Pulling my hand back, I curl it into a fist before slamming it forward, watching as the punchbag anchors backwards, pain swelling through my knuckles.

I don't let up, slamming the other hand forward before leaning backwards and trying all over again. The bag swings back and forth as I continue to punch, my breathing heavy, my legs tiring as I bend them slightly.

"I'm surprised. It looks like you're improving."

I spin on my heel at the sound of the familiar deep voice. Shock fills every inch of my body, mouth dropping open at the sight of the tall, tattooed blonde leaning against the entrance to the barn.

"You're back," I say breathlessly. A grin spreads across his face, and he nods. "You're back!" I repeat, punchbag forgotten as I launch myself across the room. Riley doesn't even have time to open his arms before I wrap my own around his neck, pressing my body tightly to his. My eyes close and I squeeze tighter as his hands move to rest on my waist. "I can't believe you're back," I utter. "Are the others with you?" I pull my head back to look up into his bright, sparkling eyes.

He shakes his head, lifting one hand and resting it against my cheek. "You really need to shift your feet more when you punch—"

"Shut up," I exclaim, rocketing myself up, onto my tiptoes and capturing his lips with my own. An instant moan claws its way up my throat but I stifle it as my heart flutters. His lips are softer than I remember, but the force behind them is anything but. It's been two and a half weeks since I last felt his lips, but it feels like a lifetime. There's desperation pouring out of me, and I'm leaning in as far as I can, scared he'll disappear at any moment.

Just before I stumble, his hand tightens on my hip, gliding around to the small of my back and holding me against him. My lips part and he inches towards me, claiming my bottom lip with his teeth. My head spins, hands moving to his hair, tugging at the blonde roots, keeping him close as he deepens the kiss.

Too soon, it comes to an end, both of us breathing heavily as he leans down, resting against my forehead.

"Kayla," Riley murmurs against my lips. "My little truck driver. You took Killmoor."

I smile, not daring to move. "I did," I whisper.

"Utterly fucking incredible," he replies before darting his chin forward and kissing me all over again.

There are birds chirping in the distance, distracting me as Riley's hands slip further south, clasping at my ass and hauling our lower bodies together. I gasp at the feel of him — hard, already.

This time, I don't stifle the moan, letting it vibrate over his tongue instead.

A brash cough joins the birds chirping and I grimace.

What the hell? Leave me the hell alone.

Another cough.

More birds chirping.

A shiver runs through me.

Riley isn't here.

My eyes flutter open, falling on the brown leaves that coat the ground and the evergreen trees that tickle my feet.

Shit. I'm on lookout and I fell asleep.

I shoot upright in panic, feeling behind me for my gun and exhaling once I realise it's there.

"You can calm down," Carl's voice reassures me. Looking up from the seat I've made for myself in the leaves, I find him sitting on one of the lowest branches of a bare oak tree, his legs dangling. "I've been here for nearly half an hour."

"I... I..." I trail off, quickly standing, dusting my legs off. "You should have woken me."

Carl shrugs. "You haven't slept properly in days, Kayla."

"That doesn't excuse this—"

"Nothing happened," he assures me.

"So?" I hiss. "What if it had? I would never let anyone else get away with this!"

"It's a good thing that you're the leader then, isn't it?" he counters.

I grit my teeth, lifting my hands and grabbing onto his branch before climbing up and joining him on the wood. "Being leader doesn't give me the right to take advantage."

"No... but it does mean that you're more exhausted than most people."

I scoff. "Everyone is doing their bit."

"I know," Carl replies, his eyes darting to mine. "But you need to give yourself more of a break. Before you burn yourself out."

I lean back against the tree trunk behind me and avert my eyes through the foliage to the forrest beyond. "So do you."

Carl nods. "I'm fine."

"Me too."

He smirks. "Touché."

We fall into a comfortable silence as the wind swirls around us, rustling the leaves through the woodland and filling the air with an eerie, yet strangely comfortable atmosphere. Six years ago, it would have creeped me out — like something from a horror film. But now, having seen actual horror come to life, it calms me. An empty woodland, with only nature's sounds surrounding me... Heaven.

"I'm sorry that I woke you," Carl says suddenly. I look at him. "It's just..." He coughs into his hand before looking over at the trees. "You were... you made..."

"Oh my god!" I exclaim, slapping my hands over my face. "Did I moan out loud?"

Carl coughs again. "I... Yeah."

"Freaking hell!" My ears have turned pink. My cheeks heat up.

"It's... I mean, it's fine."

"I was eating a burger," I babble quickly.

"What?"

"In my dream! I was... eating a burger."

He doesn't look convinced. "Right."

"A Big Mac," I carry on chatting absolute rubbish. "Remember what those used to taste like?"

Carl's amused. "Yes."

"They were my favourite thing," I mutter.

"I always preferred a McFlurry," he comments.

I scoff. "As a dessert, sure."

"Nope." He shakes his head. "I always ate it first."

My mouth drops open. "You're a monster!"

He laughs at my words, a loud guffaw that echoes through both bare and full tree alike.

"Kayla! Carl!" A feminine voice suddenly travels through the trees before Lyla appears, panting and out of breath as she runs towards us. "Pete and Pippa are back!"

"They are?"

She nods, resting her hands on her knees and stopping under the tree. I shift, dropping off the branches and onto the ground beside her. Carl moves to follow.

"Don't worry about it," I tell him, holding up my hand. "I'll go."

"You sure?" he asks.

"Yeah," I answer with a smile. "Feels like you've got this covered better than me, anyway," I pause, turning away with Lyla. "Carl?" I look back over my shoulder. "Thanks."

He nods, resting back against the tree trunk where I was only seconds earlier. Turning back to Lyla, I take a deep breath before following her through the trees and up around the lake, towards the farmhouse.

*~*~*

It turns out Pippa and Pete have returned from York with seven supporters in tow, leaving the rest — an apparent twenty nine — to continue to try taking the city from the Enforcers.

It's been an exhausting few days and I sit back in the uncomfortable, rickety chair in our so-called meeting room, lifting my hand to toy with the dog tags that sit around my neck. An instant warmth fills my chest as I do so.

Carl sits across from me, his eyes zeroing in on my hands.

"There's somewhere, not far from here, where the State operates the vast majority of operations from," Jesse tells us from the end of the table. He's sitting on the table, cross legged. It's the first day that we've let him and his Enforcer friends roam free around the farmhouse. Carl is still wary, but I've warmed to every single one of them fast.

Carl rips his eyes away from my hands, back to Jesse. "Tell us more."

"It's an old stately home. Calke... something," Jesse explains. "There's at least thirty Enforcers there everyday, but the rest are all just workers." His eyes dart to me. "People who are forced to be there."

I cock my left eyebrow and sit forward. "Sounds to me like they need liberating."

Carl shoots me an uncertain gaze. "We don't want to rush into anything."

"I'd say it's a sure fire way to obtain more support," Jesse pipes up. I grin at the words, shooting a triumphant look Carl's way.

"What's the appeal of the place?" he asks Jesse.

"They've built wind turbines to power the electric there. It's a huge manor house, so plenty of space. They have cattle and other animals. A fence encircles the entire estate. An electric fence," he clarifies.

"Then how do you expect us to get inside?" Carl retorts. Jesse bites his lip before shrugging. 

A light bulb pings on inside my head. I sit forward, pointing a singular finger towards Jesse. "If they're willing to take part, we can use our Enforcers."

A sly smile spreads across Jesse's face and Carl slowly nods, his face clearing of uncertainty. We may be onto a winner here.

*~*~*

I spend the afternoon training Pippa how to punch (the way Riley taught me), explaining to Lyla how to drive a truck (the way Riley told me), and comforting one of the prisoners from Killmoor over the scar that marks the length of her arm (the way Riley comforted me).

After dinner in the barn, I leave the joyful atmosphere of free people, and head indoors, tracking Jesse, Pete, Ryan and Carl down in the meeting room to find them pouring over mounds of paperwork.

"What are you doing?" I ask the room. Four pairs of eyes snap towards me as I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms.

"Researching," Ryan tells me.

I narrow my eyes. "Researching what?"

"Carl asked us to—"

"Calke Abbey," Carl cuts Pete off, pressing a singular finger onto the paper beneath him. Following his finger, I step forwards and stare down at the map. "Ten miles from here."

"Only ten miles?" I exhale.

Carl nods. "And a hell of a lot bigger."

"I've spoken to the other Enforcers," Jesse pipes up. "They're willing to help us get inside."

I blink back at the four of them, speechless.

"We don't want to cut through the fence, because it's wise to keep it for our own protection once we're inside. Sending the Enforcers in the front gate gives us our best shot of preserving that. Ryan and I will hide in the back of the truck with them," Pete tells me.

"You... you're going to help get us inside?" I clarify.

Pete smirks. "Don't look so surprised."

"I am," I retort, truthfully. Looking over all their other scribbles, I nod my head and place my hands on the paper. "Alright, tell me absolutely everything," I pause, averting my eyes to Carl. "We're going to do this. It's about time we got somewhere big enough for all of us."

The farm just isn't cutting it anymore.

*~*~*

Two mornings later, I stand at the front of the meeting room, explaining our plan to twenty five people. They'll then pass on the message to the rest. I never thought I'd see the day where we'd acquire too many supporters to fit inside the meeting room.

We've only got it for two hours too. This room is now necessary for people to sleep in.

A switch up of accommodation couldn't have come at a better time.

We're flourishing.

My heart warms at the fact and I wrap my arms around myself for a moment before finishing explaining everything.

"Okay!" I exclaim loudly. "So the only thing left to say is that we will need to leave at least five people here at the farm, at all times. For those who journeyed South, this is where they think we are. We need to be here when they return." I look down at the paper in front of me on the table and pick it up, reading the list of names. "Lyla, Connor, Ryan, Sylvie and Jake G will take the first stint here for four days. Then there will be a switch," I pause. "Any questions?"

No-one says anything. Instead, I'm greeted with appreciative smiles before everyone starts funnelling out of the side door. Even Carl and Jesse duck out of the room, but not before shooting me earsplitting grins.

I'm smiling to myself when the room empties, turning around and looking at the map on the wall. We've taken to colouring in areas that we've gained supporters with purple pencil, and it's starting to look less and less like a plain piece of paper, and more and more like we're getting somewhere.

A small giggle slips out of me as giddiness rises inside my chest.

I can do this. I can be the leader. I'm doing it, and I'm doing it well. 

We're achieving so much — both gaining supporters and freeing people from the shackles that the Enforcers forced them into. And, when people look back at me, I no longer sense any impending doom, from them or me. Instead, there's trust all around.

I'm starting to trust myself with every decision too. 

I can't wait for Riley to come back and see the new me.

"Kayla?"

Turning my head, I smile at the sight of Pippa as she steps towards me. Her bright red hair is piled on top of her head and she's wearing one of the Ryan's hoodies. 

"I just wanted to say that I think you're doing a really great job," she tells me.

My smile widens and I reach out, curling my hand around hers. "Thanks, Pippa."

"You're welcome," she replies. "I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own room, away from Ryan and Andy."

My brow rises. "Both of them? Pippa, are you..." I trail off, wiggling my eyebrows at her.

She scrunches her nose up before smacking her hand over her mouth. "I like them both, and we're having fun... but my God can they be over the top." She rolls her eyes.

I laugh, hauling her into my side and turning both of us to look at the map on the wall. "The North will be ours soon, Pippa. Then you can travel wherever you want."