She breathed a sigh of relief. “It was just a dream.”
“What’s that?” Seth asked.
“Uh, nothing. Talking to myself,” Rogue said.
She reached for a bottle of water and took a few sips. The liquid revived her, and she pushed herself upright. At the same time, the Jeep hit a shallow ditch, and they launched into the air before coming down hard.
Rogue bumped her head against the headrest and winced. “Ow.”
Jessica came awake in an instant and slapped Bear on the arm. “Watch where you’re going.”
“Sorry,” Bear said with an apologetic grin.
“Where are we?” Rogue asked, looking around.
A brooding forest surrounded them on both sides. The thick green foliage hemmed them in on either side. The road was little more than a rough dirt track. No traces of tar remained to smooth the way.
“We’re almost there. Fall City, I mean,” Seth replied. He waved a hand around them. “This used to be the Tiger Mountain State Forest. Or a part of it, anyway.”
Rogue suppressed a shudder. She didn’t like the way the tall pines closed in on them. They seemed to lean over the Jeep, their branches like claws with green needles for talons. Inside its depths, the shadows lingered long past noon, and she wondered what lurked within.
“How’s your ankle?” Jessica asked, diverting her from her thoughts.
“It’s not too bad,” Rogue said after giving it an experimental wiggle.
“Would you like more Ibuprofen?”
“Yes, I would,” Rogue said, relieved at the offer. She’d lied to Jessica. Her foot felt like it’d gone through a meat grinder before being glued back together. It throbbed with every beat of her heart, and the rough ride only made it worse.
She drank the pills with a sip of water before leaning forward. “What comes after Fall City?”
Seth pointed at the map and traced out the route. “It’s simple enough. After that, we’ll head toward Redmond and then Lynnwood before taking the I-5 N all the way north. Finally, we’ll get onto the BC-99 N to Vancouver.”
“That’s in Canada, right? A different country?” Rogue asked.
“It is, but I’m not sure it matters all that much today,” Seth said.
“Not really,” Jessica agreed. “Today, it’s more about the individual cities than the country, but I know my government hopes to unite the different settlements one day.”
“That would be an astronomical feat,” Seth said.
“From the little I’ve seen, I’m inclined to agree with you,” Jessica said with a nod.
“How far do we still have to travel to get to Vancouver?” Rogue asked.
“Roughly two-hundred miles,” Seth said.
“We won’t make it today, will we?” Rogue said, her heart sinking into her boots.
“No, we won’t. Sorry,” Seth said.
“That’s okay,” she said, slumping back into her seat, but it was another lie. Her foot hurt, and she was tired of being flung about in a metal box.
“Why don’t you tell me the rest of your story?” Jessica prompted. “You never got the chance to finish, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Where were we?” Rogue exclaimed, grateful for the distraction.
“Seth rescued you after you passed out in the storm and took you back to his boat,” Jessica said, her expression eager.
“Well, hold on to your seat, because it’s one hell of a story,” Rogue said in a hushed tone of voice.
She carried on with the tale, careful to leave nothing out: Seth’s boat, their journey to the Zoo, reuniting with her mother, Olivia, the disastrous egg-hunt, being kidnapped by Bones and thrown into Prime’s dungeons, and finally, their grand escape.
“Ew, that’s nasty. You almost drowned in shit,” Jessica exclaimed.
“A river of shit,” Rogue corrected with a shudder. “And it was horrible.”
“So, that’s it? You escaped and returned to the Zoo?” Jessica asked.
“There’s more, but right now, I need to pee,” Rogue said. She tapped Seth on the shoulder. “Can we pull over for a few minutes?”
“Yeah, sure, but make it quick. We need to reach Mount Vernon before nightfall,” Seth said.
He signaled to the van, and they pulled over onto a sandy slope. Everyone got out of the vehicles and stretched their muscles. The brief break was a welcome respite, and they took full advantage of the opportunity.
“Ten minutes, folks. Not a second more,” Bear said, his tone brooking no arguments.
The men rushed off to the woods and emptied their bladders while the women stood guard around the vehicles. Once they returned, Tony and Bear filled up the gas tanks from their reserves, while David inspected the tires for flats and punctures.
Seth kept watch while the women took their turn in the bushes. It didn’t take long for Imogen and Jessica to return, which left only Rogue.
“Go on, babe,” Seth prompted. “I’ll cover you.”
“I’m trying,” she said, rubbing her calf above the bandages. The flesh felt hot and swollen, a sure sign that infection was setting in. She’d have to get it sorted out as soon as possible, but her bladder came first.
It took a minute to get the blood circulating through her stiff body before she attempted to walk. Each step sent a stab of pure agony up her leg and into her spine until she was forced to pause for breath. “Crap, that hurts.”
“Are you okay?” Imogen asked with a look of concern.
“It’s my ankle,” Rogue said.
“I’ll look at it once you’re done,” Imogen said. “Meet me at the van.”
“Deal,” Rogue said, gritting her teeth as she made her way toward the bushes. She didn’t relish the idea of entering the woods alone, but she had little choice. Her need to pee was stronger than her fear.
The forest enfolded her in its gloomy atmosphere, and she searched the surrounding area with care. It seemed quiet enough. Peaceful, actually. Sunlight filtered in through the canopy and a soft breeze whispered through the pines. Still, she couldn’t shake the creepy vibe the place gave her.
After a last look around, Rogue squatted down and allowed her
