Chapter 4 the truth

I awoke curled up in a ball under a blanket. I sit up to see Lukas staring out the door into a large field.  I get up and plop myself next to him letting my legs dangle off the edge of the train with the air breezing up from the moving train. my hair blew into my face but I quickly moved it away. 

"Hey." I say looking at Lukas. 

"Hi." He says now smiling. 

"Where are we headed?" I had never been anywhere outside the city that frightened and excited me. 

"Not sure just away from the city where it's safe. The only thing out here anyways is farm land and factories, also some houses where farmers live." He says then purses his lips together like he's thinking hard about what our next move is. The train slows and I see a large corn field that almost seems to stretch for miles. We pass it within a minute and now we are in front of a wheat field. I look back to Lukas who is searching the ground. Then I realize.

"We are not jumping out of a train right?" I ask. He just smiles and starts laughing. 

"Seriously?" I say not laughing or finding it funny. 

"We'll what do you think?" He says still laughing. Then I watching him pack up the bag and come back to where I am sitting. 

"Just like jumping on try to land on your feet." I just glare at him. Then watch him throw the bag and jump out of the train that had slowed passing the field. But I didn't like jumping off it, like that urge you sometimes get and want to jump off things. Well I don't have it, I am terrified of jumping. I force myself up and lean over the edge. Then without thinking too much about it I push off with my feet and fly through the air hitting the ground but not keeping my balance. I fall on my butt in the somewhat cushioned grass. I sit there for a while assessing myself it hurt hitting the ground but besides that I'm fine. 

"Are you ok?" Lukas calls out running towards me. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." I say still sitting there. Lukas offers me a hand and I take it. He pulls me to my feet easily. 

I follow him as we walk along the wheat field. If we are to find a place to stay it would be somewhere near this farm that would hopefully help us. It will get dark within three hours or so. If we want a place to stay we better move quickly. I think to myself. It was a nice cool autumn day that made the trees blow in the wind causing them to lose leafs and have nothing but bare branches left, not a cloud in the sky just the light color of sky blue.  As we walked the sun warmed me as it soaked me in its sunlight. 

 

                        ++++

We walked for what felt like hours. I watch the sunset and the sky darken. 

Then Lukas suddenly grabs my arm pulling me behind a bush.

"What was that?" He looks at me and shushes me and points in a direction. I peek through the bush. In the distance is a black truck is barreling down the road. It quickly approaches once its close enough I see the people in it. They all have to same tattoo as the man I shot. They are the rebels. I shudder at the thought of me shooting someone, but I know I might have to.  Then the car stopped and the doors open. I see three men and a woman jump out of the car. I freeze not moving afraid if being seen. 

"Grey, what time did they say they'd meet us?" One of the guys asks. 

"Ummm... I'm pretty sure they said five thirty. They'll be here soon." The guy I get to be Grey says. I stare at Grey he looks tall and tough like he knows how to fight. His blond hair it long enough to reach his ears and he has green eyes. I hear a rumble coming from the opposite side of the road. I turn my head to meet the sleek black truck pull up next to the other car. I watch the people get out one by one. I recognize most of the people they are some of the leaders like William Delgado, Susan I didn't remember her last name, and the last person is like a wrench through my head, it’s my father. I want to run out there and shoot my father down for betraying our city and for betraying me.  Just as fast as I wanted to Lukas makes me sit by pulling back on my shoulder he knows it’s him. I feel warm tear come to my eyes knowing that he did a horrible deed. I will never forgive him for all the things he's done this was the worst, he has no explanation for this he is a despicable person. I feel my tears stream down me cheeks but I don't make a noise.  

"So Jennifer what's the plan?" My father asks. 

"We know clearly well that we show citizens that we now have power and to give in to the new way of life that they have no choice to." Jennifer replies. 

"What about the army that the city made?" Grey asks.

"We have plenty of troops they don't stand a chance." Jennifer says sinisterly, I feel my blood start to boil and I want her to take those words back. I wanted to show her that I could take them down myself and they do have a threat but I didn't stand a chance against them all. 

"Then it is settled we shall make a battle strategy and will attack within a week, I hope you are able to identify this army the city supposedly has."  Jennifer says. 

"Of course if we find anything we will deliver the news immediately." William says in return then they all exchange hand. Then get in their cars and drive their separate directions. Once they are out of sight I stand up and kick a rock. 

"HOW COULD HE HAVE DONE THIS? WHY WOULD HE WANT TO?" I yell not directly at Lukas but yell it none the less. 

"Jade... Right now I know this is hard for you to process but I need you to focus. If you don't stay on guard we could end up getting caught." He says grabbing on to me arm. I look up at him my eyes still filled with tears.

"You mean or I could end up getting caught." I say. I know as well as anyone that he'd leave me if they only caught me. 

"No I mean we. I'm not leaving you." He says not looking away from me. I could tell he's telling the truth when he says it but I wonder why he even cares so much. I couldn't think of anything to say I just stared back into his deep blue eyes. I wipe the tears from my eyes and finally look away. 

"I'll focus. Lets just keep moving." I say and turn to follow the side of the dirt road. He says nothing just follows me wordlessly. 

                     ++++

We reach the end of the fields and make camp in a cover thick forest brush.  I sit and unpack my pockets pulling out a picket knife, a gun, some snacks I had,  and surprisingly a tube of lip stick.  I throw out a old wrapper from a granola bar. 

The sun is setting and I watch the sky grow dark. Just as fast as the sun came up it went down lighting the sky a fiery red.  I sit there just ignoring everything around me. I still couldn't wrap my head around how my own father could do this to me, but now I don't feel upset. I feel pure anger that rages through. I am sure if I ever see him again I'll kill him. I no longer want to cry over him or feel any pity for him. I want him to burn in hell so that he may learn killing innocent people and ruining the peace will not go unpunished. I don't what to even call him my father. 

"Jade, I've made a plan of what we are going to do if you want to hear it." Lukas says sitting next to me. I nod and he continues. "Well they said that there was an Army of city people or something like it. I want to find them and join them they could use all the help they can get that I'm sure of so if we join them maybe we can stop this." He says looks off into the distance than looks back at me. 

"I wan to find them but if we are to ever bring them down I'll be the one to kill him." I say plainly with out anger. He nods. 

"Lukas.... I'm lost in all of this why do they decide to do this now of all times?" I say looking at him. 

"Everyone has their reasons but its some decisions are made because the person feels threatened and maybe even your dad has a reason. I'm sorry it happened though." He says trying to make me feel better it doesn't work.

"What ever his reason is I have no pity for him. He has done something unforgivable." I say now angry, then my eyes start watering I hate crying but they come and I can't contain them. Lukas's hand touches my face whipping away my tears, we are close to each other. His touch is a tingles on my skin. His eyes search mine. Then his hand drops. I stay frozen for a moment not knowing what just happened. It was like we wanted kiss me but didn't I wasn't sure but I could still feel his hand on my cheek like it was still there but it wasn't. He got up and left to get something. I didn't say anything just sat there back against a tree trying to figure out what happened.  

Does he like me? I think to myself. 

After awhile it is dark and I start slipping into sleep. I dream of nothing.