I slowly open my eyes to see the interior of the wagon, all still the same as before. It’s another day on the trip, and so far, so good. There has not been any big interruptions or events that have impeded our progress, and for that, I am grateful. I lift my upper body from its position on the ground, taking my time in stretching out my arms and legs, yawning while I do so. I go to rub my eyes and fix my ruffled hair, when I hear a knocking sound from outside my wagon. "Morning, Est!" Calls the voice, now manifesting into a shadow on the side of my wagon. “Good morning to you too, Justin.” I sleepily reply. “Isn’t Charlie usually on wakeup duty?” “Yeah, but this is for my plan. Plus, he gets more time to rest, so I’d say there’s no harm done.” Justin says, projecting a certain air of superiority. “Anyways, I’ll leave you be, and wake up the others.” The shadow waves towards me, then walks off, headed towards the back of the train and near Anna’s abode. I stretch again and prepare myself for another day, double-checking all of my pockets to confirm that my equipment didn’t shift during the night.
"Morning to you too, Est..." A voice creaks from down below, catching me off-guard.
I turn to my left to meet the voice, revealing Tim,
whose wounds still look as fresh as the day before. He lays motionless in his
own sleeping bag, which sits across from mine. "Guess it’s more of a bad
morning for me, huh?" He chuckles to himself, before coughing up blood. I
rush over to his side and start preparing for another examination of his wounds
and physical state. "Tim… what prompted to you to attack Justin
yesterday?” I ask, causing Tim to howl even louder, at the cost of his own health.
The coughing fits only worsen, compelling him to silence his tongue for the
time being. I can’t help but smile at his silly demeanor. “Peace, Tim.” I calmly
reassure. “These wounds are not fatal, and you shall heal. However, it will be
an eventual recover, so I advise you to take movement lightly. We could have
someone act as your crutch, if you desire." My offer seems too much for
his pride, as Tim turns his head away in disgust of the idea. “Well, I’ll just
stay here with you for the time being, then.” He turns back to me and looks me
straight in the eyes. “Est…” He croaks. “You don’t…” *cough cough* “…have to do
this…" I put my hands on my hips in protest.
“It’s my job, silly! I’m here for you, whether you like the idea, or not!” He
stares back, stunned for a moment, before faintly smiling.
“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”
Tim
“Are you sure that you can stay here with me for
the rest of the day? What about the oxen, or the others?” I protest, knowing fully
well that while the pain was still there, I didn’t feel like I was going to die
from it. It has been hours since I last woke up, yet Esther has constantly been
at my side, tending to me all day long. “I’ve
already asked Anna to take over for today, since food stores are high. After
all, you’re what’s important to me right now.” Esther says, turning from her
medical setup with a washcloth in hand. I groan at the sight, as it means
another around of rubbing alcohol and sizzling pain in my skin. “Let’s just get
this over with, I’m not going anywhere now.”
The first hit was always the hardest, with my
screams of pain causing Esther to retract the washcloth, who shakily tries to
calm me down. "T-tim! A-are you okay?! I-I-I didn’t mean to!” I try to
withhold any further cries of anguish, but Esther forcibly turns me around, her
face swollen with grief and riddled with tears. “I-I-I-I-I…” She stammers, almost
on the verge of crying. “Est! Est! I’m fine! Fine, I tell you!” I try to move
by body to try and clamp her down, stop her shaking, yet cannot move without
feeling immense pain from previous sessions. All I can do is try and console my
friend, with little success. The minutes go by and by, until Esther stops to
compose herself.
“I’m s-sorry… I got
sentimental…” Esther cries, still a bit shaken from her previous actions. “It’s
just b-been five years since I-I’ve seen any of you… I-I’ve been worried sick
ever since our disbandment! I’m just
happy to see everyone again! I don’t want to be separated again! I d-don’t want
to be alone again!” She puts her hands to her head, trying to wipe away the
flow of tears streaming from her face. I try my best to smile, but can’t find strength
in myself to do so. “What about your trading partners with the farm?” I ask,
hoping that by diverting the subject, Esther can calm her emotions. “It’s a-all
just business to them… They’re in it f-for the money…” “What about the phone we
got you? Don’t you use social networking?” “S-social… what working?” Righhht. She
never had much experience with technology out of the farm. Great hindsight and
planning, Justin. “I-I’m sorry, Tim… I dragged y-you into this…” She says,
struggling to keep her tears back. “I wanted to be in good company…” I move my
arms as much as I can, trying to get a hold of her own arms. “Est, we’re all
here for our own selfish reasons, and we all care for each other, right?” I
say, gripping her own arms and squeezing them, before moving down to her hands.
“You’re strong, Est. I know that I’m only physically strong, but you’re
mentally strong. All of us working together is what will get us through, and
we’ll have you to thank.” I close my hands in hers, and after a brief moment of
hesitation, she responds. “Y-you really believe so?” I smirk back. “Judging
from your handiwork, I know so.” I jovially laugh out loud, causing her to
giggle at my excitement. “T-thank you, Tim. I n-needed the company.” She says,
letting go of my hands and bowing in thanks.“Anything for an old friend, Esther.”
“By 'old friend', d-does that include-“
“Justin can go die in a hole for all I care.”
“I-I can’t let that happen!”
“Haha… He'll pay in due time.”
“...'et’s just enjoy the journey while we can, Tim.”
"Aye aye, captain."
Justin
Well, they’re having an awfully tender moment together up there in the previous paragraph, yeah? Sorry to burst your bubble, Ama*on users, but there ain’t any shipping going on between ‘em. At least, to my knowledge. Then again, I created the series, so if there was any underlying feelings, I’d already know about them…. But knowing myself, I’d rather save the character development for a later chapter or character arc. After all, that’s what most popular shows do, right? Get close and personal with the characters before offing them completely, right?
Back to the point at hand, everything seems to be going according to what I’ve planned out. Before starting the trip, I had lain out a set routine of work for me and the others, and on any day with no river crossings or impactful landmarks, everyone would be obliged by their set job to the best of their ability, ensuring cooperation. While some days might not be as impactful as others, such as Anna losing out on hunting thanks to Esther and Tim’s emotional and mainly backstory heart-to-heart, we’re still set on time. I survey the surroundings in the front, before pulling out a folded piece of paper from my pockets, giving once last glance to make sure that nobody is watching. Confirming that I’m safe and alone, I meticulously open the paper, revealing the contents inside.
TG’s Bizarre (Solo) Adventure
Bandits within Convoy, report findings
Curse Tim out, get Anna involved
Campfire song before lights out
Now, you may be inclined to think that this list is connected in some way to my “master plan” that I’ve advocated following through with for the past few chapters. You are partially right, and partially wrong in both regards, whether you believed it or not. Yes, it’s my plan, but only part of it. I’m smart enough to not reveal all my plan at once, lest somebody else find out and foil it, Tim. Anyways, nothing too out of the ordinary has forced me to fall back on Plan B or such, and everyone seems to be cooperating well enough. That isn't complaining about Anna avoiding him, Tim didn’t die thanks to Esther, but then again, his death would put a wrench in my own plans, so his life is just as important as mine. Charlie has been on guard duty, watching on all angles, with no attacks reported so far. There will be the bandits coming in later, so that’ll give us something to do. In the meantime, I must send TG on a wild goose chase for the meantime, as his actions will put a domino effect into action. I nod in accordance with my own plans, and stand up, stretching my arms while thinking up of a good lie to tell TG. Something to do with Anna? Probably. Does it have to really be convincing? Ehhhhh, I don’t think so. Will it work? Only if he follows through with it.
I laugh to myself while making my way towards the back of the wagon train, and I decide to check up on everyone as I make my way.
Oh, here’s the wagon order of our posse for your viewing pleasure:
That – Anna – Esther – Tim – Charlie – Justin
Misc. – Food – Medical – Tools – Security - Weapons
I took the liberty of diving up the supplies along with roles, so that nobody can be greedy with their own stash. Even if somebody tries to fly solo and hold all the food hostage or something, it’s a 1v5, along with the rest of the wagon train to boot, so the amount of active dissent won’t be as numerous or impactful as before. Walking by Charlie’s wagon, I find a well-hidden set of tripwires in every little alcove that he could find, fitting for someone holding down the fort. The duty I sent him on earlier has him on wagon train watch too, so good awareness to him, I must say. Tim, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as attentive, as his wagon has lots of equipment either lying around, or sticking out so in the open, I can even spot some of the knives he tried to attack me with, now sticky with the small cuts of blood taken from the attacker himself. I decide to leave Esther alone, as she gets awfully testy if someone interrupts her medical procedures, and trust me when I say this here: You do not want Esther to be mad for any reason possible. I mean, she’s already the emotional one of the cast, but that applies to all her emotions, with her anger giving me nightmares from past seasons. You do NOT want her angry. Anna’s still asleep, probably in her wagon, so no point in looking there. Either that, or she’s out hunting, so nothing would be left but food. As such, I make my way over to TG’s, but much to my surprise, he’s not there. Knowing his next location, I double back to Anna’s to find him watching over her body, turning around at frightening speed once he hears me enter.
“Did you have anything to do with this?!” He angrily shouts, his eyes almost igniting with flames.
“How should I know? I just passed by, looking for you.” I casually shrug my shoulders and nod my head. “I assumed she was hunting or something.”
“Wait, you needed me for something? Does it have to do with Anna?” He asks, calming down.
“Yes. She had a job for you.”
“That… doesn’t sound convincing in the slightest. If you’re lying to me, Justin…” He says, now getting suspicious and looking around if I have anything that can provide sufficient evidence. I pull out my folded paper in response.
“Well, seeing how I have work to do… I guess you’ll be the only one able to help her for now.” I
wave the paper around in front of my face, getting him to nod in agreement to my terms.
“Alright, well, since Anna’s out cold, I need you to do some hunting for the meantime.” I motion towards the front of the train. “Just grab whatever you need from my wagon or Charlie’s. Preferably Charlie’s. Mine has traps all over it.”
“Leave it to me! I’ll haul more game than Anna has in her own career!” He heroically proclaims, leaping out and sprinting to the front. With that off the list, I now just need to watch for those bandits…
Tim
I already
feel my strength returning as I walk around once more, although more at a
hobble than a walk. Esther sure is a miracle worker, I must admit. While I would love to return to action once more, Est has prescribed me a good night's rest of "No moving around, please?" So... I'm basically stuck where I am, unless I want to make Esther disappointed/angry with me, and that's a chance I'm not willing to take. As such, I lay down on my side, putting my head to the floorboards and listening to whatever sounds pick up. Esther had walked out for a moment to gather dinner for the both of us, yet she hasn't returned in what seems like an eternity. Anna's wagon is near Esther's... right? I mean, if you don't count the many other wagons in the train. "Timmmm! I'm back!" I don't get much of a chance to contemplate their positions, as Esther walks back with two boxes in her hands. "Justin had to talk to me for a second. We're awfully close to a river crossing, so we'll eat after we're across safely." She shows her signature smile, and puts the boxes next to me. "Did he mention anything else interesting?" I ask, hoping to prod for further information. "Well, he did ask for the positions of everyone, which I thought to be peculiar. He then went on his way after that." She says nonchalantly. Just at that moment, the wagon comes to an abrupt stop, with the murmurs of the other travelers now filling the air. "I suppose we are before the river? In that case, Justin and Charlie should have that situation under control." I disagree with her views, shaking my head in discontent. "I'll betcha that a fight will break out over whether to ford or caulk the river, considering how one Justin makes a decision, he'll go down fighting for it."
Just then, a single shot rung out in the distance.
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