Chapter 7 - Fatigue Margot's POV The steady hum of the bus had become something of a lullaby - one I wasn't allowing myself to succumb to . It had been hours now , the darkness outside slowly fading into the hesitant glow of early morning . Slivers of pale light seeped in through the cracks in the luggage compartment , casting thin , shifting beams over the bags and suitcases around me . I blinked against the burn in my eyes , exhaustion gnawing at me , but I refused to let it win . We had just passed by stop six . That meant the next one was Meadowbank . A sharp inhale rattled through my chest as I tried to shake the haze of fatigue . I hadn't meant to push myself this long - I was supposed to switch with Cara hours ago - but I hadn't been able to bring myself to wake her . - - She had gone out like a light the second she got comfortable , her breaths soft and even , her face slack in the kind of rest that I knew she badly needed . I had told myself I'd let her sleep just a little longer . Then a little more . And then I had just ... let it go entirely . But now , I needed her awake . I turned to where she was curled up against a duffel bag , her hoodie pulled over her face , completely dead to the world . I nudged her shoulder gently at first , but when she didn't stir , I pressed my fingers into her arm and gave a little shake . " Hey , " I whispered , my voice hoarse from how long I had stayed silent . " Cara , wake up . " She made a noise - somewhere between a groan and a grumble - but didn't move much beyond that . I sighed . " Come on , get up . We're almost there . " That seemed to reach her , because after a few sluggish blinks , she peeled her hood down and cracked her eyes open . She squinted at me , her face scrunching up as if I had just dragged her out of the best sleep of her life . " What ... ? " she muttered , her voice thick with exhaustion . I let out a quiet breath of relief , " It's stop seven next , " I told her . " Meadowbank . " 1/6 3:10 pm P DD PS Chapter 7 Fatigue That did the trick . Her eyes snapped open fully now , the haze of sleep dissolving as she sat up quickly , rubbing at her face . " Shit , " she breathed . " I seriously slept for that long ? " : ་ I nodded , shifting my stiff legs and wincing at the ache that had settled in my muscles . " Yeah . I didn't want to wake you before , but I couldn't risk waiting anymore . I don't know how much longer until we get there . " She stretched , letting out a long yawn before cracking her neck from side to side . " Damn , Margot . You should've woken me sooner . " I shrugged . " You needed sleep . And honestly , I wasn't tired before , but now ... " I trailed off , blinking heavily as a fresh wave of exhaustion pressed down on me . Cara gave me a knowing look . " Now you look like you just crawled out of the grave . " I let out a weak laugh . " Yeah , well , that's what I get for playing hero , I guess . " She rolled her eyes but didn't argue , instead shifting so she was sitting up properly . " So , what's the plan ? We just wait for the next stop and bolt ? " " Pretty much , " I said , my mind already running through the possibilities . " We wait for them to unload the luggage . The second we get an opening , we slip out and walk away just like we belong there . " " Right , " she nodded , rubbing her hands together . " Nice and easy . " " Nice and easy , " I echoed , though my stomach clenched with nerves . The bus continued to move forward , the road beneath us a constant , rolling vibration . Outside , the light was growing brighter , shifting from the dull gray of dawn into the golden hues of early morning . The sky was clearing , and I could tell that soon , the world outside this cramped compartment would be awake and bustling . And then , almost as if on cue , the bus began to slow . My breath hitched . Cara stiffened beside me . " Is this it ? " she whispered . I swallowed hard , my ears straining to catch any sounds from outside . The bus gave a familiar lurch - the same one it had done at every stop before - and then , with a slow hiss , it rolled to a full stop . Silence . 2 2/6 3:10 pm PSDD Chapter 7 - Fatigue Then , the sound of movement above us . Passengers shuffling , the murmur of voices , the faint clang of someone pulling down a suitcase from the overhead rack . Then , another noise . A metallic creak . The compartment latch . I tensed as a flood of fresh air rushed in , the heavy door lifting open to reveal the outside world beyond . A pair of legs stepped into view- a worker , maybe a driver - reaching in to start pulling out luggage . Cara and I exchanged a quick glance . This was it . Our chance . I shifted slightly , pressing myself further back into the shadows as I waited . The worker - an older man , by the looks of it - was methodical in his movements , reaching in , grabbing a suitcase , hauling it out . Then another . Then another . The opening was there . We just had to time it right . I nudged Cara subtly , signaling her to get ready . She adjusted her hood , fixing her posture as if mentally preparing herself . The worker grabbed another bag , his back turned for a second . That was all we needed . With one last deep breath , we moved . Silent . Swift . We slipped out of the compartment like ghosts , keeping low , keeping fast . The second our feet hit solid ground , we straightened up , acting like we were just another pair of travelers retrieving their bags . No hesitation . No looking back . We walked . Step after step , calm and steady , my heart hammering against my ribs . The terminal around us was waking up , people moving about , cars pulling in and out . The scent of coffee lingered in the air , the early morning 3/6 3:10 pm P DD Chapter 7 Fatigue breeze biting at my cheeks . We had made it . Meadowbank . Cara turned her head slightly toward me , a grin tugging at her lips . " Told you see - nice and easy . " " Yeah , " I murmured , exhaling fully this time . We were here . We were so much closer ! Now , the real journey began . The moment we were clear of the bus , we didn't stop . We kept walking - steady , casual , like we belonged there - until the terminal was a good few yards behind us . Only then did I dare to exhale , feeling the tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosen ever so slightly . Cara brushed her hands against her jeans , her eyes flicking around the station , checking for any suspicious glances in our direction . But no one was looking at us . No one cared . " We actually pulled that off , " she murmured under her breath , almost as if she didn't quite believe it . I nodded , but my pulse was still racing . " We need to keep moving , " I muttered . " Just in case . " We wove our way through the terminal , dodging travelers and bus station staff , keeping our heads down and our pace steady . The last thing we needed was for someone to recognise that we hadn't actually gotten off the bus the way we were supposed to . After a few more minutes of brisk walking , we slipped past a row of vending machines and took cover behind an empty bench . From here , the station stretched out in front of us - busy but not overcrowded , the air thick with the scent of coffee , fuel , and fried food from a nearby snack kiosk making my stomach growl . Cara checked over her shoulder once more before letting out a breath and plopping down onto the bench beside me . " Alright , she muttered . ' Moment of truth . What time actually is it ? " I glanced around at the walls for a clock , spotting one to the far left just above the newsagent stand : . " Oh ! It's later than I thought ! But look , we made it , I breathed , more to myself than anything . Cara leaned over , peering at it for herself , before letting out a low whistle . " Damn , " she said , stretching her arms above her head . " We've even got time to spare if we can figure out the way to the port that is . " 4/6 3:11 pm PS Chapter 7 - Fatigue I nodded , though I barely had the energy to feel relieved yet . The exhaustion I had been holding off for hours was settling in fast now that the adrenaline was wearing off and the fresh air had hit . My limbs felt heavy , my head a little foggy , and my eyes God , my eyes burned like hell . Cara must have noticed , because she turned to me with a smirk , eyeing me up and down . " Margot , " she drawled , " I love you , but you look like absolute shit right now . " I groaned , rubbing a hand over my face . " Yeah , thanks for that . " " I'm serious . " She snickered . " You're like , two shades paler than normal , and your eyebags have eyebags . " I shot her a tired glare . " Maybe because I stayed up all night making sure we didn't miss our stop ? " " Which I appreciate , " she said , placing a hand over her heart dramatically , " but now , you'll scare the prisoners off . " I rolled my eyes and held back a laugh because I couldn't argue back with that one , it was too funny . Cara clapped her hands together , standing up with a new burst of energy . " Alright , come on then . Before you drop dead , let's find a map and figure out where the hell we're going next . " I pushed myself up , ignoring the way my muscles ached in protest . The sooner we got to the port , the sooner we could rest . Hopefully ? We wandered through the terminal , slipping between clusters of people waiting for their buses or hauling luggage across the tiled floor . My body felt like lead , fatigue attacking its way into my bones with every step , but we couldn't afford to stop not yet . Not until we make it to our meeting point ! Cara led the way , her eyes scanning the area until she spotted what we needed . " There , " she muttered , nodding toward a small gift shop nestled between a ticket counter and a coffee stand . It was the kind of place that sold overpriced postcards , keychains , and generic ' Welcome to Meadowbank ' souvenirs . And , more importantly - maps . We stepped inside , the cool blast of air conditioning hitting me like a shock to the system . The shop was quiet , the only customer being an older woman browsing through a rack of magazines . Behind the counter , a bored - looking cashier scrolled on her phone , barely acknowledging our presence . Perfect . 5/6 3:11 pm P SDD . Chapter 7 Fatigue Cara moved fast , her fingers skimming over a stand of folded maps near the entrance . She plucked one from the display and held it up like she was examining it , but I already knew what she was doing . Without missing a beat , she turned on her heel , map in hand , and strolled right back out of the store as if she had every intention of paying for it . I followed a second later , glancing back just once to see if the cashier had noticed . She hadn't . Outside , we ducked behind a concrete pillar near the edge of the terminal before unfolding the map between us . It was massive , the paper crinkling loudly as we spread it out . Cara's finger trailed along the streets , scanning for landmarks , until- " There , " she said , tapping a spot near the bottom of the map . I leaned in , blinking through my exhaustion . The port . It was clearly marked , sitting along the coastline just a few miles from where we stood . " It's not too far , " she noted , exhaling in relief . " A straight shot down Main Street , then a left at this intersection ... we can walk it . " I nodded , feeling a flicker of hope ignite once again . After all the chaos of sneaking onto the bus , hiding for hours , and fighting to stay awake , the idea of finally reaching our destination felt almost surreal . " We better get moving , " I said , folding the map haphazardly and stuffing it into my hoodie pocket . Cara smirked . " Lead the way , Captain Sleep Deprived . " I rolled my eyes but made a move . With the bus terminal fading away behind us , becoming a distant memory , we stepped onto the sidewalk , the scent of saltwater and diesel fuel drifting in from the harbor . We were almost there . Now , we just had to find whoever was supposed to be picking us up ... Chapter Comments 24 2 Write Comments < SHARE 6/6 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!