“We’ll make it,” I say confidently, but I may be lying.
I repack the backpacks, taking the heaviest items from Phlix and putting them in my pack. I lead the way, checking the compass and the map frequently. We come upon a small hill, and just as I crest the top of it, I spot Phlix’s flask in the middle of the path we’ve been following. My flipcart flies over it. I don’t stop. Glancing behind me, I notice that Phlix sees the flask too, but she ignores it as well and we keep going.
Stopping at a big tree, I wait for Phlix to catch up. When she does, she dismounts from her flipcart and sits down with her backpack still on. She leans it against the tree and closes her eyes. I shrug off my backpack and put it next to her. “I’ll go look for water,” I whisper.
“They’re watching us, aren’t they? Taunting us.”
“Yeah,” I reply.
“It doesn’t matter. Even this is better than Pike.”
“We’re going to make it. I promise.”
“Kricket,” Jax says from somewhere behind me. I straighten and turn to see him walking slowly toward me. In his hand, he carries Phlix’s flask of water. “I think you dropped this.” He cautiously moves forward.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Its just water. That’s all,” he replies honestly.
He stops a few feet away and stretches the bottle toward me. I look around between the trees, but I don’t see anyone else with him, not that I thought I would. The only time I’ll see them is when they want me to see them. I take the flask from Jax and back away from him. Moving to Phlix, I unstop it and hold it out to her. “It’s okay,” I say. “Its just water.”
“You’re sure?” she asks.
“Yes. He isn’t lying,” I tell her.
Phlix takes the flask from my hand and takes a sip and then another. She hands it to me. I shake my head, saying, “I’m okay. You drink it.”
“You need some too,” she urges.
“Maybe later,” I reply and straighten.
“Your friend is right, Kricket. You should drink some water,” Jax says worriedly. “You haven’t been eating either. You’re going to be sick. Do you need food too?”
“No. I don’t need anything. Are you almost finished, Phlix? We have to go.” I start to walk to where I left my flipcart, but Trey emerges from behind the tree next to me. He grabs me by the throat and pushes me up against a nearby tree. In his hand he holds a bottle of water.
Scowling at me, he says through clenched teeth, “Drink this!” His jaw is so ridged I’m surprised he can speak at all.
I wasn’t aware of just how betrayed I feel until this moment. I know it’s wrong to blame him for doing the right thing—for doing what he had to do to save everyone and everything he loves . . . everyone but me. I think I’m the most hurt by the fact that I’m not like him. I would’ve chosen him over everything else. The whole world could’ve burned down and I would’ve pulled him from the wreckage of it.
“No. I don’t want anything from you, Trey.”
His violet eyes narrow as his hand lets go of my neck and he clasps my chin, squeezing it so that my mouth opens. He tilts my head back and pours water between my lips, making me swallow large gulps of it. I choke a little, coughing and gasping, but otherwise he isn’t hurting me.
By the time the bottle of water is empty, the front of my shirt is wet and I’m livid. Tossing the empty bottle aside, Trey shifts his hand back to my throat and holds me steady against the tree. His violet eyes never leave mine as we try to kill each other with drop-dead stares.
Then Trey holds his hand out to Jax, “Hand me a protein bar,” he demands.
“Sir . . . I think she’s capable of—”
Trey’s scowl deepens as he growls, “Hand. Me. A. Protein. Bar!”
Jax follows orders and places one in his hand. Trey tears off the wrapper with his teeth and holds the protein bar up to my lips. I clamp my mouth shut, but he forces a bite into my mouth. I turn my face away from him and spit it out onto the ground.
Dropping the protein bar, Trey winds back his fist. I cringe, steeling myself for the hit. Instead, he punches the trunk of the tree by my head. His fist comes away bloody again and again, but he doesn’t stop. “Jax,” I whisper. Trey continues to hold me by my neck as he pounds the tree with his fist. “Jax!” I yell. “Give me a protein bar.”
Trey’s bloody knuckles rest against the bark of the tree. I feel Jax place the protein bar in the palm of my hand. Bringing it to my lips, I take a bite, chewing it. I almost choke on it because of the lump in my throat, but I manage to get it down. I eat the whole thing in three bites. Trey lets go of my neck. He leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. I don’t move; I just close my eyes and breathe for a moment. Then I put my hands on his chest and push him away from me. I don’t meet his eyes. I can’t. Instead, I duck away from him and look at Phlix. She’s on her feet, staring at me with fear in her eyes.