There wasn’t a soul in sight. My feet crunched along the earth. My fingers moved over the bark of a tall tree. If I found a solid branch I could use it to help Joshua climb out. Though I didn’t have any tools on hand, how would I saw it down? If I was lucky enough to find a downed tree, it’d have to fit in the hole and I’d have to carry it. I may have been treated with Mindonsiphan but I couldn’t do the impossible.
From forty feet away, I saw the perfect tree. “I got it!” I called out, hoping he could hear me. Tall vines hung from the highest branch down to the root. I could make it work. Even if it took a few hours at least Joshua would be out before nightfall.
I climbed the thick trunk, finding my way to the top of the tree. I refused to look down. I had no idea what type of vines they were and didn’t care. It would work. I singed the tips of a dozen vines. One by one they fell to the ground as I was careful not to set the tree ablaze. It was the best I could do without a knife. I climbed back down and gathered the vines, tying them around the trunk of another tree closer to the hole. Braiding them together I formed a rope, throwing it down to Joshua.
“Try this!” I yelled down to him, praying it would hold his weight. I stayed close to the opening of the cellar, in case it didn’t hold and I needed to grab him. Joshua gripped the vines, giving them a slight tug. “They’re tied around a tree,” I explained. “It’ll be okay.” I wasn’t sure it would, but I needed him to feel confident in what I’d done. “Just climb it, Josh.” Besides, the longer we stayed, the worse off we were. Isaura would come back to the cellar, wouldn’t she?
He wasted no time climbing the vine rope. As he reached the top, I gripped his arm helping him the rest of the way. “Thanks,” he gasped, breathing hard. He sat down on the grass squinting as his eyes adjusted to daylight. “Where are we?”
“I have no idea.” All I’d seen were trees when I’d gone looking for a way to help Joshua out of the cellar. There’d been no sign of civilization at all. “I guess I should probably tell you this now rather than later.” I grimaced. “Isaura has the ability to move through time.”
He snorted a laugh.
“You don’t believe me?”
Joshua glanced around once more, finally standing up. “I believe you think she told you the truth but no. I don’t think she can move through time. I think she’s trying to intimidate you.”
“Why?” I frowned, not understanding her motivation.
“Maybe so you’d give up trying to track her down? If you think she can’t be found, maybe you won’t try.” He sighed. “I don’t know. Come on.” He stood up, offering me his hand.
Together, we walked through the thick forest. The canopy overhead allowed daylight to pass, but I could tell it wouldn’t be long before night set in. “We should find something to eat. Remember what Milo and Uma taught us?”
“A little of it.”
“There’s no stream around here so we likely won’t catch any fish, but I can scout for berries,” I offered.
Joshua stared up at the trees masking the sky. “We should make camp soon. Start a fire and try and keep warm for the night.”
“You gather firewood. I’m going to see if I can find something to eat that won’t kill us.”
Joshua laughed under his breath. “You do that, Olive.” I hadn’t seen any plants that looked edible, but I hadn’t been looking earlier. I’d been paying more attention to finding signs of life. I’d seen none other than each other.
I picked a handful of berries, hoping I remembered right and they weren’t poisonous. We’d find out soon enough. Night approached as we curled up together on the ground. Joshua had gathered wood and I started the fire. I hoped no wild animals roamed the forest at night.”You’re freezing.” His hands brushed against my arms.
“I guess I am.” I smiled moving closer to the fire. I felt Joshua’s arms encircle me as he pulled me into his lap.
“Body heat,” he whispered into my ear. “It’ll warm us both up.” I doubted Joshua needed to get any warmer, his hands felt like they were on fire. It felt good though. I didn’t complain.
“Thanks.” I shifted, turning my head back to kiss him. “I’m glad we got out of the cellar.” I didn’t hear him answer me. The day had taken its toll on both of us. I closed my eyes, leaning back against his chest. I could feel every breath he took. It lulled me to sleep.
CHAPTER 15
Early the next morning I stirred. Joshua’s arms were wrapped around me in a warm embrace. I longed to stay curled in his warmth but we needed to find our way out of the forest before night fell again. Reluctantly, I slipped from his grasp, walking away from our small camp to find more food.
I didn’t gather much. There wasn’t anything to carry it in and hopefully we’d have a real dinner tonight.
“Olivia?” I heard his voice, echoing through the forest. “Olivia!” It grew louder and more frantic.
“Josh!” I came running back, dropping a few berries on the way as I maneuvered back to camp. “What is it? What’s wrong?” I glanced around, unsure what I expected to find.
I could see his face red and his chest breathing hard as he tried to catch his breath. “I was worried she came back for you.” I handed him a few berries and sat on the ground. Although I felt ready to walk, Joshua didn’t quite look up to it yet. I rested a hand on his thigh, giving him a faint smile.
“I’m right here. It’s okay,” I assured him, patting his leg. “I thought it would be a good idea to find some breakfast.” I saw the look on his face as the normal color returned to his cheeks. “Isaura will be back.” I said. “But not today. I think she’s waiting to make her move.”
Joshua studied my face, his thumb moving up to my cheek, brushing a strand of hair from my eyes. “What do you mean?”
I popped a berry in my mouth, tasting the tart sensation as my tongue crushed it to the roof of my mouth. “She can’t let anyone know what she’s capable of. She’s smart, devious even, and also a planner. She didn’t drop us in a hole for us to get away.”
“I’m not following.”
I sighed, offering him a berry before putting another in my mouth. Joshua took it, having a slow bite as I continued to explain my theory. “You mentioned that the government is involved. That they want us dead. She could have killed us both yesterday if that was her intent. Clearly, it wasn’t.”
Joshua grabbed another berry from the ground. He dusted the dirt off it before eating it, waiting for me to elaborate. “She’s after something. Originally I thought it had to do with value, what I was worth to her. It’s not, though. Not if she’s capable of the same things we are.”
Joshua eyed me skeptically. “We’re not killers.” He stood up, offering me a hand. I joined him as we walked together further through the forest.
“No, we’re not. Isaura wants something from us. Both of us. If she doesn’t know what you’re capable of, why abduct you?”
Joshua let out a heavy sigh. “I thought it was to get information out of you. Torture me and you’ll talk.” Our feet trampled leaves and my eyes moved along the forest looking for any other signs of food, water or an escape.
“Except she left us alone. She dropped us both off and ran.” I couldn’t make sense of why she hadn’t stuck around. What was the rush if she’d taken the time to abduct us, why leave us on our own?
“Maybe she’s not a planner. She could have been called back to Torv?”
I stopped walking. His mention of Torv caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”
He grabbed my arm, pulling me with him to keep up. “Torv is the capital now. Officially on the map of The Republic of Cabal.”
“You’re not serious?” I laughed.