I don't drive again. My head still aches, my mind foggy and unfocused. Alistair seems to be of the opinion that I can't be trusted behind the wheel anymore - or rather, the controls. I try to argue, but he cuts me off, his tone firm, unyielding. "You can barely walk straight, Sarah. Just... just sit down. Rest."
I want to protest, to insist that I'm fine, but the truth is... I'm not. I can't focus, my thoughts slipping and sliding like oil on water. I feel disconnected, distant, like I'm watching myself from outside my body. It's unnerving, disorienting.
So I do as he says, settling onto the floor of the transport, my back against the wall, my knees drawn up to my chest. I try to stay awake, to keep an eye on things, but my eyelids are heavy, my body sluggish. It's not long before I'm drifting off, the hum of the transport lulling me into a restless, uneasy sleep.
I wake up to Alistair shaking my shoulder, his voice a low murmur in my ear. "Sarah. Sarah, wake up. We're here."
I blink, my eyes focusing slowly on his face. He looks tired, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. There's a smear of oil on his cheek, a relic of the crash that he must have somehow collected again while I was asleep. I reach up, my fingers brushing against his skin, wiping the smudge away. He blinks, surprise flickering in his eyes, but he doesn't pull away.
"You need to wash up." I mumble, my voice hoarse with sleep. "You look like a mess."
He laughs, a low, tired sound. "Already tried and someone decided to interrupt and scold me." He stands up, offering me a hand. "Come on. Let's get inside."
I take his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. The world sways slightly, my head spinning, but I steady myself, gripping his arm. He doesn't let go, his hand warm and solid on mine, his presence a grounding force amidst the fog of my concussion.
It's already a relief just being here. This beach is so much cooler than the desert ever was, and the air is damp, crisp. It's not quite 'home', but I can breathe again. I can't tell you how much of a relief that is.
We make our way towards the entrance of the pumping station, the massive structure looming in front of us, black against the deep purple of the night sky. The sound of the waves is a constant, soothing rhythm, the salt air crisp and clean. It feels like a lifetime ago that we were here, even though it's only been a week.
I'm not sure if this feels like home, but it does feel like a great weight off of my shoulders to be here again. Not an escape, but... change.
Maybe I am just running away.
The thought occurs, twisting bitter in my mouth. But I'm too tired to confront it. And I just... don't have it in me right now. After I sleep for about three solid days - maybe four - I'll worry about that kind of thing again.
"If they tell me to help bring this stuff in..." Alistair murmurs, "they can go to hell."
I snort. "Agreed."
We step inside, the cool, damp air of the station enveloping us. The others are there, their faces lighting up as they see us. There are exclamations of relief, of joy, of surprise. Arden is at the forefront, his expression a mix of concern and relief.
"Sarah. Alistair. Thank the stars. We were worried."
"We ran into a bit of trouble." Alistair explains, his tone casual, as if crashing a transport is a common occurrence. "But we're fine. The supplies are mostly intact."
I am given approximately two heartbeats before a girl collides full force with me, spinning both of us around. I barely catch her in my arms, looking down at Hestia.
She is beaming up at me. A real, bright smile, the kind I haven't seen since... since...
It catches me off guard, my heart clenching in my chest. I can't remember the last time I've seen her so happy.
"Hey," I smile softly down at her. I'm tired. Exhausted. But I'm not about to brush her off. We're all we have left. "You stay out of trouble?" I ask, as I'm finally able to straighten, still keeping a hand on her shoulder. I don't want to let her go yet.
Her smile brightens. She nods, vigorously. Of course she did. She's a good girl. She's always been a good girl.
"Alright. Good." I brush some of her hair out of her face. "I'm gonna sleep for a week, but you can come get me for anything, okay?"
She nods again, her eyes wide, earnest. I can't help but laugh softly, shaking my head. She's too much, sometimes.
I glance up, meeting Arden's gaze. He's watching us, his expression soft, a small smile playing on his lips. He looks relieved, genuinely happy to see us safe. It feels a little like when we brought the supplies back the first time.
He nods toward the cots. "Both of you, rest. We'll take it from here." He gestures to the other survivors, who are already moving to unload the supplies. "You've earned it."
I don't argue. I'm too tired, too ready to just collapse and not move for the foreseeable future. I just nod, and stumble over to a flimsy cot that looks like paradise right now. I fall onto it, not even bothering to get under the blanket, my body sinking into the thin mattress. Hestia is right there, curling up next to me, her small body fitting perfectly against my side.
"Night, Hestia," I murmur, my eyes already closing.
She doesn't respond, just snuggles closer, her breath warm against my neck. I wrap an arm around her, holding her close, and let sleep claim me.
I'm not sure how long I sleep, but it feels like an eternity. When I finally wake up, the station is quiet, the only sound the distant crash of waves. Hestia is still curled up next to me, her breathing soft and even. I carefully extract myself from the cot, trying not to wake her, and sit up, running a hand through my hair.
My head is clearer now, the fog of the concussion lifted. I still feel a little off, a little unsteady, but it's a vast improvement. I take a moment to just breathe, to gather my thoughts. We're safe, for now. The supplies are here, the people are safe. It's a small victory, but it's something.
I glance over at the next cot and find Alistair sprawled out, fast asleep. His face is relaxed, peaceful. It's no surprise he's still asleep - despite my best attempts, he was still awake far more than me on that trip. I gingerly step around his cot. Both to let him rest more, and because I'd rather not get slammed into the ground again when I already have a concussion.
There are still a few people asleep, but most of the room is empty, which is an excuse to go exploring these upper levels. With the supply trip and the exhaustion, I haven't had a chance to really look around the place. I move quietly, not wanting to disturb the others, and make my way out of the sleeping area.
The station is a labyrinth of corridors and rooms, the air thick with the smell of salt and metal. I wander aimlessly, my footsteps echoing off the walls. It's a completely different experience to the abandoned factory that we had been living in before. It feels...
More sterile. But maybe that's my own bias. The factory wasn't exactly a hotel itself, I just...
Well. It doesn't matter what I thought, then. I shake my head and turn the corner into a small room with three horizontal windows overlooking the violet sea. Arden and Anna are there, standing by the windows, their silhouettes stark against the faint glow of the moons and stars outside.
I hesitate, unsure if I should interrupt. But Arden turns, sensing my presence, and gives me a small smile. "Sarah. You're awake."
"Yeah." I move closer, joining them by the windows. "How long was I out?"
"Almost a full day." Anna answers, her voice warm. "You needed it, though."
I nod, looking out at the sea. The moons reflect off the water, creating a shimmering path of light that leads to the horizon. It's a beautiful sight, and so very different from the desert that I can't help but stare for a while.
"We were worried about you two." Arden says, breaking the silence. "When you didn't show up yesterday..."
"Sorry." I frown. "We... hit a snag." I don't feel like explaining the crash, the oil spill, the oasis. Not right now. "But we tried not to be too late." I glance between the two of them. "Did all the supplies make it...?"
Arden nods. "Yeah. They're all accounted for. You two did good."
I let out a breath, some of the tension leaving my shoulders. "That's a relief."
Anna smiles. "You should get something to eat. You must be starving."
The thought of food makes my stomach growl. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until she mentioned it. "Yeah. That... that sounds good."
"I'll show you where everything is." Anna offers, gesturing for me to follow.
I give Arden a nod, a silent farewell, and follow her out of the room. She leads me through the maze of corridors, pointing out the different areas - the kitchen, the storage rooms, the bathrooms. It's a lot to take in, but I try to memorize it all, to create a mental map of the place.
The kitchen is small but functional, the counters covered with containers of food, the air filled with the smell of something cooking. My mouth waters at the scent, my stomach growling again.
Anna hands me a plate, already loaded with food. "Here. Eat up."
I don't need to be told twice. I dig in, the taste of real food after days of rations a welcome relief. I'm so focused on eating that I almost don't notice Anna sitting down across from me, her expression thoughtful.
"So." She starts, her tone casual. "You and Alistair seem close."
I nearly choke on my food, coughing as I swallow wrong. I glare at her, my face heating. "What? No. I mean. Does it really seem like it? We just... he keeps ending up going on missions with me."
"Mm, yeah." She nods, expression... wistful? What the hell? "Just... be careful, alright?"
"Careful?" I arch a brow. "Of what?"
She shrugs, picking at her own food. "He's a good guy. But he's... he's been through a lot." She meets my gaze, her eyes serious. "He's got some demons. Just... don't get too close, alright?"
I open my mouth to argue, to tell her she's wrong, that there's nothing between me and Alistair. But the words die on my tongue. She is wrong. There's nothing between us, and I haven't made any plans to get 'close' to anyone. It's just...
It feels weird to say it.
So I turn my gaze back to my food. "Yeah. I'll... keep that in mind."
We finish eating in silence, and then she shows me where to put my plate, where to get more water, where the extra blankets are kept. It's a lot of information, but I do my best to remember it all. By the time we're done, my head is spinning again, the exhaustion creeping back in.
"Alright. Time for you to get some more rest." Anna says, her tone firm but gentle.
I nod, too tired to argue. She leads me back to the sleeping area, and I'm relieved to see Hestia still asleep on the cot. I crawl back in beside her, her small body warm and comforting against mine. Anna drapes a blanket over us, her touch motherly, caring.
"Sleep well, Sarah." She murmurs, before turning and leaving the room.