The next morning we were at it again. We were all packed up from our old campsite - removing any evidence that we were even there and then we began our long hike up the mountain.

After we'd spent the whole previous day walking, I woke up to sore limbs way worse than they'd ever been after any intense gym training session I'd ever had. But now wasn't the time to rest. We had to be rescued first.

The only thought that helped me carry on as we walked was that I'd be able to return to my friends and family soon. Yet it broke one of my rules. When walking for such long periods of time, it gave me a while to think and in the time we'd spent hiking up this steep hill, I'd devised my own How To guide on surviving.

Step One: Keep All Thoughts Positive

I'd come to the conclusion that my negative thoughts weren't going to help my situation in any way, shape or form. At first, I thought they might help encourage me to keep going. but all they'd done so far was bring me down. The last thing I needed was to be caught up in a life-threatening situation and accept death immediately. I needed to keep fighting.

Step Two: Treat Pain Like It Isn't There

I knew I was aching all over. I knew my legs felt so sore that the idea that they might actually fall off was seeming more possible with each step. But was that going to help me push forward? No. It linked back to the negative thoughts thing. If I wanted to keep walking, I needed to ignore the pain. Acknowledging it only made me more aware of it.

Step Three: Pretend Food And Water Aren't A Necessity

Food and water are vital for human survival, I know that. But with our water supply already growing dangerously low, the fewer sips we took, the better. If I kept craving after the things I could barely have, it was only going to make this hike a whole heap more unbearable.

Step Four: Don't Think About Loved Ones

If I thought about my mother or Debby or Kevin, I would just keep thinking about them till I reached the point of wondering if I would ever see them again. Would they think I was missing? Would they plaster posters all over town in search of me? The thought sickened me of them all crying about my death. Would they ever find out the truth of how I died? Would the RUA ever find us if something happened? There were so many different possibilities that I didn't want to think of, so the plan was to not let myself.

Step Five: Don't Die

This one seemed like an obvious step, but I felt I better include it anyway.

I kept up with Eric, matching his pace while Mackenzie as usual, walked ahead. I'd been thinking more about the plane crash and how it had managed to happen. How did they know we were going to be on that flight? They knew we were on to them, so they tried to get rid of us. There was no way they could have just walked into our building without being attacked back with equal force and there was no way they could have bombed us without starting some full blown nuclear war between countries. Attacking us while we were in midair had been a genius plan. They could have easily caught us off guard, killed us and then just dumped us wherever they wanted.

"So, the Russian Federal Intelligence," I began as I glanced over to Eric. "What's their deal?"

He kept his eyes forward on the path ahead. "They used to be good," he said as he pushed leaves out of his way. I could hear his breathing louder than usual so I knew the hike was affecting him too. "Didn't take them too long to be corrupted once the wrong people became leaders."

I raised an eyebrow. "So they weren't always evil?"

He shook his head. "Not always. I've found that tends to be the case with most of these enemy organizations. They start off with good intentions but then the greed kicks in. Things become prejudice and people start making claims that they're better than everyone else. And then people start actually believing them."

"People actually fall for that crap?" I scoffed. It seemed completely ridiculous to me that an idea that warped could be accepted yet alone embraced.

"Worked for Hitler," Eric muttered.

I had to give him that. We stayed silent for a moment as we walked on, only the sound of our footsteps and distant wildlife being heard.

"They started off like us." Eric continued talking. I turned to him, eager to hear more of their history. "A group that just wanted to do good. They're called Federal because their followers came from all the different federal districts of Russia."

"Followers?" I repeated. "You make them sound like their a cult."

"That's the only way I could describe them now." He responded. "Years back their intentions started changing once they began developing a hatred for us."

"Us as in the RUA?"

"Us as in the entire United States of America." he chuckled darkly. "The Soviet Union and the USA had been allies in World War One but once the Cold War came along, things started to change. Our two countries began having conflict - opposing economic and political ideologies. It only created more unnecessary tension until RFI members began viewing us as enemies. The Cuban Missile Crisis was really the main turning point in their hatred towards us."

'Wait," I paused him in shock. "The RFI have been around that long?"

"So have we," he answered. "Of course not as high tech and advanced as we are now but there used to be the days when our organizations were just club meetings probably held in someone's crusty old basement."

"We've come a long way," I muttered.

He nodded in agreement. "Their views are outdated yet they still stand strongly with them. Rather than helping their own country, they seemed to be determined on ruining ours. Of course, there are the good Russian organizations." He continued, "Like the one we were supposed to be working with once we got there. I'm not going to fault the entire country for one stupid bunch of imbeciles. There are corrupt groups everywhere, even in the US."

"Like the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church?" I suggested.

"Usually a bit more extreme than that, but sure," he said.

We kept silent as I processed the new information. It felt better to know more about the RFI. It provided me with more clarity. The rest of their history I knew all too well from working with the RUA. It seemed their only reason for hating us had been political. They'd always attempt to destroy things like our military bases or infiltrate our organizations but the RUA had been there to stop them more times than they'd probably care to admit. We'd made them our enemy by interrupting their plans. Of course, there had been times when they'd succeeded and managed to take out a few lives. And as for infiltration to discover classified information, I'd already had the sneaking suspicion they'd done so for our own agency. That had to be the only way they'd found out about our mission - because someone on the inside told them.

"Break time!" Mackenzie called out from in front of us as she stopped walking and sat down on a nearby log.

I sighed in relief as I reached her, finally able to stop walking. I leaned against a tree, tilted my head back as I felt beads of sweat run down my neck. We'd been walking for hours - though there was no way I could be sure of the exact time.

If we didn't get there by tomorrow, I was going to cut my legs off myself. The pain was excruciating. Water was passed around as we all made sure to drink as little as possible.

"If we continue getting to higher land at this rate, there's a chance we might be able to find a fresh water stream," Eric announced, crouching to the ground to rest.

Mackenzie groaned. "Please, don't get my hopes up."

A part of me had to agree with her. The thoughts of unlimited drinkable water were enough to drive me insane on a hunt for. I didn't want to be left disappointed.

It felt like our break had only lasted a matter of seconds before we were up and moving at it again. I wanted nothing more than to lie against that tree for the rest of the day but I knew that the longer we walked, the quicker I would soon be back in my own bed.

Or at least any other bed that wasn't the rough ground and a sleeping bag accompanied by a snoring Mackenzie.

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A/N:

Hello.

It's me.

I was wondering if after all this time you'd forgive me.

For not updating, in weeks.

I was california dreamin about the other book I'm writing.

That was my tacky Adele inspired apology for not updating in more than a month. I'm currently writing another novel 'Dissolution' for my March nanowrimo. If you don't know what this is, it's when you write an entire book in a month. IN A MONTH. It's crazy. If you wanted to go read it, it's on my profile so you can check it out now. I'm still trying to keep up with this book as well though! I'm just sorry there's been a wait.

This chapter was fillery and short af but let me just tell you when you read the next chapter, it will 100% make up for it.

Trust me.

- Dorothy xx