I know it's really short, and that's pretty inexcusable after such a long wait. But hopefully it'll tide you over until I write some more.
Chapter Eleven
I was forced to walk away from Caiden. Constantly looking back, hoping he would wake up and rescue me, the sight of him lying there on the road made me feel sick to my stomach
During those moments, I felt that if I could have possibly been offered my life back, or a way back into time to cause things to go differently in this situation, I knew I would have chosen the latter.
The Drifters treated me well—or attempted to, anyway. Whenever Christopher and his followers ate, I was offered food, as well. Of course, my hands couldn’t hold any of it, and, not wanting them to know I was a “newbie”, I always adamantly refused. Whenever they stopped to rest, and a fire was started, I was invited to sit with them. But the idea of being by the boys who had hurt Caiden disgusted me, and I was always guarded by two boys a short distance away from them.
I attempted escape twice. Both times, I was calmly hauled back, and none of them said a word. They simply began walking again.
I had no idea where I was being taken—only that it wasn’t in the direction Caiden and I had been heading, or back towards the city. If anything, these souls were taking me even deeper into the desert.
None of them talked to me. For two days and nights we walked, under the blistering sun and the cool moon, Christopher in the lead.
Eventually I stopped looking over my shoulder in hopes of a glimpse of Caiden. He had no hopes of finding me, anyhow. There were no footprints to follow, no substantial clues like discarded water bottles to find.
I had no idea what was happening, where I was being taken, and for once the goal-oriented girl was too frightened to think of a plan. It kept poking and irritating me that I didn’t know the rules of this place, this otherworld, and any confidence I could have had was lost.
Finally, on the third morning, I couldn’t stand anymore. “What do you want me for?” I blurted, eyes boring into the back of Christopher’s head. His hair gleamed in the sunlight, and anyone else could have mistaken him for an angel… only I knew better.
He barely turned, never stopping. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I gritted my teeth in frustration, thoughts of violence giving me a headache. “Then at least tell me where we’re going,” I snapped.
The other boys were ignoring me, and didn’t even look at me as they plodded on. Christopher laughed at me, and I could imagine his white teeth gleaming in the sun. “I don’t have to tell you anything,” he replied. I stumbled over a rock a bit as he said it, which only served to increase my anger and frustration.
We walked in silence. I was considering making a run for it again, but decided against it. A third time would be pushing it too far. I didn’t want them to try and tie me up.
“We’re almost there,” Christopher surprised me by adding. “It won’t be much longer. I think we’ll just keep going tonight.”
The dark-haired boy at Christopher’s side said something so quietly I couldn’t catch it. Christopher instantly shook his head. Anna, I saw him say. His eyes slid past the dark-haired boy to me, and caught me watching. He sharply ordered the dark-haired boy to stop talking, and silence descended again.
Caiden, where are you? I thought desperately, knowing it was useless. I sniffled, but wouldn’t allow myself any more then that.
The boy walking to my left—I couldn’t remember what Christopher had said his name was—glanced at me once. I was startled to see that there was finally some emotion in one of their gazes: Guilt.
I wasn’t a very crafty girl. I was simple, really. But then again, I’d never been in such a situation, and either I was beginning to change, or something that had always been buried deep inside of me was being unearthed.
“What’s your name?” I asked the boy quietly. The guard to my right didn’t react, and Christopher and the others were a bit ahead, so they didn’t hear,
The boy hesitated an instant before answering, “Danny.”
I offered a tight smile. “I’m Hope.”
He nodded and looked away, obviously uncomfortable talking to me. But I was forming a new plan, and I wasn’t about to let it drop at that.
“How old are you?” I asked him.
Danny kept glancing at Christopher fearfully. “I’m fifteen,” he muttered. “Better stop talking, or Chris will get creative.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but once I’m determined, I wouldn’t give in. Danny was going to be my friend, and after a time of building his trust, he was going to help me escape.
“How long have you been a part of… this group?” I asked next, pleading with my eyes. Just cooperate. Please. Be my friend.
Almost as if Danny heard my thoughts, he frowned. “Six years. Now shut up.” I looked down and saw his fist clenching and unclenching in his anxiety, and mentally sighed. This Christopher had a tighter grip on them then I had thought.
For now, I decided to give Danny a rest. But tomorrow… tomorrow I would get back to work on my new plan.
The desert sky was darkening, and already a few stars were showing their faces. I stared up at them, feeling tired and dirty and alone.
I found no grammatical errors at all, nicely done and I can't wait for more.
