I did manage to make it inside without falling over. As he followed, with a lot less difficulty, Alicia jammed one of the metal objects into a hole by the wheel and twisted it.
The floor beneath my feet trembled to life and the vehicle emitted a guttural growl which subsided to a deep purr. We lurched forwards and started to move along the road and I gasped as I clutched the edges of my seat. The sweeping sensation was strange and a little unpleasant. It was a bit like the train but the ride wasn't as smooth as we traversed the lumpy tarmac.
A low howl sounded behind us and I looked over my shoulder as Kaloo tumbled out of the forest and barrelled along after us. She raised her snout into the air and howled again, her legs a tangled blur beneath her. Instead of slowing down, the truck sped up as Alicia accelerated.