Chapter 191: Out Into Freedom
DAHLIA POV
We probably should have thought of a better plan when we decided to escape the fortress. The moment we opened the gate, we were all so happy. The excitement in the air was so palpable one could almost taste it. We had ran out into the snow, laughing and giggling at the taste of freedom. But after walking for hours, that moment was short lived because there was nothing outside. Nothing existed for miles other than snow. To make matters even worse we were journeying on foot. There was no much difference between inside and on the outside. The only difference was we are free and do not get punished. On the good side, we get to die quickly. If the snow storm doesn’t kill us then hunger will.
I walked ahead, smiling at the people who were starting to look too tired. I went forward, pushing my way to go towards Branderson who was leading us. I didn’t say anything and clamped my mouth tighter even though I could feel Branderson’s eyes on me. I cleared my throat as I tried to figure out the best way to talk to him. The truth was that there was still awkwardness between us which was mostly from me because I didn’t know how to act around him.
But we were just simply helping each other out, so I cleared my throat again except no words came out. Seriously, Dahlia, just get on out with it already! I chastised myself before I cleared my throat again prepared to speak.
Branderson turned his head slightly as he gave me a side way glance. "Do you have a frog stuck in your throat?"
I blinked at him in response, "I’m sorry what?"
"It’s just that you’ve been clearing your throat beside me and I’m starting to wonder if there is something stuck in there."
"Nothing is stuck there, I’m fine!" I said with more bite than necessary.
Branderson arched a brow up at me but didn’t say anything. We were back to being walking silently again. He didn’t say anything and didn’t push even though he knew that something was wrong with me. It was time like this that I wished he would push, probe and find out what exactly was going on. But then, Branderson wasn’t big on conversations. He mostly kept to himself, which is why I was a little bit surprised when he had told Ilyana he was going to come.
Although I wished he would say something in moment like this since I was too coward to say anything. But then again, what the hell? "Are we there yet?" I blurted out.
Branderson turned to arch a brow up at me, "What are you? Five?"