Chapter Twenty

The days passed rapidly as more battles were fought. Phoenix did what she could but knew her father and the others were holding her back from doing more. She couldn’t stand being left behind, feeling useless, when she knew people needed her help. She didn’t want to go against her father, but she needed him to know she was more than capable of being involved. She’d grown stronger in the months since the battles began and she knew she could be an asset. Jayden was no help, considering he’d be happy to keep her in a bubble, never allowing her to receive a scratch.

She often fought with Jayden and her family over what she could and couldn’t do, but she was determined to make a stand. She just wasn’t willing to sit in the background while people she loved were wounded or killed in battle. They had lost few people, but any loss was unforgivable and she refused to stand on the sidelines any longer. She’d go with them even if she had to sneak in order to do so. They’d quickly learn she was no longer a little girl. She was a strong young woman and would prove her worth with or without their consent.

They were preparing to go to another prison camp on a rescue mission. The enemy now knew of their presence and had a lot more soldiers in the camps, making each mission more dangerous. She worried incessantly when her family and Jayden were gone. She made up her mind to sneak inside the vehicle and go with them to the next battle. Sadie was going, too, even though Phoenix had tried to talk her out of it. She couldn’t convince her best friend to stay behind when she herself wouldn’t.

The two girls cautiously snuck to the car cave and climbed in the back of one of the Hummers. Crawling beneath some tarps to hide, Phoenix had to take some deep, steadying breaths to keep her struggles with claustrophobia at bay. Being in the back of the vehicle where things could cave in and bury her wasn’t reassuring.

“We’ll be okay, Phoenix. That’s it, just keep breathing deeply,” Sadie said while laying her hand on Phoenix’s arm.

“I know, Sadie, but I wish they wouldn’t be so stupid and just let us ride up front with them. I’m sure as heck not staying back here on the ride back,” Phoenix said.

“Shh, I hear someone coming,” Sadie whispered. The girls lay motionless as people started filing into the spacious cavern. They heard the doors to the vehicle open and held their breaths, afraid to make even the slightest sound.

The engine of the Hummer roared to life and the girls listened intently as the men talked, both of them trying to decipher who was riding with them. They hoped it wasn’t Jayden or Chastity, because the two of them seemed to have the ability to find the girls no matter where they were. It was really kind of unnerving when they thought about it.

“I’m a little freaked out about this mission, Dad. I know we’ve taken all the usual precautions, but something doesn’t feel right,” John said. Phoenix and Sadie glanced at each other with frightened eyes.

“I know how you feel, John. I’ve been worried myself, especially when Jayden said he was feeling uneasy. That boy seems able to smell when danger is near. If it weren’t for him last month I wouldn’t have made it back home. It’s a good thing your sister didn’t hear about that one. She’s already upset that we’re going out on another mission so soon,” Larry said.

Phoenix inhaled a lungful of air and sent a glare to Sadie that seemed to say she was going to have words with her parents and her brother when they got back home. Neither girl seemed to realize there was a chance they wouldn’t get home.

“I think we’re going to have to start tying her down here soon,” John said. “She was really mad last night when I said she couldn’t come. I don’t want her to see the things we’ve seen and if I’m worrying about her during the whole mission, it puts me and everyone else in danger. I just can’t have that kind of distraction, you know?

“It’s bad enough that Chastity comes along, but she’s a fighter. I think she protects me more than I protect her,” John said with a small laugh.

It would be the last laugh Phoenix would hear for quite a while. The seriousness of the mission hung thick in the air.

“We’ll be okay, Son, just have faith. We’re doing the right thing. The enemy has had our home long enough and it’s time we take it back. It’s time our people are free,” Larry said with determination.

Sadie and Phoenix were filled with anxiety at the fear in the adults’ voices, but they were also grateful to be there with them. Staying home wasn’t an option anymore.

“Were we selfish to do this? If they spot us it could put them in jeopardy trying to protect us,” Sadie said.

“Maybe, but we have just as much invested in this as them. We love them and we need to be a part of the fight. They’re going to realize we’re no longer little girls. We’ve seen and done more in the years being out here than most adults have their entire lives. We’re doing the right thing,” Phoenix whispered back.

“Something doesn’t feel right. I have a bad feeling about this mission,” Jayden said to Chastity. They were riding two vehicles back, standing on the outside, fireman style, keeping an ear out for the enemy.

“I wish I could still communicate with Josiah and have him guide me, because I can’t let anything happen to John,” Chastity said.

“I know how you feel, Sis. Phoenix and I got into our first real fight last night. She kept repeating she wasn’t a little girl and she needed to help. She said she went crazy each time we left, but I can’t protect her family and her, too. She doesn’t realize she’ll always come first, even if that means her family members dying,” Jayden said with a sigh.

He couldn’t stand fighting with Phoenix. He loved her, and just the thought of her getting hurt sent rage unlike any other surging through his body. If she were to actually come to harm, he’d go insane. He knew she wouldn’t truly be safe until the fighting ended, so his whole focus was on reaching that goal.

“It will be okay,” Chastity said. She could feel the intensity of his internal torment. “I think today is going to be a day of loss but I think we’ll also make some gains as well.” Jayden shook his head. He had a feeling Chastity was right and it wrenched his gut.

Suddenly, Jayden and Chastity both went on red alert. They heard the missile coming at them but knew it would be too late to stop it. They looked at each other and sprang into action, not trying to hide their superhuman speed in their desire to save the people they loved.

They reached John’s car a second after the missile hit. They watched in horror as the vehicle was launched into the air. For the first time in his existence, Jayden couldn’t move, he was so consumed with fear. He looked at Chastity, whose face was contorted in fear and anguish.

“No…!” Chastity’s scream ripped through the air. They jumped into action before the Hummer slammed to the ground. The time seemed like eons to the two of them but was in fact milliseconds. The front end of the vehicle exploded into flames as Jayden reached the driver’s side and Chastity got to the passenger side.

They tore the doors from the vehicle and dove inside to pull the people out.

“John, please tell me you’re okay,” Chastity begged.

“I’m good. I was wearing my seat belt. How’s my dad?” he asked in panic.

“I’m fine, John, but we have to get out of the car now, before it explodes. Troy didn’t make it,” Larry said about the driver of the car. The impact had caused a bar to come through the driver’s side of the vehicle and pierce Troy straight through the heart.

“We need to take cover now,” Jayden yelled as they pulled the men from the car. Jayden’s head whipped around at the slight whimper, but it may as well have been a scream. He dove back into the vehicle and climbed over the seats and found Phoenix and Sadie buried beneath a mountain of supplies.

“What are you doing here!” he shouted at the girls.

“We wanted to help,” Phoenix said with tears streaking down her cheeks. He saw blood on the side of her head and wanted nothing more than to cradle her in his arms and get her as far away as possible.

“Can you move? Does anything feel broken?” Jayden asked her in a panic, while he ran his hands up and down her body, checking for injuries.

“I’m fine. Sadie, are you okay?” she asked, more worried about her best friend.

“I’m okay, Phoenix. I landed on you,” she said with a groan. Both girls stared at Jayden with wide-eyed shock.

“You’re not supposed to be here! It’s a good thing Brian is in another group, Sadie, or he’d be reaming you right now,” Jayden said, grabbing both girls under his arms as if they weighed nothing and taking them from the vehicle.

“What the hell are you doing here?” John asked, horrified as he spotted his sister and Sadie. “You could’ve been killed.”

“I’m sorry, John but we couldn’t stay behind any longer,” Phoenix said. The reality of almost losing her brother and father began setting in. “What was that?”

“You stupid, stupid girl,” John said as he pulled Phoenix close to him. Tears of gratitude for Phoenix’s safety filled his eyes.

“I’m sorry, John,” Phoenix kept repeating. She didn’t want him to worry about her.

“There isn’t time to talk. We aren’t out of danger yet. We have to get out of here now,” Jayden said. He gathered Phoenix close to him, while John threw Sadie under his arm and scrambled to one of the other vehicles. As soon as they were inside the Hummer, the tires spit dirt and rocks as they sped off.

With their plans for emergency evacuations, Larry got on the radio, telling the other groups what happened. They were speeding through the woods since none of them knew where the enemy was. Larry kept sending glares toward Phoenix and Sadie but decided not to tell the other groups they were there. There was no need to panic the rest of the troops. They had to keep an eye out for danger, not worry about the safety of the girls.

They heard more gunfire, but managed to stay ahead of it. Jayden was driving one vehicle and Chastity was driving the other. They were overcrowded but the two of them were keeping the group safe.

“They must’ve been ready for us,” Jayden said. He was using every sense he had to protect them and he knew Chastity was doing the same.

“I’ve been having a bad feeling all week. I should’ve paid attention to it,” Jayden said. He was filled with guilt he that hadn’t stopped the missile strike before it occurred.

“Jayden, you’re being too hard on yourself. You’re not much older than the kids. I should’ve been the one to keep you safe,” Larry told him. He leaned forward in his seat and patted Jayden on the back.

Jayden had grown fond of Larry and had to bite his lip to not say anything. Larry thought he was nothing more than a teenage boy, when in fact he’d lived many more lifetimes than Larry could even imagine.

“Thank you, Larry, but Phoenix could’ve been hurt and that’s something I’m having a hard time dealing with,” Jayden said. He couldn’t add any more to the conversation without letting them know what he really was.

“You all need to quit worrying about Sadie and me. There is still a mission to complete and like it or not, we’re helping. We aren’t the innocent, young things you act like we are. We’ve grown up in this world and we can help,” Phoenix said.

If there had been crickets out, their sound would’ve filled the vehicle with the silence accompanying her statement. Phoenix glanced at Sadie and both girls rolled their eyes. They didn’t want to be little dolls everyone kept on a shelf so they’d be safe forever.

“Girls, you have to understand how much you’re loved and that’s why we’re trying to keep you safe,” John said. He still hadn’t forgiven either of them.

“I know, John, and I love you too. You’re not the only one who worries, you know,” Phoenix said. She wrapped her arms around her brother and inhaled his scent. She felt lucky to have her brother, even though he angered her at times.

“There was another ambush waiting on our route but we scouted ahead and got them. We need to be careful going into this because they’re waiting for us,” Brian said over the radio.

“Is everyone okay?” Larry immediately responded.

“Yes, there weren’t any casualties on our side. I’m scared, though,” Brian quickly replied.

“Just be on alert. We’re getting closer,” Larry told him. They’d reached the end of the line with the vehicles. The last couple of miles had to be done on foot. They had snipers in trees keeping watch. They were well aware the enemy had plenty of troops nearby – requiring the refugees to do as much as possible, silently. Once the gunfight began, all hell would break loose.

Jayden turned and stared pointedly at both Phoenix and Sadie, “Do not leave my side – either of you. Do you understand?”

“You need to be watching out for the others, not protecting us,” Phoenix protested.

“Phoenix, this isn’t up for argument. You shouldn’t even be here,” Jayden snapped. Phoenix glared at him, trying to hide the rising fear inside that she’d put her whole group in more danger by being there.

“I understand,” she reluctantly muttered when she realized he wasn’t going to back down.

“I’m going in,” John said and quickly took off from view. Phoenix felt a clenching in her gut. There was something nagging at her and she felt as if tragedy was going to strike.

“Follow me,” Jayden said, and took off in a different direction from John. The girls silently followed, placing their complete trust in him.

“Where are we going?” Phoenix whispered.

“I’m getting you to a safer place. Don’t even give me that look. I should be with John. This is why you’re not supposed to be here. You think we’re trying to protect you and you’re right. You’re important to us and we’ll stop everything we’re doing to keep you safe. We need you to be out of harm’s way and we can’t do our job knowing you’re here,” Jayden said sternly. He wasn’t cruel but Phoenix felt about two feet tall.

“I need to help,” she pleaded.

“I know you feel that way, but the best thing you can do to help is by staying in a safe place,” he told her.

Phoenix and Sadie felt horrible. Their presence could jeopardize the safety of those they loved. Refusing to break down and cry, they squared their shoulders and vowed to do exactly as they were told so the mission could be completed successfully.