Page 37 of Desecrated Saints
“Just saying, brother. Time to face facts.”
Hudson exits the car, which rocks from the force of him slamming the door shut. He marches over and stands between the shouting pair, ending the fight with a few brief words. Grabbing Brooklyn by the scruff of her shirt, he drags her back and throws her in.
“Brooke—”
“Shut the hell up,” she barks.
Casting me a despairing look, Kade fires the engine and waits for Sadie to pull out onto the main road. Phoenix gives me a three-fingered wave as they pass, leaving us to follow into the fading light.
“Whatever game you’re all playing, it’s childish,” Brooklyn says acerbically. “This is either some bullshit pissing contest or plain jealousy. Both are unnecessary.”
“Sadie can handle her brother without your assistance, blackbird.”
“Did you put her up to this?”
Hudson draws an invisible halo over his head, attempting to lighten the mood. With a sour look, Brooklyn crosses her arms and stares resolutely out the window. He isn’t going to win this fight with her.
We’ve all been on a knife’s edge while preparing to leave the safe, woodland retreat in Northern Scotland. After three weeks of something resembling peace, all too soon we’re back in at the deep end, desperately trying not to drown.
“Have you heard from Lucia and Two?” Brooklyn asks.
“They checked in an hour ago, back at the cottage,” Kade answers while turning onto the motorway. “They’ll be okay. You guys should get some sleep. We have a long drive ahead.”
Hudson shakes his head. “I don’t feel good about this.”
“We have no choice. Can’t hide in the woods forever.”
“Enough already! Quit being all wise and shit.”
Kade suppresses a snort. “Maybe we should’ve left your miserable ass behind too.”
We had no choice but to drive to London. With no passports and the entire country looking for us, flying wasn’t an option. I can’t help but feel like we’re retracing our steps back into the lion’s den. The aim of the game is to keep a low profile, pass under the radar and not get killed. Easy peasy.
“You good?” Brooklyn breaks the silence.
I ignore her searching gaze, attempting to control my breathing. I’m doing a crappy job of pretending like I’m good with this plan. The world passes in a blur of motion on the busy road, every mile back to civilisation serving to increase my anxiety. I haven’t been outside in a decade, even longer than Seven.
“Shut your eyes, Eli,” she murmurs. “I’ve got you. Lay down.”
Reluctantly, I rest my head on Brooklyn’s shoulder, and she entwines our fingers together. I don’t belong in this strange world and want nothing more than to slice, stab, and punch my way out of the limelight, back into the safety of society’s trash heap.
We drive through the night, the bleak stars our only companions on this road trip to hell. Kade and Hudson swap over somewhere around Sheffield, not bothering to disturb our tangle of limbs in the back. I don’t sleep at all. I’m content to listen to Brooklyn’s breathing while trying to keep my shit together.
As the dawn glow spreads across the darkened sky, the fuel light flicks on. Kade lets out a curse. We pull up at a petrol station ten minutes later and Brooklyn unravels herself from me. There are only two other cars—a red truck and a transit van. We study the vehicles, weighing our options.
Kade sighs. “I think it looks quiet enough.”
“We’re too exposed out here,” Hudson argues.
“I agree.” He switches off the engine. “But we’re out of good options. Help me fill some canisters, then we can avoid stopping again. I’ll text Sadie and get her to meet us.”
Leaving the brothers to deal with the fuel, Brooklyn climbs out and stretches. We passed Sadie and the others a while back. I can see the worry on her face as she urgently scans the passing road for the other car. Separating the group was a shitty idea in my opinion, made worse by Hudson’s insistence on being an asshole.
“Come with me to get food?” she offers.
I stare at her, unblinking.
“We should stick together.”