Page 121 of Born Savage

We pushed our way through denser trees, avoiding falling limbs blocking our path. Jake wasn’t holding back, racing forward and only stopping to ensure we were following him. Every bark was a command to hurry. Move faster. Follow him.

We did. The sounds ahead of us intensified, rushing water providing an entirely different thought of hope. I wasn’t ready to concede to the bastards.

“Take Wren,” I told Wrath, my soldier gathering her in his arms.

Star turned. “What are you doing?”

“Go,” I told them, pulling out my rifle. “I’ll keep the bastards from following. I’ll be right behind.”

“No!” Star gasped. “There’s only one of you.”

“Yeah, but I’m tough.”

“Then I will fight by your side.” Her insistence was everything I’d come to expect.

“Not a chance,” I told her. “Keep going.”

“You’re going with her, Rage,” Blade exclaimed before moving in front of me. “You will follow Jake.”

“Move aside, soldier.”

Wizard and Ghost joined him, both shaking their heads. “We can hold them off. You and Star are the reason we’re all here.” Wizard grinned.

“Enjoying the hell out of ourselves too.” Ghost laughed, shaking his head when I wasn’t joining in the joke. “Rage. It’s time for you to go. We’ve come this far. You can’t sacrifice yourself. Not now. Not when so many people are counting on you. That woman back there is counting on you.”

“We are a team. We stay together. That’s how we’ve handled every mission successfully.”

Woof. Woof. Woof.

Jake was insistent we follow him, his barking keeping the Dwellers on the right track.

“You need to go, Phoenix,” Ghost reiterated. “This is what we knew would eventually happen one day. Our job is to protect you and to protect Star.”

“No,” I snarled. He’d used my real name.

Blade moved closer. “You always knew you were destined for greatness. You can’t deny that any longer. Your memories were never taken from you. They were always there. You know who you are and what needs to happen.”

“You will do as I say. Soldiers.” My command wasn’t followed.

“Let them do this, Phoenix. He’s right and you know it.” Vicious moved directly in front, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

“We will follow when we’re finished.” Ghost’s voice held no conviction.

Vicious grabbed the bag I was holding. “Let them have the explosives. Now is when they might come in handy.”

We locked eyes and I could see all the years we’d spent together through his. He nodded and slipped the bag from my shoulder, tossing it to Blade. “Come on, my friend. Wrath and I will lead you and the woman you love home.”

Home.

The word being used again when it meant nothing to me.

Yet even so, I backed away, scanning the horizon. While the Dwellers had yet to arrive, I knew it was only a matter of time.

“Follow when you can,” I told them.

Blade saluted, the others nodding. Even as I turned away, I knew I’d likely never see them again.

“Come on,” Vicious told me quietly.