The journey resumes. Evening draws close, the scenery unfolding beneath a beautiful sinking sun.
Strange. Rose gives me peace and quiet—for once—because she's asleep. The coachman says we'll arrive by morning. No stops along the way. So it isn't just Rose now. Oliver is asleep too.
I can't sleep. I keep getting pulled back to the view, wanting to see it before darkness takes over. It's beautiful—right before day becomes night.
---
—CLICK.
Rose photographs Hiro, sleeping deeply. He looks just as exhausted as Rose and Oliver were earlier. Oliver holds back his laughter. Rose keeps taking pictures with the new camera she bought at the market, also holding back laughter because Hiro's face looks terrible, a thin line of drool slipping down.
—CLICK.
The sound is sharp, faint but piercing. Light flashes across Hiro's eyes.
"Enough, enough. He'll wake up, Young Lady. Pfft," Oliver whispers.
"He won't. He won't," Rose replies.
Their voices drift in and out.
—CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.
Light flashes over my face again and again. I feel it now. I realize it.
"Ugh."
"Well, look at that. He woke up," Oliver says, quickly turning his face away.
I open my eyes slowly.
"What are you doing?"
Rose freezes, slowly hiding the camera behind her.
"Are we there yet? What are you doing?" My mind hasn't fully gathered itself. Half-awake, I throw the questions out.
I look outside the carriage. The sky is faintly red. Early morning?
"Early morning?" I ask.
"Yes. Early morning. You haven't eaten anything all night."
"So?" I ask again.
She holds something out with both hands.
"Eat the bread. Drink this milk."
I take them.
"Thank you," I murmur softly.
"What?" she says loudly.
"Nothing," I reply.
"WHAT?!"
---
"All right, Sir, Young Lady. This is as far as I can take you."
The journey ends—but not at any public place. We stop in the wilderness, deep among trees.
"Rose, unload the supplies. Please."
Rose nods and steps down after Oliver plants his feet on the ground.
She looks at me.
"Help me, Hiro."
I nod and step down, opening the door on my side.
Oliver approaches the coachman.
"How far is it from the coast?" he asks.
"Not too far, Sir. I've taken you farther than I normally would—especially considering you're traveling with a young lady," the coachman replies.
Oliver nods and hands him a pouch of valuables.
"This is your payment."
The coachman accepts it warmly.
"With gratitude, Sir."
"Is everything unloaded?" Oliver asks Rose and me.
"Yes," Rose answers.
The coachman grips the reins.
"I wish you a safe journey, Sir."
Oliver nods slightly.
"Thank you."
The carriage turns and leaves. The journey on foot begins.
"All right. Are you both ready?" Oliver asks.
"Ready. After breakfast first."
"Right. Then let's do that."
---
"Eat the bread and drink the milk. We leave immediately after," Rose says, handing them to me.
I look away, but still take them.
"Thank you," I whisper—barely audible, almost a lie.
"What?" she asks.
"Nothing," I answer.
"We head toward the coast," Oliver cuts in.
"We must arrive by nightfall. We need to find a gap to cross toward the other continent and send the signal. They'll reach us before sunrise," he continues.
"But unfortunately—" Oliver doesn't finish.
"Unfortunately?" Rose interrupts.
"That only works if we don't stop. We must reach it by night. If we're late, everything ends," Oliver says.
"WHAT?!" Rose shouts.