Inside Carl's house, the tension in the air was terrible and I left as soon as I could, following behind Enid out of the house. She didn't seem to notice me at first, too occupied with looking around for any possible threats and I did too. 

Before she had left, she had placed a small piece of paper down when Carl had left the living room where they were sitting. 

After a few minutes, the brunette girl seemed to have taken notice of the presence behind her and she stopped. Enid turned sharply around, surprised to see me standing there. "Why are you following me?" she asked, somewhat scared. "Does Carl know? Did he send you?" 

I shook my head, what wouldn't she want Carl finding out? She seemed to relax at this more, but a frown appeared on her forehead. 

"You want to leave too, right?" My eyes widened at the mention of leaving and I nodded at her. 

"Are you leaving?" I asked her surprised and silently scolded myself for not having figured out earlier. It was quite obvious, not wanting Carl finding out, leaving a note. She had planned this and I wasn't part of her plan. 

Slightly taken back, Enid nodded and I, unintentionally, rolled my eyes. 

"How?" I asked, "without anyone noticing?" I had thought about leaving a lot, obviously. But every time, there would be someone at the gate, or I would be followed by Denise or someone else. It was like a prison here, no freedom, for me at least. 

Shaking off her surprise, Enid shook her head. "You can't come," she told me and her head shot towards a sudden sound, only for it to be nothing. 

Now, it was my turn to frown. "I won't follow you the entire time," I told her. "Just until we're out of the gate."

Her eyebrows were still knitted together. "You're going to your people?" As she saw me nod, she looked down slightly and back up. "Alright, just out of the gate and that's it? Everyone their own path?" 

Again, I nodded and she pressed her lips together in a tight line. Enid started shuffling behind the bushes again and I followed behind her, until the wall. As I looked closer, I saw how there were small pins tucked behind the bars. It seemed pretty obvious what was expected, but Enid still explained, showing me how to do it. 

Taking a hold of the first pin, I made my way up to the top of the wall, slinging my body over it and climbing down on the other side. 

As I felt the grass through my shoes, I sighed out deeply, feeling way better than I had felt inside those walls. I closed my eyes for a moment, soon opening them and looking at the sky, trying to find something that would put me on the way towards my home. 

As I had found it, I nodded contendedly to myself and turned to Enid. "Thanks." I smiled at her, before taking off into the direction of the sun. 

🌹

"Can I move now?" 

"No!" I threw a pencil towards Jong's head, before focusing on the paper in front of me. "I really need to practise and you're the only one who wants to actually model for me." With a smile, I watched how Jong huffed, blowing his hair out of his face. 

"You know, when I agreed to this, I thought that it wouldn't take longer than an hour, maybe two. But I can't feel my legs anymore and my nose itches." He scrunched his nose, unable to scratch it and I rolled my eyes playfully towards him, reaching towards him. With the tips of my fingers, I rubbed his nose and laughed as he smiled. "You're the real MVP." He nodded towards me with his bright smile. 

"I know," I stated and turned his head slightly. "Now, don't move." I urged him, before taking my seat again and holding the pencil, observing the drawing that was scribbled on the piece of paper. "Bless your parents, Jong," I reminded him and he laughed again. "I'm not kidding now." Quickly, I scribbled on the paper, before placing the pencil down and holding the drawing up for Jong to observe. 

Jong's chocolate brown eyes scanned over the paper, still not moving a muscle, his face rested in a serious expression. He nodded ever so lightly and I bit my top lip. What if he didn't like it? What if I had just waisted his time? 

A smile broke through his expressions again, relaxing his muscles. "Amazing," he said, like always. "But, are you sure my cheekbones are that high?" He quirked an eyebrow, unsure and I looked back at my drawing. 

After careful consideration, I nodded slowly. "Yes, like I said, bless your parents. They handed you some good genes."  I placed the drawing down and rested my head onto the table, puffing out. "What now?" I asked Jong and he shrugged.  

"It's past curfew, so guess you sleep here tonight." He got out of his seat and stretched his arms, moaning. "Let's see if we have any food." He was already walking towards the kitchen, when he stopped dead in his tracks, "Wait, Sofia took the last bits to her sleepover." He groaned and I laughed. "Guess we just sleep?" 

"You really thought this through, didn't you?" 

Jong looked bitterly at me and I burst into a fit of laughter. "You are so lucky I like you so much, Yana. If not, you would have been dead by now." 

"As if," I breathed out, trying to stop my laughter. "If we weren't friends, you wouldn't dare to look my way." Jong pulled a face at me, causing me to laugh harder. "You know, we could sneak to my house. My mother will most likely not come back home." I pushed myself off the table, stretching my back. 

"Curfew passed," Jong reminded me. 

"That's why I said sneak, Jong." The boy in front of me pulled a hesitant expression. "Oh come on, it's not like they will shoot at sight." 

"They'll give us babysit duty!" 

"I thought you liked kids?" 

Jong nodded. "I do! But not when there are over ten, in the same room for more than a minute." He shivered and I rolled my eyes, reaching for my jacket that was draped over the chair and placed it on. 

"Whatever you want," I shrugged. "I'm going home." Turning on my heels, I walked out of the house, being met by an icy cold breeze. My jacket did protect my upper body, but my bare legs were freezing. Before I closed the door behind me, I made brief eyecontact with Jong, a small grin playing on my lips. 

Carefully, I looked left and right. The area was deserted, a few of the houses showing light from the inside. I tugged at the end of my shorts, trying to cover up more of my legs, before I started sneaking my way towards my house. 

🌹

I stopped behind a car, seeing how a muncher walked past, not noticing me. With my heart beating in my throat, I cursed at myself for being so unprepared. Until now, I had only stumbled upon a few munchers, most of the time single, but I knew about the enormous herd that was way too close for my liking. In the distance, I could hear a honk going off and all the munchers that I had seen were heading that way; Alexandria. 

But I didn't have to care about that, it wasn't my home. My home was miles away and I would get there. Determination filled me as I saw the muncher stalk away and as soon as I thought that the distance was enough, I got up from my hiding spot and continued my way. 

The buildings on all sides were deserted, no surprise there. The streets and walls were scattered in blood, decaying bodies laying on the ground. 

The sun felt pleasant on my skin. Everything seemed better outside of Alexandria, brighter, quiet, less clean but calmer. And everything would be perfect, home. No one was there who would keep me there against my will, no one would call me a beast for not talking, despite them not being able to see me quiet. There wouldn't be an awkward tension between three teenagers, as it was obvious to me that something was playing between Ron, Carl and Enid. 

Back home, there would be love. Octavia would be there, Jong would be there, Cole would be there, Anya would be there. And better yet, mom would be there. Everyone I have ever loved would be there, alive or buried. I would be reunited with them and the thought only made me gleeful. 

My attention was turned to an open door, hearing a crash from inside. Stopping in my tracks for a moment, I inspected the door, preparing myself for the worst. As I heard a groan from the inside, I let out the breath that I held in and continued my path. 

Kicking away a few loose peddles, I licked my dry lips, feeling a pair of eyes on my back. Again, I stopped in my tracks and sharply turned around.

🌹

Crouching behind a bush, I peeked over, spotting a group of people, varying in height and width. They seemed to enjoy themselves as loud laughter erupted from them and  I knew that the runners were going out for another hunt. 

Squinting my eyes, I tried to look for Octavia, knowing that she had to be there between them. I didn't hear her laugh, which would have stand out above all the other ones, being loud. 

Behind me, something bumped into me, causing me to lose my balance. As I was falling forward, a yelp escaped my lips but was muffled by a hand. 

Painfully, my knees scraped the ground, my eyes stood wide as the soft hand was firmly placed on my mouth, keeping me from making any sound. My body was turned around and in the poor moonlight, I could make out the features of Jong. 

He carefully removed his hand from my mouth, combing his hand through his long hair. "Don't talk," he ushered me, not because he didn't want to attract attention. He didn't want me to tell him the obvious, that he would have come with me anyways. "I couldn't leave you alone after curfew, you're an idiot." 

"Yeah sure," I scoffed softly, pushing my body off the ground. "Wanna bet you were too scared to stay on your own?" 

Jong looked unimpressed as he raised his arm again, pushing me back. Again, I felt behind and this time, Jong wasn't quick enough to muffle the yelp that left my lips. 

Both frozen, our eyes widened as the laughter stopped. We were so screwed. 

I could hear footsteps nearing us and what sounded like a blade being pulled out of its holster. They weren't actually gonna try to kill us, right? I eyed Jong in a panick, but he seemed as terrified as I was. 

From the opposite direction, I heard faster footsteps and a girl calling out. "Wait!"  Octavia was running towards us, not making eyecontact, looking at something that was behind the bushes. Her hand was raised and her hair was flowing on her shoulders. "There's no danger." She stopped close to where Jong and I were and I couldn't help but think that Octavia was wrong. 

There might not have been a danger for her, or the others, but Jong and I were in life danger. 

"These two lovebirds belong to me." Her hands went down and pulled Jong and I up by the throat, as we let out protests about her lovebirds comment.

"Jong? Yana?" someone asked and Octavia nodded. 

"Now, neither Faida and I would be very happy to see her or her friend killed. I think Anya would agree with that as well." 

"Of course," another voice piped in. "But they're not supposed to be out after curfew." 

"I totally agree." Octavia send a glare at the both of us and Jong and I gulped, looking at each other. "But, how about we discuss this tomorrow, when we're back and well-rested?" Everyone in the group seemed to agree and I could feel Octavia squeeze tighter in my neck. "As for these two, I want you both inside, now. Don't let anyone catch you out again." She dropped us. "Osman is asleep now, but your mother doesn't want him alone for too long, Yana. Go, quick." 

I nodded hurriedly at her and grasped Jong's hand, who was still frozen from shock. Forcefully, I pulled him with me towards my house. 

🌹

"Enid?" I asked, seeing the girl a few feet standing behind me. She bit on her bottom lip, her eyes glued onto the ground. "I thought we were going on our own?" I raised a questioning eyebrow into her direction. 

"We were." Enid quickly shook her head and corrected herself, "We are. I just, I thought it was best to stick together for just a little, it's getting dark soon and you don't have any weapons." 

Slowly, I nodded in her direction and motioned for her to come, a small smile playing on my lips. "Alright," I agreed. "By any chance, does 'a little' mean two days?" I asked her, unsure. "After that, I can get to my home on my own without any weapons." 

Enid nodded. "Of course." She seemed relieved that she didn't have to travel alone, confusing me. I thought that that was the reason she wanted to leave in the first place, to be alone, to not care about anyone else. I nodded at her and waited until she caught up on me. 

  🌹 

you know maybe i should stop apologizing because my update schedule is not gonna get any better lmao. but im so sorry for the wait (if anyone even waited AHA) anyways i hope you enjoyed this chapter! uwu