The Uprising (The Julianna Rae Chronicles) by Aral Bereux Page B

downhill; single and lonely in the overgrown grass. His body trailed along the dry pasture with more ease on the downward slope.
    Julianna reached the tree and leaned against it, pushing the old tire swing playfully beside her as she caught her breath. The prisoner was half staring between broken lids, in his semi-conscious state, and she knew come night he’d probably bite given a chance. She wiped the grimy sweat beading on her face. A trail of dirt replaced it. She needed a bath and she tuned into the running water again.
    After this, she thought. Even her mind sounded out of breath. After this I’m taking a swim, to hell with everyone else. They could have thanked me for taking out the party at the caves.
    From the low point where she stood, it was hard to see Caden rolling his bike to where the trees stood thick and tall. She made the gesture of his cigarette casually propped between his lips when he needed both hands, and the smoke trailed above his head for the wind to catch and trail it away. Devo carried more supplies into the old house, and Daniel spoke with Bas.
    She glanced down at the prisoner.
    Miserable bastard.
    The swing rocked in the dull breeze. She followed its rope to the branch above and removed her knife from its holster. The rope was still good, and the blade cut easily through it while she cursed under her breath.
    I’m leaving tomorrow, I swear, I’m leaving this forsaken group of prets if it’s the last thing—
    The frayed rope fell down like a coiled snake, wrapping her head and shoulders. She fought angrily to free herself, swinging the blade around as she went, and almost cutting herself.
    ‘Here,’ Bas held a hand out for the rope. ‘He’s just toying wit h you.’
    ‘Freaking yay,’ she handed it over.
    Bas strung the prisoner’s wrists before returning the rope over the branch again. He pulled on the rope, using his own weight to raise the prisoner above his toes. The prisoner groaned.
    ‘Is it really necessary? He’s half way to dead.’
    ‘You want him running the six or seven miles home to camp?’ Bas secured him. ‘You know he will. Camp 2.2.1’s just down the road.’
    ‘I would’ve mentioned Kath erine’s information,’ she said.
    ‘Yeah, not sure about that. When were you planning the news break?’
    ‘Oh I don’t know.’ She pushed past him. He was still fastening the rope and couldn’t follow. Julianna called back. ‘Somewhere between getting shot, stabbed, and being taken hostage. I told you in the end – doesn’t it count for something?’ Caden walked toward her. ‘Or maybe this was all a scam, to have me placed under his command.’
    Bas finished tying the prisoner. ‘It’s getting dark. Where are you going?’
    Julianna refused his question. Caden stopped in his tracks. She wanted to find the water, get clean, and relax. The water was ahead, she could hear its run, and altered course for the trees lining the property boundary. Caden yelled her name. Daniel asked for her return and she ignored them, as she pushed through the long grass.
    Was it stagnated like most water in the area? With the rivers nearby she held onto what little hope she had left. Bas called again and Caden yelled at the top of his voice.
    Just leave me the fuck alone!
    Her scream inside her mind worked.             
    She swung a leg over the wire fence loosely str inging its perimeter, and entered the thick trees. They left her alone, they didn’t follow, and finally, finally, she had a moment to herself.
     
    *    *    *
     
    The pier poked from the ground, stretching across the water to allow a toe dip on a warm evening. It was down from there that she made a small fire, beneath a low hanging tree branch. With her pants hanging over them, drying from the quick stone scrub she’d done with the flat rock she still held, she stretched her steps carefully along the pier’s rotting frame. The soft breeze licked at her bare legs. The moon’s reflection wavered