Chapter 18: The Price of Survival

The Price of Survival

The air was thick with unease, the kind of silence that felt like a storm was about to break. The group gathered near the edge of their camp, each face shadowed with fatigue and doubt. The rival faction hadn't attacked again yet, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time. Worse, their supplies were dwindling fast.

Alex stood at the center of it all, every eye on her as they waited for her to speak. It was an odd feeling, being thrust into the role of a leader, a position she neither wanted nor felt prepared for. But after everything that had happened—the ambushes, the traitor, the skirmishes—someone had to take charge. And for reasons that baffled her, they were looking to her.

Ethan stood beside her, arms crossed, his usual quiet intensity giving her a sense of stability she desperately needed. She glanced at him, hoping for a signal of support, but his face was unreadable. She couldn't rely on him to make this call.

"We don't have enough food to last another raid," Tom finally said, his voice tight with frustration. He glanced at Mara, who was sitting with her back against a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees. "We either find more supplies or…" His words trailed off.

"Or what?" Alex snapped, sharper than intended. Her nerves were fraying, and she could feel the weight of responsibility crushing her.

Tom exchanged a look with Jake, who had been sitting silently nearby, staring at the ground. "Or we make the hard call," Tom said grimly. "We can't keep all of us alive with what we've got. Not if we want to stand a chance against another attack."

Alex's stomach twisted at the implication. It wasn't the first time she had thought it. The supplies were running dangerously low. They had mouths to feed, but not enough to go around. And it wouldn't be long before the rival faction came for them again. If they didn't act soon, they'd all die.

But the idea of leaving someone behind, of sacrificing one of their own, made her feel sick.

Mara spoke up, her voice soft but laced with determination. "We can't do that. We stick together. We don't leave anyone behind."

Tom's jaw tightened. "It's not about what we want, Mara. It's about what we need to survive."

The silence that followed was suffocating. The group was torn, and Alex could feel the pressure mounting. They needed to make a decision, and fast.

Ethan shifted beside her, and she glanced at him. His lips were pressed into a thin line, eyes flickering with thoughts he didn't voice. He was always so damn controlled, and right now, Alex needed more than just his silent presence. She needed to know what he was thinking.

But Ethan didn't speak. He just stared out at the horizon, his fingers twitching at his sides as if he was holding something back.

Alex's chest tightened. She knew what he was thinking. They were all thinking it.

"We're not leaving anyone behind," she finally said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "We can't start thinking like that."

Jake sighed heavily. "If we keep pretending like we can save everyone, we're all dead."

Alex clenched her fists. She knew he was right, in a cold, brutal sense. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't condemn someone to die, not when they still had a chance to fight.

"We'll split up," she said, forcing herself to sound confident. "A small group will scout for supplies while the rest stay here and fortify the camp."

Tom shook his head. "We've scouted everywhere nearby. There's nothing left."

"Then we'll have to go farther," Alex insisted. "We're not giving up. Not yet."

A heavy silence followed, the others clearly unsure whether to trust her plan. Tom opened his mouth to protest again, but Jake raised a hand, stopping him.

"I'll go," Jake said, standing up and stretching out his sore limbs. "I can move faster alone. If there's anything out there, I'll find it."

Alex's heart sank. Jake had proven himself loyal before, but sending him out there alone? It felt wrong.

"You shouldn't go alone," she said, her voice quieter now. "It's too dangerous."

Jake shrugged, his face hard with determination. "It's more dangerous if I take someone else. I'm faster by myself. I'll cover more ground."

Before Alex could argue, Mara stood up. "Then I'm going with him," she declared. "I'm not just sitting here waiting to die."

Jake shot her a look but didn't argue. The rest of the group watched silently, the tension palpable.

"Fine," Alex finally said. "But be careful. If you're not back by sundown, we move. We won't risk losing more of us."

Jake nodded, his expression grim but accepting. He didn't look at her again as he and Mara gathered their gear, ready to head out into the unknown.

The camp was unnervingly quiet after Jake and Mara left. Tom paced the perimeter, checking for weak spots in their defenses, while Ethan sat beside the fire, sharpening a knife. Alex sat across from him, her mind racing with doubt and fear.

"I hate this," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Ethan glanced up, his gaze piercing but unreadable. "It's survival."

"That doesn't make it any easier," she replied, rubbing her hands over her face. "I keep wondering if I'm making the right decisions… if I'm even fit to lead."

Ethan's knife paused mid-stroke, but he didn't respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper. "Leadership isn't about certainty. It's about making the best choice you can with what you have."

Alex stared at the fire, the flames flickering and casting shadows over her face. She wasn't sure if she believed that. Not anymore.

"I just… I don't want to lose anyone else," she admitted, her voice cracking slightly.

Ethan was silent, his eyes softening for a brief moment before he went back to sharpening his knife. "We'll get through this," he said, though his tone carried a weight of doubt he didn't voice.

For now, it would have to be enough.