Chapter 17: Aspen

Chapter Seventeen
~ Aspen ~

I moved through the trees slowly, counting my steps as I went. I had never taken the time to look around during my trips to see everyone underground. The forest was truly beautiful in its own way. Some kind of animal ran into my path, and I jumped back. I watched it run away, wishing I was free enough to do the same.
There were so many things holding me back. My obligations to dad, to E, to practically the whole world were beginning to weigh on me. I felt as if the fate of all the sick was in my hands. Technically, it might be. I played with the half full syringe as I approached the hole I’d gone down several times too many already.
I’d made a silent promise to bring the serum to Jax. I knew it was important, so I pushed my fears aside and only gave E half the syringe. Thankfully, the commotion that followed hid my transgression. I wrapped my arms around myself as the damp, freezing air enveloped my body. It was getting colder up on the ground level, meaning the temperatures down here were almost dangerously low.
After what felt like hours, the light I’d been following expanded until I stepped out into the bustling center. The amount of activity always going on down here surprised me. It was like these people never slept. I watched for a moment as they all worked together. A handful of people were preparing food to my right. It worried me to see that there didn’t seem to be enough. To my left, a few more tents were being constructed. It was endearing to watch. They were all a family, that much was obvious.
Directly in front of me sat Jax, Grey, and Will. I was relieved to see that Will looked alive again. The color had returned to his skin and he looked a bit fuller in the cheeks. He’d had a good meal and lots of sleep by the looks of it, two things he desperately needed. He was clean now, too, the dry traces of blood and grime finally gone. The three boys were hunched over a large rock, examining something together. I approached them slowly, not wanting to interrupt.
“Aspen.” Grey sounded very surprised to see me. He stood up straight and began running his eyes over my entire body from head to toe. It was as if he were searching for something specific.
“How is she?” Will asked, pushing himself upright as well.
“Here.” I held out the serum for Jax to take. I wanted to keep this meeting quick. The longer I stayed here, the higher my chances of getting caught, and that would be disastrous. He eyed it suspiciously but took it anyway. “It’s the serum they’ve been injecting Lex with. She said you’d want to analyze it.”
“The what?” Will shouted, taking the few steps necessary to reach me. I moved back instinctively. I didn’t think he’d hurt me, but I couldn’t be sure when it came to her.
“It’s a long story.” I felt a twinge of remorse for the way I’d just blurted that out. I’d forgotten they hadn’t had an update in a few days.
“I have time.” His voice was hard, demanding. Grey moved forward suddenly, coming to stand beside Will.
“Let her settle in first.” He all but ordered. “You have all night to interrogate her.”
“I’m not staying.” I was surprised he wanted me to at all. “I have to get back before my dad notices that I’m gone.”
Grey’s eyes took on that deep, protective quality they always did when we talked about E. Now, I wasn’t sure what had brought it out. Jax just shook his head and walked away, serum in hand. I figured we wouldn’t see a lot of him until he found out what it was made of.
“You leaving is not an option.” He said it so casually, as if I’d just take his orders lying down.
“What makes you think you can tell me what to do?” This guy was so confusing. There was no reason I needed to stay here. In fact, staying would mark my early death. Dad would know everything if I didn’t come back.
“We’re getting Lexa out tomorrow.” Will spoke up, glancing toward Grey to gauge his reaction. “We need your help. You know where she is. You’ve been there with her. You can get us in.”
“No.” My decision was final. I could not stay here tonight. “I can meet you by the trees in the morning. I just can’t be here overnight.”
“You’re with us now, City Girl.” Grey wasn’t asking. “You’ll stay with us. We move as a team.”
Was that his way of telling me I was allowed to stay permanently? I didn’t know how to feel about that. This whole time, I knew I couldn’t go home once E was out. I would never be able to look at dad the same way again. I already couldn’t. But I hadn’t even considered living here.
“He’s right.” Will agreed, a look of determination in his eyes. “You saved my life. And it’s because of you that we’ll save Lexa’s. We aren’t going to put you out on the streets, so you’re stuck with us.”
“I can’t…” I could feel my chest tightening with anxiety. “If I don’t come back, who knows what my dad will do.”
“Fuck your dad.” Grey was starting to get angry. “He’s an evil man who’s killed hundreds of people.”
“What he means to say,” Will shot him a glare. “Is that we won’t let anything happen to you. We owe you that much.”
His words did little to ease my worries. Even if I planned to stay with them after all of this, breaking my ties to dad was a big step. A terrifying step. Not to mention that the fallout from breaking her out would be life changing. His hatred would be amplified and with it, the number of lives lost. He would probably put out search teams looking for any new victims, me included.
“Just come settle in.” Will urged. “You’ll need to know our plan, and you have a lot to tell me about Lexa.”
I chewed on my bottom lip apprehensively but nodded in agreement. Grey’s steely expression softened slightly. Will motioned for me to follow him and I did, marking the beginning of my new life.