keeper 5 Chapter 6 - Breathe Margot's POV The air beneath the bus was thick with the scent of rubber and gasoline , a stale , cloying mix that clung to the back of my throat as Cara and I squeezed ourselves into the farthest corner of the luggage compartment . The space was cramped , barely wide enough for us to stretch out fully due to the masses of bags and random cardboard boxes , but the surrounding suitcases and duffel bags provided just enough cover to keep us out of sight which was the main thing . I shifted , adjusting my position between two large hard - shell suitcases , pressing my back against the cool metal frame of the bus . My pulse was still racing from the sheer nerve of what we were doing- sneaking onto a damn bus like we were criminals on the run . Cara settled in beside me , her knees drawn up to her chest as she wedged herself between a few oversized travel bags . She let out a shaky breath before turning to me , a slow grin creeping across her face . " I gotta say , Margot , " she whispered , nudging me with her elbow . " I didn't think you had this kind of rebellion in you . " I scoffed , though I couldn't help but smirk . " Yeah , well , desperate times and all that . " " Desperate and ballsy as hell , " she added . " I mean , I'm usually the one coming up with the crazy ideas . But this ? This was all you girl - I'm proud . " Cara commended me , as I felt somewhat accomplished . The pride in her voice sent a strange warmth through my chest . I wasn't the reckless one , not usually . That was always Cara - Cara who took risks , who lived without thinking too much about the consequences . But this time , it had been me . I had thought of this plan . I had taken the risk . And now , here we were successfully on our way to Meadowbank for free ! - The bus gave a sudden jolt , and my stomach flipped as the engine roared to life . The vibration of it rumbled through the metal floor beneath us , making the walls tremble slightly as the vehicle eased into motion . My fingers curled into the fabric of my hoodie , my breath hitching as the realisation hit . We were doing it . We were actually on our way to embark on some fucked up prisoner experiment - neither of us fully knowing what that even meant ! Cara let out a quiet laugh from beside me , the sound barely audible over the steady hum of the moving bus . " Holy shit , " she murmured . " We're actually pulling this off we're gonna get that damn money . " " Yeah but what exactly do you think we'll need to do to get it ? Do you think we'll have to visit them regularly ? Probably just chat to them , right ? " I suggest , as Cara chews her lip in thought . 1/3 3:10 pm P Chapter 6 - Breathe " Well for that money ... surely there's more to it than just chats ? I guess we will find out when we arrive ... " Cara adds , making my anxiety spike . What exactly was this experiment ? What did they expect from us? " The main thing is , we've done it ! " Cara nods firmly , happy enough to be here on the bus . " For now , " I reminded her . " We still have to make it all the way to Meadowbank without getting caught - don't rush ahead . " She exhaled , rolling her head against the soft duffel bag she was using as a pillow . " Right . Which is why we need to keep count of how many stops we hit or else we'll miss the damn place . " I nodded , my mind sharpening as I focused on the task ahead . " You said six stops before Meadowbank , right ? " Yeah , " she confirmed . " It's gonna take hours to get there though , but every time this compartment opens , it means we've reached a new terminal . We count six , and then we know it's our turn to get off . " " Got it , " I said , though a flicker of concern tightened in my chest . " We just have to make sure we don't fall asleep and lose track of how many we've passed . " Cara hummed in agreement . " We should take shifts . One of us stays awake while the other rests . That way , at least one of us is keeping count the whole time . " " Good idea . " I adjusted my position again , wincing as my elbow bumped against the sharp edge of a suitcase . " I'll take the first shift - I'm too excited and nervous to sleep right now . " She raised a brow . " You sure ? " I nodded . " Yeah . You said earlier that you had barely slept last night too . Plus , you did all the talking back at the terminal trying to convince that guy - I'll hold down the fort for now . " I encourage . She didn't argue back after that , which told me just how exhausted she really was . Instead , she shifted around , turning onto her side and using the strap of a duffel bag as an impromptu pillow . " Wake me when we're at stop three and we can switch , " she murmured , already starting to relax . " Yeah , yeah , sweet dreams ! " I muttered with a wave , though I knew there was no way I'd wake her if I felt she was getting a good rest ... Silence stretched between us as the steady motion of the bus rocked us gently . Outside , the muffled sounds of traffic faded into the background , replaced by the low rumble of the tires against the road . At least we were warm down here from the heat of the engine ; making it somewhat bearable ... 2/3 3:10 pm P DD Chapter 6 - Breathe I hugged my knees in to my chest , my eyes fixed on the sliver of dim light that seeped through the cracks of the compartment door . - - what we had already done thus far settled over me like a heavy The weight of what we were doing what we had already done thus far blanket . We were fugitives in our own way , sneaking out of town without a word , without looking back . And yet , despite the discomfort , despite the uncertainty , I felt something I don't quite think I had ever felt ... Freedom ... A reckless , breathless kind of freedom that made my heart pound with a thrill I couldn't quite name . I didn't know what Meadowbank would hold for us . I didn't know if we'd even make it there without being thrown off this bus and dragged back to the place we were so desperate to escape from . But for now , at least , we were moving forward . And that was enough hope for me . Chapter Comments 18 Write Comments < SHARE