The Ascent

Chapter 18

A few days passed like that in a blur that felt like a nightmare, one of those slow ones you couldn't escape no matter how fast you ran. Jasmine became aware of the necessity of going out even though she still opposed it, especially going on a scouting trip Asher suggested.

However, logic was starting to win over fear. A steadier source of food and water was necessary as their supplies were dwindling. No matter how sparingly the adults ate, they still needed some food to have enough strength to protect the children.

"I will go and get us something to eat," Asher said one night as they all sat despondently around the fire.

Jasmine silently agreed, and all three children huddled closer to her. She became their only anchor in the stormy sea, and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about it. It was way too much responsibility for her to handle. She wasn't sure if she was up to the challenge.

"Be careful daddy," Ariyana said, even though it was clear she didn't fully understand what was happening.

"Always," Asher answered, kissing his children's foreheads as a goodbye.

When he left, Jasmine felt cold spreading all over her body even though the fire was crackling steadily. Thoughts of everything that could go wrong crowded her mind making it so much more difficult for her to think of happy stories to tell the children to soothe their minds. Thus, she started telling them her favorite books omitting the scary parts. And even though they sounded strange when said like that, the children didn't seem to mind it, so she went on.

Before worry had the time to make a permanent residence in her mind, Asher returned with some small dead animals in his hand and more firewood, as well as branches to skewer and bake the meat on.

"Daddy!" Arman exclaimed as they both rushed to their father.

He ruffled their hair affectionately and proceeded to prepare the animals, which seemed to be rabbits, for roasting.

"Calm down, you guys. I am fine. I just went to buy us some dinner," Asher said jokingly. "But I need you two and Isaac to prepare this for us. Can you do that?"

"How?" Isaac asked, more eager than the other two to help.

Asher made makeshift rotisserie from the branches he gathered and showed them how it worked.

"All you need to do is rotate this meat until it's ready to eat," Asher said, showing them how to do it. "But I must warn you, it might take quite a while to roast properly. Are you sure you can do it?"

"Yes!" all three children replied in unison, eager to do something after days of boredom that only Jasmine's stories could alleviate.

"Jasmine, can you help me with something?" Asher said as soon as the children were engrossed in their task.

"Sure," Jasmine said, allowing him to guide her to a corner far enough so the children couldn't hear them but they could still keep an eye on them.

"We can't go on like this," Asher whispered when he was sure they were far enough for his children to be unable to eavesdrop. "We need to know what's going on and act accordingly. This place might be safe for now, but to survive in the long term, we need to know what's happening."

Jasmine wanted to argue. She wanted to say running away from danger was the most important thing. However, she knew he was right. Besides, their supplies were limited, and if they knew which places were safe, they could find somewhere with enough food, water, and protection.

"What do you have in mind?" Jasmine asked, not sure she wanted to hear whatever crazy plan he came up with.

"I should go back to the city and see if I can spy on those bald men, figure out who they are, what they want," Asher said as if he had already figured everything out. "I might find more people hiding out who might have some information about what's going on. Maybe even learn about what's the government doing about it."

"No!" Jasmine exclaimed more loudly and passionately than she intended. "If anything happens to you, what am I supposed to say to your children? How would they ever accept losing both of their parents at such an early age? That's out of the question!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Asher asked, raking his fingers through his hair nervously. "Just stay here indefinitely, hiding out like rats, barely surviving?"

"I think your idea is a good one. We just need to change one thing about it," Jasmine said, wondering where the brave words came from because she felt terrified. "I should be the one doing it."

Her whole life, Jasmine had avoided danger as much as she could. She didn't understand why one would risk their life for anything. Nothing seemed worthy to her. Yet, at that moment, she was ready to do the riskiest thing ever for people she barely knew. Although she wasn't sure if it was bravery or insanity, she was glad that, for once, she knew what she wanted to do and would do it no matter what.

"No way!" Asher said, red spots of anger covering his fair face. "I am stronger. I have much better chances of fighting them off."

"That might be true, but we don't need strength but stealth. And let's be honest, I am much better at that," Jasmine said, faking confidence she never had. "Besides, you are forgetting I already escaped them twice. It would be easy for me to do so again."

She didn't really believe that, but she needed to be the one to go even though she wasn't sure that she could give them the slip again. After all, Asher had his family to look after while she had no one. It was only fair for her to risk her own life instead of leaving those poor children without both of their parents.

Looking at Asher, she could see that he was torn. He wanted to do the right thing but deciding what that was turned out more difficult than he anticipated. On the one hand, he needed to protect everyone and learn what was happening. On the other hand, he didn't want to leave his children behind to worry about whether they would lose yet another parent.

Even before he spoke up, Jasmine knew what he had decided. She respected him even more for it after seeing the struggle in his eyes and the sadness with which the final decision came.

"Fine," he said, his glance locked onto his children, smiling while preparing dinner. "You go."

What surprised Jasmine was how hard it seemed for him to let her do something as dangerous as that. It was clear that his children came first, which she couldn't help but admire. Yet, he worried about her, something no one had been doing in a long time.

"But you will be as careful as possible," Asher said hurriedly. "And you'll take this with you."

As he said that, he handed her a beautiful-looking hunting knife as captivating as it was dangerous. It stunned her into silence.

"My father gave it to me when I was younger. He never was good at gift-giving, but I am glad I took it with me when we left the apartment for good," Asher said, seeming on the verge of getting emotional.

"Thanks," Jasmine said, taking up the knife reverently. "I'll be sure to return it to you unscathed."

Asher nodded, and Jasmine wondered if it was because he had nothing else to say or because he was afraid his voice would betray his emotions. It seemed that this stranger cared quite a lot if she came back or not, and it warmed her heart that someone would care about her safety and be unafraid to show it.

"Just do me a favor and take care of Isaac while I am gone," Jasmine said, looking at Isaac.

His face was eager as he stared at the rabbit that started getting a nice golden color.

"Of course," Asher said weakly. "When do you plan to leave?"

"I think I should go as soon as possible, so after dinner should be best," Jasmine said, thinking that she would run and think better on a full stomach.

"Yes, that sounds good," Asher said as they joined the children next to the fire.

They had a nice little family dinner around the fire, with all the children thrilled at the prospect of eating something different than the limited provisions they had.

Then it was time for Jasmine to go.

Outside, the warmth was extinguished by the cold fear that gripped her heart, squeezing hard.