I walk behind Liam as we had caught up to Ruby, who wasn't going very fast. Twinkies didn't sound that great to me either as we ate them so often but food was food. We take a u-turn at the bottom of the stairs to get to Betty. God I was actually referring to the van as a person at this point. I watch my feet and Liams, thinking about our near kiss.

But Ruby's shriek snapped my out of it as I see her falling to the ground. Liam went falling to the ground, his hands over his ears as the frequency gun was pointed at him. But I get a regular gun pointed at me. I could still hear the frequency gun, I was internally cringing at the close radius and it wasn't even pointed at me. I hate frequency guns. "Hi Liam." she greets cheerfully before turning to me "Back it up slowly." I take a few slow steps away before she snaps at me to stop.

I watch her put the frequency gun right next to his ear, but if I do anything, I get shot. "I love that kids can hear frequencies that adults can't." she bragged, though she had a serious look on her face.

I had a sneer on my face as I watch her glance at Liam, as did I. He was on the ground with his hands covering his ears, groaning. The frequency bothered me as well but it wasn't aimed at me so I wasn't directly affected.

She releases the trigger of the frequency gun. She aimed it towards me as she held Liam's wrist, I fell to my knees as I knew she was only using it so I couldn't attack while she dealt with him.

I was on my knees, curled over as I covered my head with my arms, which were blocking my ears unsuccessfully. After what felt like an eternity I felt the frequency stop and I gasped out, the pounding my head didn't leave however.

"Who's the little lady? You first little girl, come on." Panic sets in as my head bursts up, afraid she was coming for me. My eyes focused slowly, I had had them closed so tightly that everything was hazy and I was seeing shapes.

She forced Ruby to stand as she dragged her to a standing position but Ruby took her bare wrist in her grip. Lady Jane slowly kneeled as she stared at Ruby, it was as if she was a god.

"Drop it." Ruby's nervous but still forceful command came out, and Lady Jane dropped her gun. The pistol was in her holster, but the frequency gun was on the ground with a clatter.

"And the keys." Ruby told her, my eyes went past them as I saw Chubs and Zu with duct tape over their mouths, their wrists and feet taped together tightly. I heard the keys jingle as they dropped, "Say you're sorry to Zu.". Ruby was officially scaring me, now I see why oranges are so dangerous.

"I'm sorry Zu." Lady Jane's voice came out clearly, but it didn't sound like she was saying it. It was monotone, as if she wasn't there at all. She no longer had a personality, barely a person.

I knew she was using her power, I hadn't seen her use it in person though. They all looked very confused, which I couldn't blame them.

"Now-" Ruby paused to take a deep breath, consumed by her emotions "you're gonna walk into the that forest." she was panting, taking another few moments "Keep walking, no matter how tired or how hungry you get, keep walking.". Ruby's voice was low, dangerous even.

It was kinda scary, even for me. "Don't stop ever." Ruby clarified, I rose from where I had been leaning on my elbows and knees, going onto my palms.

"Ever." Lady Jane repeated before standing, she didn't look at anything but the forest as she began to walk. Her boots thudded on the street as she walked past Liam and I, crossing the road to enter the forest.

After that, Ruby watched her leave, as did the rest of us before promptly falling to the side as she passed out. I scramble over to her, as did Liam, "She used her powers too much." I muttered as I checked her head for an injury.

"She's an orange?" Liam glanced at me, looking down at her carefully after. I nod, humming my answer as I concentrated on feeling the side of her head for any blood.

But she seemed fine for now. "Put her in the van please." I tell him before doing a quick jog to Chubs and Zu. I hold my hand out to Zu, breaking the duct tape on her wrists with my powers. I then do it to Chubs as Zu pulls it off her face and legs.

Liam comes around the van to us, checking Zu for injuries and hugging her. He brings Chubs into their own bro hug as he asks "You okay?".

Chubs nods before turning to me "You knew she was an orange didn't you? I mean I knew but you are way too calm about it.". I cross my arms as I look away.

"Of course. It wasn't my place to tell that she was an orange, it was supposed to be my job to protect her. I still am, but to protect me too. That's why we kept trying to leave." I shrug, not knowing what to say as I felt horrible about it.

I uncross my arms, letting one fall as I use the other to rub my face tiredly. "I have a headache." I run my hand through my hair, feeling as if I was pulling my hair out of my head as it pounded.

"Yeah. We are gonna have to trade cars." Liam sighs, setting a hand on the side of Betty.

Chubs pats his shoulder as he says "We will let you have some time to say goodbye to Betty.". My eyes graze over the Nissan van, it definitely was something.

My fingers trail the side of it as I make my way around it and to the passenger seat. I curl up in it, wrapping one arm around my knees and the other I had my elbow leaned on the door as I used to hand to prop up my head.

I heard the engine start and it was oddly comforting. Would we fit in another van? We were not too comfortable in this one but I can imagine being more comfortable in another one.

We pulled away, I drown out their chatter as my mind fades away from the conversation and to the music on the radio. I recognized most of the songs but I wasn't too up to date on the newest music. After all I was pretty busy most of the time.

Escaping people who weaponized or imprisoned me. Or running from others. Since I was 15 I had been on the run, before that was the camps.

My attention snaps to someone's hand on my arm. My hair flies as my head whips to see Zu, she holds out her hand, which I take in mine and she sits between the two front seats.

I take notice of Liam and Chubs talking. "I mean are we really gonna let Lady Jane die out there?" Liam questions, his face incredulous and serious at the same time.

"Yes! Crazy lady stuck multiple guns to our heads. She duct taped me and Zu! And you want to help her?" Chubs exclaims, his hands waving to Zu before going back to himself.

"How about before we decide we stop and talk about it? If anyone has to fix it, it's Ruby so we should wait for her to wake up." I voice, which they both look to me. Liam glances back to Chubs, before taking a left into the woods.

"This- This is not what I meant." I release Zu's hand as I hold onto the dashboard, nearly jerking out of my seat as we continue our journey into the bumpy forest.

He finally parks when we can clearly no longer see the street. "Hey Zu why don't you get lunch ready? I'm sure Ruby would like to eat when she wakes up." Liam tells her, which she nods before climbing out from between our seats.

I hop out of the car, closing it behind me before going and sitting on a log outside the car. My head goes to my hands as I feel the raging headache that was tearing apart my mind.

That bumpy detour had not helped either. Zu comes out, blanket in hand as she spreads it across the dirty forest floor. I watch her carefully before covering my face as I close my eyes tiredly. Someone sits next to me and I glance next to me to see Liam, watching Zu before glancing at me when he saw me move.

"How do you feel?" I question, he was under the frequency gun for awhile as well. My body mirrors him, both of us leaning our elbows on our knees.

"I'm okay. How about you?" he questions and I just shrug, not totally in the mood to talk. His presence was just nice, and then we were quiet. The only noises heard was the forest. For now.

I shrug, my head hurt but I was alive. So were they. We were okay, for the most part. I don't know about Ruby. "Fine." I mutter before leaning my head on my fists. I close my eyes and he stays quiet after that, as if he knew that's what I needed. Perhaps he needed it too.