The Downfall

Chapter 10

After a night's rest, it was decided that Nick and Nadia would go back to the town. Seth would have to stay. Of course, it ended in a rather hushed screaming match, but what else could be done? They had an obligation to at least see if there were any survivors. If they were lucky, they'd be able to bring back more food. The one thing that Seth forgot. Nadia, personally, couldn't understand how Seth had forgotten food but remembered six different types of weapons per group. Six different knives, six different guns, six different bows. How could he forget food?

Nadia grumbled as she and Nick made their way through the forest, you'd expect that they'd be able to use the path that the car did. But no, it was too out in the open for Nick's liking. Hearing Nadia's grumbles, Nick would typically use this chance to make a smart comment. But instead, it was either no conversation or light conversation. " So. . .Seth. . . seems likes a handful. " Nick did not know the meaning of light conversation. Nadia wanted to laugh at the statement and scowl at the mention of Seth's name.

What was his problem lately? You know, besides working with the government, betraying them all, lying to her, and then thinking he had the right to be an overprotective mutt? Her face twisted up into a slight scowl as a small, somewhat disappointed sigh left her lips. " A handful is the understatement of the year. " She muttered quietly under her breath as she stepped over a fallen log. A part of her hoped that Nick didn't hear.

However, Nick did hear. He tilted his head to look at her for a moment, raising an eyebrow. Nadia met his look and he instantly turned back to watch where he was going. " You two don't seem as close as Shannon portrayed. " He commented. Why was he wanting to talk about this now? She shook her head lightly as he stopped, waiting for her to catch up.

" Not anymore. He did betray the rebellion. " She spoke, emphasis on betray. Maybe he'd get the hint that she wasn't in on it, and if there were any survivors at camp, they'd listen. It wasn't long before she caught up with the other male, she wasn't as far behind as he had originally thought. Nevertheless, he slowed down his pace. They walked in a few moments of silence, Nadia grateful for it while Nick kept wanting to ask questions.

" Why travel with him? If you don't trust him? " A true question. Finally, one that got Nadia truly thinking. She gave a small shrug.

" He broke me out. " It wasn't a full, confident answer like the others. In a way, it sounded like it was half-assed, an excuse for the question. Something that was weak. Nadia hated it. " Why do you want to know so much? "

It was now Nick's turn for the prying questions. He felt Nadia's eyes on the side of his face, but he refused to meet her gaze. Should he tell her the truth? That he didn't truly trust Seth? Or really Nadia after what Shannon had briefed them with? Where they lies or truths? " Not sure. " At least that was a partial truth. He wasn't sure about a lot of things anymore, confusion clouding his brain and his instincts.

It had taken a days trip to reach the treeline that lead into the small town of Frisco. They each felt for their weapons, double checking to see if they were all there. Nadia had knives stashed within her sleeves with another on her thigh, just in case. Nick, like Seth, preferred guns when it came to weaponry. However, like Nadia, he preferred hand to hand over weaponry typically. They would have to stay in the trees. No words were supposed to be spoken. Anything could give them away. Nick caught Nadia's eyes and pointed upwards towards the treetops. He wanted to hide up there through the night, given how thick they were. Nadia shook her head lightly and pointed towards the floor. She was terrified of heights, and even with the given coverage the treetops would hold, there was a greater chance of them making noise up there than on the ground.

The two silently argued, each pointing at their respective piece for emphasis before Nick gave up. Nadia's arms shot up in a touchdown pose as a sign of victory. Nick rolled his eyes and turned away from the smug female. They wouldn't be able to lit a fire this close to the town, but they could easily set up a small tent. However, with Colorado weather, everything was unpredictable.

That was why the two were huddled together under the small, makeshift tent. They couldn't risk putting up the full tent, even with the blizzard going on. Nick and Nadia took up shelter against a tree that was wide enough to hide the both of them. They had layered on everything they had and their teeth still chattered. A branch sounded from behind the two, Nadia pressed her face into Nick's shoulder while Nick brought a hand up to his mouth, each trying to limit their own noise.

It was hours before they trusted themselves again. The snow had ceased its falling. Everything was covered in a blanket of it. It clung everywhere, from the moss on the trees to the ground to Nadia's eyelashes and Nick's hair. There was a good, three maybe four inches of snow on the ground.

" Come on. " Nick murmured lightly to her, standing up. The outer layer of his clothing was drenched as if the snow slid right off of him. The two worked in silence, gathering everything that survived and packing it up. They trudged through, each not talking, their eyes wide and open, and their ears working on overtime. It was a scary place to be in a scary time frame.

They made it into town without an issue, but what they saw shocked each of them into silence. There were bodies. . .bodies everywhere. Most from the rebellion, but not all. Snow had a red tint to it as if it had soaked up the blood. Nadia knew it had frozen, it shouldn't have been possible for it to had been soaked up. Not with the freezing temperatures.

Nadia's hand found Nick's arm as she tried to rip her gaze away for the piles of casualties. Nick couldn't look away either, especially when his gaze landed on their friends. He spotted them before Nadia could. Quickly he clamped a hand over her eyes. " Nick, what the f**k? " She hissed out, trying to pry away his fingers.

" Stop, Nadia. Stop. Do you trust me? " He was serious. Not the mocking serious that she often joked about, almost as if life and death serious.

Nadia didn't hesitate, a small " Yes, " leaving her lips. Nick nodded lightly to himself, carefully leading Nadia away from the bodies of Cierra and Taylor. It was bad enough the sights were engraved in his mind, they shouldn't be engraved her hers. Nick had led her down an alleyway close to the middle of town. Nobody had run to hide in the alleyway. . . as far as he could tell. He couldn't see any blood or bodies.

" It's alright to look now. " Nick spoke, chuckling lightly when he removed his hand to find that Nadia had squeezed her eyes shut as well. Almost like a double protection. It was then, that all hell broke loose.