The Legend by Melissa Delport

integrating the Deranged that he rescues into the Gainesville community. I have not yet ventured beyond the Academy grounds, but there is a large population residing in the area. They have been here since the war, and it was in this very town that Reed grew up.
    Reed’s long denim-clad legs disappear into the Humvee and then the enormous vehicle emits a deep, rumbling growl as it pulls out of the drive. We have not spoken since our fight two days ago and everything that happened is weighing heavily on my heart. I vow that despite the dark place I succumbed to, I will make amends. Morgan, Michael and Jethro are travelling with Reed, along with four members of the raid team who will distract the guards at the fences. I have Chase, Archer and Kwan with me. The balance of the raid team is travelling in the second Humvee that pulls out behind me – eight men, including Quinn, Kenneth Williams’ nephew. I had expressed my reservations about using Quinn in this raid, given his prior loyalty to his uncle, but Reed had been with Quinn on the last raid and he assured me that Quinn’s allegiance was with the Legion. If anything, Quinn was even more angry about Kenneth’s deception, given that he is family. The raid team consists of twelve men, the largest team to date, but we will need every single one of them to take down a section of the fence large enough to sneak our group through. With any luck, by the time it’s over the NUSA guards will believe it was just another raid to take out a few soldiers and then retreat.
    We drive through the day, covering over four hundred miles before nightfall. The Unit Nine camp is a small rebel camp in Jackson, Tennessee. Tomorrow we will cross the Mississippi into Arkansas, and then head north to attack the Missouri boundary fence. We cannot simply cross over from Tennessee because the Mississippi River acts as a natural boundary and we would be seen by the NUSA scouts patrolling there. We will cross the river out in the Rebeldom and then enter Missouri from the south.
    The Unit Nine camp, like all the rebel bases, is rustic but practical. Having driven all day, with only a few restroom stops, my legs are cramping and it feels good to stretch them. We check through the camp, lighting a few lanterns as we go. This site is not as isolated as some of our others, being in the town itself, and we station eight guards at four lookout points, two per point, to keep an eye out. They will take the first shift and then others will replace them. I am due to go on watch only in a few hours’ time and after a hasty meal that lacks all of Veronica’s cooking prowess I bid a brief goodnight to the men and make my way to my allocated room. I have managed to avoid Reed up until now, but I can feel his eyes on my back as I walk away.
    I almost expect him to follow me, as he has done so many times before. In truth, I am not sure if I want him to or not. My remorse over my actions the other day is growing and I feel ashamed at the way I behaved. I don’t deserve his forgiveness, but I do crave it. As the time passes and my eyes grow heavy, I resign myself to the fact that he is not coming. I have pushed him too far.
    â€œRebecca.” Quinn shakes me awake. “We should get going.” I blink to find that I can see him perfectly in the light of day. I have slept through my watch.
    â€œWhy didn’t anyone wake me?”
    â€œMcCoy said to leave you. He took the watch on his own.”
    I dress quickly and tie my hair back into a ponytail before going in search of Reed.
    â€œLook, I know you don’t want to be around me, but you can’t jeopardise the safety of this camp because of our personal issues. You could just have paired me off with someone else.”
    â€œYou see any takers?” He raises his brow and I cast a quick look around. Nobody will meet my eyes. “Anyway,” he changes the subject abruptly, “I have no problem standing guard with