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“Please, leave me alone.” She wails. My breathing picks up as I try to fight off the memories, her words echoing the ones I used before I learned that it didn’t matter. My eyes stay locked on hers, her panic feeding mine. My grip turns brutal on my sword as I try to stay in the here and now.

“It’s okay. we won't hurt you,” but my voice is soft and unsure, all my concentration on my inner battle.

A hand lands on my shoulder and something in me snaps. I can feel myself moving, but it’s like I'm watching a movie, my body lost to instincts and memories as my mind screams at me. Spinning, my sword raises before I've even turned.

“Maxen, watch out!” Comes a shout, but my whole world narrows to the hand on my shoulder.

My mind is tricking me, thinking it’s Ivar’s, even as my body rebels.

A snarl twists my lips as I leap to my feet, swinging my sword at him.

Maxen blurs until all I see is Ivar, that cruel mocking smile twisting his lips.

I barely remember the next couple of minutes, until a voice calls me back.

“Worth, you’re safe. Feel the ground, smell the air. Remember our names, you’re safe. Where are you? What's your name?” The questions don't stop, even as my mind tries to slip away, back into the horrors of my past.

“Where are we going? Who are we? What's your name?” Blinking, the face above me comes into focus and I look into Maxen’s worried eyes.

“Worth, my name’s Worth,” my voice cracks, quiet and painful, but it's there.

“What's my name?” He demands, pushing the memories back even further, the awareness slowly returning to my body.

“Maxen,” I whisper.

“Where are we?” He asks, his voice less panicked now.

“Wastes, going to The Ring.” My voice gets stronger until it's near my usual one. Blinking, I look down. I’m laying on the sandy earth, his legs trapping mine as his hands pin mine above my head. I look back at his face as I realise what happened.

“Sorry, shit, I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper, banging my head back down. Why did I think I could do this, be around people? I'm too fucked up for that. Even my mind is broken. Shit, I attacked him! What will they think of me now…

“Hey, Worth, look at me,” he demands. My eyes raise to his out of habit. I'm too raw to try and hide anything at the moment and I know he must see the war in my eyes. He lets go of my hands and cups my face.

“You're okay, you didn’t hurt anyone. I know that wasn't you. I'm sorry I didn't think before I-” He takes a deep breath, “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? Why?”

“I know what it's like to be triggered by something. I didn't know, but I should have noticed the warning signs.”

“I’m fine,” I growl.

“It’s okay not to be. Look, I can see you trying to turn away now, trying to lock back down.

Just know that none of us blame you. Take what time you need, but we understand.

We all have our demons, yours won't scare us away.” He offers me a grim smile before climbing off me and standing.

He offers me his hand, and I watch it warily, his words running through my head.

I don't see any revulsion or pity in his face.

Like he said, all that I can see in his eyes is understanding and.

.. hope? My hand lands in his before I can change my mind, trusting my poor damaged heart as it cries out not to shut them out.

He's trying to help. He hauls me to my feet and squeezes before turning to the others .

I steel myself for their looks, but Drax offers me his usual smile and Jax winks before turning away. Thorn grins even as he helps the man on the floor sit up. Maxen looks down at me with a soft smile.

“Seems you’re one of us now.” He offers, before letting go and starting to walk away.

“One of you?” I ask. He turns as he walks backwards, his ponytail flipping over his shoulder.

“One of the lost boys.”

We stay while the man regains consciousness, me hovering at the edges, allowing myself the time I need to put myself back together again.

As soon as the man fully woke, he leapt at Thorn, who batted him away softly like you would a fly.

Once he calmed down, he realised we didn't want to hurt him, but he obviously wasn't taking any chances.

He grabbed the woman's hand and ran away before we could offer them a lift.

“You’re welcome!” Drax yells cheerfully after them. Turning, he smiles at me. “Come on then, back on the road we go!” He claps his hands as Maxen rolls his eyes. Nodding, I turn with them following.

“Back to the five of us, the five amigos,” he carries on as I roll my eyes and tune him out.

I turn when I hear a smack to see Drax rubbing his head and shooting Thorn a glare as he smiles innocently at me.

Drax sticks his tongue out before skipping up next to me.

He doesn't even hesitate to throw his arm over my shoulder and steer me back to the bikes.

I hear Maxen start to warn him, but when I don't react, he shuts up.

“You’re like a ninja. You guys see the way she leapt through the air with that sword of hers? Marry me?” He asks, offering me puppy dog eyes, wringing a small smile out of me. He clutches his chest and staggers backwards before turning to the guys.

“She smiled at me! I got her to smile!” He brags. Groaning, I speed up, the bikes parked where we left them.

He jokes around with the others as we mount up and only shuts up when the roar of the bikes overpower him.

Turning back to the road, we carry on with our journey but there's something different, some shared understanding pulling us together.

They throw me smiles as we ride, and I find myself returning them.

My attack only seems to have brought us closer, like seeing my demons has broken down a barrier between us. I just wish I knew what.

Focusing back on the road, I try to pinpoint our location.

The mountains can be seen in the very distance on our right, letting me know we are on the right track.

They always give me the creeps, purely because I know what hides in their depths.

We’re about halfway through the Reeves territory by now and I’m hoping we don’t run into a patrol.

It’s not a life or death situation, I just can’t be bothered with the gaining passage talk.

They would demand a payment which would piss me off.

Luckily, me and the South patrol have an understanding.

They let me pass and I don’t kill them. It will be the North patrol on the way out that’s the problem.

It’s an ever-changing position. Lots of scavs die on that patrol due to the proximity to The Ring.

Debating my options the whole ride, I stop just south of the normal North patrol route.

The others stop next to me, but I don’t say a word.

I bite my lip and look all around us. I can’t see or hear anything, but they could be on us faster than we can get away.

So, I start my bike back up and the guys follow suit.

I drive along the border, searching for the path I know is there.

It’s technically some old rail tracks. It’s on the edge of their border and for some reason is never really patrolled.

I think it’s because it’s feral hunting grounds.

Lucky us, it gives us the break we need to slip past.

We drive for another couple of hours before I see The Ring.

I stop in the middle of the no-man’s land between Reeves territory and The Ring’s neutrality.

I slip off the bike and stretch my legs.

Turning to the others, I watch as they do the same.

I almost drool at the muscles being flexed before I mentally slap myself; this is not the place to have daydreams.

“Okay, we are almost there.” They nod, “Rules. Don’t talk to anyone, and I mean it.

You don’t know who is who and I really don’t want to have to deal with a pissed off worshipper or berserker.

” They look confused, but I wave it away.

“Don’t go anywhere alone. Don’t kill anyone,” I nod to myself, thinking through anything else that could go wrong. Which is everything.

“Okay,” Thorn says smiling at me. What’s he so happy about? Ugh, men.

“Sure thing, Captain,” Drax chimes in. Jax and Maxen just nod. This should be fun. I groan, but swing back on my bike and start it up; heading towards The Ring’s entrance.

The tops of the buildings appear on the horizon, and within a few minutes, the fence slowly appears.

When we get closer, I slow down and roll up to the side.

Bikes and vehicles are parked to the left like an impromptu car park.

I park away from everyone else and the guys follow suit.

Glancing at the sky, I notice the sun is starting to go down.

Hopefully, that means my target will be nearly here.

I grab my jacket and pull it on as I wait for them to get their stuff together and then we silently head off towards the gate.

“It’s a zoo?” I don’t know who says it but the disbelief in their voice is cute.

“Yep. Most of the animals either died or fled. Couple years ago, it got turned into The Ring.” Not saying anything else, I head over to the guards.

They look bored, there’s one on each side of the gate and at least four on the gate post above.

One holds his hand up and I stop obediently, so do the guys behind me.

They spread out, protecting my back. The guard hikes his dirty pants up and then spits on the floor.

His torso is naked, apart from the two nipple piercings which are tied together with a chain hanging down his stomach.

His Mohawk is edged in blue, but he still looks young. Or maybe I’m getting old.

“Clan?” His voice is full of attitude. I arch my eyebrow, but step forward, my hands out to the side.

“None.”

He hesitates as he runs his eyes over me, a little too intently too be anything but checking me out.