Despite feeling as though every step was forced, Ana moved steadily. The air felt thick, almost solid, causing exhaustion to quickly set in and making the difficult task of walking even harder. She checked the riverbank constantly, looking for any way over, but so far had seen nothing. Ana also checked on the trees periodically, wanting to send Jax to the other side as soon as possible.
Ana eventually stopped chattering and turned her thoughts inward, puzzling over the feeling the jungle gave off. She had not felt this sense of dread while on the other side of the river, even when she had bent over the running water. The trees were entirely different on this side, too. The trees bordering the path along the river’s far side were either deep or emerald green, looked very similar to the trees she remembered from Flaga. On this side, however, the trees were more a drab olive in color, and they all had a dull grey bark. They looked like the hardwoods that grew around her new home but were not the same color, and the limbs were draped with a grey substance that reminded her of greasy cobwebs. Ana instinctively dodged to avoid the tendrils when they hung in her path, not knowing what would happen if they touched bare skin but deathly afraid to find out.
In addition, the temperature inside this part of the jungle was much cooler than it had been on the beach, and Ana’s skin was erupting in goosebumps. The air felt clammy, like a constant cold mist that settled on the skin, and Ana had no way to ward off the chill. Reaching up, she felt the clothing and found it was still wet, causing a mild curse to erupt. Ana had no desire to put the items back on, concluding it would probably make matters worse, and cursed again as she began to tremble. Asking Jax to move, Ana pulled out the shirt and flapped it slightly, then draped it over her head, moving part of it so Jax could sit comfortably once the little animal climbed back up. Ana sincerely hoped the shirt would dry more quickly now that it was exposed to the air, allowing her to don it in order to ward off the chill. The cold, hunger, and oppressive nature of the jungle all combined to make her more miserable by the minute, and Ana tried to concentrate on something other than the current discomfort she felt.
Continuing along the riverbank, Ana once more pondered the differences between the opposing two sides of the jungle. She had a hunch that the river acted as a border or dividing line, keeping the dread to one side of the island while allowing the other side to host the children exiled here. Ana assumed that the government did not want anyone on this side unless they specifically placed them here, but when she tried to figure out why they would separate some children out and leave them in an even more inhospitable place, she drew a complete blank. Her transgression was a minor one, much less serious than the previous offense, and Ana could not figure out what had prompted the change in her sentence.
When Ana had finally committed to returning to the island, she had started planning how to bring it about very carefully. She needed something that would cause a prompt and certain return, but not be a serious offense or give the appearance it had been committed intentionally. After giving it a lot of thought, Ana had hit upon a slip of the tongue. It wouldn’t arouse any suspicion and would be entirely reasonable if it occurred in certain situations. It had been made clear during the debriefing that if Ana made mention of anything connected to the island, it would mean an immediate return, so the idea seemed the least likely to bring about anything worse than just a trip back. From that point on, Ana started laying the groundwork for creating the right scenario as well as planning for the eventual return, basing it on what she had learned when she was on the island as well as the knowledge she had obtained while on the mainland.
Ana had been selectively cultivating friendships in her new school, choosing each connection carefully. She didn’t really care for the people she associated with but felt they might be useful at some point, and critically studied each person, only befriending those that had what she considered the most desirable traits. Having mastered the art of manipulation along with being a consummate liar, Ana had easily slipped back into her prior personality and habits. She shopped, gossiped, and did all the things a spoiled rich girl would do, making her the center of attention while allowing her to move in all the right circles. Ana balanced it with time alone, working to discover whatever she could in order to try and fulfill her self-appointed quests, and needing the privacy to keep herself sane. She often lied to her parents, telling them she was heading out with friends while really doing research or seeking information that could be useful at a later date. Her father often looked at Ana speculatively but her mother, who seemed annoyed with her more and more often, would just wave a hand as if to shoo Ana off.
Ana knew that one of the boys in school was interested in getting to know her better. She had initially remained aloof as she had no interest in a relationship with anyone in Penncony. But when the boy had asked Ana to a party, she had realized how the invitation and subsequent attendance could be used to her advantage. Ana’s first instinct was to say no but she reconsidered when the date was announced. Ana wanted to make sure she got back to the island within six months after her return from the island and the date worked out perfectly. The party was scheduled for four months after she had arrived home but a month away from the date of the invitation, giving her time to work everything out while still delivering her back to the island in under the six-month time frame. Ana accepted and started planning in earnest.
She knew the family would be forced to move again once she was sent back to the island and felt bad for Niall but hoped that having Jax around would soften the blow. As much as it pained her to leave Jax, Ana knew there was no other option. Jax had been kept hidden in the house and exposing her companion to the general population would probably invite a much harsher sentence, as well as the loss of the little creature. Ana had no way to secretly smuggle Jax back and therefore had no choice but to leave the little creature behind. And while a month seemed like a long time, Ana knew it would go by quickly, allowing a quick return to the creature she loved more than anything in the world.
When it came to leaving her parents, Ana couldn’t have cared less. Or so she told herself, not wanting to admit she would miss them. Her relationship with her mother was not that good and she was furious with her father. Besides, Ana felt her vow to save the children was more important than any inconveniences caused to the family. She hid the book along with the other discovery inside her mattress, slicing it at the seam and carefully sewing it back up so the opening wouldn’t be detected. Ana knew there was a chance the mattress wouldn’t be sent to the new home, wherever that might be, but since everything that the family owned had been shipped from Flaga to Penncony, she doubted that anything would be left behind this time.
Ana had redoubled her training in the month before the party, pushing herself every time she worked out. She walked whenever possible, running up and down stairs instead of taking the trans-lift, and often intentionally missed her ride home, necessitating a hike if she didn’t want to wait on the next transport. Ana started buying whatever she thought might be needed, including clothing, and stashing it in the back of her closet. Late at night or when the rest of the family was out, she would work on secreting the supplies in the new clothes, often redoing the seams several times until she was satisfied.
For the party, Ana chose a specific type of dress. It had taken over a week of shopping to find one that met her specifications and she had paid an exorbitant amount for it, but was thrilled with the way it made her look. Ana wanted to be the center of attention and this dress would definitely meet that criteria. She fully expected a certain question to be asked once she initiated her plan and the dress was an important part of what she intended to do. That question would give Ana the opening she needed to slip and say the one thing that had been expressly forbidden by the government, sending her back to the island almost immediately.
The day of the party, Ana had dressed carefully, then placed all her island supplies in a bag. She told her parents she was taking a change of clothes since she might overnight at
a friend’s but assured them she would let them know if she wasn’t coming home. Ana then kissed them all good-bye, shocking her mother, and hugged her brother and Jax tightly, whispering to Jax she would be back soon. When she walked out the front door, Ana forced herself not to look back, instead doing her best to give the appearance of a girl thrilled to be going to a fancy party with a boy she supposedly liked.
The party was being held at a local restaurant in a private room overlooking the ocean. Upon arriving, Ana had asked for directions to the Ladies lounge and once there, hid the bag in the bottom of a large garbage bin, placing some hand towels and a vase she intentionally broke along with its now damaged floral arrangement on top. She then exited the Ladies room and entered the party.
Ana had chosen a gold dress with a slit up the right thigh. The dress was form fitting and Ana knew every eye was on her the minute she entered the room. Her body honed by the months of working out, the jewelry chosen to accent the color of her eyes, and her hair styled in extravagant curls and braids, Ana knew she was the center of attention. She wore no stockings and glided so as not to make the dress move much. Ana knew when the dress split, the scars from the leeches would be obvious, which was exactly the effect she desired, but she had no plans on revealing the wounds until the time was right. Ana took her time, sitting carefully at the table, wanting to make sure she had had enough to eat and drink before she took the next step.
Ana paid close attention to her date, laughing and giggling like he was the highlight of the evening. When he asked her to dance, Ana finally saw her opportunity. As he pulled the chair back, she intentionally let the dress fall open, revealing her leg from ankle to thigh. The boy had immediately gasped in shock, one hand flying to his mouth as his eyes opened wide. The scars were extremely noticeable, each wound now a deep red circle of raised flesh, and even in the dim lights they could easily be seen. Ana had not looked into having the scarring taken care of, afraid of the questions that would be raised when she showed them to the doctor. Since Jan had said no surgery would remove them completely, Ana had opted to let them be, covering them whenever there was chance anyone might see, and learning to live with damage that had been done.
Once the boy had made it obvious he had seen the marks, Ana had acted embarrassed and pulled the dress back over her leg, but not before making sure several other people saw it as well. When someone from the group had asked about the scars, Ana had replied they were a result of a sentence imposed for breaking the law but not saying anything more, despite the questions that followed. Ana made herself appear mortified about the way her legs looked and excused herself, telling the group she was heading to the Ladies lounge to freshen up. Ana fled the room, heading straight to where the supplies were hidden, and waited until the lounge was empty before sliding the bin in front of the door. She had no idea how long it would take for the government to act and wanted to make sure she had changed into the island attire before they got to her. When Ana had committed the last crime, the government had arrived before she finished completing the forbidden painting, but she wasn’t completely sure how they had found out so fast. Ana hoped for an almost immediate response this time, if not from surveillance then from somebody letting the government know what had just happened, and she wanted to make sure she was ready when they finally showed.
Ana had pulled the bag from the bin the minute she entered the bathroom. She quickly stripped, stuffing the party clothes, jewelry, and shoes in the bag. The old Ana surfaced momentarily, regretting having to dispose of the beautiful dress and expensive jewelry, but there was no other option and she quickly squashed the remorse. Undoing the elaborate coils in her hair, Ana quickly re-braided it and tied it off with a hair band. Jamming the bag back in the garbage bin, she proceeded to scrub her make-up off, making sure no trace of it was left. Leaning against the sink after moving the bin away from the door, Ana waited impatiently, trying to come up with a valid reason as to the change of clothes. When no one entered the bathroom within a couple of minutes, she decided to take matters into her own hands, figuring something would eventually occur should they ask about the clothing. Opening the door, Ana stepped out and immediately saw the two men trying to look inconspicuous but failing miserably, and she hid the smile that threatened to break free. Expecting to be grabbed, Ana continued walking past as if she had no idea who they were. That’s when she felt the slight prick in her neck as everything went dark.
Ana replayed the entire sequence of events in her head, trying to figure out why she hadn’t been sent back by way of the beach but ultimately gave up looking for a reason. It was too hard to think and she wasn’t coming up with any answers anyway. Ana turned her thoughts away from the party, concentrating on the surrounding forest and the river to the right instead.
Ana walked steadily, if a little slower than usual, arms wrapped around her torso in an attempt to fight off the cold. She was exhausted, weak, and chilled to the bone. Walking was better than standing still, but she wished the clothes weren’t so damp. The shirt, draped over her head like a hood, felt a little drier, but the pants were still soaked through. Ana left the clothing where it was for now, hoping that her continued walking would eventually dry the shirt more, allowing her to put it back on. Until then, she would have to deal with the clammy moisture, along with everything else.
In addition to getting across the river, Ana needed to find food and fresh water. She wasn’t thirsty yet thanks to the recent rain, but Ana knew she couldn’t travel indefinitely without finding something to drink. She was already run down and probably suffering from malnourishment, so food was just as important as liquid. Ana was extremely worried that if nothing was found soon, she would weaken even further and no longer be able to effectively cope with the dangers the island continued to unleash. It also preyed on Ana’s mind constantly that food was mere feet away, but totally unreachable. Besides getting Jax to safety, Jax being able to cross the river meant the little creature could find and bring back food.
Ana could feel herself slipping into a light trance. She shook her head, trying to shake off the feeling of lethargy that was threatening to overcome her, knowing staying awake and focused was vitally important. If she were no longer aware of her surroundings, she risked missing signs of food or water as well as any possible way across the river. Coming to a stop, Ana pumped her arms several times, arched her back, then leaned sideways to stretch her torso muscles. The shoulder twinged slightly but didn’t give her any trouble, leading Ana to raise both arms as she bent to the side. The ankle was also still sore, but the limp had disappeared, and all Ana felt was a mild weakness when she stepped wrong. Trying to get the blood moving in her upper body, she swung her arms in a circular motion, upsetting Jax and causing the small animal to scramble to the ground.
Ana completed the impromptu exercises with several toe touches and then some squats, relieved to feel a little warmer when she was done. Taking a minute to step closer to the riverbank, she squinted and looked upriver. It appeared a few trees overhung the river further up but Ana, never good at judging distances, was unable to determine how long it would take to get there. She sighed, pointed to her shoulder, and set off once Jax had resettled.
Ana wasn’t sure if the increased exhaustion she felt was caused by the oppressive nature of the jungle or was a result of weakness caused by hunger. All she could tell was that it was getting harder to move. Tucking her head and hunching her shoulders, Ana pushed on, her entire focus now on putting one foot in front of the other.
She had no idea how long it took to reach the few branches that hung down. Everything looked and felt the same and Ana was unable to judge if it was day or night, morning or afternoon. So intense was her concentration on taking the next step, Ana almost missed the two small limbs that offered a way out, at least for Jax. But one of the twigs brushed the top of Jax’s head, causing the little creature to dig her claws into Ana’s shoulder. When Ana looked up, she caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of one eye.
Realizing Jax had felt it important enough to alert her, Ana stopped and turned around. Seeing the two branches, she reached a hand out to touch them, making sure they were real. Satisfied they were not a figment of her imagination, Ana removed Jax and cradled the small animal in her arms.
“Okay, furball,” Ana said softly, looking Jax directly in the eye. “Please listen up. This is vitally important. I need you to go over the river and find food, then bring it back. And I need you to do it as quickly as possible. I am not sure how much further I can travel without something to eat. And you need to do it without looking for help or going to the camp. Do you understand?”
Jax nodded solemnly, pointed to the other side of the river, then pretended to eat.
“Good girl,” Ana said, giving Jax a hug. “I knew you would understand. Get ready as I’m going to help you reach the branch. And remember. No help!”
Lifting her arms overhead, Ana held Jax as high possible. Jax grabbed one of the branches, which drooped under the animal’s weight, and Ana held her companion until the little creature had scrambled higher. Quickly climbing, Jax was able to cross over the river safely, dropping to the ground and looking back at Ana as if seeking approval.
“That’s my girl,” Ana called, smiling and waving at her companion. “Off you go. Bring back whatever food you find first and return immediately. I promise I’ll be waiting right here. And thank you, my darling furball!”
Ana watched Jax scamper into the forest, then sat down to wait, using the pack as a seat and idly using the knife to doodle in the dirt.
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