By the time we finish, we have the whole first room finished. I'm pretty proud of how it looks too. Eventually, the two boys came out to help finish up and we get all of our stuff and bring it into the house to sleep.
I go back outside after getting the rest of my things and see Jordan standing by the ten alone. "Jordan, do you need help getting your stuff or something?" I ask. "No."
"Are you sleeping in the house?"
"No."
I sigh. I already know why he won't come in. Jaxon. "It's fine. He's fine. It's safer for you in the house."
"Why do you care?" he asks. "What do you mean?" I respond. "I mean, after what I did to you, you should hate me, want me to die, even. If someone did that to me-"
I wince a little. "I did at first. I hated you more than you can know. But I think you're different now. You seem like you've changed. Besides, there aren't many people left. I shouldn't hold grudges like that."
"You seem like you have no problem hating your dad."
"That's-" I start. "The same. The exact same. If you were willing to make friends with me, of all people, then you should at least talk to him."
"I don't know. Our history is much more complicated than ours."
Jordan scoffs. "It can't be too much worse, can it?"
"He hasn't even tried to make things right with me." I say. "Maybe you should give him a chance."
"I don't know. Maybe I'll give it a try." I say, thoughtfully.
I nod. I'm unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry." he says. "I forgive you." I smile a little. "It's all over now. The pace is gone." He looks lost in thought but nods. "Thank you."
I head into the house, leaving Jordan behind me. Inside, everyone is spread out across the room randomly. I walk over to where my blanket is lying on the hard floor and I lie down and it's way more uncomfortable than regular ground. "Tomorrow we're making cots." I say. Jaxon stands. "What are you doing?" I ask. "I have to go pee." he responds. I think I hear one of the boys snicker a little. He turns and heads out the door and soon, I get up and head outside too, Graham not far behind.
I walk over to the door and crack it open. Outside, I hear Jaxon in the tent, probably looking for the seeds. "Come on, we can plant the seeds now. They're under this board, here." Graham says, lifting up a piece of the floor. I take the bag.
We head behind the house and dig three holes. I put a few seeds in each hole and cover it up again, praying they'll grow. I was never much of a gardener, usually I spaced out when we were learning how to grow things and I never went back to school after we escaped. Even if I'd payed attention, I'm not sure they taught us how to grow "Cora-proof plants."
I head back over to Graham who is watching the tent in case Jaxon comes back out. I hear Jordan's voice next. "Wha- Jaxon? What are you doing?"
"I uh- I think I left my blanket in here."
"You didn't." Jordan says, sharply. "And that's not what you were looking for."
"Graham, we need to go in there. Now. Before Jordan says something-"
Graham nods at me and we walk quickly to the tent. "You were looking for the seeds."
"Something like that." I mumble. I quickly unzip the tent. Jaxon's eyes dart around at all of our faces. "Oberon, why are you-" He looks at Jordan again. "How did you-"
"I'm sorry. We all know, Jaxon. I saw you with Cora." I say, trying to keep the fear from reaching my voice. "No it's- it's not what you think."
"Really? Then why don't you explain it to us?" Jordan says. We all look at him, expecting. "I- I can't." he says.
"Then leave. We don't need traitors like you here." Jordan says. Jaxon is speechless. I look at Graham helpless. "No. you can't leave. Graham. Tell him to stay!"
Graham's eyes are wide. "I-I- agree with Jordan. If he cant explain it, he should leave. We deserve to know after all this he should be able to tell us. We can help!"
Jaxon looks completely helpless and I already know what he's thinking. My eyes widen and a tear streams down my face. "No. Jaxon. You can't. You have to stay. We need you. Please just tell us and..."
"I think- I think it might be best if I leave. I want to protect you all."
"No! Jaxon! Please." I'm now sobbing as Jaxon walks to the exit. I want to follow him but I feel like I can't move. Or maybe even I know this is the best choice for us all. "I'm sorry, Oberon."
"No!" I cry. "No!"
He goes into the woods and before long, there's a loud crack and a flash of light. I run outside to see several huge lightning bolts strike near the camp and it rains. Never, in my whole, life has it ever rained. Not even while I was in the woods.
"No! Jaxon!" I scream. Graham, who is behind me, grabs my shirt as an attempt to stop me but I break into a run towards where the lightning is without even thinking. "Jaxon!" I scream over and over. I have tears streaming down my face, one after another. I feel sick to my stomach. Is he dead?
I'm running faster than I ever knew I could and I slip several times from the mud but I get up. Finally, I make it to where the lightning struck and I see Cora fading away holding something in her arms. It looks like a person. Jaxon! I think. I know exactly where to go, I'm not giving up this easily.
When Cora completely disappears, several tree minions appear around me. I run but one of the trees grab my right arm. "No! Let me go!" I scream. Suddenly, flames burst around where the tree is holding me and even though I see the fire, I don't feel the fire, at least not on tis arm but My shoulder does get burnt a little while I'm struggling against it. I don't have time to think about what just happened though.
It's hand opens and I fall to the ground. I get up quickly and break into a run to my destination. It's not too far. I can make it from here. I keep running, gasping for air. I'm so close to my destination I can't quit now. The trees behind me disappear, likely to report to their master what just happened. What did just happen? It doesn't matter. I'll find out later.
I finally reach my destination, panting, and out of breath, but I made it. I try to sneak into Jaxon's old home, Cora's cottage as quiet as possible while still trying to catch my breath. I don't have any weapons except a dagger.
I open the door slowly and I wince a little as it groans. When I walk in, I'm completely surprised at what I find. It's empty. No. No. this can't be right. Where else can they be? I go into the next room, the door is only about half-way closed, pushing the door the rest of the way open, I step quietly into the room but this room is also empty.
The cottage looks completely abandoned and like it has been for a long time. There are vines on the walls, one of the windows are broken, and I've seen several spider webs. It looks like Cora hasn't been here since we left.
"Cora." I say hesitantly. "Cora!" I say, louder this time. "I know you can hear me so why don't you come on over here?"
"Cora!" I scream again but I only hear the crickets chirping outside. I sit down and think about everything that's happened. I don't cry. I can't. I just feel helpless, lost, scared, like a little kid who lost her mother. My thoughts seem to keep trying to wander to the fire but I don't want to think about that now. It's not important. I feel myself slowly fall asleep and I find myself in a empty void.